We visited the Texas State Aquarium on an impromptu trip after extending our stay in Port Aransas, and we are so glad someone recommended it to us! The aquarium is large and offers plenty to see, but it is still manageable enough to enjoy in just a few hours. What impressed us most was how clean, spacious, and well managed everything was. Even though we visited during the busy Labor Day weekend, it never felt overcrowded. There was a wide variety of exhibits, and the interactive experiences were fantastic. The dolphin show was especially fun, and our kids loved touching the stingrays. The staff members were knowledgeable, kind, and engaging, which made the experience even better. The outdoor splash pad was another huge highlight. Our kids had an absolute blast, wore themselves out, and slept for most of the drive home, which every parent can appreciate! We have visited other aquariums that felt crowded and poorly organized, but the Texas State Aquarium was the complete opposite. It was clean, thoughtfully designed, family-friendly, and extremely well run. Our entire family had a wonderful time. Highly recommended, an 11 out of 10 for us! read more

Let me start by saying this place is EXPENSIVE. They charge $50 per person just to walk through the door after you already paid for parking. Fortunately, my wife and I are members of the San Antonio Zoo so we got in for half price. It still cost me about $200 for the whole family, even though I knew we would only be there for about three hours due to the baby's schedule. Was it worth it? I'd say it was. My grandson really seemed to enjoy wandering through the place looking at things. One exception is the dolphins. We saw them from the underground viewing area, and they were just too big and scary for him. His favorite thing was a found tank with fish swimming around and around in a circle. He ran around it for about twenty laps since we were the only ones there. My biggest takeaways were these: 1) the famous octopus is no longer there. 2) The seahorse tank was empty. They are evidently extremely hard to keep alive. 3) The staff here is fantastic. I realized it was a slow day without any crowds. But, anyone we talked to gave us their complete attention and answered all of our questions. I think this is a great place for a rare visit while in the area. I doubt that my family would visit much at all, if we lived in Corpus. It is priced too high for a lot of families. If you are going, look for possible discounts and coupons. read more

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TLDR: Large aquarium with a lot to see (incl. a small water park) but very high entrance fees. $50 pp (13+) and $37 for kids (3-12). 2 and under are free. Whether it's worth it depends on your kids ages' and how long you can spend there. Parking: $7 at official lots; $5 at unofficial ones. VALUE: The entrance fee for this aquarium is very high. $50 a person (13 and up) and $37 for kids (3-12). Thankfully 2 and under are free. I get it -- it's a giant building with a lot of different exhibits. There is a large dolphin zone with daily shows. There are a variety of interactive exhibits where you can touch stingrays and so on. Plus there's a small water park outside! I understand that an operation of this magnitude requires a lot of maintenance and labor and this costs a lot of money. But here's the thing -- if you're bringing small children -- it might be hard to justify the price tag because toddlers get tired, restless, or bored relatively fast. My kids (3.5YO and 2YO) started losing interest and getting cranky after two hours. I sort of wish they had a separate fee category for 3 and 4 year olds since $37 feels like a lot. At that age, they can still get tired and cranky pretty fast. For older kids, it's great. You can spend a lot of time here, including at the water park. PARKING: As far as parking goes, it's $7 to park in their official lots. The closest one is right in front of the building. We couldn't find parking there. We didn't check any other official lots since we found an unofficial lot nearby (next to the restaurant on the water). It was $5 payable by Venmo -- I've never done that before but we talked to a few others at the lot and it seemed fine. CROWDS/STROLLERS: This place is busy. We came on a Friday afternoon and it was pretty busy already. I can't even imagine how it looks on a weekend. Especially with strollers and such. I'd avoid bringing a stroller, if your kid can handle it. Easier to baby wear the little ones and just have your toddler walk (they'll be getting out constantly to see exhibits anyway). The stroller would just make it harder to navigate the exhibits plus the elevator takes a while. Ultimately, if you have toddlers (especially over 3, which requires a substantial fee), decide whether it's worth spending over $100 on admission alone. Your kids may get tired fast and you might feel compelled to leave earlier than anticipated. I definitely felt like I was pushing my kids to experience as much as possible to justify the price tag. read more

