Where we went: Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY
When we went: October 2023
Where we stayed: Homewood Suites by Hilton (Cincinnati Airport South-Florence)

It’s one thing to read and imagine what Noah’s Ark would have been like, but to see the size of it in person is just unreal! We traveled to Williamstown, KY to visit the Ark Encounter and had the best time.

We drove the 30 minutes to the Ark from our hotel and parked, got on a quick shuttle, and then walked onto the Ark. It was massive. I can’t even describe the size! It had three decks and each one featured different aspects of life on Noah’s Ark.

From food storage to animal care to living quarters, the building of the ark, and much more, there was a lot to take in and learn about.

On top of touring the ark, there’s also quite a bit to do and see on the property.

We visited the Ararat Ridge Zoo, Children’s Zoo, rode on a carousel, Jimmy and Sadie did a VR experience, we all played on the children’s playground, and we ate at the buffet called Emzara’s Kitchen.

The zoo was much bigger than I was expecting and I was really impressed with it. There were trainers working with llamas, people riding camels, and each animal’s living space was large.

The children’s zoo was definitely a highlight for me and Sadie because we got to pet goats! They all had biblical names like Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Isaac, and Abraham.

The children’s playground was a hit for us! It was pretty extensive, with something to do for literally any age. To find a play structure that our 11-month-old baby could play on was pretty special.

Jimmy and Sadie spoke highly of the VR experience of Noah’s Ark and we all enjoyed our lunch at the buffet. Adults paid $16.99 for an all you can eat buffet that included a salad bar, hot sides, entrees (I had pot roast and bbq meatballs 🤤), dessert, drinks, and coffee. Can’t beat that!

My final thoughts and tips on the Ark Encounter:

• Consider arriving later in the day, after crowds have dispersed. We went about 1.5 hours after opening and it was very busy.
• If you have young children with you, rent a stroller instead of bringing your own. It was inexpensive for us to rent a stroller and convenient not to have to lug ours on and off a bus from the parking lot to the shuttle to the ark.
• Think about what you really want to do and see because doing everything will take all day! If you’re interested in the Ark, take your time there and see every exhibit and show. If you have kids with you, definitely give yourself time to walk through the zoo and play at the playground.
• I would recommend going on a day when the weather isn’t too cold or rainy. It was in the 50s-60s while we were there and it was fine, but I don’t think it would have been as enjoyable if it were any colder since there’s so much to do outside!
• If you plan on eating at the Ark (the only other option would be to pack your own food), consider eating at off-times because it gets quite busy. We ate around 12:30 and had to wait quite a bit in the buffet line.
• Check out the gift shop. It’s the biggest gift shop I’ve ever been in and includes informational books, toys for kids, clothes, souvenirs, and fair trade items that support missions around the world.

I think that’s everything I have to share from our trip! If you plan on visiting the Creation Museum or Ark Encounter and have any questions that I didn’t answer in these posts, leave comment and I’d be happy to help 😊

Have you ever been to the Creation Museum or Ark Encounter?