Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach
One of the most well-known attractions in Myrtle Beach outside of the golfing is Ripley's Aquarium. This is a huge facility that allows visitors to actually travel through the aquarium tank (it's designed so there is a walkway through the tank, with the sharks and other fish swimming around nearby behind the glass). There are a wide variety of fish here from numerous different habitats - tropical fish, sharks, octopus, sea dragons, and sea horses are among the many different species you can see here. This is an extremely interesting place to go for anyone who has even a passing interest in marine life, and if you've brought your kids on vacation, it's highly recommended as a way to keep them paying attention to something educational and fun at the same time.
Ripley’s Aquarium boasts 85,000 square feet of exhibit space and it takes at least a few hours to adequately tour the attraction. The displays, tanks, and exhibits are quite varied and a visit provides plenty of education in regards to creatures of the deep and their environs.
Rio Amazon is an interesting display that takes visitors on a make-believe tour of the mighty Amazon River. Here, guests will view many of the species that make the Amazon unique - such as Silver Arawana, Pacu, Tiger Shovelnose Catfish, and many others - and will learn more about the rain forest ecosystem. In the Dangerous Reef exhibit, a moving 30-foot-long glide path takes visitors past a huge variety of sea life including various kinds of sharks, sea turtles, tarpon, and more. These are creatures of the deep ocean and this 2-million gallon tank is the largest and one of the most fascinating exhibits in the aquarium.
The Living Gallery is a collection of delicate undersea life such as sea anemones, jellies of various kinds, living corals, octopus, and others. Guests will also be entertained by unusual plant-like animals like giant clams and more. At Rainbow Rock, the creatures of the Indo-Pacific coral reef are highlighted. Dive shows are presented in this area and staff members hand-feed these friendly sea creatures. The Rainbow Rock exhibit also includes some of the most colorful fish at the aquarium, including clown fish, butterfly fish, unicorn fish, and many others.
At the Systems Control area, visitors can see how the aquarium keeps millions of gallons of water clean and view the computer-controlled pumps and filters that keep everything running. And for some hands on fun, the Sea-for-Yourself Discovery Center is a multi-media playground where guests of all ages can hold marine life in their hands and take advantage of classes at the adjacent Marine Education Center. More interactive fun happens at Ray Bay, where visitors get up-close-and-personal with majestic stingrays of many varieties.
Education is a big part of the picture at Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach. Classes of all sorts are available for students from pre-school through high school age and marine science camps are offered during the summer for children age 6 through 16. These 2-day camps include a sleepover at the aquarium. In addition, groups of 15 or more can “Sleep with the Sharks” in the Dangerous Reef tunnel. This adventure also includes a scavenger hunt, craft activity, educational presentation, snack and continental breakfast. Adventurous visitors age 6 and older can also swim with the aquarium’s sting rays in a 2-hour session that also includes a behind-the-scenes tour and much more.
The aquarium is always open, 24/7, 365 days a year, so you don't have to worry much about planning vacation-wise - just go whenever you've got a spare day. The current schedules: Sunday through Thursday it's open from 9am to 8pm, Friday and Saturday it's 9am to 10pm. It costs $17 admission for anyone over 12, and it's cheaper for kids the younger they are. You'll need to check out "Dangerous Reef" while you're there, which is the centerpiece - a 330 foot moving glidepath that goes underneath and through one of the aquariums. This is where you can see the sharks come right up to the glass, etc. - great for the kids, but watch out if you've got kids who are easily frightened. It's also very easy to schedule a special event here such as a birthday party, wedding, etc., so if live relatively close to Myrtle Beach you might consider it for something like that. You can check out their web page at: http://www.ripleysaquarium.com/default.asp It's not especially detailed, but is has some useful contact information and updates on some special events and children's camps that they run there.Return to Myrtle Beach Guide Home Page