Our visit was ok, but not really like the typical aquarium experience. The shows are really mostly "talks" - they're informative and interesting. There's one huge tank with sharks - that's the biggest exhibit. Many exhibits (turtles, dophins) are outside. It poured while we were there so we missed the "shows" for those. Food is what you'd expect and is expensive. Tip for parking - If you pre-pay the $7 for parking, you're supposed to tell them when you check in and they'll give you a token to exit the parking lot when you're done. Didn't see this info anywhere. Thankfully, the girl at the exit was friendly (in her big raincoat!) and gave us a token. We had the receipt to prove we paid but didn't need it. Not sure it's worth the admission price, but I look at it like we're contributing the the care of these animals. read more

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The Texas State Aquarium is a beautiful place to spend a few hours if you're visiting Corpus Christi. Admission is definitely on the expensive side, but if you're looking for a memorable activity during your trip, I think it's worth it. The aquarium is well maintained, and I especially enjoyed the outdoor exhibits. There are plenty of opportunities to see the animals from different viewpoints, and the whole facility has beautiful views of the bay. One thing I really appreciated was the aquarium's commitment to wildlife conservation and animal rescue. It's nice knowing that your admission helps support important conservation and rehabilitation. The gift shop is also one of the better aquarium gift shops I've visited, with a nice variety of souvenirs and gifts. Overall, we had a great time, and I'd definitely recommend stopping here if you're in the Corpus Christi area. read more

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Clean & big aquarium - yes it's pricey but the dolphin show & splash pad, indoor playground, little sandpit, and amount of snack places made it worth it. We didn't have to pay extra for everything - just food if you wanted some. Staff was friendly and helpful & they're pretty interactive! We touched a jelly fish, stingray, & saw a dolphin show. We had a great day! Got here a little after lunch time and stayed until closing bc of the splash pad read more

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WOW! This is the coolest aquarium we've ever been to. It was 3 stories, outdoor area, splash pad, dolphin shows, indoor playground, everything you could want and more! It is quite pricey, but we really enjoyed our visit! There was also a restaurant, we didn't eat there but it smelled good! read more

I haven't been here in 10 years and love seeing all the improvements. I should start off with the saying that each ticket is $50 a person now. We stayed for about 3 hours and watched the Dolphin and shark shows. There's a lot of things to see and love all the interactions! It was so cool to be up close and personal with the flamingos! The dolphin show was really cute! Parking was $7 and we went early to park in the lot. We had a great family visit! read more

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Great aquarium! Multi levels and different areas. We enjoyed the stingrays and jellyfish. The dolphin show was great too. You literally need the whole day there. We had four hours and it didn't feel like enough time. Bathrooms are decently clean and there is a good variety of drinks, alcohol, and even snow cones. One of my favorites was the yellow smiling eel! read more

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My nephew wanted to come to this aquarium and we were able to get tickets for the family last minute. The staff were very nice and helpful. They had people that were well informed about the animals and even told stories about most of the animals and where they came from (some were rescued and also cared for by the vets). The place was very well kept and organized. It was easy to figure out where you were at and even where to find animals. They had different sections where you can take your kids to play outside(a mini water park area and a park for them to run around). I also did like how they had different times when they do shows to talk about the animals and some you could even pet like the sting rays. Their fish tanks were really cool to me, especially the one where you can walk through and see even sharks/fish swim above you. The area with the different birds were cool too and loved how they did each section different themes to fit where the animals are from. My family really enjoyed their time here and happy to have stopped by here. It really only took a few hours to see everything and was worth the stop. Definitely good place to visit if you have kids. read more

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It was our first time going to the TX State Aquarium with some friends who had been before. It was nice to go with pass holders as they gave us a wonderful tour. I'm not sure if the individuals working at the exhibits were employees or volunteers, but they were all lovely to interact with. The aquarium has an assortment of snack stands and restaurants; complete with adult beverages at select places. The eateries are scattered all around the aquarium, which made for quick service. We opted to eat at the restaurant behind the otter enclosure. We got the southwest cobb salad and it was delicious and light on a hot day. We bought our tickets online (military is $45 each!) and we attempted to buy a $7 parking pass, but the online system wouldn't allow us to add it to our cart. We then asked two different parking attendants how we pay for parking and they informed us that we pay up front. So we go up front & they didn't ask us to pay for parking when we showed our ticket. When we exited the young lady at the main parking lot was so rude when we tried to exit & explain what happened (this was Sunday 5/17 around 4:30). That last interaction with her left a bad taste in our mouth. Other than that, the aquarium was good, but the parking system could be greatly enhanced (online purchases & in-person purchases, and the signage for parking). There's also a new indoor playground and a huge splash pad for kids. I wish some of the enclosures for the animals were bigger, especially for it being Texas' largest aquarium. It's always hard seeing animals in small spaces. Enjoy our wonderful pictures! read more

