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North Carolina Estuarium

4.4 (12 reviews)
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Melissa G.

I love NC history and anything that has to do with our coast, yet I'd never heard of this place. Of course, while in town, we took the opportunity to go visit. It's only$5 to get in and that's good for all day. The first part is a guided tour, but it's helpful and doesn't last long. It's a great exhibit on the water cycle and done with actual artwork. They then show a 12 minute movie, which in my opinion was 12 minutes too long. I didn't find it educational or entertaining. If on a field trip, this is the part where kids start misbehaving (I taught for ten years so I know from which I speak). The rest of the museum is exhibits with live animals, fun interactive learning exhibits, and really fascinating history of our state.

The trash cumulating in the wetland preserve

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1 year ago

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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7 years ago

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3 years ago

Very interesting to see the family names of some of the soldiers who fought and facts I did not know about Plymouth, NC

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3 years ago

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9 years ago

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7 years ago

Neat little place! Guides were knowledgeable. Enjoyed are visit. It's only $5 to get in and is right on the river.

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10 years ago

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13 years ago

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8 years ago

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Review Highlights - North Carolina Estuarium

The NC Estuarium offers ferry rides on the Tar and Pamlico Rivers at various times during the year.

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North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

4.6(202 reviews)
59.4 mi

We visited the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores (PKS) on July 4, 2025. Having visited…read morethe New York Aquarium (in Brooklyn, NY) a week earlier, it was an opportunity to compare the two. Parking is free (unlikely to change in the last 12 months). At the entrance of the Aquarium PKS was a man-made pond. There wasn't a wait line at the ticket counter. Purchasing of ticket was quick and easy. Judging by the price - half of New York Aquarium's - I expected a modest-sized aquarium. In the Entrance Lobby, the sign next to the animal sculpture stated that it was an alligator. The sculpture itself had the color of a crocodile. The Orientation Lobby was past the Information desk. Up ahead in the Orientation Lobby was an entrance with the overhead sign "Mountains" for the Mountain Gallery. Upon entering this gallery, we were greeted by a man-made waterfall. A doorway to the left led to the gallery's collection, mostly fishes. The Trout Pool was one of several open tanks. Next to it was a "Do Not Touch" symbol like the one shown on the Aquarium map. It meant no putting of one's hand(s) into the tank. Adjoining the Mountain Gallery was the Piedmont Gallery. With a similar collection but different species of fishes, the Piedmont Gallery also had some non-fishes and non-amphibians. I saw salamanders, frogs, owls and otters. The otters were adorable, as evident by the crowd. On the right past the Piedmont Gallery was the Coastal Plain Gallery. This gallery consisted of reptiles alongside additional species of fishes, most notably pond turtles, crocodiles, corn snakes and longnose gars. After that, we walked back towards the Piedmont Gallery. There was an exit past that gallery that led outside to the Outdoor Marsh Boardwalk. At the boardwalk to our right was Eagle Landing, a habitat area for two female bald eagles. Eagle Landing wasn't enclosed - no nets or walls - because both girls couldn't fly due to wing injuries. So no worries about them coming at us with beaks and talons. Don't ask me which one was Uwohali and which one was Shagoie Watha. Both looked the same to me. Across from Eagle Landing were marshes with two overlooks to view from. I took a photo from Bogue Sound Overlook. Further down the Outdoor Marsh Boardwalk was a shelter called Snakes of the Maritime Forest showcasing more slithering friends (or fears, to those that were ophiophobic), both venomous and non-venomous types. I recalled visiting the San Diego Zoo back in the early 2000s. Its collection of snake was at least five times more. After Snakes of the Maritime Forest was Tree-mendous Nature Play, a play area for kids and the young at heart. Wife observed that the surrounding woods reminded her of childhood times growing up in a similar surrounding. We continued onto Alice Hoffman Nature Trail for a short distance and then headed back to the building. After the Coastal Plain Gallery was another area. Judging by the extra-large model of a hermit crab and the two turtle seat sculptures for visitors to chill, we were in a foyer of a separate section... for saltwater species. This section was divided into two galleries of species exhibits. Tidal Waters Gallery was the first. Its collection included stingrays, seahorses and turtles, as well as fishes swimming in tanks with undersea decors. One such decor was a replica of Blackbeard's ship Queen Anne's Revenge shown in the video below right. Ocean Gallery was essentially a continuation of Tidal Waters Gallery with more saltwater creatures supposedly dwelling in the further depths of the ocean. There were two large tanks, each with a replica of a shipwreck. Of the two, The Living Shipwreck was larger and more prominent for another reason: sharks. Last week at NY Aquarium, I saw them swam over my head in the underwater glass tunnel. This time, they were swimming in front of me. Continuing on, there was a lobster in a smaller tank. The display stated "Lobsters" but I saw only one. Review continues in the final attached image.

Having volunteered at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga for more than 7 years, I am a bit…read moreprejudiced about what I like in an aquarium. TN will always be my favorite. Even so, this place is very nice. It's about half the size of the TN aquarium but follows the same theme, tracing water from the mountains to the ocean. It is well laid out and has a great atmosphere. Very nice place for kids as well as adults. The price is reasonable for the environment. Well worth spending and hour or two when in the area.

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North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores - Tidal Waters Gallery

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Tidal Waters Gallery

The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue And Rehabilitation Center - Turtle skull showing where their brain is

The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue And Rehabilitation Center

4.3(61 reviews)
81.2 mi

I was so excited to go here because I love sea turtles and the conservation efforts this place…read moredoes! The work and love that goes into what every staff member does is impressive. You have to make reservations because they sell out fast but there's plenty of time slots to choose from. Honestly even tho there are back to back tour groups going I never felt rushed. I came by myself and stayed toward the back of the group. Our tour guide was Margo and she was very sweet and answered all questions the adults and kids had! She took time to explain things and was very informative. I learned so much I didn't know . Then we moved into the room with the turtles. They are so well taken care of. We came when they were feeding some of turtles and that was pretty cool! There are signs on tanks that tell you names of the turtles. You can adopt a turtle and donate to the care and upkeep it takes to house and give them the medical care they need. Then as the tour ends you exit thru the gift shop! I had to pick a few little things so I got stickers and a magnet! I had a great time and I highly recommend going ... I'll definitely be back!!!

Here is a fascinating tour of the efforts to keep safe the local sea turtle nesting population. You…read moretour through their facility with knowledgeable guides, learn about the local population, and how human volunteers walk/run(!) the Topsail beach every day to notice and protect nests. And then see some actual turtles being cared for. I'm impressed the new(ish) facility is designed as much for the turtles and staff, as it is to show visitors what they might donate for!

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The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue And Rehabilitation Center - BIG TURTLE they take care of in rehab pools!

BIG TURTLE they take care of in rehab pools!

The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue And Rehabilitation Center
The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue And Rehabilitation Center

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North Carolina Estuarium - aquariums - Updated May 2026

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