Have you visited Grandad’s Apples? Fall is just around the corner, and your family might be hunting for the perfect apple orchard! We checked out Grandad’s Apples ‘N Such and had so much fun. You’ll find activities for kids at Grandad’s Apples ‘N Such, with beautiful views, and, of course, apples.
U-PICK: U-pick is open. Grandad’s asked that you follow their Facebook page for the latest updates.
Hendersonville, North Carolina is known for its delicious apples and it’s easy to see why on the drive up to Grandad’s Apples ‘N Such. There are a handful of orchards within a few-mile radius and several farm stands all selling the delicious fruit. On my quest to find the perfect apple orchard experience, I headed on over to Grandad’s, which I heard was pretty awesome.
Inside: A list of petting zoos and farms near Greenville, SC where kids can play with animals
Would a fun day be an adventure with your family to a farm or petting zoo near Greenville, SC? It’s hard to resist a photo of your child petting or interacting with a cute animal at a farm or petting zoo.
I know what you are thinking, “are there any petting zoos near me?”
Yes! There are quite a few! We’ve pulled together a huge list of petting zoos and farms where you can interact with animals. These farms and petting zoos are located near Greenville, SC, in Western North Carolina, Northern Georgia, as well as in Charlotte, NC, and the Midlands. So wherever you are, find a petting zoo near you, or a farm that makes a great day trip.
Our list includes places open year-round places to pet animals, plus seasonal farms, and mobile and event-based petting zoos. We have tried to make sure these are places that treat their animals kindly and with respect as well. If we missed any, let us know in the comments.
If you’re wondering “where are farms with animals near me?” the answer is likely somewhere close by. We’ve visited lots and lots of petting zoos and farms and added them to our lists. So yes, you will probably find a petting zoo on this list near you! Use the links below to navigate this list by location.
Cuddle with cows at Moo Cow Farms in Simpsonville. Visits are by appointment only and you get a tour of the pasture with the cows and opportunities to cuddle and engage with mom-fed, hand-feed cows, and potentially help feed bottle-fed babies. Totally awesome.
In Simpsonville, SC
Hours: By appointment only; you can find the most up to date availability here.
Admission: $12/person ages 3+ and includes one treat bag. Kids under 3 years old are free.
Pet and meet bottle-fed babies at Famoda Farm. Visiting this amazingly welcoming farm is FREE. Don’t forget to purchase ice cream from Amazing Grazin’ on-site ice cream or farm-fresh treats and groceries from Grazers when you visit the farm. Spend some time playing at the playground, too.
In Taylors/Tigerville, SC
Hours: Ice Cream: Friday 4pm to 8pm and Saturday 12pm to 8pm (these are the seasonal hours for June through September), Grazers Farm Store: 10 am to 6 pm Wednesday through Friday, Saturday 9 am to 1 pm, and closed Sunday-Tuesday. Hours may change seasonally.
Admission: Farm admission is FREE
Animals: Baby goats and cows, older goats and cows, donkeys, Twinkles the sheep, bunnies
If you love unicorns, Hidden Pasture Farm is the perfect place to take your kids. Plan to spend about an hour there. Be sure to check out the pony rides, they are a true memory maker!
In Fountain Inn, SC
Hours: Open only on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 4pm.
Admission: $12/person, 2 and under FREE. Pony rides are $7 and children must be at least 2 years old to ride ponies.
An alpaca farm that also has goats and chickens. Gloria, the owner, makes hats, scarves, mittens, and blankets from the alpaca’s fleece and gives great tours on the property.
In Townville, SC
Hours: Visitors are welcome by appointment. Admission: Free, donations accepted Animals: alpacas, miniature silky fainting goats, and chickens
Birthday Parties: Yes, they host birthday and other parties with reservations
Home of Red Clay Soap, Double Blessing Farm offers events throughout the year where you can visit the farm and the animals, including baby goats! The farm makes goat milk soap, and you can also sign up for field trips, homesteading classes, learn about the dairy, soapmaking, homeschool events, and more.
This isn’t a petting zoo actually. It’s way better! It’s a llama farm on an apple orchard in Hendersonville, NC where you get to interact with llamas, hike with them, and run with them through an obstacle course.
In Hendersonville, NC
Farm tours and hikes are by appointment but follow them on their Facebook page since they’ll post about upcoming hikes/tours.
Admission: Farm tours are $30/person, Orchard Llama Treks are $70/person.
This adorable farm is beautiful and has lots of great animals you can play with like goats, donkeys, bunnies, and even emus, horses, and cows. And it’s free!
In Nebo, NC (about an hour and 15 minutes from Greenville)
The WNC Nature Center not only has wolves, red pandas, lots of reptiles, otters, and several play areas, they also have a cute little petting zoo that’s included with admission.
In Asheville, NC
Hours: Daily 10 am – 4:30 pm, closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. Admissions closes at 3:30 pm.
Perhaps the only place that allows guests to get in the field and barn with the goats to play with them. There is also hiking and touring the house.
In Flat Rock, NC
Hours: The grounds are open from sunrise to sunset and the goat barn and pasture are open daily from 10 am – 4 pm. closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.
Admission: Free to enter the estate and play with the goats.
Animals: Goats and baby goats (Spring 2024) are here!
A beautiful drive from Greenville through the mountains to Waynesville in Western, NC, this farm has alpacas and lots of miniature animals like horses, cows, and donkeys. You can feed and interact with some of the animals. Read our review here.
We have a whole list of petting zoos and farms in the Midlands on our sister site Kidding Around Columbia. For all the best petting zoos in that area, you’ll want to head there. There are some pretty awesome options!
