10 Interactive Marine Life Exhibits for Families

Want to explore ocean life without getting wet? Check out these 10 hands-on marine exhibits perfect for family fun:

Touch Tank at Long Island Aquarium
Underwater VR Experience
Coral Reef Display at The Florida Aquarium
Tidal Pool at SEA LIFE Carlsbad
Shark and Ray Touch Pool at Kansas City Zoo
Marine Mammal Training Demo
Plankton Lab at Heal the Bay Aquarium
Fishing Game
Underwater Viewing Area
Ocean Clean-up Game at Mystic Aquarium

These interactive exhibits let you:

Touch sea creatures
Watch live animal feedings
Explore artificial reefs and tide pools
Learn about ocean conservation

Kids love the hands-on experiences, while parents appreciate the educational value. It's a great way for families to learn about marine life together.

Exhibit	Key Features	Best For
Touch Tank	Feel sea stars, rays	All ages
VR Experience	Swim with whales virtually	Ages 7+
Coral Reef	Build your own reef	Learning about ecosystems
Tidal Pool	Touch starfish, sea urchins	Hands-on exploration
Shark/Ray Pool	Pet sharks and rays	Thrill-seekers
Training Demo	See sea lion tricks	Animal lovers
Plankton Lab	Use microscopes, make plankton	Budding scientists
Fishing Game	Catch and measure fish	Future anglers
Viewing Area	See fish up close	Observing sea life
Clean-up Game	Remove ocean trash	Eco-conscious kids

These exhibits make learning about the ocean fun and memorable for the whole family. Just remember - look but don't touch unless instructed!

1. Touch Tank at Long Island Aquarium

The Touch Tank at Long Island Aquarium is a hit with families. Why? It lets you get up close with sea creatures.

Get Hands-On

At the Touch Tank, you can:

Feel sea stars
Touch clams and whelks
Check out hermit crabs
Meet horseshoe crabs (they're old!)

There's also Ray Bay. Here, you can touch stingrays and cownose rays. You might even feed them!

Learn Something New

The Touch Tank isn't just fun - it teaches you stuff. Did you know:

Sea stars have hundreds of tiny feet?
Horseshoe crabs haven't changed in 200 million years?

Staff are around to answer questions and share cool facts.

Great for Families

Kids love the Touch Tank. It's easy for them to see and reach the exhibits. Perfect for little ocean explorers!

"The Touch Tank gets families excited about marine life. It's hands-on and fun", says a marine biologist at the aquarium.

2. Underwater VR Experience

Ever wanted to explore the ocean without getting wet? Now you can. Underwater VR experiences let families dive into marine worlds while staying dry.

Educational Value

These VR adventures are more than just fun - they're a learning experience. Kids get to see sea life and ocean ecosystems up close. Here's what you can expect:

Swim with humpback whales as they migrate from Antarctica to Tonga
Join marine biologists studying tiger sharks
Help rescue a sea turtle while learning about ocean plastic problems

Donna Powell from Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium puts it this way:

"These videos show the natural environments of many of the animals we have here in our aquariums. The virtual reality experience helps to instill appreciation and awe for the ocean and all it has to offer."

Family-Friendly

VR ocean experiences are perfect for families:

Most are suitable for kids 7 and up (with adult help)
Short 6-8 minute sessions keep kids interested
Different adventures for various ages and interests

At the Natural History Museum LA, you can:

Stand on a sunken ship's bow
Meet a blue whale
Explore a coral reef teeming with fish, jellyfish, and sea urchins

Prices vary, but they're generally affordable. At Point Defiance, it's $8 for non-members and $6 for members.

These VR dives bring the wonders of the ocean to life in a safe, dry setting. It's a great way for families to learn about marine life together.

3. Coral Reef Display at The Florida Aquarium

The Florida Aquarium's Coral Reef Display isn't just a pretty fish tank. It's a deep dive into one of nature's most complex ecosystems.

Get Your Hands Dirty

Kids can actually touch replica corals. Feel the bumps and grooves. Learn by doing.

There's even a "Build Your Own Reef" station. Families team up to create mini-ecosystems. It's like Lego, but for coral reefs.

Learn Something New

This isn't just for show. You'll walk away knowing:

The ABCs of coral species
How these tiny animals grow and make babies
Why coral reefs are ocean VIPs

Keri O'Neil, a big-brain scientist at the aquarium, puts it this way:

"We're not just babysitting corals. We're making thousands of coral babies with new genes. It's crucial with all the threats these guys face in the wild."

Save the Reefs

The exhibit shows off the aquarium's coral rescue mission:

Houses the world's biggest collection of living Atlantic pillar corals
Explains how they got coral to reproduce in a lab (it's a big deal)
Shows how they're rebuilding Florida's Coral Reef

Here's a shocker: Florida's coral reefs are worth $8 billion and support 70,000 jobs. Suddenly, saving coral isn't just for fish huggers.

