Mote Marine Laboratory

This aquarium is an awesome place for family, friends, kids, couples, or even if you want to stroll by yourself. Three floors of aquariums and education. It has a variety of fish on every floor and they also have penguins and otters. There's a mini golf course next to the aquarium if you would like to extend your day. Is not part of the aquarium but its there. If you want to avoid the crowds go during the week on a school day. It's much quieter!

This place is absolutely amazing! We had our company Christmas party in the event center. All the food was very good. One end of the hall was the main aquarium, it’s absolutely stunning! All of the habitats were taken care of very well and the employees were very helpful. I’ll be going back with my grandchildren!

Mote Marine Aquarium and Research Center is an incredible place to visit. You can really see the care and science that goes into rehabilitating and protecting marine animals. It feels like a true research center while still being beautiful and welcoming to explore. The hands-on exhibits were a favorite, especially getting to gently touch rays and sharks. We have a membership and are excited to keep coming back and learning more. A must-visit for anyone who loves marine life.

My wife, son 2 years old, and myself went here during a weekday, paid $70 total as kids 2 and under free. The building is nice and easy access and other things to do in area like Putt putt and mall. I personally volunteered at Georgia aquarium which is larger, nicer, and cost about double, so this one was good. Not many large animals but still plenty to see. I do wish maybe they had one of those tunnels like some aquariums do but the it does have good size tank with medium size sharks, rays, and larger fish. They have touch tanks but you can’t touch the miniature sharks which I didn’t understand and it is not the best for being kid friendly, as many of the tanks have no tops so you really have to watch your kids don’t throw anything or god forbid fall in. The river otters and manatees are at the top floor, which I recommend starting at and then go down to see the rest. We even went back to see the otters. Does have food and gift stores as the typical crazy prices which I never understood as you can buy online these days a lot cheaper. Overall I give it an 7/10 which is good as I give Georgia a 9/10. The visit took about an hour and we were done, they do have annual passes if you live in area, and plenty of restrooms. Not sure if we will go again as my son being 2 just didn’t seem interested that much and I’d recommend maybe waiting until kids are 4:5 range in my opinion. Staff are super friendly and volunteers are everywhere to answer questions. Defiantly recommend to see. Parking is free too

The aquarium is an awesome place. This was my first time seeing the new location and oh my golly it was amazing. They had just the right amount of areas for children to see the animals up close; that stopped them from trying to touch thr other animals. All of the staff were well informed on the animals that they were working with! I personally enjoyed the manatees the most, but that's because I couldn't find the sea turtles lol! Everything there was just beautiful. Unlike some other zoos/aquariums that I've been to I didn't feel that the animals hated their lives while I was at Mote. It was very accessable with both stairs, escalators, and elevators as ways to get to the different levels of the aquarium.

Possibly my favorite aquarium in the U.S. and possibly because I fell instantly in love with the guitar fish who swam up to us and greeted us like a puppy. Several touch-the-___ exhibits but watch out for staffers to direct you when and how to touch the sealife AFTER you have done it wrong and with a TONE. A kind patron whispered instructions to us surreptitiously before we could get in too much trouble, but we got to witness other visitors’ scolding. Signage would help. (Two-finger touch, only after the animals are still - once they have stopped swimming; water and soap hand-cleaning stations available nearby for before and after.) Serious coral reef exhibits I could have spent so much more time in, a massive multifloor shark tank in comfortable spacious observation spaces (an event space where the sharks are the view), exhibits that face the scientific research outwards towards the public. Manatees, jellyfish, penguins, etc. etc. Hurricane winds simulator - I did not see that this was attached to a greater safety/ preparation display (we have seen earthquake simulators on the west coast that help kids think about earthquake preparation) but the kids including my teens who went into the hurricane high wind machine seemed to enjoy themselves. Extra fee here. This aquarium has a lot! We could have spent so much more time! Food was overpriced but healthy and varied (coffee kiosk with baked goods but also mini restaurant with salads and yogurt). Exit through the gift shop where my kids picked out our obligatory fridge magnet and a souvenir for niece/cousin whom we accompanied.

We were really really disappointed. We loved the old Mote. There were some very small places that were crowded and you had to walk through to see many of the tanks. With the flu going around, I didn't dare go in there. The building is cool on the outside, but you don't have to pay a $150 for 4 people to see the outside. I'm so sad that the board of Mote decided to do this. I'm sure it cost a huge amount of money to build and is costing a lot to maintain. Where will they find the money to do their research? The stork on the walkway up to the building was more fun than the aquarium.

Very nice aquarium! Loved the renovation. The food court had an excellent range of food options. The manatee, penguins and otters were my kid's favorite.

