Walk Under Sharks at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, TN

If your kids love fish and ocean life, a trip to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, should be on your list.

The attraction is a super neat experience. You’ll see live shows, learn about creatures in the touch tanks, walk under sharks swimming above you in an underwater tunnel, and so much more.

We have everything you need to know to plan your trip to this family-friendly and educational attraction.

Thanks to Ripley’s for the media tickets so we could do this review.

This article includes:
About Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
What to See and Do at Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg
Ripley’s Aquarium Live Shows
Homeschool Events and Sleepovers at Ripley’s
Tips for Visiting Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Where to Stay Near Ripley’s in Gatlinburg

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Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

My dream as a teen was to work at an aquarium. I even went so far as to look at colleges that have excellent marine biology programs. While this career wasn’t meant to be, I still really enjoy learning about all the creatures of the sea – and Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is just the place to get up close with some of the coolest of them.

The aquarium is truly state-of-the-art and houses thousands of ocean creatures like sharks, eels, stingrays, sea horses, and even penguins (awww!). The building sits right in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg and there is a parking garage adjacent to the aquarium. It’s across the street from the Greystone Lodge and Anakeesta.

They offer unique add-on experiences that let guests get up close and personal with many of their animals. Maybe even while sitting in a glass bottom boat! While we weren’t able to participate in those attractions, I’m hoping to do so if I’m able to go back. Maybe next time you are visiting the aquarium in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, you will get to experience one!

Your Vacation to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge: Aquarium Must-Sees

A huge pool of sharks and fish

When you enter the aquarium, you’ll walk through the beautiful lobby with a giant sea turtle skeleton hanging from the ceiling and see opportunities for kids to play on some equipment. But keep going through the small tanks of creatures and head to the ginormous tank full of sharks and thousands of gallons of water. You can look right into the water and see all the sharks just chilling and swimming. If you are lucky, you’ll get to see a shark feeding!

Seeing this giant tank is really cool, but also a bit unnerving. The animals are so close, and there isn’t a huge barrier to you know, falling in. I don’t think this happens, but I can be paranoid because let’s just admit it, I’m scared of sharks. We do have it on good authority that people do drop their cell phones into the tank pretty often.

The shark tunnel

Not gonna lie, I kind of sped through some of the tanks of sea creatures to get to the main attraction: the shark lagoon! This giant tunnel makes you feel like you’re swimming with the sharks. You are guided on a slow conveyor belt through a glass tunnel surrounded by sharks, a dangerous reef, and other fish that swim so, so close to you. It’s really incredible and easily our favorite part of visiting the aquarium.

Seeing the movement of the animals from below them was unusual and memorable. You usually don’t ever see that and even if you did nothing else at the aquarium, this alone would probably be worth the cost of admission.

The shark tank at Ripley's Aquarium in Tennessee

Pet a penguin at the penguin playhouse

Penguins are adorable. I melt whenever I get to see them and find them so much fun to watch. At Ripleys of the Smokies, you can actually pet a penguin as an add-on experience ($49.99/person) and get a take-home photo with one. If you’d like to be super adventurous, you can paint with a penguin. How many people can say they’ve done that? Well, you can and it costs $75/person to do so.

The penguin exhibit at Ripley’s is well done. You actually can even step outside and stand under one of the tanks in this certain way that allows the penguins to burst forth in swimming directly above your head, but in a way that feels like they are swimming straight toward you. You feel somehow in the tank with them.

All the penguins also have individual profiles – like a dating site – where you can learn more about them like when they were born, where they are from, and which ones like to take walks around the aquarium at sunset.

Touch tanks

Since no good aquarium is without opportunities to feel the creatures that roam the seas, Ripley’s offers guests the opportunity to touch stingrays while a guide gives information about them. For a small fee, you can buy food and have the rays swim right up to you to eat.

There were several other touch tanks throughout the aquarium. You could touch horseshoe crabs – who did not seem to care one ounce what was happening in their lives. You could even touch jellyfish if you wanted. That was super cool and a little bizarre.

The aquarium staff keeps the jellyfish extra cold so that all of the people touching them won’t damage their gel-like “skin”. They felt sort of rubbery and smooth. As weird as jellyfish are, and as painful as their sting can be, they’re kind of fantastic to look at as they glide and float through the water.

Live Shows at Ripley’s Aquarium

If you have a favorite animal or mythical creature like say, mermaids, be sure to check the live show schedule when you plan your visit. You’d hate to miss the penguin parade if you came all the way from Greenville to watch this.

There are neat coral reef dive shows and animal feedings as well.

Penguins at Ripleys Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Special Events and Field Trips

Sleepovers

If you’d like to get together a group of your closest friends, scouts, or family and have a sleepover they’ll never forget, you can make it happen at Ripley’s of the Smokies. They have several options to choose from and pre-planned sleepover dates for some programs.

I do think it’d be pretty awesome to sleep in the aquarium. At least I’d have something interesting to look at when I would inevitably wake up at 3 am thinking about how sharks are swimming over my head.

Homeschool Programs

Ripley’s is currently offering homeschool programs once a month to homeschool students and their teachers. You can check out their homeschool programs on their website.

Large aquarium at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

If you are homeschooling and can’t make one of those programs, Ripley’s offers homeschool discounts for walk-ups of $10.99 per student and sibling(s). Teaching parents cost $19.99 plus tax. You’ll need proof of homeschooling to take advantage of this great discount AND to fill out the form on the Ripley’s Aquarium website.

Tips on Enjoying Ripley’s Aquarium

Here are a few suggestions on how to best enjoy the aquarium:

Get there early. Gatlinburg has soared in popularity over the last few years and downtown is packed. It’s best to go here early to avoid the worst of the crowds and spend time at the exhibits that interest your kids the most. And weekdays usually have fewer crowds than weekends.
Any age person will like this. The aquarium is a great crowd-pleaser because just about everyone in your family, no matter their age, will find something they like.
Park next door. If you can, park right next to the aquarium so it’s an easy walk. You do have to pay to park unless you stay across the street at the Greystone Lodge (which we highly recommend). You can make a day of seeing the aquarium and some other attractions within walking distance, like Anakeesta, the Sky Bridge, or other Ripley’s attractions along the main drag.
Plan to spend a couple of hours there. While it’s possible to speed through the aquarium, there is a lot to see and kids may want to linger in some areas so plan to spend around two hours at the attraction.
Strollers are fine but babywearing may be better. You’re allowed to bring strollers but if there are a lot of people, it may be easier to use a baby carrier instead to better navigate the aquarium.
Tickets are good for a year after purchase. This is good knowledge in case you need to bail on a scheduled trip. You don’t need a reservation either unless you are doing an add-on experience.

Plan Your Visit to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

Tickets to the aquarium alone are $39.99/adult, $24.99/ages 6-11, and $9.99/ages 2-5. Ripley’s also offers several combination ticket packages where you can visit the aquarium plus one, two, three, etc. attractions.

Ripley’s is open daily from 9:00 am – 11:00 pm. If you think you’ll want to come back over and over again, which you may after going once, an annual pass may be the way to go.

So, next time you are on your family vacation to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, aquarium visits are a must for your itinerary!

Where to Stay Near Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

Find a place to stay in Gatlinburg, TN. This article contains Stay22 affiliate links.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Website
88 River Road, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
865.430.8808

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Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg Family Guide

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What is your family’s favorite aquarium to visit?

Tweetsie Railroad: Review of A Nostalgic Theme Park Full of Surprises

Are you wondering if a trip to Tweetsie Railroad is right for your family? The Tweetsie Railroad theme park in North Carolina is full of nostalgic family fun. Elizabeth Faulkner shares her own Tweetsie Railroad experience so you’ll know what to expect when you visit, plus all the great mom tips you’ll want to know.

Media passes were provided for her visit to Tweetsie Railroad, however, all opinions shared in this post are her own.

Confession of a bad mom. My family has spent a lot of time in the North Carolina mountains, specifically, the Boone, North Carolina area. Lots of time. For years. And we’ve driven right by Tweetsie Railroad many times over the years. Since my oldest daughter, who is now 7, was able to speak she’s been begging me to take her to that ‘place with the ferris wheel’ that we pass on our way to the mountains. And I (the bad mom) had never taken my girls to Tweetsie Railroad. Until today.

If you don’t know Tweetsie Railroad, it is not exactly a new theme park. Nope. I have lots of friends who tell me about their childhood memories visiting Tweetsie – it’s been a theme park since the 1950s. Heck, it was the very first theme park in the state of North Carolina. But a theme park was not how Tweetsie Railroad began.

