Wander Through the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium

Dive into education, conservation and fun with the entire family at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium. Voted America’s Best Aquarium of 2021 by USA TODAY, this attraction will have the family fully engaged in every exhibit.

The museum celebrates fishers and hunters throughout 350,000 square feet of exhibits and 1.5 miles of walking trails. Each immersive habitat educates visitors on the impact of conservation, starting with Native American efforts up until today.

Guests are surrounded by more than 800 species of wildlife and can sign up for special encounters like the Out to Sea Feeding Frenzy. This attraction has guests in the tanks with sharks during feeding time with a specialized underwater helmet to be submerged underwater without diver certification. For families looking for something less adrenaline-inducing, the Penguin Encounter gives guests an up-close and personal look at the Gentoo penguin species.

Photo by Matt Suess

The aquatic exhibits to explore include a unique display of photos and artifacts from U.S. presidents enjoying fishing, including a boat gifted to the museum from George W. Bush called Bass Force One. The swamp at night, Amazon rainforest, marvels of the deep and river monsters give visitors a look at what’s beneath the surface.

Exhibits in the museum take travelers around the world via 4-D dioramas complete with sounds and smells of each habitat. Some of the dioramas on display include Africa After Dark, the Native American Hall, a replica of Theodore Roosevelt’s cabin and the Polar Expedition. These displays host animals from around the world, like lions, giraffes, polar bears, and buffalo, taxidermized for display.

Photo Courtesy of Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium

The museum and aquarium also boast a variety of events for all ages to enjoy. Guests can attend an educational class that highlights different habitats around the world and the animals who inhabit them; SEArenity yoga classes; painting with a splash ;and a wood burning and charcuterie night out. Each event has age restrictions or requirements so read through the details before booking a class. All events can be found here.