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    Appalachian Rivers Aquarium

    4.8 (5 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

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    Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

    Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

    4.2
    (958 reviews)
    20.0 mi

    This aquarium came highly suggested by a coworker of mine who is from the area. I'm so happy she…read moresuggested it because it was an awesome experience! With plenty of children around me clearly enjoy enjoying every second while in this aquarium, it's also clear that the adults and parents had something they could enjoy as well! The amount of species were really impressive! I certainly walked away learning a lot about the limitless life in our oceans- from favorite species like clown fish to unique/ "not so frequently seen" species like cool sea dragons that resemble floating kelp. We were able to see the entirety of the aquarium in about two hours, and the layout of the aquarium is great with a clear path to make it all the way through. Honorable mention to the awesome saw sharks. I actually don't know if that's their actual name, but there're nose kind of resembles a saw and they are so cool during the automated walkway through the tunnel of sharks and fish. It was so bizarre to just look up and see huge sharks right above me!! I was also really impressed with the amount of space these animals have. I know that zoos and aquariums can get a bad rep, but these animals really do seem very taken care of and happy in a simulated natural environment. I like how they included the water treatment room as a part that people can see because obviously these animals require very strict water treatment plans in order to keep them thriving. The penguin station was also one of our favorites!!! It was so cool to be able to crawl through a tube "into" their enclosure in a dome like clear glass and be surrounded by penguins!!! You can read the names on their flipper bands to tell them apart, and you can really get up close to see the differences in their beaks or features. I thought that was so cool. I liked the amount of cool snacks and beverages available too! I got a frozen peach lemonade that was so yummy. We were here during off peak time, but it was still very busy. It's a very popular attraction. I know they also offer some packages to if you're coming with family or friends and you'd like to do more than one Ripley related experience you can buy a pack at a discount at the teller. Don't forget to take advantage of your military or first responder discounts if possible while you're here!

    If you've ever wondered what it feels like to be a salmon swimming upstream during peak season,…read morejust visit Ripley's Aquarium on a busy day. I didn't take many pictures because I was trying to live in the moment--and also because I was too busy dodging people who apparently trained for this event at the "Cutting in Line Olympics (my kid came up with that analogy.) This place was packed. I mean Black Friday at the Best Buy packed. Half the time I couldn't even see the tanks because someone's unk decided the best viewing angle was directly in front of my face. Patience was not the theme of the day. Luckily for him I'm not only patient but handsome. But then... the shark tunnel appeared like a gift from the aquarium gods. We hopped onto a slow-moving convey like a lazy river at a Vegas hotel, for people who don't want to walk. Honestly, I wish the entire building worked this way. Zero chaos. Zero pushing. Just vibes and sharks gliding over your head like "Come on in the waters fine" The stingrays were another highlight--majestic, chill, and many different sizes. Crowds aside,(but not really) those two moments made the visit worth it. If you go, bring patience, comfortable shoes, and maybe a bullhorn to get people's attention. But once you hit the sharks, it will be smooth sailing. FYI I will never go again but it was pretty cool in general..

    Photos
    Family photo.  They offer photo packages
    Family photo. They offer photo packages
    Outside entrance
    Outside entrance
    My kids In the huge chair

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    My kids In the huge chair
    Anakeesta

    Anakeesta

    3.6
    (998 reviews)
    19.9 mi

    We paid to come up and then after $150 for our family realized that the sky walk was closed. Many…read morebridges and things were also closed. I was disappointed we weren't informed of this before purchasing. Our dinner at Clifftop restaurant was sub-par. I'm leaving this review at 4 stars since I know many people rave about the sky walk (we weren't able to see this so I'm unsure) and the kids play area was super fun. My kids could have played for hours. It's multiple levels and really large. I felt that staff could have been more present in the children's area though. They were just hanging out and talking and not helping to keep the slide area safe. While we were there a parent lost her child and no staff was present anywhere. That was discouraging. It's beautiful here. So many beautiful views. Entertainment, and lots of nice places to sit and relax. We even had a chance to see a black bear.