The history behind Tweetsie Railroad

Tweetsie began as a railway between Tennessee and North Carolina in the late 1800s. The extension into Boone, NC began in the early 1900s, as a passenger train as well as a method of moving lumber out of the mountains. The train was referred to as Tweetsie because of the “tweet tweet” whistle sound the train made that echoed through the hills. And the name stuck.

Many years later, road development bringing competition from automobiles, and later flooding in Boone, brought an end to the much-adored Tweetsie Railroad. Though initially Tweetsie Locomotive No. 12, the only original of the 13 steam engines from the rail line, was moved to Virginia, No. 12 later returned to her home in Boone, NC and the Tweetsie Railroad that we know today began.

Though the history of Tweetsie Railroad is truly fascinating, the North Carolina mountain theme park has been loved by children for generations. If you’re a history buff, you can read the Tweetsie Railroad history for yourself right here.

Today’s Tweetsie Railroad is a sweet theme park located in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. If you are like I was, unaware of all the fun hiding in those hills, you’re in for a real treat.

Our day at Tweetsie Railroad

Our first stop after entering the gates this morning was the train ride, of course. After all, I’ve never ridden a 100+ year old steam locomotive. Winding through the hills near the theme park this short train ride was complete with replica old mountain towns, cowboys, and even a shoot out. The train ride was so fun we did it again later that afternoon.

Once we got off the train we decided to take in a show – one of many shows featuring cowboys, can-can girls, magicians, musicians, dancers and more. Though there were lots of fun shows to see, this was the only one we made it to. The girls and I all loved it. I’d say their favorite part was the end of the show when they got to get up on stage and try a little can-can dancing of their own.

Then we were on to some rides. I think one of the great things about Tweetsie Railroad was that we didn’t run into even one ride my 7 and 3 year old were too little to ride (though there was one ride I was too big to ride!). Now, that said, we did not get to one portion of the park that included the bigger rides – the few I’m pretty sure my little ones wouldn’t be able (or brave enough) to ride. We’ll check that out next time.

After a yummy pizza lunch, we took the chair lift up to Miner’s Mountain, the little kid portion of the park. The chair ride up to Miner’s Mountain was an adventure all on its own. If you’ve been on a ski lift it’s the same idea. Beautiful views, and a little bit of praying no one wiggles along the way – it’s a long way to the ground. I thought for sure my husband would have us walking back down the mountain – he’s not a fan of heights – but we rode the chair lift back down the mountain too.

Deer Park

Honestly, once we got to Miner’s Mountain, we were running out of steam so after the girls played on the playground a little while we headed directly to Deer Park Zoo. Given that we’ve been to a bunch of zoos, I didn’t have very high expectations for this one but it may have been my favorite part of the day.

This animal park petting zoo includes about 90 animals that we got to be up close and personal with, including several kind of goats, deer, emus, llama, miniature horses and many more. Plus, we were able to buy ice cream cones filled with feed (for 50 cents each) before we walked in which made for a ton of fun. Think animals eating feed right out of your little ones hands – it just doesn’t get sweeter than that!

Though, personally, I really loved watching the animals when they finally got to their favorite snack – the ice cream cone. What a riot. I could’ve spent all afternoon in the sweet Deer Park but we did finally head out. It was way past nap time after all.

Though there were many rides we never got to ride and shows we didn’t see, we were all tired out after spending most of the day at Tweetsie Railroad so it was time for us to go home. All in all, it was a great first (though not last!) visit to Tweetsie Railroad.

Tweetsie Railroad Review

Truth be told, I’m not sure who had more fun, the kids or me. The park was small enough that is was easy to navigate and didn’t feel overwhelming, perfect for little ones, full of super friendly staff, and never felt crowded at all.

I also really appreciated that the tickets included everything – all the rides and shows, unlimited train rides, and the zoo. This old fashioned, family oriented theme park is a local and regional favorite and now I understand why. Like it is for so many others, Tweetsie Railroad will become a family tradition for my own family.

Tips for visiting Tweetsie Railroad

And now that we’ve finally made it to this tourist hot spot I have some tips for you when you go:

The park is open Thursday through Monday from 10 am to 6 pm
If you do go early make sure the top parking lot is full before you park in the lots right inside the entry. You can save yourself a little extra walking to get inside the park.
Yes, there is a mock robbery with “bad guys” but this doesn’t occur on the train itself. Rather you watch the show from the train. I was relieved that it wasn’t at all scary to my little ones.
If you want the best view of the show from the train possible choose the 2nd, 3rd or 4th car and sit on the right side of the isle.
Though I didn’t see this happen, I was told that kids can get embers from the train in their eyes. You may want to bring along some sunglasses for your kids to wear on the train ride.
Walking can get tiring for little legs – bring a stroller or wagon. Plus you have somewhere to hold your drinks and purchases. Should you not have a stroller and need one there are several options available to rent. Rental rates are $10 per day and you can choose from single or double strollers or various wagons.
There are several places in eat inside of Tweetsie Railroad if you don’t want to pack a lunch.
Don’t feel like spending money on lunch? No problem – pack your own! You can bring your own food into Tweetsie, which can help a little with the budget.
Take pictures! There are lots of beautiful photo opportunities at Tweetsie – after all, the mountains are the backdrop. Our family shot in front of No. 12 is going to be a perfect Christmas card this year!

Tweetsie Railroad Blowing Rock NC — Photo Rights to Tweetsie Railroad

Tweetsie Railroad is open for the 2025 season!

Tweetsie Railroad Website
300 Tweetsie Railroad Lane*
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
800.526.5740
*approximately 3hrs from Greenville!

Summer hours

Open Thursday through Monday from 10 am to 6 pm.

Special Events for 2025

The 2023 season at Tweetsie Railroad is loaded with special events, including the ultra-popular K9s in Flight Frisbee Dogs®, their July 4th fireworks extravaganza, Riders in the Sky, Railroad Heritage Weekend, and more! See the entire list of special events here.

This year’s K9s in Flight Frisbee Dogs® event happens July 19-21 & July 24-27, 2025. These high-flying pups will amaze you with their flips and tricks! Shows are included with regular park admission.

Ticket pricing

General admission tickets are $65 for adults, $45 for kids 3 – 12 and free for kids 0 – 2. General admission tickets are not valid for Ghost Train or Tweetsie Christmas.

If you are lucky enough to get to Tweetsie Railroad more than a couple times in a season you might want to consider a season pass.

Ready to buy your tickets?! Purchase general admission tickets here.

Where to Stay Near Tweetsie Railroad

Find the perfect place to stay near Tweetsie Railroad with the map below.
Kidding Around earns when you book through the links in the map through as part of an affiliate relationship with Stay 22.

Kidding Around WNC: things to do in Western North Carolina towns

Find more fun in WNC! Check out our huge guide to Western North Carolina, Kidding Around WNC.

Take a trip back in time to the wild west at Tweetsie Railroad in North Carolina!

Day Trips Ideas for Couples: Plan the Perfect Day for You and Your Numero Uno this Summer

Thinking about a couple’s day trip somewhere near Greenville, SC? If you want to plan a dreamy day trip with your significant other this summer, we have many ideas for couples. We have put together a whole list of romantic day trip ideas! Whether you want to do something romantic, visit a new town, or have some adventure, our list will help you plan the perfect day trip.

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Asheville Adventure Park: Kid Zip Lining, Treetop Ropes Courses, and Canopy Zip Lining in WNC

Have you visited Asheville Adventure Park? In Asheville, NC, this zipline course offers so much for adventurous kids. We visited the Asheville Adventure Park for some fun so we could tell our readers all about it, and help them plan their own trip!

Complimentary tickets were provided for this review in 2018, and it has been updated with 2025 information.

Last week the kids and I took the kind of adventure you just want to share with everyone you know. (You guys – it is just so fun to have big kids!) This adventure involved helmets and heights and wires and harnesses and conquering fears and pulling together as a team. And it was pretty close to home too.

The Adventure Center of Asheville is just a couple of minutes from downtown Asheville, NC. As soon as I heard about their KidZip, the first kid zip line in the country to be built especially for kids ages 4 to 10, I wanted to try it with my kiddos. (Our family received tickets for writing and reviewing and sharing about the park. Our opinions are absolutely all our own.) P

Plus, they have one of only a few Asheville zip-line canopy tours located only minutes from downtown Asheville with beautiful views of downtown. Sounds like the perfect day trip to me!

Find a place to stay in Asheville, NC. This article contains Stay22 affiliate links.

