North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher - Kure Beach, North Carolina

Vivian Pitts

We had a great time. It was a little smaller than expected, but definitely entertaining. The line was longer than expected. There were some stairs but it is handicap accessible/stroller accessible. Very kid friendly! Not so much for teens.

Brooks Piper

Such a fun visit! My husband and I went here on a cloudy day on our beach trip and had so much fun. There were so many fascinating exhibits, and there was always an employee or volunteer nearby to answer our questions or add some commentary. We of course loved the otters and Luna the albino alligator, but truly every exhibit there was well-maintained and fun to observe. Highly recommend for a day out for visitors of all ages. A highlight was watching the bonnethead shark pass by in the large shark tank. Also props to the staff for the Halloween decorations!!!

Lisa B

Very educational but fun experience! You can buy tickets online and pick your time which makes it super convenient! We went right when they opened and it wasn’t busy. They have a great indoor walk through with sea creatures and frogs and etc. We enjoyed the outdoor walk too. We saw turtles, alligator and a bald eagle named Maverick. Lots of educational information out there too. They have an outdoor play area for the kids. There’s a snack bar with burgers, fries, chicken tenders etc. they also have ice cream and frozen treats and picnic tables. They offer bus parking and huge parking with additional parking available so I feel like parking isn’t an issue! They have a gift shop with a good selection. We felt it was worth the money! We did get bit by mosquitoes outside so bug spray is a good idea.

JM Miller

This aquarium is a must-see if you're visiting the area. It's well worth the price of admission because there's so much to see. It's beautifully designed & laid out. Staff is very friendly & very knowledgeable. It was a special treat to see a wild alligator on their grounds & the staff member told us valuable information about the new visitor.

Noel McDowell

Had a lovely visit to this facility with my two little ones and extended family. We did buy our tickets ahead of time and that was a simple process. Pleased with the amount of aquatic species there was to see. My 2 year old loved the shrimps and the big lobster and pretty much all of it to be honest. I was surprised to see the decent sized shark they had. The gift shop is nice as well and there is a nice little play area outside for little ones. Definitely recommend this place!!! If you have young kids they will love it!!

Carolyn Washington

Great experience as great as the last time I visited years ago.
Make sure to make a reservation online before visiting. This is required as the days can get booked up.
We lucked out with parking, as the lot was full, but a few early birds left so we got a great spot.
When you arrive, there bathrooms available to the right of the building before checking in for your reservation.
After you check-in, you have free range of two stories of awesome exhibits.
Our favorite is the shark/whale/dolphin area and the otters.
There is also a gift shop on 2 bottom floor followed by an outside boardwalk area (there are gardens but due to the tropical storm, it was closed due to flooding).
Outside there is also a little eatery with seating, a playground and a fossil dig site (many found little sharks teeth). Don't forget to also check out the rare albino alligator, Luna and their beautiful bald eagle who isn't able to fly due to an injury before he came to live here.

If you have an NC Zoo Membership, don't forget to use it here with reciprocity for free entry!

Jennifer Rogge

Visited with cousins, young ones and teens too. All had fun! Teens loved hurricane simulator and young ones and all loved big fish tank. Great variety and exhibits well cared for and maintained. Excellent gift shop! Don’t miss the turtles in outdoor exhibits along boardwalk!

Kaelyn Brennan

I've been going here since I was a small child, and now bring my children here each year when we vacation in Kure Beach. Gorgeous facility, right on the water, with a huge focus on local preservation. we've seen it grow and change over the last 30 years, and it continues to feel like a very special place to visit and learn more about the local species. Great for small kids, takes a little over an hour to explore if you have little ones who move fast.