Contributor: Jamie Richardson
🌞 Looking for something fun to do to beat the heat? How about a visit to SEA LIFE at Concord Mills Mall?
📍 SEA LIFE, 8111 Concord Mills Boulevard, Concord, NC 28027
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Imagine stepping into a world where the mysteries of the ocean come alive—a place where sharks glide overhead, colorful fish dart through coral reefs, and jellyfish pulse with graceful beauty. At SEA LIFE Concord, located at Concord Mills, this enchanting experience awaits visitors of all ages. With its diverse exhibits and interactive displays, SEA LIFE offers a unique opportunity to explore marine life up close and personal.
SEA LIFE is home to over 1,000 sea creatures housed in a massive 150,000 gallons of water. As visitors wander through the aquarium, they’ll find a variety of exhibits designed to both educate and inspire.
Photo credit: SEA LIFE Charlotte/Concord Instagram
Here’s a sneak peek into the wonders that await:
Tropical Ocean Exhibit and Ocean Tunnel
A major highlight of SEA LIFE is the Tropical Ocean Exhibit, featuring an awesome 180-degree Ocean Tunnel. Visitors can watch sharks, rays, and the aquarium’s largest resident, a Nurse Shark named Neptune, swim gracefully overhead. The tunnel transports everyone into the heart of a tropical sea, where vibrant marine life thrives in 117,000 gallons of water.
Interactive Touchpool
For a hands-on experience, the Interactive Touchpool invites guests to touch creatures like chocolate chip sea stars and slipper lobsters. Modeled after a West Coast tide pool, this exhibit provides a tactile understanding of ocean ecosystems and the amazing creatures that inhabit them.
Sea Turtle Rescue Center
The Sea Turtle Rescue Center offers a look into the rehabilitation and conservation efforts for these majestic creatures. Guests can meet Beasley, a rescued sea turtle, and learn about the challenges sea turtles face in the wild and how they can help protect them.
Stingray Bay Exhibit
Step onto a virtual beach at Stingray Bay, where stingrays glide over sandy bottoms and schools of fish dart among the coral. This exhibit showcases a variety of marine life, from eels to curious fish like the shovelnose guitarfish and porcupine pufferfish.
Doodle Reef
Get creative at Doodle Reef, where technology meets marine biology. Visitors can design their own virtual fish and watch it swim alongside others in a colorful, interactive reef environment. It’s a fun and educational experience for families and friends alike.
Jellies Exhibit
Enter the tranquil world of jellyfish at the mesmerizing Jellies Exhibit. Guests can change the lighting to see these graceful creatures in a kaleidoscope of colors, highlighting their otherworldly beauty and delicate movements.
Shoaling Ring Exhibit
Surround yourself with the shimmering spectacle of schooling fish at the Shoaling Ring Exhibit. This unique 360-degree display offers a glimpse into the coordinated movements of silver moonies and other schooling fish as they navigate their underwater world.
Dive into The Kids Club
Embark on an adventure like no other with The Kids Club! Experience the excitement every second Saturday of the month as young explorers are invited to dive into a world of creativity and discovery. Tailored for elementary school students, this monthly gathering offers an electrifying fusion of hands-on crafts and mind-bending experiments. Designed to ignite imagination and foster curiosity, each session unveils a fresh array of activities.
Beyond The Surface Tours
Discover how SEA LIFE cares for Concord’s largest aquarium and thousands of creatures with the Beyond The Surface Tours. This 30-minute interactive experience is a guest favorite! Visitors join expert guides to learn about the feeding and care of the aquarium’s inhabitants. This special behind-the-scenes experience reveals how an ocean is created right in the heart of Concord.
Conservation and Education
Beyond its captivating exhibits, SEA LIFE is committed to conservation and education. Throughout the aquarium, visitors can learn about the importance of marine conservation efforts and the role each person plays in protecting ocean ecosystems. From interactive talks with experts to firsthand encounters with rescued sea turtles, every visit to SEA LIFE is an opportunity to deepen one’s understanding of marine life and conservation.
Plan Your Visit
Located at Concord Mills, SEA LIFE is easily accessible from entrance 7 and offers a range of ticket options for individuals, families, and groups. Whether visitors are marine enthusiasts, families looking for a day of exploration, or simply curious about the wonders of the ocean, SEA LIFE promises an unforgettable experience.
As visitors plan their trip to SEA LIFE, they should check the website for an aquarium map, and the latest information on exhibits, events, and conservation initiatives. Dive into a world of wonder and discovery at SEA LIFE — an adventure beneath the waves awaits!
Planning to visit? Tell ’em Cabarrus Weekly sent ya!