Our day at the Asheville Adventure Park at the Adventure Center of Asheville

We arrived a little early because I wasn’t certain how long the drive would take or the length of the paperwork process. The check-in process was laid back and simple. There was a waiver to sign per kid, of course. And this time, for the first time, I actually had my writers fill in their own info and sign their own names. Man – that made that process so much faster.

We watched zip liners climb way up high on the adult course and wondered if our zip lines would be that high. Turns out – they were not. For which all of the kids were grateful.

At the course, we were given helmets and harnesses and instructions. I’m not going to lie – the older I get the more young adults look like children to me. And a lot of the workers at the KidZip area certainly looked young. I watched closely as they harnessed my kids in and checked the equipment. I can tell you this – these young men and women were professional, calm, well-spoken, and careful about their work. I saw zero cell phones in their hands. They all kept their own helmets on and they were focused on their jobs at hand.

Maneuvering the KidZip Course at Asheville Adventure Park

After we received our instructions we started on the kid zip line. There were nine ziplines I think and each had an obstacle before you zipped off down the line.

At first the zipping and the obstacles were easy but goodness, they got more complicated. You are always attached by your trolley to the zipline and always harnessed in but you had to maneuver your trolley over several tracks and something they called “sharks” which could be a little tricky for tiny hands and arms. The kids did a stellar job though.

At tough obstacles, they talked through them and worked together to help their younger siblings reach the sharks and conquer the heights.

If I had realized this would be helpful, I would have positioned myself between the kids differently. Once your trolley is on the zipline you can’t change orders or get off so occasionally I was several kids behind Otto and Piper and they could have really used a grown-up’s helping hand. Or – if you were zipping with multiple grown-ups you could plan to stagger grown-ups and kids accordingly. We managed just fine in the end since Berg and London and Mosely really helped out a lot.

(Actually – I think one thing I most valued about this entire experience – aside from the fabulous just plain fun factor – was the fact that the kids really pulled together. They spoke encouraging words. They laughed. They gave each other a helping hand. They were a family – up high and all together.)

The climbing wall on the next-to-last zipline was my least favorite – I seriously did not like balancing on that high-up wall and trying to pull down the sharks for my trolley to pass over. Piper almost panicked at that one, but she reigned it in bravely and conquered it.

Can you guess which little Keigley was the least afraid throughout the entire experience? If you guessed Otto then you guessed right. That little man is as fearless as they come. He was usually the leader on our excursion and would continually look back at us and ask, “Can I head to the next one guys?” with the biggest happy grin all shining out of his sweet boy face.

TreeTop Adventure course at Asheville Adventure Park

One thing I really appreciated about the Asheville Adventure Park was that, after we finished our zipping, I assumed we were done. One ride, so to speak. But nope – the staff smiled and said, “Want to go again?” Which we did, of course! Because on the second round, you felt more like an expert and could be a little bolder. By the third round, yep – the third round – Bergen was putting his hands behind his head, relaxing style, and zipping across like a champ. I loved that you could go round and round as often as you wanted. It certainly would make you feel as if you received your money’s worth.

The Big Courses at Asheville TreeTops Adventure Park

After we had all the zipping we could handle, we stared up in wonder at the Asheville TreeTops Adventure Park, situated right beside the KidZip area. It looked fascinating and terrifying and awesome and challenging and exactly like something we all wanted to try but were afraid to try – all at the exact same time. The TreeTop Adventure park ages range from 4 and up, though some of the higher-up and more difficult courses should be reserved for older kids and adults.

The obstacles were wild – lily pads two stories up that you jumped across, a kayak strung between trees about five stories high that you paddled across on ropes and air, skinny wires to walk on, trapezes to swing through the trees, hula hoops dangling between trees, ropes swinging for balance, a slide to come down and so so much more. We gulped and decided we’d try that adventure too.

The really great thing about the TreeTops Adventure Park is the fact that its appeal is so wide to so many ages. There are five courses of varying levels and enough dizzying challenges to frighten even the most adventure loving grown up big kid.

The hook-up and safety procedures for the TreeTops Adventure Park were a bit different. You are always attached to your harness and the wires through the use of two hooks and a cleverly designed system using tweezles. (Yes, that’s a real word.) It is impossible for both tweezles to be unlocked at the same time so you can trust that you (and your beloved kiddos) are safe and sound and secure.

There is definitely a learning curve to the tweezles and I’d say the kids got the hang of it before I did. It was certainly a big part of the challenge to switch your carabiner from side to side while balancing on a little platform far up in the trees. There were several obstacles for which I was legitimately scared. I think I would have liked to have tried to challenge myself to some of the even harder courses but time didn’t allow for that bravery. (Yep, I’m blaming time when it was probably because I was too scared!)

We could have stayed for hours and hours longer but we did eventually grow hungry and exhausted. We had so much fun and we all were steady non-stop talking about which obstacle was the scariest and how hard it was or how easy it was or how scary it was. London, my stay-at-home-every-day kind of kid, pulled me aside as we were turning in our gear and whispered, “Momma – I’m sorry for not having the best attitude about this trip when you told us about it. It was way more fun than I ever thought it would be.”

Planning Your Family Trip to Asheville Adventure Park

Asheville Treetops Adventure Park features lots of other options for adventurous souls. There is one of the more popular Asheville zip line canopy tours, a bungee-style jump, and the Kolo bike park for mountain biking with bike rentals and pump tracks.

I know I have an unusually large family. (Although, ironically, lately London says she feels as if our family is small. I think I agree with her. It’s all perspective, people.) But I know not everyone has to fork over entry fees for five kids when they take adventures.

The prices at Asheville Adventure Park seem high. It’s pricier than a movie, for sure. (Although, not by much!) You certainly do get a lot of bang for your buck. After having spent a long morning at the park though, I can guarantee, the prices are worth it!

The adventure is fun. The challenges are great. The bonding can’t be beaten. Sharing pictures and telling others what you can’t even believe that you conquered – just the perfect amount of thrill. It’s so conveniently located that you can treat it as a staycation option or as a choice for when out-of-town friends come for a weekend visit. Reservations are recommended, especially if you plan to travel with a larger group.

Asheville Treetops Adventure Park
1 Resort Drive
Asheville, NC 28803

See Asheville Treetops Adventure Park website for current hours and directions. Call: 828.225.2921

I hope you decide to go. And I hope you take lots of pictures and I hope you get to make as many sweet and solid memories with your cool kids as I got to make with mine.

Are your kids brave enough for Asheville Adventure Park?

Things to do in Asheville, North Carolina

Looking for more to do in Asheville? Check out KA’s Ultimate Guide to Things to Do in Asheville, NC

Explore Ocean Animals and Meet Penguins at Ripley’s Aquarium: Myrtle Beach Reviews

If you are looking for things to do in the Myrtle Beach area, you should certainly consider a trip to Ripley’s Aquarium. Myrtle Beach reviews of the aquarium say it is an excellent choice for a family-friendly outing. Plus, it is located at Broadway at the Beach, one of Myrtle Beach’s most visited attractions.

This two-story attraction includes multiple touch tanks, a shark tunnel, and lots of fish, jellies, frogs, and more to watch and learn about. There has also been a recent expansion, with the Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach now having a penguin exhibit! Here’s what you need to know for your visit.

Thank you to Visit Myrtle Beach and Ripley’s Aquarium for hosting us for this review. To read all about our adventures at Myrtle Beach, see our Spring Break Itinerary for Myrtle Beach.

I’ve actually been to at least 5 other aquariums, two of which were outside the US. I was pleased to find that the Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach was very clean and brightly decorated, had several significant exhibits such as the shark tunnel and tank, and that the hands-on exhibits were all in working order. The aquarium is a smaller aquarium, but still has so much to explore!

Lower Level Exhibits at Ripley’s Aquarium: Myrtle Beach, SC

Ray Bay

This tank is full of rays and sharks! The Ray Bay sting-ray exhibit at Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach has a full tank where you can watch divers swimming in the tank at showtimes, hand-feeding the rays. That part is pretty neat. The touch tank in the shallow area is one of my favorite exhibits at the aquarium.

This large, shallow area allows you to touch the stingrays! You can run your hand along their back as they glide past you in the tanks, feeling their smooth skin. These stingrays are really large and it’s fascinating to watch them up close. This exhibit can get pretty crowded on super busy days, so keep that in mind if you’re wanting to get to the edge of the touch tank.

Dangerous Reef

Dangerous Reef at Ripley’s Aquarium is one of the coolest exhibits they have. This extra large shark tunnel and tank has a number of fish that swim above and around you. It is amazing watching the sharks swim overhead in the shark tank.

