North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher

Fantastic experience: I have been coming here since I was a kid and it keeps getting better. It is reasonably priced and a great display of local aquatic life. Always worth a visit.

Positive experience: Great little experience with this Aquarium.the only thing that we did not like was the check in process. We had to buy tickets online. Other then that all pros. It is not a big aquarium but does pack a punch with what it does offer. I will say the esthetics and enclosures were some of the best I've seen in a long time. Very well kept animals too. The otters were absolutely adorable. Great price and overall a fun time for the whole family.

Positive experience: Been doing here for years, however recently during my annual visits I see fish health decline ever so slightly. Last year I only saw a few sick tangs and now more and more are getting sick. The blue tang in the photo is in a lot of trouble, most likely on its way out if it isn't treated soon.

Fantastic experience: Great place to visit and a good value for the price.

Fantastic experience: GO AT opening-10 am This is the time when the least people are at the aquarium But past that, this place is so nice for families just going on vacation here and need something fun for the kids there are multiple picture places there are also places to touch the sea urchin's and other things But this place has the coolest animals like multiple otters an albino alligator even a bald eagle all this at an aquarium and in most tanks, there are divers who high five the kids and overall the best place to visit while here cheap, nice and fun Add: drinks are way overpriced for how hot it is.

Fantastic experience: This Aquarium is a wonderful place to spend some time. We enjoy watching the otters, sea turtles, jellyfish, and seahorses in addition to the many species of fish on display. The staff is friendly and informative. There is a snack bar for refreshments, water bottle filling stations, and a fun outdoor walkway to view local habitats and plants. The restrooms are clean and the gift shop is well stocked with souvenirs and books. Plenty of free parking.

Positive experience: Had fun with the family seeing the different animals and sea life creatures. Wish it was bigger with more to see and learn about though.

Positive experience: Very small but nice. We booked at 10am, we walked through, stopped at the hurricane booth ( I gave each of my 3 grandkids a turn) stopped by the bathroom and snack counter and we were in the car by 11:30. It is affordable but don't plan on being there very long.

Fantastic experience: Being a season ticket holder as well as fish or otter sponsor we get in pretty quickly . Now there's only so many times someone other than an employee can visit with it being too repetitious . Same fish , same jelly's ( they're NOT fish) same gift shop , different turtles though . The staff are great & very helpful . The time of year to truly visit is Christmas time when different groups decorate trees throughout the building . I wonder how they dress up the fish as elves & get the costumes to stay on . LOL . This place is a learning experience in itself . So if you still have time to kill & have brought the beach stuff & lucky enough to get a parking spot , the free beach is right there . Plus there's ample dining in Carolina Beach which you will have to drive through to escape that area .

Positive experience: My family of 4 visited here while on vacation in Carolina Beach. While it's not a very large aquarium, my kids did spend a lot of time looking at all the exhibits so by the time we finished up in the gift shop we had spent 90 minutes there. The best exhibit was probably the sea otters, though there were some really cool fish tanks as well. We have much larger aquariums back home, but all in all this was a decent aquarium to visit. It's a good place to spend some time since my family only likes to spend a couple hours at the beach so we needed something else to fill our day with. The gift shop is really cool and there's lots of neat stuff in there. The bathrooms are clean and overall the facility is very clean and tidy as well. We got tickets right for 9:00 in the morning which is what I would recommend because it starts to fill up pretty quickly.

Fantastic experience: Small but still a good day trip. Many exhibits. My kids loved the otter exhibit The otters are super active and come right up to the viewing area.

Positive experience: The aquarium was much bigger than I had expected! Most of the displays were educational and well put together — we especially loved the otters. The only reason I gave 4 stars was because some of the displays would have benefitted from additional information.

Fantastic experience: Great place for kids and the family! It also has good accessibility!

Fantastic experience: One of the smaller aquariums I've been to but it was very nice! Clean, plenty of room for a toddler to run around, and some great aquatic wildlife. Great wheelchair/stroller accessibility. Hard for toddlers to not touch the glass but I'm sure that's every aquarium. If you're going to go, you have to buy tickets online in advance and for some reason our phone service sucked in the parking lot (so try to do it before you go). And it closes at 5- beware! You'll probably not spend more than an hour inside. They do have an outdoor playground but it's not shaded so it was a little too hot for us.