Texas State Aquarium - Outdoor turtle enclosure - Aquariums Near Me - Corpus Christi, Texas

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I worked here after being hired as a diver, but my experience was very different from what I was led to expect. I was qualified to dive, yet Chelsea Hill repeatedly prevented me from diving. After only a very small number of dives, I was essentially no longer allowed in the water and was instead constantly assigned cleaning, maintenance, and physically demanding work. I repeatedly asked Chelsea when I could dive again, asked about transferring to another position, and even asked if I could volunteer as a diver. I was repeatedly told no. I felt constantly overworked, targeted, and bullied. I eventually injured my dominant wrist while filling approximately 18 scuba tanks weighing ~50 lbs each. I was carrying two at once when I experienced severe wrist pain and had to stop. I also experienced pain around a previous abdominal surgery site that I had disclosed during my initial physical and verbally to the doctor. After reporting the injury, I felt horribly treated by HR, particularly Nicole Andrade. I was accused of failing to disclose my previous abdominal surgery despite having documented and verbally disclosed it. I was eventually cleared to work as long as I did not lift heavy objects, yet Chelsea repeatedly assigned tasks that aggravated my wrist, including scrubbing, folding towels, cleaning, lifting, and eventually shredding paperwork for 7+ hours a day. I was even required to come in and shred paperwork for another 7 hours when my family was visiting from out of town. I received physical therapy, but my wrist never recovered and I continue to have chronic pain. Chelsea was also directly involved in an animal-care incident involving a turtle named Tiki. A diver left a regulator dangling in the water, and Tiki grabbed and swallowed the mouthpiece. I offered to get into the water with another diver to try to retrieve it, but Chelsea refused and made us leave the area while she called for others to help. Others attempted to catch the turtle with nets but were unsuccessful. The turtle ultimately swallowed the regulator. Later attempts to remove it were unsuccessful, and treatment was delayed. The turtle was also kept without food for an extended period (weeks). I was told they were hoping the turtle would regurgitate the object, which I questioned because sea turtles have a unique throat structure with downward-facing spines that make it physically difficult for them to push food back up from the stomach. I also witnessed cold-stunned turtles being handled in ways that concerned me regarding cross-contamination. I was instructed to change gloves between FP-positive and FP-negative turtles, while another person handling the turtles did not change gloves. Eventually, FP-positive and FP-negative turtles awaiting veterinary evaluation were placed together and were physically touching. I voiced my concerns and was told they were doing the "best they could." I also witnessed a dolphin that, to my knowledge, had not eaten for at least a week being forced to continue to perform repeatedly for visitors. Toward the end of my employment, Chelsea Hill and Emma Gilbert confronted me together in a room after I had raised concerns about my position and responsibilities. I found the interaction intimidating. I care deeply about the animals and genuinely wanted to work as a diver. Instead, my experience involved being prevented from doing the job I was hired for, being assigned physically demanding work, suffering a permanent and chronic ongoing wrist injury and abdominal pain, and witnessing animal-care situations that deeply concerned me. read more

You can purchase your tickets and onsite parking online prior to your arrival. That is their preference as there was only 1 person who you could purchase your tickets from onsite. We got there in time for the 11am dolphin show. It was fun to watch. We explored the gulf and Caribbean exhibits as well as the outside otter, stingray and turtle exhibits. It's not a large aquarium but the exhibits are nice and well done. I like that there is a wildlife rescue connected to the aquarium and they really try to heal and release when possible. I would definitely recommend stopping by and checking it out. The staff was great with answering questions. We also enjoyed lunch at the cafe downstairs and it was quite good. read more

