North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island

About Us
Must Dos
Programmed Activities

About North Carolina Aquarium:

North Carolina Aquarium At A Glance

Website: www.ncaquariums.com/roanoke-island
Address: 374 Airport Road Manteo Click for map
Phone: (252) 473-3494, (866) 332-3475
Latitude: 35.917763
Longitude: -75.704920
Hours: 9 am - 5 pm
Payment:
Cash
Entry Fee: Ages 13-61: $8; Ages 62 and up: $7; Ages 3-12: $6. Children 2 and under, NC Aquarium Society members and registered North Carolina school groups admitted free.
Handicap Accessible? Yes

On a beautiful site overlooking the Croatan Sound, the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is one of three state-operated aquariums on the North Carolina coast. The Aquarium on Roanoke Island features the 285,000-gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic saltwater tank exhibit, interactive exhibits, two touch tanks, a theater and Oceans Revealed: Power of the Planet, an interactive way of viewing the Earth and its oceans.

Sharks! Coming summer of 2010. The Aquarium will bring new sharks to the 285,000-gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic exhibit and a new 10,000-gallon exhibit that will feature smaller sharks. Let Dr. Finnegan take you on a journey through the Aquarium featuring educational facts that dispel shark myths!

Throughout the aquarium are exhibit tanks filled with fishes of North Carolina coastal habitats, including sharks and rays. You will see eels, sea turtles and more than 200 fishes in a shipwreck habitat displaying a 1/3-scale replica of the USS Monitor. In the Wetlands on the Edge sky-lit atrium, you will see river otters, alligators and turtles lazing on rocks in the sun. Each day at the aquarium there are educational programs, fish feedings and demonstrations.

The Gift Shop has a great selection of toys and gifts related to sea life and ecology. Snacks are available outside the aquarium from vending machines, and in the summer months there are food vendors on site.

The aquarium is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Admission ages 13-61-$8, 62 and up-$7, ages 3-12-$6 and children ages 2 and under free and Aquarium Society members.

You can rent the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island for special events, conferences and weddings. Located on the Croatan Sound, the aquarium accentuates any event for up to 1,500 guests! Caterers, DJs, bands, beer, wine and all the usual wedding services are allowed. A self-guided tour of the facility is included for all guests. All weddings must occur after operating hours. Call the Special Events Coordinator at (252) 473-3494 ext. 258 for information.

To inquire about special activities like Breakfast with the Rays, Snack with the Sharks, Aqua Tales for Tots, Behind the Scenes Tours, fish printing, crafts projects, birthday parties and the ever-popular Seafood Series, call (252) 473-3494 ext. 232 or visit the interactive calendar on the website. Special activities require a separate fee and advance registration.

Looking for a special place to send your children to summer camp? The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island offers four sessions of day camp each summer. Two sessions run for ages 7 to 9, and two sessions run for ages 10 to 12, with a maximum of 12 campers for each week of camp. Educational activities, programs and aquatic field trip outings are scheduled for these week-long camps, with a sleepover in front of the 285,000-gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic saltwater tank exhibit for the older campers. To find out more about Aquatic Adventures and Jr. Aquatic Adventures Summer Day Camps or to pre-register, call (252) 473-3494 ext. 232.

Must Dos:

Dialog with a Diver

Talk with an Aquarium diver in the 285,000-gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic exhibit each day at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Ask questions with an educator and have the diver in the exhibit answer your questions. Educational experience for all ages. Ages 13-61: $8; Ages 62 and up: $7; Ages 3-12: $6. Children 2 and under admitted free.

Snack with the Sharks

Venture behind the scenes of the Graveyard of the Atlantic tank with an educator to observe one of the weekly shark feedings. Participants will not be able to assist with the feeding, but will get an up close look as all of the fish and sharks are fed. Shark facts and myths will then be presented while the class has a light afternoon snack in the Aquarium classroom. Closed toe shoes are required. Ages 8 and up. Pre-registration required. Cost: $15

Breakfast with the Rays

Get an exciting start to your day at the Aquarium as you assist our staff with a morning feeding, while learning about one of the resident species. Participants will feed the stingrays at the touch tank, then snack on a light breakfast of people food. Closed toe shoes are required. Limit 15; Ages 6 and up. Pre-registration required Cost: $15