Fantastic experience: Always love this place. It has been about 10 to 15 years since I was here last. The new building addition with displays is awesome. I was surprised to find an American Bald Eagle from WI living at the aquarium full time. Thank you for everything.

Positive experience: This was a great place for children. There aren't very many exhibits and they are simple. It's a bit underwhelming for an adult. The otter exhibit was really neat and the shark education presentation in the auditorium was actually pretty good. You have to pre-order your tickets online.

Fantastic experience: Great adventure for little while visiting the Carolina Beach area! Buy tickets in advanced and during the summer go to the outdoor playground and exhibits before it gets too hot!

Fantastic experience: It’s a small little aquarium. But it has a little of everything. I would definitely recommend it if you’re in the Carolina’s Kure beach area. Plus it has an American bald eagle up close and personal!

Positive experience: It was kinda crowded for a small place. However, there is an outside area as well as an inside area. We loved seeing Maverick again- he's the Bald eagle that survived a car accident but can never fly again. Also, there is a very small touch tank.

Fantastic experience: We like to visit the aquarium when we are in the area for vacation. They have otters, alligators, and plenty of sea creatures and fish. It's self guided and reasonably priced. Go online and pick the time you want, they will honor the reservation up to 30 mins after the selected time. Check on their website to confirm that hasn't changed. They offer military discounts and seniors.

Fantastic experience: My kids love this aquarium. It isn't the largest, but there are tons of great exhibits and the volunteers and staff are super present and involved. The animals look well cared for and everything was very clean.

Fantastic experience: Very nice little hidden gem. Beautiful drive to it, prices are reasonable, and the people that work there are very nice and very knowledgeable. I recommend all ages.

Fantastic experience: An amazing place to take the little ones and anyone who like the aquatic life. For the price if tickets it was a great time!

Fantastic experience: It was a fun experience with my child! It didn't exactly have all the bells and whistles but it did have giant tanks with sharks, seahorses, otters, and so many cool animals! The staff and volunteers were extremely friendly and helpful in providing information. You should check this out at least once! Also would be an excellent date spot because you can walk the nature path after or sit at picnic table outside and talk about your experience.

Fantastic experience: For our family outing, we brought along a sizable group of 12 people—five adults and seven children. The very first area we explored seemed a bit modest and didn't quite capture our full attention. However, our spirits lifted considerably as we delved into the indoor shark exhibits. These sections were much more engaging and clearly a step up in quality. We especially loved the almost ethereal beauty of the jellyfish exhibit and the dynamic environment of the main shark and fish display, which kept everyone captivated. In addition to the aquatic wonders, we had the pleasure of seeing the iconic bald eagle, observing the quiet charm of the turtles, and getting a closer look at the formidable alligators. It turned out to be a really enjoyable and memorable day for all of us.

Fantastic experience: Nice exhibits. Staff at most exhibits to answer questions and explain details about the animals. They do recommend buying tickets online and selecting a start time to help space out the crowds.

Positive experience: It was okay but, we felt it was geared more towards children and somewhat boring and unfulfilling for adults. Had we known this ahead of time we would not have visited. That being said. It appeared to be wonderful for small children.. gift shop was very good and quite reasonably priced

Negative experience: I was very disappointed. I am a lifetime zoo member, so I get free admission, but even then, it wasn't worth going. When you go to a zoo or aquarium, you expect there to be a lot of exhibits. Not here. You basically have a small room that leads into a bigger room, and BAM, that's it, get out. It took 2.5 hours to get in, and just over 20 minutes to see everything. We looked around for anything we may have missed, but nope. Less than 30 minutes, and we were headed out the door. What the heck? Oh well, not going back there again, I guess.

Fantastic experience: Great discount if you are a Durham life science museum member (half off). Buy your tickets online in advance especially when rain / storms are coming. Better things: Otters for lyfe. Bald eagle hard to find. Giant tank (especially if being cleaned). Baby alligators.

Fantastic experience: Loved this place I myself have 12 salt water fish tanks at home. The entire family went so much fun!

Fantastic experience: It's an amazing place, that will bring the kid out of any adult! I learned SO much! The staff and volunteers are all very knowledgeable and friendly! It's evident that they all truly love these animals, and enjoy helping people learn about them!

