North Carolina Aquarium (Roanoke Island)

The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is a whopping 68,000 square feet (6,300 square meters), and its indoor and outdoor habitats take at least a half-day to explore. Visitors will wind along exhibit after exhibit and world after world, from rivers to wetlands to seas full of jellyfish, sea turtles, and sharks. Since the Outer Banks lie in the “Graveyard of the Atlantic,” there’s a shipwreck exhibit too, and visitors can walk through a sunken ship to see the marine treasures inside.

Outdoors, you can learn all about the area’s wild plant life and wander over to the Soundside Pier—with a fresh understanding of what lies beneath the waving water.

• You can find out about special events and educational programs on the aquarium’s website.

• Advanced tickets are required and must be purchased online.

• An on-site snack bar sells food and drink from May to September.

It may be on an island, but the North Carolina Aquarium is still easily accessible if you have your own wheels. Drive to Manns Harbor on the mainland, hop on Highway 64, and you’re practically there. There’s plenty of free parking available on-site. Local taxi services are also available.

The aquarium is typically open daily year-round, except for major holidays. Summer is by far the busiest season, while spring and fall offer pleasant weather and fewer tourists, especially if you visit on a weekday. Consider go during the morning hours for a quieter atmosphere and the opportunity to observe the marine life at your leisure.

North Carolina has some tiny yet dangerous residents. For some reason, the state is a hot spot for carnivorous plants, and both the Venus flytrap and the carnivorous pitcher plant are native to the state. Visitors to the aquarium can spot these wild, semi-sentient flora in the carnivorous plant garden. Just no touching.