Pet, feed, and learn about animals at Goat Daddy’s Farm. We would suggest setting aside at least 1 to 2 hours of your day in order to get the full Goat Daddy’s experience! There is so much to see and learn and even some opportunities for hands-on experiences!
In Elgin, SC
The farm is open for private tours and events ONLY (As of August 2024) from 10 am to 7pm 7 days a week.
Admission: Age 2 and under- free, All other ages the tours start at $69+/person. Prices are subject to change.
Home to many exotic animals, the North Georgia Zoo offers several different encounters with the animals for guests. Admission includes a zoo tour and access to the petting zoo but the personal animal encounters are extra fees. Be sure to look at the age requirements if you are going to book an animal encounter.
In Cleveland, GA
Hours: Open year round but only on weekends some months and during the week others. It’s best to check their online calendar.
Admission: $37.99/adults, $35.99/kids 2-11 which includes admission to the Wildlife and Safari Park; petting farm only admission is $8/adults and $6/kids. personal animal encounters range from $12 up to $450/person.
Animals: Reptiles, birds, camels, wolves, zebras, lemurs, goats, water buffalo, alligators, and monkeys.
Just outside of Charlotte, this farm has lots of animals to see and pet, plus it offers wagon rides. Please note they only accept cash.
In Mooresville, NC
Hours: Hours are Monday- Saturday from 9 am – 1 hour before sunset (please arrive by 5 pm) Sunday from Noon – 1 hour before sunset (please arrive by 5 pm).
Admission: $15/adults, $11/ages 2-11; to include the wagon ride and animal feed, tickets are $21/adults, $15/ages 2-11.
These petting zoos and farms are open on a seasonal basis such as in spring or fall.
Denver Downs
One of the very best farms in the entire Upstate and a fall favorite for so many families in the area due to its award-winning corn maze, fall farm activities kids love, pig races, live entertainment, and a little petting zoo area.
In Anderson, SC
Hours: They are open daily from late September through mid-November for fall family fun; they also host springtime events. You can find specific dates on the Denver Downs website.
Admission: Fall event admission $15/person, Spring event admission $15/person
The Roper Mountain Science Center is part of the Greenville County School System and has a planetarium, science hall, and Living History Farm. They offer animal encounters with sea creatures during special events!
In Greenville, SC
Hours: Afternoon Explorations program starts on September 12, 2024 and is available on Thursdays and Fridays from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm *excluding days when RMSC is closed for holidays and Greenville County Schools scheduled breaks.
Hours: Summer Adventure program: June – July 2024. Check the Roper Mountain website for upcoming exhibits!
Admission: $15/adult, $14/child, kids under 3 FREE, RMSC members are free
The petting zoo is part of Tweetsie Railroad theme park near Boone, North Carolina.
In Blowing Rock, NC
Hours: Thursday-Monday from 10 am – 6 pm; Extended days and hours from May-October. Be sure to check their calendar for the latest hours of operation. The park is closed for winter, and reopens every April.
Admission: Included with admission to Tweetsie Railroad ($65/adults, $45/kids ages 3-12)
Animals: Goats, llamas, emus, miniature horses, miniature donkeys, and some fluffy sheep called an Olde English Babydoll Southdown Sheep
The family-run apple orchard is a fantastic fall destination with tons of great activities for kids – and they have a petting zoo with gentle goats and a pond where kids can feed fish (bring quarters!).
In Hendersonville, NC
Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Monday through Sunday. These hours are seasonal starting around July and ending in early November. Check their website before you go.
Admission: Free admission to the orchard. If you want to feed the animals, you can pay for a bucket but it’s free to pet them. The petting zoo is open on weekends but you can see the animals if they are out anytime.
If you’d like to plan an event like a birthday party, scout outing, or office event with animals, these places can either host you or will come to your location.
Zuber Petting Zoo
Based in Campobello, SC, Zuber Petting Zoo is a mobile-petting zoo with goats, pigs, chickens, llamas, cows, and more. 864.316.1302 | Zuber Petting Zoo Website
Safe Haven & Educational Adventures, Inc.
Safe Haven is a permanent sanctuary for exotic wildlife that have either been abandoned, abused, lost their home for some reason. They do educational programs, including birthday parties, and bring their animals to educate and be loved on. 864.246.4425 | Rescue Exotics Website
Critter Keeper
Super popular in the Upstate, the Critter Keeper “brings the jungle” to you for parties and events with reptiles and fluffy critters for kids to enjoy. 864.640.2295 | Critter Keeper Website
They have bunnies, alpacas, goats, and guinea pigs and bring all the cute animals right to you. They are located in Greenville. 864.346.6991 | Herbert and Friends Mobile Petting Zoo Facebook
Triple Lake Farm
A mobile petting zoo based in Easley, SC. They have miniature cows, goats, donkeys, and offer pony rides.
Located in Northern Georgia, Sam Path Petting Zoo has zebras, monkeys, camels, kangaroos, and all kinds of other animals perfect for a cute party. 706.717.8837 | Sam Path Petting Zoo Website
Jackson Farm: Sprinkle’s Mobile Petting Zoo
Right across the border in Western North Carolina, Jackson Farm will bring the zoo to you with their mobile petting zoo full of sweet animals like goats, unicorns, and bunnies. 828.273.9586 | Jackson Farm Sprinkle’s Mobile Petting Zoo Facebook
Inside: WNC Day trips you can take with your family.
Are you trying to fit a couple of day trips in? NC mountains, small towns, hiking trails, and waterfalls should definitely be on your to-do list when creating your itinerary for your upcoming day trips in WNC.
Here is our list of popular year-round day-trip destinations in Hendersonville, Asheville, and Brevard for families. This list includes everything from museums for kids to outdoor activities and much more! Plus, it’s just a short drive to all of these destinations from Upstate, South Carolina.