    We decided to take a trip up one of the mountains in Gatlinburg. There are several options, as far…read moreas different companies, to take a chair lift or gondola up one of the mountains, and each go to their own different mountain. And at the top of each the company that owns them has their little attractions area. I had searched online, but was not able to find much about Anakeesta being ADA friendly. After having visited, I can assure you it is not very ADA friendly at all. For reference point for any longer period of walking I need a walker, but I can go short distances with a cane. The "crystal" gondolas (basically meaning all glass except the roof) can hold up to six people. While you can board the gondolas with a walker or stroller, it will be a tight fit, but it is accomplishable. Otherwise access to the mountain is through a bus kind of situation. Once at the top of the mountain activities are limited if you are using a walker or wheelchair or have children in a stroller. The tree top walk has stairs at many points and while you may be able to switch to a cane, it is a very long course and you will likely not have the energy to complete it if you really rely on a wheelchair or walker. The overlook tower is only stairs. Thankfully, there are some decent places where you can sit and at least enjoy the view while your party goes and does all the different activities. However, I feel that for the inaccessibility, they should offer a discounted ticket for disabled as you're not going to be able to use any of the activities. That being said it is a pretty view but you'll pay a lot just for that view and there are equally great views at many unpaid or cheaper attractions.

    Photos
    Bourbon and Ginger Beer
    Bourbon and Ginger Beer
    Swinging Bridges entrance
    Swinging Bridges entrance
    Bird House

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    Bird House
    Children's Museum of Oak Ridge

    Children's Museum of Oak Ridge

    4.4
    (20 reviews)
    61.9 mi

    I will be first to say this place when we pulled in I doubted we would enjoy it. I saw a lot of…read morelittle kids and we had a 2nd grader with us. I guess I am spoiled with a hometown children's museum of play.. I am so glad we went in to give it a chance, the employees here are wonderful. Very welcoming. The exhibits are diverse and many hands on touch this or that ability. There were some dated videos of the Appalachian culture but honestly it gave it an appeal and definitely a time gone by. The exhibits and explanation of the Manhattan project were very interesting. All of us walked away learning a lot about oak ridge and that era around world war 2. We spent a good two hours in the museum and didn't read it all, we happened to be walking in right before a school group of 30 little kids and parents. Initially it was loud but there was enough space that we didn't have to be around all the chaos real little kids bring. Some of the exhibits were geared for smaller kids but our 2nd grader had no problem enjoying the experience. I mean who doesn't love a "doll house" that has two levels, For the price and exhibits I would suggest it to anyone especially if you have a history buff in your family.

    Pulling in, it's an old school and it doesn't look very big. You walk inside and are greeted by an…read moreattendant and a big bear off to the left. They have a small gift shop with stuffed animals, patches and small things. If your disabled, don't worry about steps..they have ya covered with ramps throughout the museum. As you walk through it's very well put together. The farm room where the children can grab a basket and grab the plastic apples out of the tree on the wall and make their own dinner plate out if magnetized pictures of foods. They have a pretty big life-sized doll house, which was very cool along with old relics of dolls etc from different eras. They have a water room where the kids can send floating boats down a make believe lock at the dam. At the end, they have a train room that is pretty cool with towns all lit up and a train going throughout them.. very cool place. Very neat place. $8.00 for adults $7.00 for seniors aged 62+ and children under 3 are free.

    Photos
    Children's Museum of Oak Ridge
    Children's Museum of Oak Ridge
    Award

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    Award
    Titanic Museum Attraction

    Titanic Museum Attraction

    4.3
    (740 reviews)
    28.0 mi

    The Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge is truly one of the most incredible and memorable experiences…read moreyou can have. From the moment you arrive and see the massive ship replica, you can tell this is something special. The exterior alone is stunning and immediately sets the tone for what's inside. As soon as you walk in, you're given a boarding pass with the name of a real passenger or crew member, which adds a deeply personal and immersive element to the visit. Throughout the museum, you follow their journey, and by the end, you find out their fate--it's a powerful and emotional touch that really connects you to the history. The exhibits are extremely well done and very interactive. You're not just looking at displays--you're experiencing them. From touching a real iceberg to feeling the sloping decks that simulate the ship's final moments, everything is designed to help you understand what it was like on board. The attention to detail is incredible, with beautifully recreated rooms like the Grand Staircase that make you feel like you've stepped back in time. The museum does an amazing job of balancing education and emotion. There's so much history to learn, with real artifacts, detailed information, and stories about passengers and crew that bring everything to life. It's clear that a lot of care and respect went into telling the story of Titanic in a meaningful way. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate, which made the experience even better. The entire facility was clean, well-organized, and easy to navigate, allowing you to take your time and fully enjoy each part of the museum. Overall, this is an unforgettable experience that goes far beyond a typical museum visit. Whether you're a Titanic enthusiast or just looking for something unique and meaningful to do, this is an absolute must-visit. I would highly recommend it to anyone--definitely a five-star experience.