There are thousands of fish, which makes for a lot of awe while you travel down the tunnel on a convey belt glide path. This is where you will find most of the large fish, including large sharks, at Ripley’s Aquarium.

Ripley's Aquarium dangerous reef exhibit

Rainbow Rock

Rainbow Rock, aka the Indo-Pacific Coral Reef, is a super colorful exhibit of fish and animals. These fish are from the Indo-Pacific and include Clownfish, Blue Tang, Clown Trigger-fish, and Emperor Angelfish. The reef itself is pretty neat since most of us have never or may never see a reef up close in person. The exhibit is a great way to learn about their defense mechanisms and why they have such bright coloring.

Living Gallery

My little kids absolutely loved this exhibit. The Living Gallery includes some of the ocean’s most beautiful creatures such as seahorses, jellies, and living coral. My favorite animal on the planet, the Octopus, can be found here. They also have some really cool sea dragons, which are relatives of seahorses, but look way cooler.

Sloth Valley

The Sloth Valley makes you feel like you’re in the rainforest while hanging out with two-toed sloths, Rico and Cleo.

Upper-Level Exhibits at Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, SC

Rio Amazon

I love the rainforest. The biodiversity is spectacular, and being able to see even a snippet of what lives there was really cool and fed my inner ecology nerd. The Rio Amazon exhibit at the Ripleys Aquarium has piranhas, colorful poisonous dart frogs, rainforest native fish, and more. They also have freshwater stingrays, which I honestly did not know existed until our visit.

Friendship Flats

If you’re wanting to learn even more about stingrays, you can head upstairs to the Friendship Flats exhibit, where you can touch stingrays as they glide by. You can also get an educational lesson on the rays, horseshoe crabs, and more from the Aquarium Educators. If you are super adventurous and willing to fork out the money, Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach offers a Stingray Experience where you can swin alongside the rays.

Tropical Rainforest

In this exhibit, you can see amphibians like axolotl, iguanas, and other reptiles that live in the rainforest!

Planet Jellies

This exhibit was pretty cool, not going to lie. The way the Planet Jellies exhibit is set up, you can watch several types of jellyfish swim through the color-changing displays. The way the lighting plays off of the jellyfish’s colors really adds to the experience, making it super fun to watch.

There are moon jellies, Japanese Sea Nettles, and even unique-looking jellies like the Upside Down Jelly to watch. My 3-year-old was mesmerized by the jellies floating around the tanks, so we spent a good bit of time here in awe of them gliding through the water.

New Addition: Ripley’s Penguin Playhouse

Though we didn’t get to visit this particular exhibit during our visit, this recent expansion has people talking. Ripley’s Aquarium Myrtle Beach reviews sound amazing, so we had to mention it! With over 5500 square feet added on to the aquarium, the addition offers penguins, 8 new tanks with a worldly array of fish, classrooms, and more!

One of the key features of the expansion is the penguin exhibit, with 21 penguins you can observe (and potentially interact with!). The Ripley’s Aquarium website has all of the penguins’ names and information, so you can learn about their personalities. The exhibit also has a 360-degree tunnel you can crawl through as penguins swim above you. There is even a penguin nursery! How adorable.

Other features at Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, SC

There was a small playground and food court available. The playground was more suited for small children and provided a nice break.

One of the exhibits Systems Control allows you to see the pipes, pumps, and filters behind the scenes that keep all the tanks running smoothly.

You can pay an additional fee to ride the Glass Bottom Boat across a coral reef for a close look at the shark tank.

The aquarium also offers swimming with stingray adventures for a fee.

The new penguin exhibit also has penguin encounters for a fee, where you can get up close and personal with those adorable little birds.

If you are interested in the ecology of the aquarium, you can purchase tickets for the Marine Science Research Center Tour, where you will get a behind-the-scenes look at Ripley’s Aquarium.

Be sure to check online before your visit to find out what shows are going on that day. You can even see a Mermaid show on some weekends.

Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach: Ticket Information

Ticket prices for the Ripley’s Aquarium are $12.99 for kids 3-5, $26.99 for kids 6-11; $39.99 for 12 and older. Purchasing online also allows you to skip the long ticket booth lines. (Note: prices may change, please check the website for current deals).

You can also purchase Ripley’s bundle and save money if you want to also visit additional Ripley’s Attractions during your trip to Myrtle Beach. The aquarium also has online deals for tickets that include animal encounters, breakfast with mermaids, pancakes with penguins, and more!

About Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach

Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach Website
1110 Celebrity Circle
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
800.734.8888

Have you ever been to Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach? What did you think?

Travel Guide to Coastal SC: Myrtle Beach

Plan Your Trip to the Coast
KA’s Guide to Myrtle Beach

Winter Off-Season Makes for an Excellent Time to Visit the Coast!

5+ Destinations that make a Perfect Day Trip for Couples

Are you looking for fun day trips for couples? In this busy world, it is important for couples to spend quality time together, without the kids. And when a date night just won’t cut it, a day trip may be exactly what the doctor ordered.

Local mom Anna put together this list of places perfect for any couple to escape to when they need to reconnect. Whether you want to head north to the mountains or south to the water this list has something for you!

Now that school’s in session, how about some parent time for Mom and Dad? In this list, we attempted to put together some destinations outside of Greenville but only about a 2 hour drive or so. Consider this the start of a new tradition in your household and a chance to spend some quality time with your significant other.

Want to venture a little further from home? Visit our travel page – it is loaded with inspiration!

Although this requires some advanced planning such as booking a babysitter ahead or coordinating afterschool pick-ups, once you have it all lined up, it will truly be worth it. We believe parents deserve some kind of pampering and fun on their own. We’re pretty sure once you get started, you can come up with your own. Do share with us, if you find some good ones!

Romantic Asheville

A mountain city, Asheville is teeming with activities for day-trippers filled with glorious views of the Blue Ridge Mountain. Our favorite of course is the Biltmore Estate which has restaurants and cafes on site as you take a break from viewing the vast property. We recommend dining at the stables, moderately priced, and everything they serve is sourced from the farms within the property. Try to arrive by 10 am so you have enough time for lunch and start heading back by 4 pm in time for dinner with the kiddies.

Our second choice for Asheville is the The Omni Grove Park Inn. A historic resort built in 1913, the hotel was designed in the Arts and Crafts tradition by Edwin Wiley Grove, a pharmaceutical manufacturer and his son-in-law Fred Seely. The hotel was resold in 1955, but most of the original design has been retained. It boasts one of the grandest lobbies we’ve seen next to the Biltmore mansion flanked by the biggest 12-foot fireplaces. Scattered all around the lobby is a sampling of authentic and inspired mission furniture.

Stunning views can be soaked in at the in the beautiful views without having to pay the steep room prices. For a fancy lunch, book a date at the Sunset Terrace or admire the same views from the more casual, dine at the Great Hall Bar. For something to do, in addition to exploring the resort property, we highly recommend either an afternoon at their luxurious top-rated spa or visiting the Grovewood Village. Here you will find probably the one of the best Antique Car Museums in our part of the country, see the Biltmore Homespun Museum, walk thru the sculpture garden and shop for special souvenirs at the Gallery of the Mountains.

Biltmore Estate
One Lodge Street, Asheville, NC
Biltmore Estate Website
800.411.3812

The Omni Grove Park Inn
290 Macon Ave, Asheville, NC
800.438.5000
The Omni Grove Park Inn Website

Lake Murray in Chapin

If you love being close to the water but can’t do the long drive to the coast, Lake Murray, a water reservoir with about 500 miles of shoreline, is a great easy escape. Walk across Lake Murray Dam, rent a motorboat to explore the waterways, go fishing or hit the beach on the Lexington side. Feeling romantic, visit the Love Lock Bridge, clip a padlock to the fence and proclaim your undying love by throwing away the key. Paris may have lost their love lock bridge in Pont des Arts due to tough love by local police, but for now, Lake Murray remains a haven for romantics.

Suggested places for lakeside dining: Rusty Anchor Restaurant for some great seafood and surf and turf combinations, Frayed Knot Bar & Grill for more dining options and finally Liberty Tap Room on the lake for some pizzas and light brews. Before you go, or for more information on Lake Murray Public Park, please call 888.383.5032.