This guide is intended as a reference. While we will update it as necessary, the prices and hours listed here should always be verified by checking the official websites.
Greenhouse at the NC Arboretum
Day Trips in WNC: Asheville, NC
Enjoy the views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, visit an art gallery or two, and grab some delicious food while taking a day trip to Asheville, NC!
For more fabulous things to do and places to eat in Asheville, NC, don’t miss our Guide to Asheville, NC.
Biltmore Estate
Hours: Vary by attraction. Shop, dining, and other location and activities vary. Holiday hours will be listed on the website. Admission: Admission to the Biltmore House for adults (16 and up): starts at $80. Prices vary based on season and events Note: Discounts are available on the Biltmore website for advance purchase tickets. Website:Biltmore Estate Kidding Around® Review: Travel Review on Biltmore.
Asheville Botanical Gardens
Hours: Garden: Open dawn to dusk, 365 days a year Visitor Center: Open most afternoons (varies by month; see website for details). Admission: Free (donations encouraged) Website: Botanical Gardens
Asheville Museum of Science
Hours: Sunday: 1 – 5 pm Monday – Saturday: 10 – 5 pm Admission: $11.50 per person. Children 2 & under Free Website:Asheville Museum of Science
Folk Art Center
Hours: Open daily: 10 am – 5 pm Admission: Free Website:Folk Art Center
Grove Park Inn
Visit Asheville’s historic inn for overnight accommodations, dining, craft beer options, special events, or just to tour. One of Grove Park Inn’s most recognized events is the National Gingerbread House Competition. Website:Grove Park Inn
Beautiful gardens, with many water features and paths to roam. Kids will love the working model train outdoor display (April – October only). The garden is found close to the entrance of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hours: 8 am – 9 pm | Building and special exhibit hours vary Admission: Free (parking costs $20 per personal vehicle) Website:North Carolina Arboretum
Splasheville in Pack Square Park
Pack Square Park is a 6.5-acre public park in downtown Asheville. It houses Splasheville, a play place of water fountains that is exciting for kids of all ages. Hours: Fountain: 9 am – 8:30 pm during warm weather. Admission: Free Facebook:Asheville Parks & Recreation
Hours: Monday – Friday at 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm; Saturday at 11 am Admission: Tours: $12/adult; $8/child ages 7 – 12; Free for ages 6 and under Website: KA review of French Broad Chocolate Factory
Zen Tubing
Hours: Check the Zen Tubing website for specific hours and days open. Subject to change frequently Admission: $30+ per person with a tube. Bring your own tube for $25 per person Website:KA review of Zen Tubing
Explore Downtown Asheville
Exploring the downtown area of Asheville is a day trip in itself. There are lots of unique shops, plenty of restaurants to choose from, and you may even catch a drum circle at Pack Square. Learn more from our downtown adventure in Asheville, and how you can see it all on a trolley ride.
Learn why Hendersonville is known for its historic streets, unique shopping, and fantastic dining optionsin this handy guide.
VisitOur Apple Picking Guidefor our report about apple picking in the Hendersonville area, including popular destinations such as Sky Top Orchard.
Carl Sandburg Home
Carl Sandburg Home and Goat Farm
Hours: See alerts for the latest hours. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day Admission: Free to visit grounds, trails, and barns; 10 am – 4 pm daily Guided house tours: Call ahead* Website: KA review of the Carl Sandburg home Carl Sandburg Home and Goat Farm
This scenic overlook is easy to access and has an interesting legend that has been passed down for around 300 years. Hiking and picnic spots are also nearby. Note: Some of the hiking is a little steep for young children, but the overlook itself is easily accessible. Admission: Free Website:Jump Off Rock Kidding Around® Review of Jump Off Rock
Hours: Open year-round, Contact the farm directly for hours and reservations Admission: $30 per person; Llama hikes are between $50 – $75 Contact ellaberryllamafarm@gmail.com or 828.606.3577 to make reservations Website: KA review of Ellaberry Llama Farm
Holmes Educational State Forest
Hours: March through October 31 Tuesday-Friday 9 am – 5 pm Saturday & Sunday 11 am – 6 pm
November through February Tuesday-Friday 9 am – 5 pm Saturday & Sunday Closed
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 9 am – 5 pm Admission: Adults/Children: $8 Website:Kidsenses Museum
Jeter Mountain Farms
Hours: Apple Season: July – August; Saturdays and Sundays 10a-5p Late August – Late October; Thursdays + Fridays 10a-3p and Saturdays + Sundays 10a-5p Christmas Season: Select dates from 10 am – 5 pm Admission: Free to visit the farm, but prices for activities and u-pick vary. Website:KA review of Jeter Mountain Farm
Justus Orchard
Hours: Monday – Thursday from 9 am – 5 pm; Friday – Sunday 9 am – 6 pm Admission: Free admission They have a taproom, apple picking, berry picking, and a fun play area for kids. Kidding Around® Review of Justus Orchard
Hours: June – August for the annual fairy garden through the gardens The fairy market is mid-June to August Open year-round Monday – Saturday; 9 am to 4 pm Admission: Free, donations accepted Website:KA Review of Bullington Gardens
Bullington Garden Fairy Market
Day Trips in NC Mountains: National and State Parks
If you are thinking about an outdoor adventure, WNC is the place! These mountain towns have lots of things to do in their local, national, and state parks, from mountain biking trails, beautiful waterfalls, or just an easy hike for the kids to enjoy. Many are less than an hour’s drive from each other, so you can visit more than one on your day trip.