    There was nobody in line when I arrived, so I asked if I could skip walking through the multiple…read morerows of chained queue lines. The employee told me no because I needed to stop for a picture. I told her I didn't want a picture and just wanted to get through the entrance, but she still insisted I walk the entire queue. I found that pretty frustrating. As you make your way through, there are historical artifacts and information displays, which were interesting. The bigger issue came when I needed to use the elevator. I told an employee that I couldn't do stairs, and his first response was to tell me to take them anyway. After explaining again that I needed the elevator, I stood there for several minutes before he finally moved the rope and let me on. He then told me the elevator only went to the second floor, which left me wondering what was on the third floor. For $40 per person, I honestly felt this attraction was overpriced. One of the more memorable exhibits on the second floor was a display where you could put your hand in 28-degree water to experience how cold the water felt for those who ended up in it. Other than that, I didn't feel like the experience justified the cost.

    Photos
    LEGO Titanic
    LEGO Titanic
    First class clothing
    First class clothing
    This is the grand staircase in the doomed Titanic. FYI: it is the only place in the museum where you're allowed to take a picture from.

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    This is the grand staircase in the doomed Titanic. FYI: it is the only place in the museum where you're allowed to take a picture from.
    XPERIA: Smoky Mountains

    XPERIA: Smoky Mountains

    2.7
    (12 reviews)
    28.6 mi

    This 'experience' was a total waste of money. Walking up to outside of the building it sounds so…read moreexciting with suspenseful music playing. The cost for the adult tickets were $25 which seemed high but we thought we would try it. You wait with a group for your guide. The first room takes you into a 'chamber' where you are supposed to go deep into the ocean. It's lame. Literally 4 screens on one side and 2 on the other. One of the 4 screens had glitched out so the color was all messed up. Then you go through what they said was a mirror maze which honestly was nothing. This leads you to a black room where you watch for 5 or 6 mins two Squid try to kill each other. In the end one dies. Then you go into another room of maybe 6 panels of screens where you watch a shark try to kill sea lions. Yep. Two 'killing' episodes in a row. Super kid friendly. Spoiler alert they all survive. The next room is one wall screen with an interactive floor. You're supposed to play with the fish. I never saw anything happen and my husband tired multiple times. Then you go into a room where you can interact with jellyfish. You move your arms to make them move. They barely move. Also noticed these were hooked up to Xbox?! You can also take the time to color a fish and it goes on to the screen. Everyone in our group were older adults so no one did this. Then you go into a room which is a long screen behind glass. I thought oh cool maybe water comes up to the glass...but no now it is orcas trying to kill sting rays. Next room you are back to interacting with sea lions. Moving your hand in front of screens again. Final room is like a wall to ceiling dome shaped screen and you are given 3D glasses. The show is little fish swimming around. Then a whale comes and eats the fish. Final scene the whale swallows you. The. End. They said it was a 45 min to an hour experience. I think we were in there at the most 40. Save your money. The potential for this to be so cool was just so horrible

    This experience was not what we thought it would be. The sound was drowning out what the guide…read moresaid. Short 3-D movie at end was the highlight. Maybe consider taking children 6-8 ish, but would honestly recommend spending your time and money elsewhere. Disappointed.

    Photos
    XPERIA: Smoky Mountains
    XPERIA: Smoky Mountains
    XPERIA: Smoky Mountains

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    WonderWorks

    WonderWorks

    3.2
    (389 reviews)
    28.2 mi

    WonderWorks in Pigeon Forge absolutely earned a 5-star review from me for the value alone. For one…read moreadmission price, you get hours of hands-on fun: interactive science exhibits, the 4D motion theater, glow-in-the-dark ropes course, and unlimited laser tag and rides. It feels like more than just a "museum," and we easily could've spent half a day exploring and still not hit everything.What really stood out, though, was the military discount. As soon as we asked, the staff knew exactly how it worked, applied it with no hassle, and knocked a nice chunk off the total. That savings made a big difference for our group and turned an already good deal into a great deal.. Between the amount of stuff included in the ticket, the chance to replay laser tag and rides as much as you want, I honestly don't understand how anyone could rate this less than 5 stars. If you show up early, plan a few hours, and take advantage of the discount, it's one of the best values in Pigeon Forge. Try to plan the trip in the off season as it is nowhere near as crowded as it was doing the summer where it was too crowded to stand in line to get in. Definitely worth my money and something I would do again with my grandchildren.

