Topsail Aquarium

Description

Topsail Aquarium is a locally owned aquarium in Surf City on Topsail Island, home to almost 100 species. Tanks hold bamboo sharks, stingrays, an octopus, jellyfish, seahorses, a peacock mantis shrimp, pufferfish and reef fish such as clownfish and blue tang, and a reptile room houses snakes, lizards, a chameleon and poison dart frogs. Educators bring animals out for scheduled encounters through the day; guests can touch some animals during an encounter but cannot hold them. Twice a week, a stingray snack time lets kids help feed the rays for $13, which includes admission, and spots are limited, so booking ahead is recommended. Upstairs, the Kid Zone gives young children a creative space next to an insect and arachnid exhibit. General admission is $10, children 2 and under are free, and tickets are sold at the door with no reservation needed. A $150 family membership covers six people for a year of visits. The aquarium is smaller than others in the area, and most visits last from 30 minutes to just over an hour, making it a practical indoor stop on a rainy or hot beach day. The main floor is wheelchair accessible, though the Kid Zone is upstairs. Guests wearing sunscreen are asked to rinse their hands before touching anything. Parking at the building is limited to a few marked spaces, and nearby public parking is paid from spring through fall.