Lake Murray, Lexington side
1797 North Lake Drive Lexington
Monday – Friday, 11 am – 8 pm
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays, 10 am – 8 pm
$5 per vehicle
Season pass can be purchased for $50
Lake Murray Website

Vineyards Tour in Yadkin Valley

A trip to Raffaldini Vineyards will transport you to the Italian countryside and a great early foray into the Yadkin Valley wine trail. One could easily design a weekend escape around this destination with the numerous vineyards around the valley. Tour their estate grounds and learn about how they use Appasimento, an Italian method for incorporating dehydrated grapes into wine. As for dining, we highly recommend packing a lunch that pairs well with wine or grab some light sandwiches and nibbles from their commissary. They offer a full calendar of events you can attend on their website here.

Raffaldini Vineyards
450 Groce Road, Ronda, NC
Monday, Wednesday – Saturday, 11 am – 5 pm
Sunday 12 pm – 5 pm
Closed Tuesdays
336.835.9463
Raffaldini Vineyards Website

Nature Day Trip: Congaree National Park

The perfect day trip for more adventure driven couples, Congaree National Forest, is a perfect Fall hike since it will be less buggy and the weather will be cooler. South Carolina’s very own National Park, the Congaree National Park is filled with such unique natural wonders that we are so glad it received its official designation in 2003. The park preserves the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States! Allot a half-day or full day to explore the forest

. Make sure to bring your camera, lots of water, bug spray and wander through dramatic marshland with a self-guided boardwalk tour. Be on the lookout for the unique Bald Cypress trees and their knobby “knees” scattered throughout the forest. If you are an avid kayaker, this would be the place, just make sure call ahead to check water conditions and mosquito meter! Bring your own or rent canoes and kayaks in the Columbia area. Picnics are the order of the day for this trip, but there are also lots of local BBQ places around the park if you get hungry.

Congaree National Park
100 National Park Road, Hopkins
Congaree National Park is open 24 hours a day year round. The Harry Hampton Visitor Center is open 7 days a week, 9 am – 5 pm.
803.776.4396
Congaree National Park Website

For Foodie and History Buffs: Athens, Georgia

Athens is a college town steeped in history with a vibrant contemporary music and restaurant scene. Our favorite restaurants to try are the high-end National, hearty brunch at Mama’s Boy or a eat by the tracks and have some good ol’ BBQ at Pulaski Heights BBQ. Athens has a great vegetarian restaurant called The Grit. For things to do, Athens is the gateway to Georgia’s Antebellum Trail and you will have lots of options to view house museums, heritage sites and historical districts.

Your first stop should be to get a map at the Athens Georgia Welcome Center located in the Church-Waddel-Brumby House Museum. If you can get away for a weekend, enjoy some live music at Georgia Theater, 40 Watt or at the Furnace. Athens is also known as the place that launched the careers of R.E.M. and the B-52’s, but we’re pretty sure you already knew that!

Athens Georgia Welcome Center
280 E Dougherty Street, Athens, GA
Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm
706.353.1820
Athens, Georgia Welcome Center Website

Bonus: Julep Farms in Dillard, GA

With a delicious restaurant featuring American cuisine and a beautiful farm setting, you can spend the whole day here. Feed the animals, play some farm games, and don’t forget the Mint Julep cocktail.

Read all about it in our Julep Farms review.

julep farms chicken coop and garden dillard ga

Julep Farms Website
Julep Farms Instagram
500 Hwy 246, Dillard, GA 30537

Do you have a day trip idea to add to our list?

Looking for more fun date night ideas in Greenville, SC? Read our Ultimate Date Night Guide to Greenville.

Rides, Shows, and Fun at Dollywood: Parent Review & Tips You Want

Dollywood is such a perfect destination from Greenville! At just about three hours from the Upstate, it’s a favorite with Kidding Around readers and their families. See what advice Kidding Around’s Bethany had to offer after most recent trip at the park in Pigeon Forge in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.

Kidding Around review of Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Find a place to stay near Dollywood. This article contains Stay22 affiliate links.

Why We Keep Coming Back to Dollywood (With Kids AND Grandparents)

🎠 Preschooler-friendly rides like Busy Bees, Frogs & Fireflies, and the indoor Hidden Hollow playground
🚂 Family rides everyone can enjoy, including old-school water rides like Dollywood Express and River Rampage
🎢 Coasters for big kids & teens—Dragonflier, Big Bear Mountain, Wild Eagle, and more
🎭 Great Shows: Gazillion Bubble Show, Stunt Dog Experience (fun for all ages!)
🌳 Playgrounds and Splash Zones throughout the park, plus tons of shade and rest spots
🍞 Great food options—don’t miss the famous Cinnamon Bread at The Grist Mill
✨ Clean & friendly park with helpful staff and thoughtful details for families

Only 3 hours from Greenville, Dollywood is an easy getaway that works for toddlers, teens, and grandparents alike.

App Tip: Download the Dollywood app before you go—it’s great for checking showtimes, ride wait times, and setting reminders for meet-and-greets.

Why You Should Consider Dollywood For Your Next Theme Park

I’ll be honest; we truly have such great family memories from visiting Dollywood that I’m not even quite sure where to start. During our visits, I always notice the carefulness and attentiveness of the Dollywood theme park staff. The park was well-maintained, clean, and attractive.

This year marked our third Dollywood trip with our children and their grandparents. We’ve visited the park now with our kids from the ages of 2 to 17 and still have a great time.

Dollywood: Review of The Rides & Play Areas

From all our years of visits to Dollywood, we are impressed by how there are rides for all ages and thrill level. Here’s how our multi-generational crew had fun from when our kids were little to now that they are teens.

Rides Even a PreK Age Kid Would Love

As a family with young children, we were thrilled by how many rides even our little ones could enjoy.

Our five-year-old could ride several small roller coasters and most other rides with an adult.
Our two-year-old happily rode attractions specially designed for toddlers in the Country Fair:
- Busy Bees
- Amazing Flying Elephants

Wildwood Grove also has a few low-thrill rides for younger children, plus lots of shady paths and splash areas perfect for preschoolers.

Staff Shoutout: We noticed that Country Fair attendants were especially kind and quick to help if a little one got scared or changed their mind by pausing a ride and helping a kid off so that the experience stayed positive for everyone.

✅ Family Tip: Stop by the Centralized Measuring Station when you enter the park. Your child will get a colored armband showing which rides they’re tall enough for—no surprises in line!

Rides for the Entire Family

Some of our favorite moments were the rides we all did together. These were easygoing enough for everyone to enjoy, but still fun:

Dollywood Express: A scenic ride on a coal-fired steam engine through the Smoky Mountains. Pro tip: Avoid naptime! One of ours when they were young had a meltdown mid-ride—and there’s no getting off once it starts rolling.
Blazing Fury: Another great rollercoaster for younger riders is Blazing Fury, which starts as a sightseeing ride through a mine but ends with a minecart off the rails twist. This rollercoaster only has a couple of small hills and quick twists but is completely dark in the last seconds of the ride.
River Rampage: This 6 person raft is a ride that you might want to wear your water shoes for. It’s not too scary, but you will definitely get wet.

✅ Travel Tip: Keep a set of dry clothes and shoes in the car so that you can change if you accidentally get wet in the park or get caught in a storm.

Roller Coasters for Big Kids and Adults

Once our kids were tall enough (and brave enough!), the big coasters became a huge part of our Dollywood adventures. Here’s what our thrill-seekers loved:

Wild Eagle: Smooth, fast (up to 60 mph!), and full of loops. It’s a standout for both teens and adults. While this ride is fast and scary, the harness fits snugly which can help some kids feel more secure.
Lightning Rod: A wooden coaster with hot-rod theming. It’s wild, fast, and a huge hit with older kids.
Big Bear Mountain: Opened in 2023, this one zooms through Wildwood Grove with surprise launches and a fun bear-chase storyline.
Dragonflier: Also in Wildwood Grove, this one lets your feet dangle and is a great “first big coaster” for tweens and teens.
Mystery Mine: This coaster has been on my family’s favorite list from the time the kids were tall enough to ride all the way up to teens.
Thunderhead: We got to ride at the very front of this coaster at night this year, and it was an experience we will never forget.

✅ Parent Tip: Use Dollywood’s Parent Swap option. One parent rides while the other waits with younger kids—then you swap without waiting again!

In addition to the Dollywood rides, my kids enjoyed playing in the playgrounds and water spray areas of the park.

Wildwood Grove at Dollywood

When you go to Dollywood, head right for Wildwood Grove because there is so much to see and do for your whole family! Wildwood Grove is based upon adventure, curiosity, and a little fairy dust. It beckons guests to use their imagination to explore a world with exciting possibilities around every corner. You enter Wildwood Grove through what looks to be an old tree and wind your way past the Treetop Tower and Giant Tree Swing, back towards the indoor playground at Hidden Hollow and splash pad at Wildwood Creek.