    Ok, I had very high expectations. I had read a lot of great reviews, and with so many options from…read morethe same chain, it was hard to choose. My daughter was deciding between WonderWorks and Ripley's Aquarium, and honestly, I regret not choosing the aquarium. I expected this place to blow our minds, but it didn't. The attractions feel a bit outdated and could definitely use better maintenance, especially considering the amount of people they get every day. The best part was the laser tag -- everything else was pretty underwhelming. The 4D simulator was only partially working, and the glasses felt cheap. The earthquake experience was disappointing... my car on a straight road moves more than that. Plan to go with plenty of time, because between everything, time flies and you'll easily spend at least three hours inside. If you're thinking about going after 6 pm, I'd recommend leaving it for another day and going earlier. And if you're choosing between this attraction and another one... there's really not much to think about.

    Photos
    Ropes course
    Ropes course
    What is this ancient artifact?
    What is this ancient artifact?
    WonderWorks

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    WonderWorks
    Zoo Knoxville

    Zoo Knoxville

    3.9
    (171 reviews)
    46.6 mi

    Let me say that I'm absolutely amazed with all the beautiful and spacious enclosures for all the…read moreanimals in the zoo. The zoo is huge, so they had the ability to give animals lots of space! The black bear had his own little mountain nook (we didn't get to see him, though he was probably hiding from all the heat that day). We saw a baby gorilla playing with his mommy, that was worth flying from Boston to Knoxville just to see those eyes. There is a Turtle Trail were you get to go inside with the turtles and have them climb on your feet and feed them and scratch their backs...how cool is that! The budgies were pretty cool, you get to go in the enclosure with them and feed them seeds on a stick. Gorgeous, amazing creatures!! The green and blue ones are from The wild and the white ones with blue back are the bred ones in captivity. The otters for sure stole the show, they just played and played in the water, my son was psyched to see them !! The red panda was jumping all over and wanted to get in with the rest of the sleeping pandas on the bamboo trees...what gorgeous animals. And the Rhinos!!! Massive massive animals. First time I've seen rhinos and I'm in love with these very scary huge animals. You should see the enclosure that they had for them. It was very generous, full of mud and massive rocks. OK, I could go on and on about all the animals in there, but the most important thing that I wanted to say is that the sponsors of this zoo respect animals, they don't put them in a tiny enclosure and call it good, they actually spent a lot of effort on matching the natural habitat that these animals lived in, and they gave them room to roam! Also per their campaigns and posters within in zoo, they are trying to save endangered and critically vulnerable species from extinction. They do a lot of work and awareness about the lifestyle of the animals, especially that the staff is super friendly with lots of youths working there and learning about these beautiful animals and transferring this knowledge To visitors. Also, how thoughtful are they to include fun stuff for kids like a huge sandbox, slides, tunnels, climbing rocks, a beautiful merry go round with all the decorated animals, a water park for the kids to jump in fountains (wish I knew I would have brought my kid a swim suit)... my kid had a blast anyway!! They built a whole massive treehouse with a rope bridge so that you could see the gibbons and red pandas up in the trees. Massive enclosures, statues, canopies, overlooks....they thought about everything!! Not only did my kid have fun, my husband and I had tons of fun too. So did my mom! What a wonderful day. I will definitely donate money to this establishment that really cares about the conservation of animals and treats them with respect.. thank you Zoo Knoxville staff abc sponsors. All the love to your work. Keep spreading awareness.

    I finally visited today for the first time with a girlfriend, and we easily spent four hours…read morewalking around and seeing the different animals. Some of my favorites included: the red pandas, gibbons, great apes, otters and tigers. The zoo was especially busy today because of Spring Break week, but the great thing was that we never felt crowded or claustrophobic. There were places to purchase food like Beastro's Cuisine and Safari Smoke House, but we brought snacks and beverages to hold us over for our visit. I highly recommend the Knoxville Zoo for anyone looking for something fun to do when visiting our scruffy little town. Know before you go: 1) Tickets are $26.95 per adult, $21.95 for kids ages 3-12, seniors, and college students. Free for active military/veterans and children (2 & under). 2) A $2 ticket fee is added to all in person ticket sales. Save time and money, by getting your ticket online. 3) Parking is available in upper and lower lots. Handicap parking is available as well. All parking is $5, or free for membership holders. 4) Everyday they have animal encounters at different times where you can personally meet the animal ambassador and caretakers and get to chat with them. My favorite was the red panda encounter which is at 3pm everyday. 5) They do have a greatly curated gift shop with something for everyone including magnets, hats, clothing merch, and stuffed animals.

    Photos
    Lots of Al Dabra tortoises in a row.
    Lots of Al Dabra tortoises in a row.
    Zoo Knoxville
    Zoo Knoxville

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    Appalachian Rivers Aquarium - aquariums - Updated July 2026

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