Some of the activities in the Smoky Mountain area make learning fun. They are great to put on your itinerary if you're looking for more things to do during your stay with us. Read on for some great recommendations. Here is a list of 4 fun educational indoor things to do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge:
1. Experience Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
At Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, visitors will see and learn some “fin-tastic” things when they explore the activities. The aquarium’s Shark Lagoon area has a conveyor belt visitors can ride on to see floor-to-ceiling tanks of fish. You can get even closer to marine life when you crawl through the tunnels of the Penguin Playhouse exhibit. There is also Touch A Ray Bay. Watch stingrays swim about and feel their smooth backs as they do so. Each exhibit will have additional plaques of information to tell you more about the animals you are seeing. If your questions still don’t get answered, talk to the aquarium’s knowledgeable staff!
2. Tour the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum
Another one of the educational indoor things to do in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg is to tour the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum. Visitors learn all about the journey salt and pepper takes before the seasonings get to your table and onto your food. In addition to this fascinating information, the museum is also home to a collection of over 20,000 sets of salt and pepper shakers. They were acquired by one woman who started the museum to share her passions with others. Look closely at the intricate designs and unique shapes. At the end of your visit, stop by the gift shop. You can go home with your very own set of salt and pepper shakers.
3. Do the Activities in the Wonder Zones at WonderWorks
WonderWorks in Pigeon Forge teaches visitors unique things about science through the activities in the Wonder Zones. There are 6 in total, and they each have a distinctive theme. For instance, you can see if you have what it takes to be an astronaut in the Space Discovery Zone. Step into a space suit, ride a gyroscope, and squeeze into a mercury capsule! The Physical Challenge Zone has even more fun activities. Lay on a bed of nails and make a bubble that’s big enough for you to fit inside. Make sure you spend a lot of time here, as you’ll want to get to all the Wonder Zones.
4. Visit the Titanic Museum Attraction
The Titanic Museum Attraction teaches visitors about the iconic ocean liner and its infamous demise. Some of the highlights include a $1 million replica of the Grand Staircase and a collection of $4.5 million worth of artifacts. Each visitor gets a boarding pass of an actual passenger. Find their name and see if they survived the sinking in the Memorial Room before the end of your visit.
We hope you enjoy these fun educational indoor things to do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge! Want even more options for activities? Check out our other list of free things to do in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg!