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Bought tickets in advance, this aquarium has so much to see, including a gift shop, casual restaurants and even a Starbucks! Very clean but staff is not very helpful regarding informing guests about parking, had to go back inside for a parking coin. Actual exhibits are nice, lots of stingrays to touch. read more

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Great experience for the whole family. I recommend sitting at the splash zone for the dolphin show. read more

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Definitely not worth the $49.95 admission. My husband and I visited because we love aquariums and marine life, but unfortunately the experience was disappointing. We only saw one otter, a couple of turtles, an alligator, some fish, and a few sharks. In my opinion, the Texas State Aquarium is worth closer to $20 per person. Thankfully we received a military discount, because otherwise it would have felt like a complete waste. It was nice seeing a few different fish, but we will not be returning. read more

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It was OK, but the prices, this place nickel and dimes and it's just not worth the price you pay to go. Example, the sea otter time slot, there's like 3 benches so get there quick, but wait, everyone will have their kids rush the glass making it so those who waited in a seat miss a view. Everything was fine honestly but I repeat, not at all worth the prices they charge. read more

I enjoyed myself at this aquarium, but my kids (3 and 6) were bored. I wish they had more interactive exhibits throughout because my kids kept running off to find the next one. With that being said, the tickets are overpriced, as is the gift shop. read more

So we came here on the hottest day, which we should had went home when we seen the shape of your staff at the front my kids were so scared I had to lie why was that man blood red? When we went inside the exhibits were very over crowded but my kids enjoyed them. We went to watch the dolphins you need a covering for that my kids got so hot they almost had a heat stroke. The show was really fun loved the dolphins the music we was front and center. Music was awesome and staff was nice and accommodating my kids kept saying they wanted to get wet then changed their minds. Starbucks was limited for things to get them since we was in the heat. The gift shop you can't leave without going inside there we all loved it. They have a splash pad outside my kids wanted to do that but by the time we got done with the dolphins we was too hot read more

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Hailing from Houston (home to one of the worst "aquariums" in Texas), my family thoroughly enjoyed Texas State Aquarium in Corpus! It was one of the best parts of our trip. The Aquarium has plenty to see and was not very busy when we went. There was so much to explore -- Islands of Steel, Coral Reef, Jungle, Caribbean Sea, and the Tentacles exhibits were some of our favorites. The real highlight of our visit was the Dolphin show. The dolphins are so talented and seem to be well-cared for. Tip - if you're going to the dolphin show, make sure to get a seat 30 minutes early if you want shade. Thankfully, there's a very convenient Starbucks right inside by the dolphin area where I was able to keep cool until it was time to rejoin my family for the show. My only regret was not bringing swimwear to enjoy the H-E-B splash park, which looks brand new and is free with paid admission to the Aquarium. It looked like a lot of fun for smaller kids. Highly recommend adding Texas State Aquarium to your itinerary if you're visiting Corpus Christi! read more

So worth visiting this museum! They have a dolphin show and several different animals besides sea life to see! Way better than the Houston aquarium. Would definitely go again to see various sea life and try out the splash pad. read more

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I went back to the aquarium with friends. We ate there. I loved the animals there though it is a bit pricey. I love looking at the turtles. read more

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First time at the Texas State Aquarium and I would love to return and explore more. From what I was able to view during a private event was beautiful and entertaining. The staff is lovely and I even got to pet a sting ray! read more

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For the price of admission, I was hoping for a lot more. We still enjoyed our visit nonetheless. Directions to and parking at the Aquarium wasn't that bad. Once inside, we were well on our way to enjoying the exhibits offered. The only drawback was all the schools with the kids in attendance. Oh well! At least they are getting exposed to some culture and education. read more

Texas State Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Corpus Christi, Texas

Great Aquarium. Flamingos were cute. Not sure why this pig is walking around though. Strange. read more

Texas State Aquarium - Stingray touching area - Aquariums Near Me - Corpus Christi, Texas

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A great experience for a family outing, with children! The location is perfectly air conditioned, which is a plus in the area's hot weather. The family will enjoy all the different sea species, with many fun spots to take memorable photos! As a plus, we got there just in time to see the show read more

Texas State Aquarium - Impressive shark sighting - Aquariums Near Me - Corpus Christi, Texas

