Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies Named Best Aquarium In United States

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies has been honored as the top Aquarium in the United States by TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel community. The ranking was determined based on traveler popularity, consumer ratings and TripAdvisor editors.

Since 2000, Gatlinburg has been home to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, which has hosted more than 10 million visitors since it opened its doors. Nestled at the gateway of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg is a year-round, family-friendly destination that offers a variety of attractions, activities and accommodations for vacationers of all ages. 

“Ripley’s Aquarium is Gatlinburg’s most popular family attraction, and TripAdvisor’s honor further heightens interest among people of all ages who are considering a vacation to Gatlinburg,” said David Perella, executive director of the Gatlinburg Department of Tourism.

The list is TripAdvisor’s first comprehensive ranking of U.S. aquariums, and has created a buzz in the travel world.
Gatlinburg edged Chattanooga’s Tennessee Aquarium for the top spot, as well as major U.S. cites such as Atlanta, Denver and Chicago. TripAdvisor used its Popularity Index, comprised of TripAdvisor editors, guidebook ratings, Internet comments, and reviews from Tripadvisor.com, to determine the list of Top 10 aquariums.

Billed “America’s Most Fun Aquarium,” Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is home to over 10,000 exotic sea creatures including 14-foot sharks in a world-class 1.4 million gallon aquarium. The majesty of the sea world is revealed through, what has been called “the world’s best shark exhibit in a 345 foot long underwater aquarium tunnel” plus thrilling interactive exhibits offering visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal in recreated habitats. Regarded as an exceptional educational facility, the aquarium also provides various education programs for children of all ages.

The following is the complete listing of Top 10 U.S. Aquariums by TripAdvisor:
1. Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Gatlinburg, Tennessee; 2. Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, Tennessee; 3. Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, California; 4. Ripley's Aquarium, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; 5. Oregon Coast Aquarium, Newport, Oregon; 6. Dallas World Aquarium, Dallas, Texas; 7. National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, Dubuque, Iowa; 8. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, Illinois; 9. Downtown Aquarium, Denver, Colorado; 10. Florida Aquarium, Tampa, Florida.

For more information, visit www.riplaysaquariumofthesmokies.com or contact the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce at (800) 56-VISIT, www.gatlinburg.com.