Bottom line: The Coral Reef Display mixes fun, learning, and a wake-up call about conservation. If you're at The Florida Aquarium, don't skip it.

4. Tidal Pool at SEA LIFE Carlsbad

Want to touch a starfish? At SEA LIFE Carlsbad's Tidal Pool, you can.

This exhibit brings the beach to you. No need to get sandy or wet. Just reach in and feel the ocean's creatures.

What Can You Do?

Touch starfish and sea anemones (gently, of course)
Feel hermit crab shells
Get up close with sea urchins

It's not just looking. It's touching, feeling, and experiencing.

Learn While You Play

As you explore, you'll pick up cool facts:

How these tough little animals survive
Why tidepools matter
What's being done to protect them

Got questions? Staff are there to chat and share fun tidbits.

Great for Families

The Tidal Pool is perfect for everyone:

Kids can reach easily
It's safe and watched
Even grandma and grandpa will love it

It's a chance to make memories together.

What's Cool	Why It's Cool
Shallow water	Safe for kids
Lots of animals	Learn about different species
Experts around	Get your questions answered
Hands-on design	Sparks curiosity

The Tidal Pool isn't just fun. It's a peek into ocean life that'll make you see the sea differently.

5. Shark and Ray Touch Pool at Kansas City Zoo

Want to pet a shark? Now you can at Kansas City Zoo's Stingray Bay!

This $3.5 million exhibit lets you get up close with:

20 cownose rays
8 southern stingrays
12 white-spotted bamboo sharks

All swimming in a 23,000-gallon saltwater tank.

Stick your hands in and feel these sea creatures glide by. Don't worry, it's safe. The rays' stingers are gone, and bamboo sharks are gentle bottom-dwellers.

You'll learn a ton too. How do rays and sharks move? What do they eat? What's their role in the ocean? Zoo staff are always around to answer questions.

It's perfect for everyone. Kids can reach easily, and adults can join in the fun.

Feature	Details
Tank size	23,000 gallons
Number of rays	28
Number of sharks	12
Shark species	White-spotted bamboo
Opening date	May 18

Tip: Beat the crowds. Show up at 9:30 AM when the exhibit opens.

Soon, you'll even be able to feed these creatures (for a small fee).

At Stingray Bay, you're not just watching - you're part of the action. It's a slice of ocean life right in Kansas City!

6. Marine Mammal Training Demo

Ever wondered how sea lions learn those cool tricks? At SeaWorld Orlando, you can find out.

The "Flippers, Facts and Fun" show stars sea lions Clyde and Seamore. It's not just tricks - you'll see how trainers work with these smart animals.

In 45 minutes, you'll:

Watch sea lions do natural behaviors
Learn what they eat and where they live
See how training helps with medical care

Kids think it's fun. Adults like the learning part. It's great for families.

Want to get closer? Try these:

Experience	Time	Cost	Age
Swim with Dolphins	30 min	$235	6+
Shallow Water Dolphin Swim	20 min	$210	5+
Sea Lion Swim	20 min	$165	8+

Note: Prices include park entry. Book early!

On a budget? Just watch. You'll still see animals up close and learn from trainers.

These demos aren't just for fun. They help us understand and care for marine mammals. As one trainer said: "Every interaction teaches us something new."

So, why not check out marine mammal training on your next family day out? Your kids will love it!

7. Plankton Lab at Heal the Bay Aquarium

Ever wondered what powers ocean life? At Heal the Bay Aquarium's Plankton Lab, you can explore the tiny world that makes a big impact.

The lab isn't just for looking. It's for doing:

Use plankton nets like a pro
See live plankton up close
Create your own plankton species

Kids love "Plankton Wars". They make plankton from clay and test which design lasts longest in water.

But it's not all fun and games. The lab shows how plankton fit into the ocean's big picture:

Connect marine roles with yarn in the Food Web Activity
Play "Food Chain Checkers" to grasp ocean connections

Activity	You'll Learn
Plankton Net Design	How to sample ocean life
Microscope Viewing	Spot different plankton
Food Web Game	Plankton's ecosystem role

The lab aims to spark curiosity. Aeriel Wauhob from MaST Center Aquarium says:

"My greatest hope is that this exhibit sparks that passion. It opens up a whole new world that we're not usually interacting with or notice."

This passion can lead to action. One 10-year-old girl got so excited about plankton, she's now an aquarium volunteer.

Want in? Join free STEAMbox family workshops on Saturdays, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm. Great for ages 5 and up. Just sign up early.

At Heal the Bay's Plankton Lab, families don't just learn about marine life - they dive right in.

8. Fishing Game

The Children's Museum of the Treasure Coast has a fishing game that's a hit with families. It's fun, but it also teaches kids about fishing and taking care of our oceans.

