One of the most popular activities at Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg is the Glass Bottom Boat Adventure, an exciting boat ride that takes you into the aquarium’s famous Shark Lagoon! While riding in the boat, there is only 3 inches of glass separating you from 12 foot sharks and other sea creatures! Here are the top 4 things you need to know about the Glass Bottom Boat Adventure at Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg:
1. What to Expect
The Glass Bottom Boat Adventure at Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg is a unique experience allowing you to venture directly into the heart of Shark Lagoon! During this adventure, you will be surrounded by colorful and dangerous marine life including 12-foot sharks, thousands of exotic sea creatures, and a green sea turtle named Sally. Altogether, the Shark Lagoon contains more than 8,500 aquatic animals representing over 75 different species! The boat tours are led by the Aquarium’s Adventure Crew, who will provide fascinating information about the animals in the aquarium and explain what it takes to maintain the facility.
2. Times, Dates, and Location
The Glass Bottom Boat tours are available daily and depart every 20 minutes. The hours vary by season, so be sure to check the official operating schedule when planning your trip! The aquarium is conveniently located at 88 River Road in Gatlinburg and there is a large city-owned parking garage directly behind the building. This is a great place to park for the day because you can walk from here to experience all of the other fun Ripley’s attractions downtown!
3. Ticket Information
The tickets for the Glass Bottom Boat Adventure are considered an upgrade to your admission to Ripley’s Aquarium and can be purchased in person at the Glass Bottom Boat area. Keep in mind that the boats accommodate only about 10 people per hour, so purchase your tickets early if you are only planning to visit the aquarium for a limited amount of time! As an alternative, you can purchase online tickets in advance for any available time slot. You should arrive at Shark Lagoon about 5 minutes prior to your scheduled time.
4. Other Things to See and Do
The Glass Bottom Boat Adventure is just one of the many exciting activities you can enjoy at Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg. While exploring the aquarium, you can also touch stingrays, learn about poisonous dart frogs, and discover the amazing world of penguins! The aquarium features several live shows throughout the day too, including a Shark Lagoon Dive, Coral Reef Dive, Penguin Feeding, and a Stingray Bay Dive. Don’t leave without visiting Ripley’s Cargo Hold Gift Shop, where you can purchase a unique souvenir to remember your experience!
Check out all of our coupons for Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg today to enjoy discounted aquarium admission, and don’t miss the Glass Bottom Boat Adventure!
