SEA LIFE Center Charlotte
Located at the Concord Mills Mall in a suburb of Charlotte, SEA LIFE Center is an aquarium that’s home to thousands of sea creatures. Launched in 2014, this aquarium contains over 5,000 creatures including sharks, jellyfish, and even stingrays.
A Trip under the Waves
The city of Charlotte doesn’t have an official aquarium, or a zoo for that matter, so if you want an up-close look at blacktip reef sharks, clownfish, giant octopus, seahorses, or hermit crabs, visiting SEA LIFE Charlotte is your best bet.
The aquarium is interactive and features touch pools and a 360-degree ocean tunnel – essentially a simulation of real ocean floor views. When you travel through the tunnel, you’ll be surrounded by 150,000 gallons of water along with sharks and other aquatic creatures.
Of course, the aquarium meets the safety and conservation standards and offers a safe habitat for its aquatic wildlife. In addition to its many creatures, the center hosts birthday parties, yoga classes, and behind-the-scenes tours.
New and Permanent Exhibits
The facility spans 36,000 square feet and houses 20 different exhibits. In the interactive pool, patrons can touch starfish, sea urchins, and crabs. There’s a Sting Ray Bay exhibit which contains cow nose rays.
Other exhibits showcase creatures which inhabit shallow waters. Additionally, the Turtle Shelter exhibit has many exotic turtle species on display, including Fuji, the giant radiated tortoise. You’ll learn what you can do to protect the vulnerable sea turtles of North Carolina from pollution.
New for 2019 is CLAWS, a showcase of the crabs of the world. The SEA LIFE center has recently acquired giant isopods, bizarre creatures of the deep with four sets of jaws.
The aquarium is located approximately 19 miles away from All Seasons Window & Door Co. which translates into a 25-minute one-way trip.