Here's what makes it cool:

Kids can catch 8 different local fish
They learn to measure fish and check if they're in season
The game shows which fish belong here and which don't

But there's more than just fishing. Kids can explore a big sport fishing boat and smaller boats too. They even get to try on life jackets and learn about staying safe on the water.

Katie Makemson, who helps create exhibits, says:

"We've always wanted to teach our local boating safety here, our fish, different species, accurate species, learning what's native to Florida. What's an invasive species."

The game also talks about keeping our oceans clean. Kids learn why it's bad to throw trash in the water and how they can help protect sea life.

What Kids Do	What They Learn
Catch fish	How to fish, local fish types
Measure fish	Fishing rules
Practice boat safety	How to be safe on boats
Pick up trash	Why clean oceans matter

This isn't just a game. It's a way to get kids excited about sea life and keeping our oceans healthy. At the Children's Museum of the Treasure Coast, families can have fun and learn something new at the same time.

9. Underwater Viewing Area

Ever wanted to explore the ocean without getting wet? Underwater viewing areas make it possible. These spots let you get up close with fish, coral, and other sea creatures while staying dry.

Take the Monterey Bay Aquarium. They've got a massive window into a living kelp forest. You'll see colorful fish darting through swaying kelp - it's like watching an underwater dance.

Or how about the Georgia Aquarium? They kick it up a notch. You can actually swim with stingrays in a special tank. Talk about hands-on learning!

For something different, check out Busselton Jetty in Perth. Their underwater observatory is 8 meters below the surface, at the end of a 1.8-kilometer jetty. It's like stepping into another world.

Location	What You'll See	Cool Feature
Monterey Bay Aquarium	Kelp forest, fish	Living kelp ecosystem
Georgia Aquarium	Stingrays	Swim with rays
Busselton Jetty	Local sea life	Deep-sea observatory

These places aren't just fun - they're educational too. Many have guides explaining what you're seeing. At Mystic Aquarium, you can watch New England's only beluga whales from above and below the water.

"We aim to make learning fun for kids, while empowering them to make a difference in the world." - Jeanne White, education director at Jack's Diving Locker

These viewing areas are great for everyone - kids who can't swim yet, older folks, or anyone who wants to stay dry.

Quick tips:

Check feeding times for active sea life
Look for guided tours
Bring a camera for underwater shots

10. Ocean Clean-up Game at Mystic Aquarium

Mystic Aquarium's Ocean Clean-up Game turns marine conservation into family fun. Kids and adults team up to tackle ocean pollution hands-on.

Here's the deal:

You're a deep-sea critter swimming through a polluted ocean. Your mission? Gobble up marine snow while dodging predators. But there's a catch - some of that "food" is actually tiny plastic bits!

This game isn't just a good time. It's an eye-opener about real ocean threats. Erica Kelly from Monterey Bay Aquarium explains:

"Our goal is to introduce people to the deep sea. It's the least explored habitat on Earth... We want to spark whatever connection is necessary to make people care about this part of the ocean."

The game's a hit. It keeps visitors hooked longer than any other exhibit at Mystic Aquarium. Why? It's fun AND educational.

You'll learn:

How plastic hurts sea life
Why cleaning up oceans is tough
Ways to protect marine ecosystems

The learning continues with Mystic Aquarium's Ocean Ambassadors program:

Activity	Impact
Annual cleanups	1,000+ lbs of trash removed from local waters
Citizen science	5,000+ people collect water quality data
Habitat restoration	Native species planted along Long Island Sound

Want to keep the ocean-saving vibe going at home? Try these:

Family recycling sorting challenge
Make music with clean plastic trash
Join a local beach cleanup

Conclusion

Interactive marine exhibits let families dive into ocean education hands-on. They're more than just fish in tanks.

At SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, kids can:

Touch shark eggs
Feel sea cucumbers
Watch 2,500 sea creatures up close

Natalie Kidd from Intrepid Travel says:

"When people see marine animals such as whales and dolphins in the wild they are often profoundly moved by the experience and far more motivated than before to actively contribute to the conservation of these animals and their environment."

These exhibits spark ocean curiosity. But visit responsibly.

Tips for aquarium visits:

Do	Don't
Keep hands to yourself	Touch animals without permission
Watch quietly	Chase or prod fish
Ask staff questions	Feed marine life

We're guests in their home. The Hawaii Ocean Project says:

"Everyone, even fish, deserves our respect. This is their home. We are guests. More importantly, we are stewards. It's up to us."

Visiting teaches families about ocean life and protection. But don't stop there.

Keep helping:

Join beach cleanups
Cut single-use plastics
Support ocean conservation groups

These exhibits show why oceans matter. So explore - but tread lightly and leave only footprints in the sand.

10 Interactive Marine Life Exhibits for Families