Fantastic experience: First time was this week and I love it!!! Can’t wait to come back got a bunch of photos

Positive experience: It was nice. I thought their would be more species but it was still nice. They have a petting part. The jelly fish were my favorite

Negative experience: Nice place for an hour or so visit. Loved the otter display. Was a bit taken aback when this volunteer was talking about the American alligator and its history in North Carolina- he said, “back before the war of northern aggression the alligators…” I think it a bit odd and unsettling for an aquarium volunteer to use a segregationist trope that is part of the “Lost Cause” narrative from the 1950s as context for the history of the alligator. But take note and if you like the phrase you are welcome- and “bring your confederate money”! If you are black, brown, or LGBTQ, you may want to consider your visit and the views represented here.

Positive experience: Took us, 2 adults, about 90 minutes to see the whole aquarium. Though the variety of sealife was relatively small, what they did have was highlighted in appealing and animal friendly displays. Otters were the biggest draw. An enjoyable adventure.

Fantastic experience: We went as a family and our infant daughter had an absolute blast. She was so interested in everything that we saw, especially the jellyfish tank. Would highly recommend for any family.

Positive experience: Pros: Well maintained outside courtyard and walking paths. Plenty of seating areas and restrooms throughout. Entry fee is a reasonable price at $13.00. Small cafe onsite with snack food. Love the four otters. Cons: The facility is small in comparison to other aquariums we've visited.

Positive experience: It's small but overall I had a great time.

Positive experience: A nice aquarium for a quick trip. I know there are reno plans for later this year, there were a few exhibits that were not open on our trip which was a bummer. Overall a good experience.

Fantastic experience: Beautiful Aquarium. Maybe not the biggest but it is well kept. Kids all loved it and enjoyed the interactive exhibits where they could learn more about the fish they chose. Also enjoyed that there was an outdoor exhibit as well, again not a huge one but still very nice.

Positive experience: Visited the aquarium last fall and again in spring. Reasonable priced tickets and gift shop. They have a “touch pool” where you can feel horseshoe crabs, coral, sea urchins and more! Our family had a great time! Definitely worth it to take your children or just yourself! Book your tickets in advance!!

Positive experience: Very nice, inexpensive and accessible aquarium. Not the largest or fanciest but still very nice.

Negative experience: We were a bit disappointed. Very small space. There's one larger tank, but not enough windows to see. It's too dark to read any of the informative signs, which seemed to be the bulk of the "attraction". Couple of alligators and otters.

Positive experience: My vote is that this isn't worth the money of the ticket. BUT if you haven't experienced other aquariums, then maybe you wouldn't be disappointed. It's very small. It was busy the day we were there, but it wasn't packed and uncomfortable. We did have a good time, but I don't need to go again or recommend it.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely perfect little spot for a rainy day, or even a sunny one! Lots of fun and informative exhibits, I just wish there were more! My group loved seeing the albino gator, turtles, and jellyfish. There is food available for purchase in the outdoor area

Positive experience: This was a good experience! The exhibits were informative and eye catching. The animals look well cared for and had ample space to roam around. I think they could expand more in terms of educational postings or videos or audio. This felt more run of the mill in terms of Aquariums, but it was definitely fun. The experience was short and the food court was 3/5, but i think i'd return! Definitely a good time for kids!

Fantastic experience: This was a great way to spend a few hours with the family. Tickets are quite reasonable.

Positive experience: Great place to spend a couple of hours of your day when visiting the area. The price was more than manageable for what you get to see. There is plenty of parking, and plenty of historical places too and from the aquarium to visit

Fantastic experience: We enjoyed this aquarium very much. There was so much to see. The kids really enjoyed it all.

Fantastic experience: I ran the Race for the Planet this morning. It starts and ends at the Ft Fisher Aquarium. As part of our race package, everyone had a free admission pass to visit the aquarium. Even as an adult, visiting on my own, the aquarium has much to offer. It was clean, well staffed, and had such a cheerful feeling, probably due to staff and volunteers being helpful and friendly. The displays were well maintained, and the water in the various marine habitats was clean. They have a nice gift shop and food vendor. This was not my first visit there, but enjoy it when I can go.

Fantastic experience: Small aquarium, but it's very nice and worth visiting! I really enjoyed the anemones and touching them, though I'm surprised they don't ask you to wash your hands first. I worry about hand lotion hurting them. The seahorse was so precious, and I loved the alligators. Luna is so cute! There was a particularly fat newt that cracked me up, and I loved the little pufferfish.