Very well knowing staff. Disappointmented they had no octopus. Took our time. Dolphin show was good lots of room. Turtles were great to watch. read more

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Came here for the first time with my kiddies. The admissions fee is pretty expensive. This aquarium is supposed to be the largest in all of Texas, but it honestly felt a lot smaller than I expected. They have a little water play area for the kids. They have 3 floors of adventure, but not all the floors aren't as big as you think. It does get pretty crowded. A lot of hands on activities for the kids which is pretty cool. Overall, it is an awesome aquarium, but I feel that the admission fee is too steep to be worth going to a place that takes approximately an hour to walk. The staff are friendly and helpful. The parking lot is large and you have to pay. I didn't use their parking since we stayed in a hotel nearby. read more

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Over the years I have loved coming to the Aquarium. I've probably visited dozens of times from 2008 - 2025, first with my husband and then with our 3 kids. My favorite room is the big Gulf Coast underwater room. I could stay in there all day. All of my kids have enjoyed the Aquarium too, and the addition of the splash pad made it that much more fun. The dolphin show is nice, the stingray tank is always popular. Membership and tickets have gotten really expensive (along with everything else)- I think it happened during covid (also along with everything else) but it sort of makes you want more from the experience. The Caribbean area is a great new addition. Their outreach programs are fantastic. The staff and educators have always been wonderful. Highly recommend! It does get very crowded on weekends and holidays. A visit to the Aquarium is perfectly paired with a trip to the Lex if you're into history. Lunch at Elizabeth's or dinner at the Mariner and you have yourself a great CCTX day trip. read more

Maybe if I was kid this would be a cool place to go but as an adult I've been to better aquariums across the US but it is a way to amuse kids and get out of the Texas heat. There is a decent size splash park outside and a dolphin show on the backside of the building read more

Texas State Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Corpus Christi, Texas

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If I could give our review 10 stars, I would! The facility is extremely well maintained. The cost is a little pricey for a family of five but we easily stayed 6 hours here exploring all the exhibits & shows so it was definitely worth it. We got there right around opening time & saw the first dolphin show. I loved how the trainers explained everything from the anatomy of a dolphin to how they rescue them. It was awesome to watch, and a good learning opportunity for our kiddos. My daughter was mesmerized by the dolphins. You can even go down to the ground level to see the dolphins swimming underwater. They provide maps which is super helpful. We started at the top level and worked our way down. There's elevators for those who have strollers or are wheelchair bound. It would be too long to list off all the exhibits they have, but I'll touch on our favorite parts. The underwater tank where you can see sharks, eels and other fish swimming around the sunken ship was amazing. My son was excited to pet the sting rays, jellyfish & sharks. He especially loved the baby sting ray named Ravioli. The 4D theater was a really fun break from the heat to watch a movie about turtles & their journey. My daughter was excited to see the flamingos, we missed the opportunity to feed them but still awesome to see! For lunch, we ate at the Canopy up on the top level. Food was expensive, but the convenience of it made it worth it. They had some healthier options up there VS the grill downstairs. The view is amazing. You can watch dolphins swimming, boats passing by etc. We didn't get the chance to goto the splash pad (after 6 hours of exploring the exhibits, we were all exhausted) but it looks so fun! A great way to beat the heat. Overall, we had a wonderful time and learned some ways we can better care for the ocean. Would definitely recommend a trip to the Texas State Aquarium if you're ever in town! read more

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Great aquarium. A bit pricey but I was on vacation so I didn't worry about it. Only one negative. The jellyfish exhibit. It's my favorite part of aquariums and this one didn't have much. But the rest of the museum made up for it. They have great shark exhibits including a large one with sharks swimming around a sunken sailing ship. I enjoyed watching their two river otters. At the tank with the rays, the docent was very friendly and kindly answered all my questions. All the docents I talked to were friendly and informative. Lots to see and learn. I'm glad I visited. read more