Chimney Rock
Hours: Vary by season (see website) Admission: Adults (over 15): $17 | Children (5-15): $8 | Under 5: Free Website: KA review of Chimney Rock
DuPont State Forest
DuPont State Forest includes Triple Falls, High Falls, Hooker Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Wintergreen Falls, and Grassy Creek Falls. You can mountain bike, hit the hiking trails, and play in the river here. Website: KA review of DuPont State Forest DuPont State Forest
Lake Lure Beach and Water Works
Currently closed for repair due to Hurricane Helene. The surrounding area has plenty of shops and restaurants open, the lake itself does not have any water activities, and the beach is closed until further notice.
Nantahala National Forest
Enjoy camping, hunting, fishing, swimming, boating, hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, and more in the 531,000-acre Nantahala National Forest.
Check out this gorgeous swimming hole at Midnight Hole
Bryson City is right nearby, where you’ll find shopping and the GSMR.
Learn more about Bryson City, North Carolina near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You will find lots of awesome things to do there in our handy guide!
Pisgah National Forest
Pisgah National Forest is over 500,000 acres, which includes trails, waterfalls, picnic areas, camping, scenic drives, and the Davidson River (an excellent place for tubing).
Highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains Hours: Dawn until dusk, daily Admission: $3 per vehicle with less than seven passengers or $1 per person for more than seven passengers Website:Whitewater Falls
What day trip destinations in Western North Carolina would you add to our list?
If you are looking for a wild adventure that you can enjoy from the comfort and air conditioning of your car, this Drive-Thru Safari in Georgia is the answer. Lake Hartwell Wildlife Safari is a 60+ acre attraction in Hartwell, GA. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your own trip to Hartwell, Georgia’s Lake Hartwell Wildlife Safari.
Thank you to Lake Hartwell Wildlife Safari for providing us with complimentary admission for the purpose of this review. All words and opinions are those of the writer.
In search of the perfect summer day trip to escape the summer heat? Sierra Nevada Brewery in Asheville is a hot spot to escape the summer heat and perhaps enjoy a cold beverage too. Kristina recently visited this brewery and shares the scoop on why so many locals flock there!
One of the cities with the most breweries per person is Asheville, just an hour from our lovely town of Greenville. So the options are many when it comes to enjoying a cold brew and leisurely hanging out with family and friends at a brewery. I’m here to tell you the Sierra Nevada Brewery, right outside of Asheville, is about to become your new favorite brewery (if it wasn’t already).
Find a place to stay in Asheville, NC. This article contains Stay22 affiliate links.
About Sierra Nevada Brewery
On a gorgeous summer day, after a morning of hiking, a beer was in order. Sierra Nevada has been a favorite brewery of mine for a while (hello, Kellerweiss and Porter!) because they not only make excellent beer, but it’s totally affordable as well. I had heard the rumors that the brewery was incredible, and I needed to see it for myself.
To say I was floored would be an understatement. This place is stunning. From the pavers in the ample parking lot to the aesthetics of the taproom and brewery to the garden full of sunflowers, tomatoes, and basil, Sierra Nevada Brewery is gorgeous – and fun!
Since we didn’t have a reservation for a tour (more on that in a bit), we headed right for the taproom, a cavernous space of tables with barstools and high tops. Of course, a bar offering all of the brewery’s signature beers on tap was at the center.
We opted to head outside, where there awaited us were welcoming tables, rocking chairs, Adirondack chairs, a large green space, gardens, cornhole games, and an outdoor beer bar.
Yes, please!
Dining Options
You have a few options when it comes to dining or enjoying a beer at the Sierra Nevada Brewery. First, you can be seated at the dining room for table service. This is where the majority of the food is available. But, it’s also where, on a busy Saturday, you will wait a while for a table.
As you enter the taproom, if you do not want to dine in, bypass this line and head to the right. You’ll see a sign for the beer line. Here’s my tip- skip this one. Upstairs, there is another bar with the same offerings. We found there was no line up there!
You can also purchase your favorite beer or hard kombucha at the Back Porch, which is also another place where you can order some food. The Back Porch offers some snacks like nachos and a few other items like hot dogs and salads.
Sierra Nevada Brewery is Kid-Friendly
On the way to grab a Southern Summer Saison, I noticed an enclosed playground with sand tables, a sandbox, a chalkboard, a picnic table, and an umbrella stand. This place thought of it all. There is also a huge green space by the stage, where lots of kids were running and playing.
Sierra Nevada offers a full menu of delectable items inside their tap room dining room and a smaller menu for their outdoor bar. Think huge bar pretzels with mustard, wood-fired pizza, and bison hog dogs with pale ale chili.
Lower Park
If you go to the left of the stage and walk about a quarter mile down a beautiful trail, you’ll come to the secret Lower Park at the brewery. This is a beautifully shaded area with hammocks, lawn games, snacks and beer for sale, and picnic tables.
This area was hard hit by Hurricane Helene, and the French Broad River flooded it badly. You can see the water line, and it’s probably about 40 feet up one of the trees. But the brewery cleaned it up and reopened it in June 2025. I feel like it’s even better than before! When I visited that month, that’s where my kids and I hung out the most because it’s just so peaceful and fun. We played all the lawn games and relaxed in the hammocks.
The Lower Park is open Saturdays and Sundays, 1-6 pm, weather permitting.
Lower Park at Sierra Nevada
Games + Music at Sierra Nevada Brewery
My family and I grabbed our beers and strolled through the garden, admiring the gorgeous flowers and vegetable garden. We took up a game of cornhole for a while, which was awesome. It’s really fun to play the game while drinking good beer in the garden of Sierra Nevada Brewery.
