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AQUARIUM IS A SPECTACULAR ADDITION TO MISSISSIPPI
MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM
IS A SPECTACULAR ADDITION TO THE GULF COAST
Photo courtesy of Mississippi Aquarium
Featuring more than 80,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibits, the aquarium is connected by walkways landscaped with native plants
By Dave Bodle
Opened in August of 2020, the pristine Mississippi Aquarium features engaging exhibits and educational opportunities while providing sincere hospitality for visitors of all ages. The museum will tell the fabulous story of all of Mississippi’s aquatic resources from the Delta to the coastline.
Groups can view sharks, turtles and much more while walking through the 30-foot-long, 360-degree acrylic tunnel. It’s like walking on water. Go behind the scenes at the Bottlenose Dolphin Habitat with Animal Care experts for a Dolphin Experience. Touch and observe what’s being done to protect this beloved species.
There are also a dozen habitats from a Bird Aviary and North American River Otter Habitat to a Shark and Ray Touch Experience and Crocodilian Habitat. Fortunately, there’s no touching experience on the latter.
Yes, there is also a Penguin Experience. Visitors can learn all about precious African Penguins. You’ll discover where they are from and what’s being done to protect them, while touching and feeding them. This is a great photo opp.
The Backstage Tour takes you behind the scenes with an Aquarium staff member. You’ll gather plenty of insight into the daily operations of the Mississippi Aquarium.
It’s now time to go underwater. The aquarium’s newest attraction, SeaTREK, is a guided underwater experience that takes the interactions between visitor and animal to the next level.
On a platform, four guests with underwater helmets with wide vision will be immersed into the ocean’s habitat to get up close with sharks, rays and other aquatic wonders. You don’t need a diving certification and, in fact, you don’t need to know how to swim to participate in SeaTREK. Bring your bathing suit and towel and the Aquarium will fit you with a wetsuit to change into and a locker. SeaTREK is only available Friday through Sunday and like all aquarium experiences, requires a charge in addition to the group admittance.
Every day there’s something going on at the aquarium. Weekday and weekends between 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., there are 11 items on the schedule from Aviary Feed & Chat and Otter Chat to Croc Talk, Feedings and Close Encounters of the Aquatic Kind. There are also special events happening regularly. Many are planned around holidays like Ales at the Sails and Cocoa & Cupcakes in December.
The Aquarium is also a great venue and a perfect place for hosting your own event. Whether it is a birthday party for someone in the group or a cocktail reception and dinner with the dolphins, memories will be made.
“We offer a beautiful new event space right on Mississippi Aquarium’s campus,” said Kendra Simpson, Mississippi Aquarium vice president of Sales and Marketing. “Guests can book events small and large. We look forward to hosting conferences, luncheons and a variety of other events. One of our three foundational pillars is community, so it was important we provide a space for the community and business professionals to gather right here at the Aquarium,”
Groups of 15+ with advance reservations receive discounted admission and personalized itineraries. An online form connects you with the Group Sales Manager. Begin your planning online at msaquarium.org.
Mississippi Aquarium’s Aquatic Wonders
Photo courtesy of Mississippi Aquarium
Lovely Crystal Coast Welcomes Groups
Itineraries are easily filled with fun options on this North Carolina coastal gem
North Carolina’s Crystal Coast is an 85mile stretch of picturesque coastline and is made up of an assortment of small oceanfront communities from Morehead City and Beaufort, to Atlantic Beach and more. The area offers a distinctive array of accommodations, with more than three dozen hotels, motels and inns, and well over 5,000 vacation rental cottages, condominiums and villas.
Harkers Island
This peaceful community located 30 miles from Emerald Isle has an abundance of attractions. One of the most popular draws is the Cape Lookout Visitor’s Center, one of two ferry gateways to Shackleford Banks and Cape Lookout National Seashore, where you can see wild horses, go shelling, fishing, lighthouse climbing and kayaking.
Pine Knoll Shores
Thousands of aquatic animals take you on a journey from the state’s grand peaks to the open Atlantic at the North Carolina Aquarium in Pine Knoll Shores. The aquarium offers a variety of learning opportunities for groups, as students can explore the aquarium on a teacher-led tour, participate in a live animal program in the Big Rock Theater, research exhibits and species with interactive scavenger hunts or become scientists through hands-on classroom activities.
Bogue Sound
The Bogue Sound stretches for roughly 25 miles along the Crystal Coast and is a prime destination for mariners, fishermen, watersports fans and those who savor a fantastic sunset. A number of marinas and public docks are located on its edges.
Beaufort
Named by Travel & Leisure as America’s Favorite Small Town, Beaufort is home to a variety of charming boutiques, a downtown marina and the two-acre Beaufort Historic Site featuring six authentically restored buildings. One of North Carolina’s oldest towns, the historic site features more than 150 restored homes. The town’s North Carolina Maritime Museum is one of three state maritime museums, all of which have the purpose of preserving, collecting and interpreting coastal life and history. Inside the museum is the official repository for the artifacts from the wreckage of Blackbeard’s flagship, Queen Anne’s Revenge.
Atlantic Beach
Situated on a beautiful barrier island bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Bogue Sound, Atlantic Beach is known for an abundance of pristine public beaches.
One of its more popular spots is Memories Beach Club, which is the only Shag Club on the Crystal Coast. The Carolina shag is a partner dance done primarily to beach music and is a popular regional dance and Memories is the best place to shake your hips.
Salter Path
Located in the middle of Bogue Banks at its narrowest part, Salter Path offers easy access to both the beach and sound for recreation and relaxation. A popular Salter Path attraction is Professor Hacker’s Lost Treasure Golf and Raceway, which features two 18-hole miniature golf courses, a mining train that will take you to the first holes, go-karts, bumper boats, an arcade and kiddie rides.