Our kids loved every minute we spent here because they not only got to experience age-appropriate adrenaline rushes in the rides but really did feel like they got to explore a world that was uniquely set up to trigger their imaginations. For both kids and adults, we mostly live a life of structure, and it’s good to get out of that box and have fun together and try new things, which is exactly what is encouraged at Wildwood Grove.

Plan to spend at least a couple of hours at Wildwood Grove throughout your time at Dollywood. We started the day there, and before we knew it, it was time for lunch. We headed back at the end of the day to go back on our favorite rides and see if the Dragonflier line was shorter (it wasn’t – the ride is crazy popular).

Let’s Eat & Meet in Wildwood Grove!

You can’t go anywhere in Dollywood without smelling the delicious food offered throughout the park, and Wildwood Grove is no different. Till & Harvest is the anchor restaurant at Wildwood Grove. They serve Smoky Mountain Mexican cuisine like burrito bowls, with grilled meat and vegetables.

A sweet shop is located next door, and there are popcorn stands and ice cream carts throughout the area. Don’t forget that free ice water is offered at most concession stands and all restaurants. This was a lifesaver for my kids and me throughout our time at Dollywood.

There are also Meet & Greets with characters at Wildwood Grove, which we totally missed because I forgot to set the reminder on the Dollywood app, which you should absolutely download for your trip there. So if you’d like to meet some cute bears and fairies, set that reminder on your app.

Rides at Wildwood Grove

Here are all the rides offered at Wildwood Grove:

Frogs & Fireflies
A super cute ride for little kids where they get in a frog or firefly car and bounce around in circles in a motorized ride.
Giant Tree Swing
An old school favorite updated to be in Wildwood Grove’s theme, the Giant Tree Swing is a big boat-like swing that goes back and forth, getting higher and higher each time. We did this a couple times as it was a favorite of my kids.
Hidden Hollow
This is the most genius activity in Wildwood Grove, so props to Dollywood for thinking of it. Hidden Hollow is a black-lit indoor playground for kids that also has comfy seats for parents. There are slides, sensory objects, climbing apparatuses, and a section for kids under three years of age. Again, this is indoors – which means a nice, cool, respite from the summer heat. And it’s located right next to the restrooms.
Dragonflier
This roller-coaster is crazy popular and looks like quite the thrill ride for people of any age, yet even my almost 5-year-old was big enough to ride. But she chickened out, so we had to back out. If you decide to go on this ride, go first when you get there or get the TimeSaver pass and use it to skip the line here. Guests need to be at least 39”.
Big Bear Mountain
This roller-coaster is a fast and fun ride through the story of getting chased by a bear. It’s also the longest coaster at the park.
Wildwood Creek
Another genius creation in Wildwood Grove is the creek, which is basically a splash pad, which feels divine in 90+ degree heat.
Treetop Tower
A non-scary ride for any age that goes up and spins around a couple of times before coming back down. Guests need to be at least 36”.
Mad Mockingbird
I could have gone on this ride all day long. It’s a swinging ride from the carnival days of my youth but way better. Guests sit in a swing that looks like a mockingbird and are spun around in the air to the point where it feels like you’re flying. There’s a handle where you can move the bird’s wings to make the swing change position in the air. Guests need to be at least 36”.
Black Bear Trail
Guests ride around on a motorized bear through some bushes and trees. It’s cute and great for kids, although I saw plenty of adults riding around on the bears, which was hilarious. Guests need to be at least 36”.

Dollywood Shows You Don’t Want to Miss!

When the kids were little, they loved The Little Engine Playhouse. I love children’s books, so I was delighted to find out that the shows were based on books. I was equally impressed that the performances kept not only me entertained but my two-year-old mesmerized. Outside The Little Engine Playhouse, we also had fun watching a small magic show.

Now that my kids are older, we’ve found even more shows to enjoy together. This year, we made time for the Gazillion Bubble Show—and it was incredible. The special effects, music, and unbelievable bubble tricks had all of us (teens and adults included) totally hooked. Last year, we also stopped by the Stunt Dog Experience, which features rescue dogs doing tricks, jumps, and agility stunts. It’s a heartwarming and high-energy show that’s perfect for all ages.

Dollywood Tip: Schedule a show during the hottest part of the day to give everyone a break from the heat! The Dollywood app is a great way to track showtimes and set reminders so you don’t miss anything.

Each summer features a different lineup of live entertainment—from bubble shows to dog stunt performances, and everything in between. The shows don’t run every day and the theaters fill up fast, so be sure to consult the daily schedule and arrive early.

This year we also visited in peak season and were able to see the nightly fireworks and drone show during Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration. It was a highlight of the trip—totally worth staying until closing time. The best view is near FireChaser Express at the top of the park. Most rides continue to run until closing, though a few near the fireworks area begin shutting down at dusk.

Dollywood Review of the Food

Outside-the-Park Tips

If you’re looking to save a little money or have picky eaters in your group:

Pack a meal and tailgate in the parking lot. Pack a couple of chairs in your trunk and don’t forget napkins.
Bring snacks and refillable water bottles. While outside food isn’t allowed in, sealed water bottles and baby food/formula are permitted. We have also brought in small snacks like granola bars without it being an issue.

Inside the Park: Food Worth Planning Around

Dollywood has built a reputation for theme park food that’s amazing and much better than just chicken fingers.

Dollywood Eats We Want to Eat Again!
🥖 Cinnamon Bread from The Grist Mill — a warm, gooey must-try
🦃 Giant Turkey Leg from Hickory House BBQ — perfect for sharing
🧀 Gouda & Bacon Loaded Tots from Potato Tornado — teen-tested, parent-approved
🐾 Buffalo Chicken Bear Paw from Ned’s Bear Paws (Splash Country)
🥤 Vanilla Milkshake from Red’s Dine-In — cool and creamy retro treat
🌀 BBQ Pork Twister Taters from Hickory House BBQ — crispy, savory, fun to eat

Dollywood Tip: You can get free ice water at any of Dollywood’s food vendors. This helps fight the heat of the summer.

The Dolly Parton Experience

New in 2024 is the Dolly Parton Experience where guests can walk through different Dolly museums that hold many of her dresses, shoes, and even wigs that she’s worn throughout her career. There are really cool sets of movies and shows she has been on, a room that looks like a giant bus as she made her way to Nashville, and papers that she wrote some of her most famous songs on.

You can also walk through her tour bus/RV. The Dolly Parton Experience is all part of your admission ticket is to your right when you walk into the park.

The entire experience is just so cool and you learn a lot about East Tennessee’s most famous resident and the stories behind her songs. My kids loved the “Dress Up Dolly” part where kids (or adults) use magnetic cutouts of Dolly’s dresses and wigs to dress her up on a big board in the Behind the Seams building.

Dress Up Dolly at Dollywood — Dress Up Dolly!

Definitely be sure to stop here during your time at the park. It’s worth the time to see many of Dolly’s over-the-top dresses and learn about the stories behind her most famous music.

Dollywood Extras

I felt like one of the biggest perks of visiting Dollywood was the unique variety of attractions for our family. Here are just a couple of the enjoyable spots we enjoy throughout the park:

Local craftsmen and shops full of handmade items.
A wild bird preserve
Lots of scenic spots & plenty of shade and benches

Baby-Care Stations
If you are breast-feeding or bottle-feeding an infant, you will be happy to find out that Dollywood does have a nursing station with gliders and a changing station. I also noticed several family bathrooms throughout the park. The bathrooms are well-maintained and clean during our visit.

First-Aid Stations
We managed to scrape a knee within moments of getting in the park and had the opportunity to visit the first-aid station. The nurse was able to save the day by applying an Angry Bird bandage to my kid’s knee.

More Dollywood Tips for Families

Dollywood Quick Tips for Families

🚼 Baby care stations offer gliders, changing areas, and clean family restrooms
🍼 Restaurants can warm bottles for bottle-feeding parents
🎟️ Use the Parent Swap pass to take turns on thrill rides without waiting twice
📏 Visit the Centralized Measuring Station to get a colored armband for ride eligibility
🧃 While outside food isn’t allowed, you can leave and re-enter the park on the same day with a hand stamp
🚉 Don’t skip the tram—there’s stroller parking at the front of each tram car
🎢 Try the coaster sample seats outside each ride to check comfort before waiting in line
💧 Ask any food vendor for free ice water (total lifesaver in summer!)
🩴 Bring extra clothes or water shoes for splash zones and River Rampage
📱 Download the Dollywood app to check wait times, show schedules, and meet-and-greets
🎟️ Turn your day ticket into a season pass credit before leaving
👶 Look for the Preschooler Season Pass—it’s free with paid adult admission
🎓 Homeschool families can visit during Homeschool Days for discounted tickets
🎟️ Planning a longer stay? Choose a 2- or 3-day pass to visit Dollywood and Splash Country together

I received media tickets in order to write about Dollywood but this post contains my honest opinion about our trip. We had such a great time that we have made several additional family trips to Dollywood since the original publication of this review.