By the time we were done, the band was about to take the stage, so we hung out in the shade and relaxed to the tunes of great music. Before we left for the day, we had to check out the “high gravity” beer section upstairs, which had even more tables and rocking chairs, and indoor cornhole games. It was a work of art and overlooked the entire outdoor area, main stage, and gardens.
What a view.
Sierra Nevada Brewery Tours
So apparently these tours are crazy popular. We weren’t able to get a reservation for when we wanted to go so I have to go back. Obviously.
The Brewhouse Tour is a 45-minute tour for persons 12+ years and includes a tour of the brewery and four beer samples. This one costs $12.10 per person.
Sierra Nevada is an ideal destination for a family outing, a day date, or a place to go chill after hiking or a trip near Asheville. As the brewery will remind you, please drink responsibly.
Do you have a family adventure to Six Flags Over Georgia in Atlanta, GA planned for this summer? We checked it out to create this Six Flags Over Georgia review, and we have all the information you need to have a fun day there with your family. Complimentary tickets were provided for this review.
Six Flags Over Georgia is one of the few theme parks that provides thrilling rides with heart-pounding excitement mixed with more gentle rides for smaller kids, concessions, events, and shows.
Here’s what you need to know when planning a trip there with your family. This review is a compilation of two trips to Six Flags Over Georgia.
Watch! The sights & sounds of Six Flags Over Georgia
About Six Flags Over Georgia
The theme park is located a little less than three hours from the Upstate, depending on traffic, in the Atlanta metro area. It’s a massive park with 40+ rides. Hurricane Harbor is the water park inside of Six Flags Over Georgia that opens Memorial Day weekend.
Like other theme parks, Six Flags Over Georgia offers a Flash Pass, a way to get to do more rides without waiting in lines. These are add-ons to your one-day ticket and start at $60.
Roller coaster at Six Flags Over America
Getting to Six Flags Over Georgia
The first thing to remember about Six Flags Over Georgia is that it is basically in Atlanta, which means traffic. We suggest getting there a little before the park opens so you have enough time to get on the rides on you want. If you’re doing this as a day trip, you need to allow around 3-3.5 hours to get there.
We followed the directions from the Six Flags site; and they recommend taking 85S to 285W, then 20W, which takes you right to the park. Make use of your GSP though in case of backups and look at alternate routes. And bring your patience.
Parking at Six Flag Over Georgia
Parking was a breeze. There are multiple ticket booths where you can have your parking pass scanned or purchase parking. We recommend purchasing parking beforehand just to save time. They do offer Speedy Parking and Preferred Parking for an extra fee. The lot is large but there is zero shade so be sure to bring one of those reflector things for your car if you don’t want to open an oven when you get back. And pay attention to where you park so you can find your car after a long day of coasters.
Sky Screamer at Six Flags Over Georgia
There are also three tram pick-up locations in the parking lots that will shuttle you to the front entrance. We walked from Lot 1 and were to the entrance before people that we saw waiting for the tram. De[ending on where you park, it’s not a long walk.
Be sure to have your tickets ready to be scanned for easy entrance. It is a thousand times easier to buy tickets beforehand and have them on your phone than it is to wait in the Will Call/Ticket line. We went in the early afternoon and the line took a really long time, almost 30 minutes.
Plan of Attack for Rides at Six Flags Over Georgia
We recommend downloading the Six Flags Over Georgia app because it’s awesome. You can easily pull up locations of rides, shopping, and dining options. You can see how tall you must be to ride the rides and the wait times for each ride. There’s also a really handy map, which had a blue dot so you can see where you are in relation to where you want to be.
If you have more than a few people in your family, look at the app before you go or the Six Flags website to figure out what rides you want to ride on and height requirements and make a list of the ones you really want to do and go to those first. We found that the longer we were at Six Flags, the longer the wait times were. There are also screens around the park to check the wait times.
Great American Scream Machine
Also, look at a map beforehand because you’ll need it when you try to figure out which rides to go on and where they are in relation to the other rides you don’t want to miss. Also, check out the app to see if any rides are closed.
The Food at Six Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags offers different Dining Passes that you can add onto your tickets, which I honestly love. I think these are just good options when it comes to planning out your day if its in your budget. The 2025 Dining Pass options are: One Meal/One Snack/One Beverage is $22.99/person and the Unlimited All Day Dining Deal where you get one meal of your choice every 90 minutes and get an All Day Drink Bottle is $44.99/person.
They also offer a one day drink bottle with unlimited refills for $19.99/each. If you want to do this option, go right when the park opens or you get there otherwise you could end up waiting in long lines or wandering around for a long time trying to find someplace that isn’t sold out of them. Honestly, this is the clincher because Georgia summers are dreadfully hot and we saw no water fountains. I even brought refillable water bottles in my tiny bag for that purpose but didn’t see anywhere were I could fill them. That refillable day bottle is worth it.
There are a lot of different options for dining like taverns, cheesesteaks, burgers, BBQ, a even a diner. Try to go on off times, like not right at Noon or 1pm for lunch because lines are long. And look at the festivals they offer every year, where you can try different food, like Oktoberfest from September 13th to November 2nd, 2025.
Also, try to plan your food adventures around your most thrilling rides. For example, maybe do the more heart-pounding in the morning before you go eat a chili cheese dog for lunch. Just a thought.
If you want to bring a lunch to eat in your car to save money, you can definitely do that. Be sure to get a re-entry wristband on your way out so you can get back in.
Rides at Six Flags Over Georgia
I have one more adventurous daughter and another more timid one when it comes to roller coasters, which certainly made the day challenging. We ended up riding a fun, smaller roller coaster, the Dahlonega Mine Train. It’s a good intro into the faster rides and is perfect for younger kids who are not quite ready to try the big ones, and has a height requirement of 42 inches.
