NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island

The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, North Carolina, is a good place to go for a quick look at sea life common to the area. It's laid out so you can see a lot in a little time, and it welcomes children. This will be a learning excursion that doesn't feel educational.

Stroll through the galleries that focus on some aspect of marine life of the Outer Banks. Both animals of the mainland and creatures in the ocean are displayed.You can see coastal freshwater life that live in the marshlands and estuaries, such as river otters, turtles, and alligators. 

They have a gallery with sea turtles and a rescue program for them. When the injured or sick ones are fully rehabilitated, they are released back into the wild. In the Close Encounters gallery, visitors can actually touch creatures, such as crabs, sea urchins, stingrays, and white-spotted bamboo sharks.

The last gallery is a favorite, The 285,000 gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic exhibit holds several kinds of sharks, as well as large game fish. This is the largest collection of sharks in the state. The dim lighting and huge tank almost give the feel of being underwater.

The aquarium is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily and only closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. It's rarely crowded, except in the summer months. There is an admission fee.

374 Airport Road
Manteo, NC 27954
252-475-2300
http://www.outerbanks.com/nc-aquarium-manteo.html

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