Such a great aquarium! My friends and I went the day before NYE, and the sign out front said that it was fully sold out for the day. Luckily we got tickets beforehand! The cafeteria serves snacks and drinks and even alcoholic beverages that you can walk around the aquarium with. My favorite parts were the penguins, jellyfish, and the huge tank areas where you can see all of the sharks and other fish. The gift shop had a great selection of items and cute animal hats! I had a very great time visiting MOTE and would love to go back again the next time I'm in Sarasota!

The new MOTE SEA in Sarasota, Florida, is undeniably large and impressive in scale, but unfortunately, it falls short in several key areas that make it less ideal for families and more geared toward event hosting. While it has the potential to be a standout attraction, there are multiple design and operational issues that need attention. Note that we are members and (unfortunately) locked in until 2027. We have been five times since opening as of December 2025. The aquarium is spacious, but that's part of the problem. There's a lot of empty space, making the experience feel less immersive and more like walking through a sterile, unfinished venue. This vastness may work well for corporate events or private functions, but it doesn't translate well into an engaging family outing. There's no designated play area for kids to enjoy, which is a huge oversight for a place that could have been a fun, interactive destination for young families. One of the biggest disappointments is the lack of exhibits compared to previous versions of MOTE. The number of animals on display is also noticeably fewer--key species like sea turtles, which were a staple of the old MOTE, are still absent. It's also apparent that the new space has more empty exhibits than filled ones, making it feel less like a thriving marine life center and more like a shell of what it once was. The penguins also SMELL despite being entirely enclosed and the peek-a-boo window is too short for even teenagers to stand. Families with young children might feel especially let down. There aren't many activities for kids beyond looking at tanks. The touch tanks, for example, were designed much too deep for anyone to comfortably interact with the animals, especially children. The lack of play areas, sensory engagement, or even simple things like interactive learning stations makes the visit feel more like a museum than an interactive aquarium. Another downside is the strict rule of no outside food or drink. While this is common at many attractions, the on-site food and beverage options are severely lacking in terms of health and what my kids will actually eat. What's perhaps most frustrating is that MOTE SEA has shown no signs of responding to community feedback. Issues like soap dispensers constantly running out (although they added extra pumps), the uncomfortably hot water temperature in the restrooms, and the fact that every exhibit door lacks automatic openers, are problems that should have been addressed long before the doors opened to the public. In terms of amenities, there's a family restroom on the first floor, but regular restrooms lack changing tables, which is a major inconvenience for parents of younger children. The water temperature is so hot in the restrooms that my kids were crying when washing their hands, which is both uncomfortable and concerning for families. Finally, it's worth noting that the only way to exit the aquarium is through a narrow gift shop. While this is a common tactic for many tourist attractions, it feels forced here, especially when you consider that the gift shop itself is small and cramped. In conclusion, while MOTE SEA's new location might have been designed with grand events in mind, it falls short as a family-friendly destination. There are fewer exhibits, fewer animals, and fewer interactive experiences for kids, which is a huge letdown for what should be a family-oriented attraction. Until they make significant improvements, especially in terms of engaging young visitors and responding to customer feedback, MOTE SEA in Sarasota doesn't quite live up to the hype. And make sure to bring your walking shoes... parking is a HIKE!

The good: My kids had a fun day at the aquarium! The self-help kiosk in front was easy to use. The parking lot had plenty of parking spots. The surrounding area had nice water features with a water fountain and felt spacious. The otters were super interactive with kids. The manatees were always visible and were so cool. There were many stations for touching sea creatures like urchins, starfish, and sea anemones. Kids 2 and under are free. The penguins were also always visible. There were several different types of sharks. The bathrooms were spacious and clean. The bad: We came on a Monday and didn't expect all four of the first morning time slots to be filled so we had to get the 12:30 pm slot even though we came at 10. Buy tickets early! It was busy when we came and there were a lot of people in wheelchairs. I felt like it was hard for them to navigate around especially since the aquarium is three stories tall. I had somehow expected the inside to feel more open than it was. The interesting: You can walk to the mall or nearby restaurants during your wait if you are early. They accept early entry if they aren't crowded that day. There's a VR chair experience for $10. The gift shop sold very cute items!

We've been to the original location many times and always enjoyed it. For as long as this took to open due to the hurricane, we were unfortunately just not impressed. It seemed very small, it had a terrible smell like mold and it was extremely crowded even though they request a reservation. The Florida aquarium is amazing so we had high expectations for this.

Note-this review is for the new Mote Science Education Aquarium located in Sarasota/Lakewood Ranch. Recently opened, you should buy tickets in advance, they do sell quickly. Parking hasn't been well thought out, you'd do well to park in the Dillards parking lot and walk across to Mote. We lined up for our ticketed time and the line moved quickly. There is a lot to see! Great for kids for sure but we enjoyed ourselves too. Three floors, elevator and escalator access as well as stairs. Gift shop and some interactive things too. Lots of volunteers sharing information along the way. Even though we live in Florida and have seen sea life regularly, the exhibit designs are really special and even include opportunities to touch feel rays, and other sea creatures. We felt the ticket price was worth it.