Positive experience: This was a nice aquarium for the cost! My 3 year old loved it but my 7 year old wasn’t to interested. If you live nearby this would be a fun place to spend a rainy day but I wouldn’t recommend driving more than 30 minutes to visit. We drove a hour and only spent 30-45 minutes inside

Fantastic experience: We scheduled an appointment, so there's no wait. Every staffer we interacted with was very professional, polite and knowledgeable of the area they supervised. The tour was very organized and there is security personnel monitoring everyone's safety. We really appreciated this because the general public everywhere seems to have forgotten manners and that everyone should get the same privileges. There's a large variety of wild life to see. We really enjoyed the tour and there's people of ALL ages touring. I'm The facility is well kept and clean. There's even a concession booth outside the aquarium and there's a gift shop with fair priced souvenirs.

Positive experience: Drive over 2 hours to only spend 30 mins on property... Walked through pretty quickly

Fantastic experience: My toddler loves going to this aquarium year round! We're so glad we purchased a family membership here...it's definitely worth it!

Fantastic experience: Beautiful aquarium with a great bit to look at! Take your time, stroll through and enjoy every bit of it.

Fantastic experience: This place is beautiful, perfect for the whole family. It's very educational, and the staff is very attentive. This place is very organized and clean. I recommend it.

Fantastic experience: It's my daughter's favorite place in the world ❤️ educational with a knowledgeable and caring staff

Fantastic experience: We were pleasantly surprised when visiting this aquarium. There were lots of exhibits to look at and it took a good morning to walk the entire museum. They have a large tank with two sharks.

Positive experience: Very friendly and fun but slightly smaller than I expected. The otters were absolutely worth it along with the shakes and turtles.

Positive experience: This is a smallish aquarium but we found it to be interesting. Nice displays and a couple of super cute otters to watch. Reasonable admission fees. Worth a stop!!

Fantastic experience: We had the best experience the animals are well taken care of, and the staff are very knowledgeable and answer every question that you may have a highly recommend going you learn a lot and it’s so much fun

Fantastic experience: Nice little aquarium with adorable sea otters. Riding over on the ferry from Southport is a cool experience, too.

Fantastic experience: This was my first time ever going to the aquarium I had some issues from the very beginning on my part for not knowing how to order the tickets I realized I ordered them wrong and paid for 4 adults full price when I learned I could use 4 adults if I have a food stamp card so once I realize I paid too much at first I called the place to see if they could help me out every person I talked to was so nice and helpful with the situation they had no problem getting it straightened out on another hand we arrived and had a blast all 6 of us and my two little boys had the best time they where so excited I love that you get to take pictures with your family that was truly a treat I am so thankful for this place I appreciate the professionalism of the people working there and we loved seeing the animals

Fantastic experience: Fun place for all ages. I brought my dad and my Grandma, and they both enjoyed themselves. We got snacks at the outdoor food bar which they also enjoyed. Highly recommend if you’re planning on coming, to watch the weather; if it’s rainy they unfortunately have to close the outdoor walkway! On nice/sunny days, you’re free to roam to see the turtles and bald eagle/other animals I can’t think of off the top of my head. ALSO! Don’t forget to make your reservation online

Fantastic experience: It was absolutely beautiful inside, and it was a steal for only $13. The aquarium was extremely clean, organized, and well kept. I would highly recommend coming!

Positive experience: A little pricey for a family of 5. The large otter habitat was closed, and that was disappointing. They were in a much smaller habitat. There were so many people crowded around that you could barely see them. The largest aquarium was nice. We enjoyed looking at the jelly fish and the sting ray tank. We went on the nature walk because they advertised they had a bald eagle. He was not in his habitat either. Like I said, it was OK but I'm not sure the cost was justified.

Positive experience: A fun experience for all ages. The exhibits are diverse with a variety of fish and other aquatic animals. Easily able to spend 1-2 hours looking at all of the exhibits and engaging with the interactive pieces. Fun with friends or with a sketchbook for doodling.

Fantastic experience: A very beautiful place with beautiful representatives, very nice for families with children, there is even a nice cafeteria to drink coffee or even have a snack. Great for family fun.

Fantastic experience: The Fort Fisher Aquarium is a great place to spend a few hours, with interesting displays and friendly staff who are happy to answer questions. One surprise was that you have to book in advance, but fortunately, it was easy to do right from the parking lot. Once inside, the exhibits were engaging and well-maintained, making for an enjoyable and educational visit. Definitely worth a stop if you’re in the area!

