Read more to find out the top 5 must-see exhibits at the OdySea Aquarium as you plan your visit to the Phoenix area!
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The OdySea Aquarium, located 25 minutes outside Phoenix in Scottsdale, AZ, is a great place to explore and learn while also beating the heat. As the largest aquarium in the southwest, it’s a fun way to spend time with your family or even as a couple. Whenever I travel to a new place, I love to fit in a visit to the local aquarium. I think it’s so interesting to see the different animal, reptile and fish exhibits. Each aquarium has characteristics that are special and sets them apart from others.
OdySea Aquarium Information
The OdySea Aquarium is the largest exhibit at the Arizona Boardwalk. The entrance to the aquarium is on the ground floor level. Parking is free.
Tickets
To help manage capacity, your tickets need to be purchased online ahead of time. This is where you will choose an entry time. Ticket prices range from $34.95 for ages 2-12 to $44.95 for ages 13+. You can also purchase additional tickets for animal encounters, including sloths, penguins and underwater helmet diving.
Address
9500 E Via De Ventura, Suite A-100, Scottsdale, AZ 85256
Hours
9am-7pm, 7 days a week
Stroller-friendly
Yes. There are 3 escalators to take you to the different levels, with elevators right next to them.
5 Must-See Exhibits at the OdySea Aquarium
At the OdySea Aquarium you will find a variety of unique features, including lights that double as fish tanks and a rotating aquarium show. Keep reading to find out more must-see exhibits at the OdySea Aquarium.
Look Up
From the minute you walk through the doors, you are met with the feeling that you’ve entered another world. If you look up, you’ll see spherical light fixtures. They are actually fish tanks! We asked the person at the front desk about how they clean them. He said each morning they have a worker who drives an accordion lift into the lobby to feed the fish and clean the tanks out so they are nice and clear.
Award Winning Restrooms
Believe it or not, there is an award for America’s Best Restrooms. And in 2017, the OdySea Aquarium was voted Best Restroom in America! When you walk in, you’ll see why. Instead of mirrors over the sink, you’ll stare directly into Shark Waters, the aquarium’s largest exhibit, while you wash your hands. As the 2017 Best Restroom Hall of Fame description states: “Where else in the world can you stare a 9-foot lemon shark in the eye as you wash your hands?”
[Visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, OR]
360 Degree Tanks & Large Viewing Windows
How many times have you looked into a fish tank only to have the fish swim away from you into a corner you can’t see? I’m guessing you know what I mean. The OdySea Aquarium has an impressive number of 360 degree tanks, making it easy to follow the path of fish and other creatures more easily. Additionally, they have large viewing windows. This also makes it convenient for multiple people to enjoy the exhibits.
Touch Tanks
One of the best ways to learn is to use more than one of your senses. At the OdySea Aquarium, you have the opportunity to do just this. There are two different touch tanks: one for stingrays and the other for tide pool creatures. They have hand washing stations and bathrooms nearby to keep both you and the sea life healthy and safe from germs.
OdySea Voyager
The OdySea Voyager is the world’s only rotating aquarium experience! Without giving too much away, the Voyager is a great place to rest your legs while still experiencing the beauty of the underwater world. All ages are allowed, but strollers need to be left outside the Voyager’s doors.
During your voyage, you’ll get to see animals not seen anywhere else in the aquarium, including sea turtles and sea lions. You’ll be guided through each part of the 20-minute presentation with interesting facts about the animals you see by the people who actually take care of them. It’s not to be missed!
I hope this information helps you plan a fun and memorable trip to the OdySea Aquarium in Scottdale, AZ!
{FREE} Aquarium Folding Book Printable
To supplement your trip to the aquarium, print out this free aquarium folding book! It’s got 7 pages of activities to keep your kids interested and engaged as you walk around the aquarium. To get the printable delivered to your inbox, simply fill out the form below:
[More Ocean Inspired Crafts and Printables]
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