We also rode the country cars, which I let my youngest drive. Of course, driving any car for kids is going to be fun. There are so many fantastic roller coasters that I wanted to really get in on the scream fest but will have to wait for another time!
Six Flags Over Georgia car ride
I’m a complete adrenaline junkie when it comes to roller coasters and have not met a roller coaster I didn’t love. The ones I really wanted to try were: Goliath, Superman, Georgia Scorcher, Batman, and Twisted Cyclone. Most of these had long, long waits – around 60 minutes at minimum – by the afternoon on a Saturday. This is why you need to plan what you want to really want to ride on and go there first unless you can swing a Flash Pass.
There are lots of great kid-focused rides like smaller Ferris Wheel-types, swings, and a beautiful carousel. Monster Mansion is a great one because the dark boat ride is a nice break out of the heat.
Water Park at Six Flags Over Georgia
At Hurricane Harbor, the water park found inside Six Flags Over Georgia, we rented a large locker. There are small, large, and jumbo, with the bigger the locker, the higher the cost. Then we headed for the wave pool to cool off. There are plenty of life jackets for kids that may need them and they have multiple sizes. My son had a great time in the wave pool, but the large Paradise Island structure was calling his name, and we went there to watch him play.
Now, anyone that has lived around this area for a while knows that the weather is very unpredictable in the early evening hours. And while the entire day had been virtually cloudless to this point, all of a sudden a thunderstorm came through. The water park was immediately shut down, so we changed back into our regular clothes.
Unfortunately, in the time, we were changing a severe storm warning was issued, and all of the rides in the park were turned off. We quickly left the water park area and stopped in a t-shirt shop for about 15 minutes. When the weather broke, we took off again, and got ice cream while the rain started again.
Ultimately it was getting rather on into the evening, with no indication that rides would start up again anytime soon. From the time they shut down the water park at 5 pm, and we got back to our car at 6:30 pm, no rides were running. It was a nice cool down, though.
Six Flags Over Georgia’s rain policy according to their website is: “There are still a ton of activities that are amazingly fun in any kind of weather––including indoor shows, restaurants, shops, games, and arcades. If rain, wind, or electrical storms force us to close certain rides for your safety, they will re-open as soon as safe operations can be assured. Refunds or rain checks for inclement weather are not offered.”
So, our day was cut somewhat short. We had a great time prior to the storm, and my son said he really liked Six Flags a lot. I think we will probably wait until he’s a bit older to go again, however, as the biggest attractions at Six Flags Over Georgia are the roller coasters. There are a lot of them.
Parent Tips: Six Flags Over Georgia
While we mentioned many tips in this story, here are a few others:
Bring/ear sun protection. It’s hot and you’ll get sunburned if you don’t have sunscreen or rain protection.
Download the Six Flags Over Georgia app for helpful info on rides, wait times, and a map.
The park is huge so plan which rides you want to go on and do them first. If you can afford it, get a FLASH Pass so you can enjoy even more rides.
Get the refillable water bottle. Dehydration is not fun.
While the park does have a lot of kid and family-focused rides, I think it’s best for kids closer to age 10 and up who love adventure and roller coasters. For most of more moderately intense rides, kids need to be at 48 inches for the medium coasters and 54 inches for the bigger ones.
Go early! Plan to spend the day there if it’s a day trip and leave the Upstate early.
If your kid wants to see some Looney Tunes characters, be sure to check the schedule of appearances when you get there.
Get tickets ahead of time online. You’ll save both time and money.
Look at the dress code before you go, especially for the waterpark: “All guests must wear proper attire, such as bathing suits or board shorts. Thongs, G-strings, or transparent swimwear are not permitted.”
You can bring bags and small backpacks into the park but not on the rides. You can either get a locker for a fee or leave them on the platform.
Visit Six Flags Over Georgia
Tickets start at $35 online (or $79.99 at the gate) and change depending on the date you want to go. It’s absolutely better to get the tickets online versus when you go. You can purchase a refillable water bottle, FLASH passes, and parking ($35+) online as well when you purchase your ticket.
Season passes start at $59/person. If you go more than once, a season pass is certainly a good deal, especially if you purchase the Platinum Level ($150/person), which includes parking.
Use the map below to find great lodging near Six Flags Over Georgia. Through an affiliate relationship with Stay22, Kidding Around earns when you book through this map.
Has your family ever visited Six Flags Over Georgia?
There’s no better way to soak up summer than with a scoop of ice cream and a handful of fresh-picked sunflowers, and that’s exactly how we spent National Ice Cream Day at Looking Glass Creamery in Columbus, NC.
We timed our visit for the final day of their Sunflower DAZE u-pick event and made our way to the farm on 115 Harmon Dairy Lane, just off Hwy 9. The deal was simple: make any purchase at the creamery and enjoy free access to pick sunflowers in their blooming, no-spray field.
First Impressions of Looking Glass Creamery
As we wound our way up the quiet country road, a directional sign pointed us toward the Creamery and Farm Store. The property immediately impressed with its wide-open fields, mountain views in the distance, and goats sunbathing near the patio. A thoughtful bonus: free cold water available on the porch for thirsty visitors venturing into the fields.
Inside the store, a kind and knowledgeable staffer walked us through the menu, which included:
Grilled cheeses with gourmet flair (the bacon jam version caught our eye)
Charcuterie boards that showcase the creamery’s house-made cheeses
Ice cream in rotating, creative flavors like Key Lime Pie (with real pie crust!), Chocolate Pear, Rum Raisin, Bubble Gum, Salted Caramel, Ginger Miso Honey (soy based), and more
If you’re craving their Blueberry Basil, order it early. It was sold out by the time we arrived in the afternoon.