A visit to the Texas State Aquarium has almost become a mandatory stop each time we are in Corpus. The aquarium has changed so much since the early visits of my youth and the addition of Caribbean Sea Shark Exhibit elevates this aquarium to world-class. One of my favorite aspects of the Texas State Aquarium is the diversity and the scope, as the aquarium boasts 15 diverse exhibits. There are multiple levels with different exhibits as well as exhibits featured inside and outside. Frankly, there's just so much to do. Level 1 you have the Gulf of Mexico exhibits, Dolphin Bay (outside), and Caribbean journey. Level 2 you have the jungle exhibits (with overlooks onto level 1) and level 3 there's the jungle overlook. I love the different levels as they give you different views of the exhibits you just walked through. The sea shark exhibit is a must see - over 60 feet long and modelled after a ship wreck - its really nice to see these creatures swim in such a large enclosure. We also really enjoy the Tentacles, Dolphin Bay, and Coral Reef exhibits. Finally, there is the boardwalk area outside that not only features the otters and sea turtles, but also great views of the bay and a few lounge areas as well. Reading the reviews, it seems like there is some sticker shock on the admission price, but given the diversity and the expanse of the exhibits, I think it is well worth it. read more

I've been to quite a few of these on the coast. This was well beyond what I expected for Corpus--scale wise. Overall, it's a clean, well-kept, family center--definitely the best in Texas. I was impressed by all array of species presented and I enjoyed how they hi-lighted our local fauna. How it is situated on the bay gives it a seamless feel. It's also near to all that downtown offers. The dolphins win 1st place. It was a joy to watch the trainers work but the dolphins were made them rise to new heights--pun intended. We have a season membership and I can't wait to take my grandson when he is in town! read more

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Very expensive place, not worth the money, will not comeback, it has more shops than actual things to see, I don't recommend it.

We had a good time at the aquarium. About 30% is outside on the Waterfront side. Great views. Surprised at all the birds on the 2nd floor. It was worth it for a one-time stop. They also have a military discount. See a full video o. YouTube at Coolest Life. read more

Texas State Aquarium - YouTube - Aquariums Near Me - Corpus Christi, Texas

Celebrating aquatic life during this "Earth Day" month. First time coming to this aquarium. Loved my experience today. Friendly welcoming staff. Paid about $75 with a military discount for two people. This aquarium has a lot more interactive spaces, loved being able to touch the small sharks, sting rays, and hermit crabs. Feeding the sting rays was fun too! Much bigger then the one in San Antonio. Loved the sharks and dolphin area. Theres a nice spot outside where you can feed the stingrays and enjoy the shoreline. read more

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The aquarium has been on my list for quite some time. I'd heard nothing but good things and seen nothing but cool pictures on Instagram. So, when my wife surprised me with a quick getaway to Corpus ...she made sure to include tickets to the aquarium (which were surprisingly moderately priced). On our honeymoon, we visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is built up as one of the most renowned aquariums in the country. This one's better. I was impressed with everything. The pathways throughout the aquarium are well spaced and open...which was nice for someone still practicing some COVID precautions. The exhibits were full. There was no shortage of staff willing to answer questions and interact with kiddos. It was clean and bright. Fun little aviary. They do a great job informing the public about the rescue work they do. Impressive gift store. The dolphin exhibit and show is worth your time. I was a little disappointed the dolphins aren't rescues / former patients unable to return to the wild. But, hey, you can't win them all. read more

Texas State Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Corpus Christi, Texas

$30/adult. Easy parking. They give you a token to exit the lot. I'm not sure if I paid for it while buying the tickets. ‍ it wasn't overly packed but busy enough. There's Starbucks inside and quite a few snack and food places inside and outside. Bring bathing suit and towel if the kids want to enjoy the splash pad. We ate at the grill (pizza/ burgers) and tried popcorn and hatch chili sausage at the back porch area. Beautiful outdoors area with sting rays, sea turtles, otters , cute dolphins show. So many things to see inside and outside! Some stations to touch jellyfish and sting rays. We had a great time. read more

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Biggest aquarium I've ever seen literally has every fish i can think of theres sharks, dolphins ,jelly fish,ETC I got to pet a stingray and star fish There is a dolphin show at 3 and they were very talented You can look at everything below or go up and see everything from above there is 4 levels with each level being completely different wich is nice there is also a little snack bar were you can eat and watch the fish has a bunch of big aquariums to look at THE BEST PLACE EVER I WILL BE COMING BACK!!! read more

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