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Trip Planner:   USA  /  North Carolina  /  North Carolina Coast  /  Outer Banks  /  Roanoke Island  /  Manteo  /  North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island

North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, Manteo

4.4
#1 of 37 in Things to do in Manteo
Aquarium · Zoo / Aquarium
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The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is located on the Outer Banks and educates visitors on the state's many ecosystems and the animals inhabiting them. This journey begins with Seven Rivers and ends at the Graveyard of the Atlantic. This 285,000-gallon exhibit houses the largest group of sharks in the state and features a replica of the USS Monitor, a Civil War ironclad which sank off the coast of Cape Hatteras in late December 1862. Alligators, turtles, fish, and the ever-popular North American river otters are featured in Wild Wetlands.

The Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (STAR) Center is a 3,000 square-foot facility allowing staff and volunteers to maintain an excellent level of care for sick and ailing sea turtles. Visitors have the opportunity to see the turtle patients through viewing windows on the holding tanks and hear their recovery stories from the people who help them every day. When they are fully rehabilitated, the sea turtles are released back into the wild, some with satellite transmitters to track their movements. After learning about sea turtles at the Center, diagnose and care for a replica of an injured sea turtle in the interactive and hands-on exhibit Sea Turtle Rescue.

Touch a stingray, a white-spotted bamboo shark, or a sea star in Sea Senses. Free programs are offered every day, and, for an additional fee, guests can see and learn even more about our animals during a behind-the-scenes tour or participate in a camp or other special activity. Stroll along the educational soundside pier, a popular location for wedding ceremonies. The Aquarium is equipped to host receptions and other special events, even underwater weddings. Open-water certified divers can participate in our Aquarium Shark Dive program and get up-close and personal with our sharks in the Graveyard of the Atlantic exhibit.
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North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
1,541 reviews
Google
4.6
TripAdvisor
  • Every year, we buy a Curator membership so we can support the aquarium. We also love to bring our adult children and grandchildren to the aquarium when they visit. 
    Every year, we buy a Curator membership so we can support the aquarium. We also love to bring our adult children and grandchildren to the aquarium when they visit.  more »
  • Small aquarium that was fun for a non-beach morning activity. To avoid the crowds, recommend going right when it opens and walk towards the second half of the aquarium instead of the beginning with.....  more
    Small aquarium that was fun for a non-beach morning activity. To avoid the crowds, recommend going right when it opens and walk towards the second half of the aquarium instead of the beginning with.....  more »
Google
  • This place is so awesome! They have incredible interactive exhibits and great prices. They have an amazing sea otter exhibit, HUGE shark tank exhibit, reptiles and amphibians, super cool touch tanks, and the jellyfish room is transcendent! The outdoor grounds area is scenic and peaceful as well. You can spend quite a bit of time both inside and out! The staff truly care about the animals, exhibits and are very willing to share their knowledge. Do recommend getting your tickets on their website, its easy and it can be extremely busy during the tourist seasons.
  • Great place for family visit. Location is terrific. Not a big aquarium but they have a diverse collection. Loved the jelly fish and the shark exhibits. The 20 minutes show in the Neptune theater was super educational. This show is not advertised enough so the administrators are reading, please make sure your website highlights this experience of this unique Globe screen and the information you provide. Very nice gift shop. Once you step out, there is the beautiful pier and a trail where you can see lots of birds. Recommend this place to all!

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