What We Tried
We chose the Key Lime Pie and Chocolate Pear ice creams. Both were refreshing, full of flavor, and just the right amount of indulgent. The Key Lime had a tart creaminess and surprise bites of buttery crust, while the Chocolate Pear was smooth and subtly sweet. We enjoyed our scoops out on the scenic back patio, surrounded by buzzing bees, fluttering butterflies, and a very relaxed goat crew nearby.
Sunflower Stroll
After finishing our treats, we followed a path down to the sunflower field. Visitors are invited to bring clippers and buckets to cut their own blooms from the six-acre field dedicated to sunflowers and seasonal crops. Sunflowers are from late June through mid-July.
While the main path offers plenty of easy picking, we recommend pants if you’re venturing off into the more overgrown parts of the field. Either way, it’s a sun-filled experience with sunflowers as far as the eye can see.
It’s such a thoughtful and generous gesture from the owners to offer this free experience to guests. It’s even more meaningful knowing the flowers are grown without sprays. A beautiful, bee and pollinator-friendly field, and you can tell they absolutely love it!
Looking Glass Creamery: Timeline
Looking Glass Creamery isn’t just a charming day-trip destination; it’s a vibrant, working farm devoted to long-term sustainability.
1947 – The Harmon family begins operating a dairy farm in Columbus, North Carolina. 1980s– The farm updates with modern milking equipment and continues evolving. 2009– The Perkins family starts Looking Glass Creamery in Fairview, NC. They maked small-batch cheese using just 50 gallons of milk per week. 2013– The Harmon family places their farmland under a permanent conservation easement to protect it from future development. Looking Glass begins purchasing milk from Harmon Dairy to expand their cheesemaking operation. 2017– The Perkins family purchases Harmon Dairy, uniting the two operations. Plans are made to move cheesemaking to the Columbus farm. 2018– Cheesemaking officially transitions to the Columbus location, becoming a true farmstead creamery using milk from their own cows. 2019– The Farm Store opens at the Columbus location, offering cheese, ice cream, and made-to-order food. 2020– Hard apple cider production is added. Spent apple mash is fed back to the cows as a sustainable feed source. 2021– New product lines of pickles and preserves are introduced. A demonstration garden is added for guests to explore during visits. 2022–Present – They continue expanding sustainable practices like rotational grazing, composting, and raising grass-fed beef on-site.
Mark your Calendar: Upcoming Events at Looking Glass Creamery
Looking Glass Creamery is also part of some fantastic regional events that highlight local farms and small-scale producers:
ASAP Farm Tour 2025 | September 20–21, 2025
Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest | September 28, 2025 at Oak & Grist Distilling in Black Mountain
Both are great ways to learn, taste, and support Western North Carolina’s vibrant food community.
Final Scoop
Just 30 minutes from Spartanburg and under an hour from Greenville, Looking Glass Creamery is an ideal destination for a family day trip. With hand-crafted ice cream, sustainable farming, scenic views, and friendly animals, it’s the kind of place where summer memories are made.
Beyond the ice cream and views, Looking Glass is a true farmstead creamery. This means their cheeses are made on-site using milk from their own cows. From fresh spreads to aged wheels, everything is crafted with care. Cheeses are meant to be enjoyed on a board or brought home to savor.
We’ll definitely be back! Next time earlier in the day to try and get my hands on a Blueberry Basil scoop, a bacon jam grilled cheese, and maybe even a root beer float or charcuterie board on the patio.
Hours: Thursday through Saturday from 11 AM to 5 PM Sundays from noon to 5 PM. Note: If you’re planning to enjoy a grilled cheese or cheese board, be sure to arrive before 4:30 PM. That’s when they stop taking food orders.
Looking for a fun and easy family adventure just over an hour from Greenville? A day trip to Asheville is calling! Kidding Around team member Crystal spent a full day exploring by trolley, tasting treats, and learning how chocolate gets made with her teens, and they came home with full bellies and had a blast exploring the downtown area. Learn how you can make a day trip to Asheville perfect, with tips for a day full of fun.
We kicked things off with the Gray Line Trolley Tour, which starts at the Asheville Visitor Center, bonus: free parking! The narrated 15-mile loop includes 8 stops, and you can hop on and off at your own pace in between learning about western North Carolina and Asheville. We rode the loop and hopped off at Stop 6 at Grove Arcade to explore, but all 8 stops have some pretty great things for you to explore with your kids.
Overall, the trolley tour experience takes about 1.5 hours if you do not get off at any of the stops. You learn a lot about the city, the architecture, and it’s just fun to ride around sometimes. No matter what you choose to do during your stop, just be sure to plan out your time so that you can make it back to your car on time with the trolley if you have plans for other adventures like we did (We visited the French Broad Chocolate Factory as well).
Stops on the Gray Line Trolley Tour
Asheville Visitor Center Start your day with free parking, clean restrooms, and plenty of maps and advice to make your visit easy and fun.
Omni Grove Park Inn Walk the grounds of this historic mountain resort and soak in the stunning views, perfect for a quick photo op or snack stop.
Renaissance & Four Points Hotels A central jumping-off point for downtown walks, with nearby shops, restaurants, and spots to stretch little legs.
Pack Square This open plaza is great for kids to run around while you enjoy public art, splash fountains (in season), and local street performers. The drum circles here are pretty electric, and their is regularly live music.
Haywood Park Hotel Located in a lively shopping district with easy access to unique stores, coffee shops, and places to grab a family treat.
Grove Arcade A gorgeous 1929 indoor mall filled with local shops, sweet treats, and beautiful details that make it fun for curious kids and adults alike. We highly recommend checking this place out.