Fantastic experience: It was fun and quiet. We went during the week to keep it so. The staff was kind and informative.

Fantastic experience: My grandmother and I came here early November, were required to buy tickets in the parking lot before entering. Everything was very cool! They introduced an albino alligator while we were there. We also got to see the bald eagle out back! 10/10 would recommend

Fantastic experience: I enjoyed this cute little aquarium! Lots of cute animals. I definitely recommend checking this aquarium out if you’re in Kure Beach.

Positive experience: If you've seen one you've seen them all. We walked the exhibits in less than 20 mins. The mother/son otters running around turning flips in the pool were the best attraction. Friendly staff. Reasonably priced, and great for kids.

Fantastic experience: Price was great. Kids had a good time. The place is not too big so kids didn't get tired.

Fantastic experience: I had a fantastic time at this aquarium! There were plenty of exhibits to explore, each offering a unique look at marine life. The interactive areas made the visit even more engaging. A major highlight for me was the jellyfish exhibit Another standout was the penguin habitat, where a special viewing dome let me get an up-close look at these playful birds as they swam and waddled around. The layout was easy to navigate and the staff was friendly. Overall, a great experience that I’d highly recommend to anyone!

Positive experience: A somewhat small but enjoyable aquarium experience. NCA does the best they can with the space they have available and the presentation of their exhibits are excellent over all, definitely worth a visit.

Fantastic experience: I live at Kure Beach 1 mile from the aquarium. Every time I have company, I take them here! Although it seems small and you can get through very quickly, I always encourage my guests to go slowly as there are so many things that you can easily miss! Try to catch a glimpse of the Moray Eel in the giant tank as he is very impressive. Also, the turtle in that same tank is adorable! We love the stingray tank too, and of course everybody's favorite, the otters; I could watch them for hours! SO CUTE!

Fantastic experience: We had a great experience today. It was our first time at the aquarium, and the exhibits were very nice. The weather was not the best today, but with the majority of things to see being inside, it was an awesome activity for the day. There was plenty of room, and I think this is because of the time reservation helping to space out the number of guests at a given time. Of course, it is in the off-season, and a lot of the activities were not available, but that just means we need to make another trip as the weather gets nicer.

Fantastic experience: Great place to take your kids! Forewarning, you won't likely regret eating at their mini-resturant but the food is a little overpriced for the quality.

Positive experience: Cool touch pool. I’m no biologist, but that was big shark that maybe needed more room? Trigger fish were new to me. Never seen it at other aquariums. As aquarium members, this one probably needs the most updating but is a good time nonetheless. Staff were friendly and helpful. And yes, if you are looking at reviews you must know by now you need reservations online before you go.

Fantastic experience: Had a wonderful time visiting here, seeing and learning about all of the animals. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Fun place to visit and would love to go back!

Positive experience: Went specifically to see the decorated Christmas trees. They were awesome. So many different themes. 'Friends' was one of my favorites

Fantastic experience: We detoured from a planned trip to Top Sail to visit the Aquarium and Kure Beach. Absolutely a sound decision, as the aquarium was affordable, staff were friendly, and even the gift shop didn’t have prices that felt like they were trying to take us for a ride. There were enough displays and interactive exhibits to keep the kids entertained and going in an off season meant very little crowds. Not to mention, the public access beach is right around the corner when you’re done walking through.

Fantastic experience: Cool place with great exhibits for thr family. My son loved the alligators and sharks. They have great points around the aquarium to get good views . The otters are fun to watch. If you buy a membership from an AZA partner (like museum of life and science in Durham) you get discounted tickets. Make sure you reserve tickets ahead of time. Surprisingly the bald eagle was also comfortable with being close and we had an awesome view seeing Ole Maverick.

Fantastic experience: The Aquarium never disappoints. We visit a couple times a year, spring and fall. This year we made it for a cleaning day. Watching the staff interact and care for the abundant life around them was wonderful. The little loves the touch tanks and we do the outside trail at least twice per visit. Otters are stinky but hilarious balls of energy. Smash a penny and enjoy the beautiful glass ornaments, wind chimes and art in the gift shop. Naturally there is a huge selection of great plush animals and toys. This trip featured the Festival of Trees, it was beautiful, highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: Otters - check, alligators - check, sharks - check. We were there for the Festival of Trees. Beautiful. Reasonably priced. Easy walking with plenty of good viewing points.

