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The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
2201 S Fort Fisher Blvd
Kure Beach, NC 28449
(910) 458-8257
Kure Beach, NC 28449
(910) 458-8257
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
2 reviews for The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Our beach visit included a day where the temperature felt about 100 degrees. Sitting on the beach just wasn't appealing and we didn't want to bake in the sun. We decided that a late morning at the aquarium was the perfect thing.
A very short drive from Kure Beach, we easily found the aquarium - quite an attractive building. At first we were a little concerned that our kids (4.5 and almost 3) would not find the displays interesting. We were so wrong. Our adventure started with a quick dash through the "tropical forest" into the building where there was a dive show about to start in the big tank. The kids loved watchng the divers swim with the huge grouper, sharks, sting rays, etc. We even saw the "ginormous" (to quote my daughter) eel swimming in the corner.
As soon as the dive show was wrapping up, we were encouraged to head upstairs to participate in the feeding activities at the petting tank. Up there we learned how to feed the horseshoe crabs and whelks. We even got to pet the sting rays and star fish. As soon as that was over we spent some time looking at the fish tanks and we got to do a little activitiy where the kids got to learn about what sea turtles eat.
After three activities all in a row, we spent the rest of the time perusing the various displays. The kids loved the poison frogs, the monster-sized lobsters, the octopus, and the tropical fish. Hubby and I got to touch baby jellyfish. Even our little guy touched the jellyfish. We did shop in the gift shop, but didn't find anything particularly fascinating. What I did like was way overpriced so I decided to pass on those items.
As we left the aquarium we went back through the "tropical forest" we had rushed through. We took our picture with some aligators, admired the box turtles, and looked at some snakes.
It was a great way to escape the heat, learn something new, touch some incredible things, and enjoy beautiful displays of sea creatures. Pricing was reasonable and the kids actually were young enough to get in for free. You can't beat that.
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- Useful (1)
Recently renovated and reopened in May 2006 the Aquarium offers a little of everything for the whole family. There are static exhibits but more importantly large beautiful tanks that one could just sit in front of for hours just taking it all in. Only problem is I have a 12 year with an attention span of zero, so absorbing the surroundings just won't work. Do not despair though, there is plenty to do for that pesky young ling. There are petting tanks, video displays and lots of near shore critters (can you say snakes, frogs, turtles and alligators) to look at as well. The on site restaurant is decent as well as the ice cream shop - great for a hot day. Don't forget to explore the board walk as you leave the aquarium, put those hyper little ones to the tasks of spotting alligators and turtles adjacent to the board walk, they won't be disappointed. Do be careful though if you have real little ones as an adventurous one might easily get over the railing and into the swamp loaded with turtles and alligators - ouch!