More To See At Dollywood

The team at Kidding Around are huge fans of the country music legend and her amusement parks and because of that, there is no shortage of information from our trips to share with readers. If you are planning a trip to Dollywood, we encourage you to make the most out of your trip with the information offered on Kidding Around.

Homeschool Days
If you are looking to have an adventure, Dollywood will be offering Homeschool Days for families that are utilizing the homeschool option. These days focus on mostly science and math – and really, what’s cooler than learning about the laws of physics by riding a roller coaster?
Christmas At Dollywood – Smoky Mountain Christmas
The famous theme park becomes a mecca with over five million lights draped across every single building. Shows like It’s A Wonderful Life play throughout the month-long festival. And a Christmas parade is held nightly at 8:15 pm, an engaging entertainment show full of lights and colors.
Splash Country Water Park
Dollywood is a popular place to visit for Greenville families as it’s tons of fun and only three hours away. While you’re there, you can beat the heat by spending some time at Dollywood’s Splash Country.

Dollywood
2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd, Pigeon Forge, TN

For more information on the area surrounding Dollywood, check out the Kidding Around Guide to the Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg areas of Tennessee

Have you ever visited Dollywood? What was your experience?

Learn to Fence at Foothills Fencing Academy

Want to learn to fence in Greenville, SC? Check out Foothills Fencing Academy!

In college I was forced to choose between a multitude of courses worth only a couple credits to fulfill some obligation that I can’t remember now. But I do remember being psyched that Fencing was an option – so I signed up and couldn’t wait to wield my sword as a bad ass Medieval princess that I wish I was born as.

It was challenging but it was really, really fun. I had no idea the coordination and strength it took to learn the footwork, the proper way to earn points against your opponent, and the workout that every class entailed. I managed to pass the course, even toppling some of my male classmates in the process, and developed an unparalleled confidence that still lingers even today, long after my Russian instructor went back to coaching Olympians.

Here in the Greenville area, the Foothills Fencing Academy (FFA) is an awesome facility that teaches fencing to both kids and adults, even producing NCAA athletes and high-level fencers that go on to compete in worldwide tournaments.

Looking for more activities? Check out our Classes & Activities Guide in Greenville, SC!

Foothills Fencing Academy

The Foothills Fencing Academy is located in Piedmont, SC, only a 15-minute drive from downtown Greenville, and consists of a 4,000 square foot, air-conditioned facility with six tournament strips (they are like small runways but people-sized) which are on a raised wooden floor in order to provide better protection for joints than a concrete or tile floor.

The FFA offers open fencing time as well as classes and summer camps. The FFA is the finest fencing facility in the entire area and all their coaches are professional members of the USA Fencing, certified by the USFCA and have undergone background checks.

Why Fencing?

Fencing is a great way to develop coordination, agility, discipline, strength, balance and focus. Fencers must problem-solve quickly, assess situations, and learn how to think strategically – all crucial life-skills outside of the sport of fencing.

Fencing is also a wonderful activity to stay fit and healthy, work muscles from your feet and ankles all the way up through your shoulders and neck. It’s a sport of both mind and body.

Fall Classes

Whether you’re 8 or 38, Foothills Fencing Academy can introduce you to the fascinating sport of “Physical Chess” with their beginner classes for kids and their parents too! Beginner classes cover the basics – including the rules of fencing, footwork, blade work, and tactics. Fencers will develop coordination, discipline, speed, endurance and balance. By participating in three sessions of classes, students will learn the basic fundamentals of all three weapons. Oh yeah, its a fun sport in an air conditioned facility!

In addition to adult, family, and youth classes, private lessons are available as well. Plus they host homeschool groups, after-school groups, or church groups.

They provide all the safety equipment for an introductory period but fencers must purchase their own gear after two months of training.

Beginner Classes

Beginner classes, also known as Fencing 101, run in 4 week sessions and begin September 9th. But no worries if you’re not that quick because new classes will kick off again throughout the fall! There are two age groups: ages 7-12 and ages 13+ years old. All equipment needed is furnished for the first two months; all you need is the right clothing! Cost is $125.

For more details visit their website or call 864.593.3684.

Adult Beginner Classes

Fencing is a sport for all ages! The USA Fencing Association sanctions tournaments for adults, beginning with competitors as young as 13 years of age, as well as exclusive tournaments for specific age brackets ranging up to 70 years and over! This is also a great class to share some time for parent and teen.

Beginner classes for age 8-10: A weekly one hour session introduces students to fencing while improving coordination and critical thinking. Coaches use a mixture of fun games and discipline teach your child the basic fundamentals they need to begin fencing.

Beginner Classes for ages 8-18: This hour-long class introduces your child to each of the three Olympic style fencing weapons. Students learn to move and hit safely. They are introduced to the basic rules, footwork, blade work, and tactics of each weapon.

Family Beginner Classes: these are a great chance to get the whole family involved and learn a new sport.

The USA Fencing Association sanctions tournaments for youth, beginning with 10 and under programs. Boys and girls participate together locally, but compete separately at national tournament events. The coaches will use fencing games and lots of fun to introduce your child to this exciting sport!

Register today

Foothills Fencing Academy
1004 Piedmont Hwy
Piedmont, SC 29673
864.593.3684
foothillsfencingacademy@gmail.com
Foothills Fencing Website

Has your family ever tried Fencing?

Grab These Family Meals-to-Go Near Greenville, SC

Need to pick up dinner tonight in Greenville? These family meals to go in Greenville, SC can help!

Some nights there’s just not enough time to cook a home-cooked meal. When the days are tough, it’s helpful to grab a meal. You will also find some Spartanburg family meal deals listed to keep in mind. Here is a list of local restaurants where you can grab a meal for dinner tonight.

Family Meal Deals, Greenville and Spartanburg, SC

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Greenville Family Meal Deals

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We do our best to keep this list updated, but as always – please call before you head out and confirm.

Anthony’s Pizzeria

Located in Simpsonville, grab a pizza, and make the whole family happy. Curbside pickup is available.

Bobby’s BBQ

Family To Go Meal includes 1 pound of meat, 4 buns, 2 pints of sides. They are priced starting at $38.

Kidding Around Review Of Bobby’s BBQ

Black Sheep Catering

Order a take and bake meal from Black Sheep Catering and take the stress out of dinner. Pick up by 3 pm at their cafe in Piedmont. They have a new menu every week.

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen

Grab a family meal – or bundle as they call it – of chicken tenders, grilled salmon, or house salad. Prices range from $30.99 – $40.99. Bundles come with six honey butter croissants.

Chuy’s

Get a Fajita or Taco Kit for four people, an enchilada kit, or a nachos kit. Need a drink to go with your family meal? Add on margarita mix, and just add your own tequila.

CityRange Steakhouse

Check their website for the latest family meal offerings for both Greenville & Spartanburg. Some recent offerings were braised short ribs, bourbon chicken, chicken tenders, and smothered beef. The menu is all a la carte so you can choose whatever you want to add.

Feed & Seed Co.

Feed & Seed Co. at Judson Mill right outside downtown Greenville has meals to go in its freezers daily. This is a great option for after your kids play at the Play Cafe at Judson Mill or BlocHaven and you need something for dinner fast! Sign up for their newsletter to learn about special deals like Buy One, Get One Free.

Fork & Plough

The farm-to-table restaurant has a variety of offerings for family meals that are offered Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. Be sure to call in your order by 4 pm. Their menu on the Fork and Plough website.

Good to Go GVL

You can choose from various family meals and weekly specials at Good to Go GVL for your family. Get on their email list to stay updated on their latest offerings. This is also a great option for sending a meal to someone as they deliver!

Mike & Jeff’s BBQ

A family meal at Mike & Jeff’s BBQ comes with pulled pork, three sides, bread, and sweet tea.

Moe’s BBQ

Lots of delicious options for family “Haul it Home” meals that include pulled pork, chicken, and typical sides like baked beans, potato salad, and bread.

