Company's Description:
The 93,000 square foot South Carolina Aquarium opened in May, 2000. Since that time, over 9 million people have visited this wonderful facility that juts out 200 feet into the Charleston Harbor. The South Carolina Aquarium mission is to inspire conservation of the natural world by exhibiting and caring for animals, by excelling in education and research, and by providing an exceptional visitor experience. It is known for its state-of-the-art environmental learning center that includes ten exhibits featuring over 5,000 specimens of animals and 5,000 specimens of plants.
The Aquarium’s newest exhibit features four visiting Magellanic penguins from Sea World San Diego. Whether they’re performing underwater ballet or observing visitors from the rocks, these birds know how to captivate a crowd. The exhibit includes cool facts about penguins and timely information about climate change in their native habitat and here at home.
A fun-for-the-whole-family exhibit is Camp Carolina, an interactive excursion upstate that teaches families how to practice “leave no trace” camping. Navigate a climbing wall, ford a stream across a rickety rope bridge, and warm your hands over the campfire. Don’t miss the one-eyed catfish, the sibling skunks and the snot otter. Liberty, our bald eagle, stands watch at the entrance.
Other exhibits explore the regions of South Carolina: Start in The Mountain Forest, where you can watch silly otters flip and splash! The Piedmont Gallery is next, where you can see fish such as bass and cappies. Following through you will find the Coast Plains Gallery with alligators, snakes and other fun reptiles. Proceed on to the Saltmarsh Aviary and explore our tidal creeks and bird collection. Stroll next into the Coast Gallery, where you can learn about loggerhead sea turtles, sea horses and stingrays. Lastly head over to the Ocean Gallery and our largest tank, The Great Ocean Tank. See marine life such as nurse sharks, sheepshead, moray eels and barracudas.
Our new expanded Touch Tank near the Saltmarsh allows kids of all ages to get closer than ever to a variety of invertebrates found along the coast, from purple sea urchins to horseshoe crabs. For the very first time, visitors can pet Atlantic stingrays (without barbs) in their very own pool. Expert volunteer guides explain and interpret this unforgettable experience.
Incorporate daily programs into your visit! Watch the otters get their breakfast, talk to scuba divers in the Great Ocean Tank to learn how they feed the sharks, and get up-close-and-personal to a snake, turtle, alligator and more. Educational daily programs are offered throughout the day.
Hours:
March - August: Open Daily 9 am - 5 pm
September - February: Open Daily 9 am - 4 pm
Closed Thanksgiving Day, Dec 25, and half day
Dec 24 (open 9 am-1 pm)
Location: 100 Aquarium Wharf in Downtown Charleston
Phone: (843) 579-8600
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