There’s only one place you can catch the rare, African Penguin in this part of the country and that’s at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, TN.
Since 2010, these little penguins have become one of the highlights of the Ripley’s Aquarium experience. The aquarium has even initiated a couple different events that celebrate the loveable little critters. During the summer, kids can take part in camps and sleepovers at Ripley’s that allow them to get inside the lives of the penguins. It’s a great way to spend part of your summer vacation while learning more about these exciting creatures.
In all, the Penguin Experience is a 3-hour event that delves deep into the lives of the African Penguins, or Black-footed Penguin, and is presented by the aquarium’s expert staff. You can even get as up close and personal with the penguins as you want. That’s right, you can pet them and walk around in their habitat at the aquarium. Go face-to-face with these magical black and white, flightless birds. You can even get your photo taken with them so that you’ll remember the occasion for years to come.
Penguins are just a part of the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies experience. Though they are a fairly large and important part. Make sure that when you come plan on attending one of the Penguin Painting Experience days. African Penguins are artists in their own right and they love to paint. Each painting is done to the Penguin’s own unique, creative style. It’s a footprint work of art you might say, and you can take it home with you as well.
Both of these events are featured during the months of July and August, so head over to Gatlinburg, Tennessee and the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies to catch these exotic birds at work, and at play. Take advantage of the aquarium’s Penguin Playhouse exhibit. There you can crawl through the underwater tube and watch the penguins swim and play. It’s like you’re actually swimming with the penguins underwater!