If you have been following me for the last year or so, you probably know I have a son who is obsessed with all things marine-life! As such, we have been to a LOT of aquariums! We’re experts on sharks, jellyfish, stingrays, and all sorts of fish. We read books on the subject, watch documentaries, and visit aquariums all throughout the state! Below we have reviewed Aquariums in North Carolina and the surrounding southeast states, so this is your guide when deciding where to visit!

I think Aquariums are the best first destination vacation spots for the very young. Even those tots who are less than a year old can hang out in a stroller and watch the amazing colors around them. They can enjoy the light reflecting off the water and the strange, but wonderful, creatures swimming around.

Aquariums are mostly, if not entirely, indoors, so no worries about the weather or sunscreen. Grandparents, babies and all those in between can enjoy an aquarium – it’s the perfect family excursion!

So let’s dive right in and learn about the aquariums in North Carolina:

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh

This museum is not an aquarium, but it does have both salt and freshwater animal exhibits. You’re not going to see a live shark or whale, but you will see whale skeletons and shark replicas. You can also find a variety of live fish, frogs, and turtles. Admission is free but no outside food allowed. Find snacks at the cafe or outside vendors. It’s local and well worth a visit. I take my son pretty frequently. I don’t mind spending some cash at the cafe since admission is free. For younger tots you probably want a stroller. It’s pretty huge inside and sometimes a decent walk from parking.

Greensboro Science Center

An hour or so outside of Raleigh you will find the Greensboro Science Center, a perfect day trip. The facility has 4 parts: a science museum, a rope/zip line course, a small zoo, and a small aquarium. Again, this is not going to be the place to see huge whales and sharks. But for an hour or so drive you do get some aquatic life, as well as a zoo of land animals and the science center. It’s worth checking out. While you are in Greensboro you can also visit the Greensboro children’s museum.

NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

One thing I love about this aquarium is the outdoor play area. It’s nice to let the kids run around and then have a relaxing walk around the aquarium. The aquarium also has an inside play area for small tots, which is an excellent way to take a break from the stroller. This aquarium also has an in-house dairy queen for a quick treat. Or check out this post on local eateries.

Around 3 hours from Raleigh, you can make it a day trip. We’ve left early, spent the morning at the aquarium, a couple hours at the beach, and then home in the same day. Last time we were there we had free admission from our AZA membership (a family membership to the North Carolina Zoo or Museum of Life and Science). I had heard rumors that the aquariums were going to offer only half price admission with AZA, but at any rate, it’s still a hefty discount.

The most unique and impressive experience at this aquarium is the sea turtle rescue center. You can see a real life sea turtle hospital in action and then head over to the sea turtle rescue pretend play area. Grab your turtle, run diagnostics, and treat injuries.

To say this experience had a lasting impression on my children is an understatement. We went well over a year ago and they still talk about being sea turtle doctors and marine biologists. My little boy took his task VERY seriously and the lines of pretend play and real life perhaps became blurred. Not only is this exhibit educational, but it also teaches caring for others and the world around us.

NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher

At Kure beach you will find the Fort Fisher aquarium. Out of the 3 NC coastal aquariums this one is my least favorite. It’s fairly small and nothing really makes it stand out, at least not for our family. If you are at Kure beach anyway and are looking for an activity that is indoors, it’s worth checking out, especially if you have an AZA membership. They do have an outdoor adventure reef playground that is really nice, and the exhibits inside are nice too. Its just fairly small so you only need a couple hours tops.

NC Aquarium at Roanoke Island

Roanoke island is also a smaller aquarium. They have an area where you can touch a sting ray, walk through a shipwreck, and there’s an extensive outdoor section that doubles as a playground. They had animatronic dinosaurs setup when we were there, but I think that was a special event and isn’t there all of the time.

Sea Life, Charlotte

This aquarium is located inside of Concord Mills mall, outside of Charlotte. Ticket prices range from $15-20, and you can save a few bucks if you purchase tickets online. Although this is part of the AZA network, it is not part of the reciprocity program (not for 2018 anyway) – so no discounted admission. If you can go on a Tuesday, children under 12 are free. Children under 2 are always free. I was able to find a Groupon for reduced admission.

As I said above, this aquarium is in a mall and is relatively small- so don’t plan on spending more than a couple of hours here. I think this aquarium is well worth it if you find discounted tickets, but I wouldn’t pay full price. It does have a touch pool, some decent sized sharks, and other neat exhibits. It’s also a bit closer than the aquariums located on the coast.

Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach

If you are heading to the South Carolina coast, head over to Ripley’s Aquarium. I would say it’s the best aquarium for a day/short weekend trip from Raleigh. Adult tickets are $30, Children 2-5 are $10. I did find a discounted tickets on a Myrtle beach vacation site. For a few dollars more you can ride a glass bottom boat, where you will get a birds eye view of sharks, a sea turtle, sawfish, stingrays, and more. We’ve rode the glass bottom boat at the Ripley’s aquarium in Gatlinburg and it was worth the extra expense, especially since we have an aspiring marine biologist and shark enthusiast in the family.

The Ripley’s aquarium houses a small playground and cafe for a little break. It’s located on the Myrtle beach boardwalk area and within walking distance of several shops and restaurants. Get a hand stamp and you can come and go as you wish all day long.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies (Gatlinburg, TN)

You don’t usually associate an awesome aquarium with the mountains, but this aquarium is pretty great! Tickets are $33 for adults and $8 for kids 2-5. We sprung extra for the glass bottom boat tour since the large aquarium has LOTS of sharks and a sawfish. It also has an aquarium tube to walk through, which we did like 8 times. So if you find yourself in the mountains but thinking about ocean life… check this one out!

Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta

If you are heading down south to Atlanta then the Georgia Aquarium is a must see. It’s expensive at $31 a ticket for adults and children, but it’s a huge aquarium. The largest tank houses not one, but 2 whale sharks! They are the size of a school bus and pretty amazing to see in person. Also be sure to check out the mesmerizing dolphin show included with admission. There are many unique and amazing creatures to see, and this is probably our favorite aquarium!

Do you love aquariums too? Which is your favorite?