River Arts District: North Families can peek into artist studios, watch pottery or glassblowing, and enjoy murals and riverside strolls.
South Slope Brewing District While known for craft breweries, this area also has laid-back pizza joints, murals, and a casual vibe that’s stroller-friendly for a quick bite.
I felt like sitting on the left side of the trolley allowed us to see things better, but if you get off and on, you can always switch sides to optimize the experience
When taking the Hop-on Hop-off Trolley Tour of Asheville, you can get a free 2nd day during certain times of the year, so be sure to check with them if you plan on using the trolley for more than a 1-day visit.
Gray Line Trolley Tours of Asheville 36 Montford Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Cost: Approximately $19/child and $41/adult
Grove Arcade + Lunch at Huli Sue’s
Inside the beautiful Grove Arcade, we took in the ornate architecture and charming small shops. Grove Arcade is over 100 years old and is a stunning historic building packed with local shops, restaurants, and artists. Plus, it has AC and is fully enclosed, so you can escape the heat or mountain showers. There is a stunning bookstore called Battery Park Book Exchange along with several other shops and restaurants, plus some really unique architecture to show your kids. It’s a perfect place to stop during your day trip, and also has restrooms!
Right outside the Grove Arcade, you can also grab lunch at Huli Sue’s BBQ and Grill. We chose the Poke bowl, a pulled pork plate, and the creamy mac salad. Everything was absolutely delicious, super fresh, flavorful, and filling.
Grove Arcade 1 Page Avenue, Asheville, NC
Sweet Stops: Asheville Bee Charmer & French Broad Chocolate Lounge
After lunch, we popped into Asheville Bee Charmer just a short walk away—yes, free honey tastings are a thing and yes, they’re awesome. They have lots of honey-inspired products, from hot honey to soaps, which all make a fun gift idea.
Then we couldn’t resist stopping at the nearby French Broad Chocolate lounge, where we shared drinking chocolate, Chocolate crème brûlée, and ice cream. Let’s just say, it was my dessert dream come true. The lounge has a fun, relaxing vibe, and the staff are super friendly. The lounge has lots of teas and chocolate items to choose from, plus cakes, espresso, cheesecake, liquid truffle, and so much more!
French Broad Chocolate Lounge 10 S Pack Square, Asheville, NC
Factory Fun: French Broad “Bean to Bar” Tour
Just a 4-minute drive from downtown, we headed to the French Broad Chocolate Factory & Café for a scheduled “Bean to Bar” tour. We recommend booking at least a week in advance, these fill up fast! The tour was fascinating, our kids loved it, and it was full of everything chocolate. They also have other treats and ice cream in addition to chocolate. Check out our full review of the French Broad Chocolate Factory, and find out everything you need to know to plan a trip to this fantastic experience tour.
Here’s what we loved most during our tour:
We got to taste three chocolates and a raw cacao bean
Learned about ethical sourcing and the full chocolate-making process
Walked through the amazing “aroma shower”
Ended with a Wildflower Honey Caramel Bonbon
Got a 10% discount in the shop (which you can use at the French Broad Chocolate Lounge later on if you choose to do the chocolate factory tour first).
French Broad Chocolate Factory 821 Riverside Drive, Asheville NC
Been to Asheville with your family? Tell us your must-do stops in the comments below! And if you’re looking for more adventures, check out our Day Trips From Greenville Guide!
An Asheville day trip is unique and fun, and something your entire family will love! We took a trolley tour that led us around the downtown area, where you can stop and explore! Plus, we visited a real-life chocolate factory, and so can you!
Have you visited Twelve Mile Recreation Area, a Clemson City Park on Lake Hartwell? Grab the swimsuits and those inflatable tubes because local mom Liene brought her kids for swimming and found a park full of family-friendly amenities that make it a great spot to spend a summer day. Here’s why you should visit and what to expect!
After our exploration of the Bob Campbell Geology Museum and the SC Botanical Gardens in Clemson we needed to cool down, so we headed a few minutes north to the northernmost tip of Lake Hartwell for several hours spent in the water and the sun at Twelve Mile Recreation Area.
Parking costs just $5 per car. This is valid for all day use but if you want to exit and then come back in, you have to pay another $5.
The Beach Area at Twelve Mile Recreation
The sandy beach combined with the scenic setting on Lake Hartwell made for a pleasant locale for a summer day full of play. Swimming is allowed, but there are no lifeguards on duty. Swimming is at your own risk. No pets allowed on the beach.
The beach is closed October – April 1.
The beach area has a playground with plenty of shade in the park for hot summer days. Many picnic shelters are available with tables, too, if you need a break from the sun.
A boat ramp allows for access to the 962 miles of shoreline. Annual boat ramp passes are required and are $75 for Pickens County residents and $150 for non-residents.
As far as swimming in man-made lakes goes, I find this to be one of the nicest beaches in the Upstate. The proximity to Clemson makes for an easy stop if in the area, or a perfect day trip if coming from Greenville or elsewhere in the Upstate.
About Lake Hartwell
Lake Hartwell is a man-made lake bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo, and Seneca Rivers. The Hartwell Project originated with the goals of hydro-power, flood control, and navigation. It was only later that recreation, water quality, water supply, and fish & wildlife management were added, and today there are nine campgrounds and 15 day-use facilities operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers on Hartwell.
Plan your own trip
Parking is $5 per car when purchasing a daily pass on-site. You can also purchase an annual pass and receive a gate code to enter the park up to two times in one day. Annual passes are $40 for Pickens County residents and $120 for non-residents. For an annual pass, fill out the form on the Clemson City Facilities website.
Restrooms are available in the park. No pets allowed on the beach.
Hours are 6 am – 11 pm and the beach is closed October – April 1.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