Fantastic experience: We had a blast taking our 3 year old here. Tons of stuff to see and learn. She loved it! Can't wait to go back again!

Fantastic experience: We love this aquarium! First time going while on vacation. Easy to find. Parking is easy. Staff is friendly. Not as big as other aquariums I’ve been too so it’s not an all day event but it’s still really fun and not crazy expensive!

Fantastic experience: The Christmas Trees are a huge distraction. Two exhibits were devoid of sea creatures. The back main stairway needs serious tread maintenance. Everything else was great.

Fantastic experience: Great place, very clean and informative staff. A fun time was had by all.

Fantastic experience: Think this may be my favorite of the three NC aquariums. Really nice interior, and the double-story layout is nice. A small but diverse and interesting collection of animals, and the staff who walked by were friendly and very informative.

Fantastic experience: It was a pretty good experience overall. The aquarium is quite small, but it includes some additional features like birdwatching and eagles, which add more variety. While it’s not a traditional aquarium in the strict sense, the exhibits were decent. My favorite parts were the baby otters and the sharks. Although the otters were asleep when we visited, they were still super adorable and such a joy to see! The shark exhibit was also great and enjoyable for both kids and adults. Parking was easy to find, and there were plenty of spaces available. However, the ticketing process could be improved since tickets can only be purchased online. Thankfully, the staff were very helpful and sorted things out for us, but I think it would be much better if they kept some tickets for on-site sales to make it more convenient for visitors. There were plenty of staff members throughout the aquarium, especially in the later sections where almost every exhibit had someone nearby. While they didn’t seem to be actively doing much, their presence was reassuring, and it was nice to know help was always available. One of the staff told us that the sea turtles here are released back into the ocean when they’re about four to six months old. I think that’s such a wonderful initiative, as it not only helps protect marine life but also teaches kids about the importance of living in harmony with nature. It’s an educational and meaningful touch that I really appreciated. Another nice surprise was the small playground behind the aquarium. It’s not big, but it’s a great bonus for families with young kids. The play area is simple, but it gives kids a chance to have fun and burn off some energy after exploring the aquarium. Combined with the exhibits, it makes this place especially family-friendly. That said, the aquarium may feel a bit small and limited for teenagers, adults, or seniors, as there isn’t a lot to see, and the visit can be quite short. But for younger kids, especially toddlers and preschoolers, it’s a perfect place to learn about aquatic animals and enjoy some hands-on experiences. Overall, it was a pleasant visit. If you’re traveling with kids or have an interest in marine life, it’s definitely worth a visit. While it can’t compare to larger aquariums in terms of size and variety, the cozy atmosphere, meaningful initiatives, and kid-friendly features make it a great spot for a relaxed family outing.

Fantastic experience: Lots of fun for da family. Would go again very cute animals and very cool exhibits especially the touching pool.

Fantastic experience: I reserved our tickets online as that's what the website said, it made for an easy process. There was no wait getting in, but we went during the week when school was in so it wasn't super busy. It was a lot of fun. Everything (including the fish tanks) were decorated for Halloween.

Positive experience: Very nice aquarium. Beautiful exhibits and fun for my 7 year old. May be biased based on other aquariums we've visited and that's the 4 stars vs. 5

Fantastic experience: Such a fun visit! My husband and I went here on a cloudy day on our beach trip and had so much fun. There were so many fascinating exhibits, and there was always an employee or volunteer nearby to answer our questions or add some commentary. We of course loved the otters and Luna the albino alligator, but truly every exhibit there was well-maintained and fun to observe. Highly recommend for a day out for visitors of all ages. A highlight was watching the bonnethead shark pass by in the large shark tank. Also props to the staff for the Halloween decorations!!!

Positive experience: It was okay. Good way to entertain and educate when weather isn’t great. Always end up feeling bad for animals.

Positive experience: We had a great time. It was a little smaller than expected, but definitely entertaining. The line was longer than expected. There were some stairs but it is handicap accessible/stroller accessible. Very kid friendly! Not so much for teens.

Fantastic experience: I've been going here since I was a small child, and now bring my children here each year when we vacation in Kure Beach. Gorgeous facility, right on the water, with a huge focus on local preservation. we've seen it grow and change over the last 30 years, and it continues to feel like a very special place to visit and learn more about the local species. Great for small kids, takes a little over an hour to explore if you have little ones who move fast.