Portofino’s

Family meals feed four people and are $60 – and come with a bottle of wine.

Smoky Dreams BBQ

Get a big BBQ family dinner with pork/chicken, sides, buns starting at $44.

Kidding Around Review of Smoky Dreams BBQ

Don’t forget about our Kids Eat Free list for lots of places to dine around town and still save money!

More Family Meals-To-Go in the Upstate

Here are a few more family meal options we’ve seen in the past that our readers have recommended that are available all the time.

Viva Chicken

This Peruvian Rotisserie Chicken restaurant in Greenville, offers families a great deal on their signature chicken with 3 family-size side dishes for $24.99.

Kidding Around Review of Viva Chicken

Tropical Grille

This place was the one that readers recommended the most. They have a family meal for either four or eight people that is really awesome. I personally love Tropical Grille, which is a Cuban fast-food restaurant with a healthy twist. Their perfectly seasoned chicken and pork pair well with rice and steamed vegetables – and don’t forget their sauces, which are all amazing and delicious. A few readers even said that the family meals give them leftovers (yay!). No need to call ahead. Because of the suggestions of our readers, I did my own “research” and tried this out one night and did not disappoint – I had leftovers for the next day.

You can walk in and order these but they suggest calling ahead of you want the pork instead of chicken. See their website for locations.

Taziki’s

This place serves up healthy, Mediterranean cuisine that is fast and affordable. Everyone in the family will find something they love here. Taziki’s offers fresh take-home dinners for four people that include a Greek salad, basmati rice or roasted potatoes, and pita chips. You have to call two hours in advance though (or order online) and pick-up after 2 pm so plan ahead. They offer mostly meat options but do have a grilled vegetable option. Prices range from $49.99 up to $99.99 depending on your entrée of choice.

New York Butcher Shoppe

You can either sign up for the New York Butcher Shoppe email, which will give you the week’s menu, or call ahead. The email I got displayed mouth-watering bacon and cheddar stuffed pork chops, which came with French bread and a house salad.

Sun Belly Cafe

A haven for the vegetarians and vegans among us – and really, just those of us who love great food – is the Sun Belly Cafe in Greenville. Follow their Facebook page for their latest menu items and call or text them 24 hours ahead of when you want to pick up.

Henry’s Smokehouse

With three locations spread through Greenville and Simpsonville, Henry’s Smokehouse makes the decision to not cook a breeze. You order what you want online, including bulk items, pick a time and location for pickup, and you’re done. Super easy and very tasty.

Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack

Rocky’s offers several family-style chicken platters and family-style sides. And of course, you can grab a gallon of tea and either pint or quart-sized dips to go along with your family meal to go.

Olive Garden

At the time of this writing, the Olive Garden on Laurens Road offers a dinner-only Family Style lasagna meal to go that serves 4-12 people and includes Lasagna Classico made with Italian sausage and pan-seared beef, their Famous House Salad, and breadsticks. The price is $58.99-$89.99 and you can order online for same-day pickup.

Fountain Foods Market

209 S. Main Street, Fountain Inn

Grab a delicious take-and-bake meal from the new @fountainfoodsmarket on Main Street in Fountain Inn. They are right in downtown Fountain Inn, and we highly recommend their take-and-bake family meals, which are made right there in-house. The variety is amazing, and you can cook them the same day or put them in the freezer for when life is just too crazy and you have no idea what to make for dinner.

We loved their Beef Stroganoff, Chicken Pot Pie, and baked Provolone wedges.

Spartanburg Family Meal Deals

Tropical Grille

Online ordering can be done for all their locations, including the Spartanburg one.

City Range

The family meal deal serves 4 people and comes with the entree and sides. You choose 2 classic sides (steamed broccoli, blistered brussels, grilled asparagus, house salad, mashed potatoes, Citychips, fried okra, or brown rice). Online orders can be placed for both the Spartanburg and Greenville locations

Looking for somewhere new to eat in Spartanburg, SC? Check out the KA Guide to Spartanburg Restaurants

And here are some of the best restaurants in Greenville, SC!

Complete Restaurant Guide to Greenville, SC

For more great restaurants in Greenville, SC, don’t miss our Ultimate Guide to Restaurants Near Greenville, SC!

Enjoy a Perfect Day in Beautiful Flat Rock, NC

Ready for a day trip? Local mom Lacey Keigley and her family visited Flat Rock, NC. In this review, she is sharing insight on what not to miss if you visit Flat Rock with your family! It’s smaller than an amusement park, but it’s loads more fun. Just over the mountain, a short drive north of Travelers Rest, it’s an easy, beautiful drive. It’s a perfect place to spend a day.

Looking for even more travel ideas? Check out our travel page!

Easy Day Trips near Greenville, South Carolina

Looking for even more day trips near Greenville, SC? We’ve got you covered!

A morning in Flat Rock

Flat Rock Village Bakery

Opens at 8 am

Buy a scone, a muffin, or a danish and coffee or tea and dine on the back deck under the branches of a fabulous tree that grows up and around and right through the deck.

Carl Sandburg National Historic Site

Park your car and breathe in the fresh air. Wander up the lovely trail that takes you up to the Nobel Prize-winning author’s last home. Take a tour of his home – it’s only $10 for adults and $1 for kids under 15 years old, and it’s absolutely worth it to see a snapshot of his life, left as if he might be entering his old study at any moment.

If you’ve got energy and time on your side, take a hike that begins behind the home, near the adorable barn teeming with goats who are direct descendants of Sandburg’s wife’s prized goat herd. Little Glassy has a view completely worth the manageable trek. Very family-friendly. When you reach the giant rock and take a break, you can pull out one of your new books and read for a little bit on the mountain top.

Open 10 am – 4 pm daily.

Head right back to where you started for lunch. (And after your hike, you’ve earned your lunch.)

The Park at Flat Rock

Or, check out the super amazing playground at The Park at Flat Rock.

The Park at Flat Rock is free to visit and open dawn to dusk daily.

The Park at Flat Rock
55 Highland Golf Drive, Flat Rock, NC
828.697.8100

Afternoon in Flat Rock

Hubba Hubba BBQ

For lunch, we chose a local BBQ hot spot. Friends, you just won’t find tastier BBQ in North Carolina. Sure, they have great fish tacos and delicious sides (try their deviled eggs and potato salad) but it’s their classic BBQ that draws the crowds. You pick pork or chicken and then you add your own sauce choice. (I lean to the vinegar variety, but you’ve got options and none of them are bad.)

Open at 11 am daily. Closed on Sundays.

(If your kids just aren’t into BBQ, you can order a pizza from Flat Rock Village Bakery and let them have that. The seating is all outdoors and is combined in a convenient way with the bakery so it’s no problem to grab options from both restaurants.)

The Wrinkled Egg

After eating and drinking and feeling satisfied, step upstairs to The Wrinkled Egg – an endearing shop filled with quirky souvenirs, home decor, eclectic design, local art, and even a pet rabbit who loves to be petted, along with a few beautiful songbirds. Kids and grown-ups will quickly call this store their favorite.

Open 10 am – 5:30 pm most days.

SkyTop Orchard

If you happen to be visiting Flat Rock in late summer or fall you will want to drive back in the direction you came for a millisecond and turn right and head up to SkyTop Orchard.

You can’t beat the views and the apple picking is convenient and feels perfectly autumnal. If you have room remaining, you can dessert on fresh apple cider donuts and cold apple slushes – or warm apple cider, depending upon the weather and your mood. Either way, you won’t be disappointed. The kids can have a hayride, visit the animals, wander through the bamboo forest, or romp on the playsets. And you get to take him the best reminder of your day out – fresh North Carolina hand-picked apples! Before you go, be sure to read our tips for apple picking with kids!

Open 9 am – 5 pm daily until Labor Day Weekend and then 9 am – 6 pm until after DST ends.

Evening in Flat Rock

Flat Rock Wood Room

If you still have time, money, and inclination, stay for dinner and eat at the Flat Rock Wood Room.

Open until 8 or 9 pm most nights, closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Enjoy a movie or live theatre

You can catch a movie at the neatest local theatre – Flat Rock Cinema – with shows every day at 3 pm and 6:30 pm. (Closed Mondays.) You can order popcorn, but they also serve BBQ and full menu options.

You can even take in a live theatre show at North Carolina’s State Theatre – Flat Rock Playhouse.

That’s a full day packed and overloaded with all the good things the fabulous little town of Flat Rock has to offer you.

It may be small in size, but it is full and wide in charm and activity.

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting Flat Rock, NC?

Get Ripley’s Aquarium Tickets

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