What a way to spend a few hours and learn about our oceans and life under water. The Aquarium is three levels, after having your ticket scanned you enter into a massive mezzanine and your choices begin, there is a snack shop on your left, just past that the displays begin. On the right are study labs for the students and a nice Gift shop. Straight ahead is a large escalator that takes you to the third level where you experience begins., there's a number of displays and one large tank with many type of Florida fish and 2 massive Manatees, you can spend so much time just watching them . Also on this level is a Virtual immersion activity. Drop down to the 2nd level and more tanks of various size with Penguins, penguins, more variants of fish and working rooms for the staff to teach and learn, back down on the ground level is a fairly large tank with a glass or see through wall that is curved from floor to above your head full of fish, rays, variety of sharks.

Visiting the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium was easily the best decision during our visit in Sarasota. There is so much sea life to learn and explore between both buildings. The volunteers are very friendly and knowledgeable as well. The first building had many fish and sharks to see. While the second building had manatees, otters, and sea turtles. The aquarium is very well maintained and spacious! This is a great place to visit and learn something new.

So amazing- it is beyond mere words. The work being done here is astounding and funded 100% by visitor fees and public donations.

Mote is a smaller aquarium in comparison to other aquariums that I've been to. I would describe it as a kitschy like aquarium. However, there's many activities for children to partake in. We came on a rainy day, but so did everyone else. Plan accordingly as some days will be busier that others especially in the summer time. I'm looking forward to coming back here to see the new aquarium when they finish building it.

This Aquarium is awesome!! There is a salt water & fresh water buildings, lots of different fish & animals to see. The tanks looked clean/animals looked healthy & happy. Definitely a fun spot to check out!

I love aquariums and finally got the opportunity to go to the Mote Marine Aquarium! We have been to Sarasota numerous times, but never splurged on the Mote- for $30 per admission ticket, that was always a bit steep and we always had numerous things to go explore in the area. It should be noted- most things in this area are more expensive than the rest of the state. We went with my daughter and family- they bought annual passes and took us with under their passes. SCORE! This aquarium is divided into 2 main building complexes and they have a third aviary section at the midway between the walk. The 2 aquarium buildings are about a block apart- be aware in case of bad weather, and the aviary does close in the case of bad weather too. It was horrible rain on the drive down but cleared just as we got to the Gulf Coast line. The center has all sorts of exhibits- Sharks, stingrays, reef animals, sea turtles, manatees and more. I did enjoy the above tank view of the sharks- seeing them glide their fins out of the water. The manatee tank was also very cool. I wanted more for the sea turtles- I am thinking it was a rehabilitation tank, because there wasn't a lot of room and didn't look very deep. I've been to other aquariums and love seeing sea turtles in large tanks swimming with other fish- it's usually my favorite at any aquarium. On the flip side- the otter enclosure was fabulous- 2 level with a slide for the little critters to play. This wasn't my favorite of the aquariums I have been to so far, but it was still a very fun day spent with family.

Even during a hurricane, this Mote's was amazing, and i would recommend them to everyone. Lots to learn, and you can tell everyone is well taken care of! Wheelchair accessible and has elevators. There is a cafe to enjoy some food, and a second building that's across the way. Be mindful the parking is very limited by the second building!

Long time lover and supporter of Mote Marine. Local favorite; they're more than just an aquarium. :)

This place was so amazing, I can't wait to visit again next time. There's so many animals to see and lots to learn here. It's the perfect place to take little ones and the staff is very friendly. There's multiple touch tanks as well. It is part inside and part outside so you definitely still want to go when the weather is good. There's 2 buildings and requires a bit of walking. The path was clearly labeled and we got our stroller around just fine. Highly recommend!

PLEASE VISIT I'm so appreciative that this fun & educational experience is affordable and relatively close to home. Conservation is so important!! Everything was great, go alone, bring the kids, whatever. My only concern is that a lot of the tanks seem small and overcrowded..I'm not a professional or anything, but many of the larger fish and sharks were pacing/glass surfing and some of the smaller fish were just packed into little tanks. I was also a bit concerned about the octopus not having enough enrichment. Just some concerns for whoever runs the place, but I what you're doing is great, thank you!!

Super cute little aquarium, I heard they're expanding recently as well? (I went a few years ago). Have a focus on sea turtles and rescue/rehabilitation of them. Can also see dolphins, manatees, a variety of fish and marine life, and a VERY NICE otter exhibit, the otters have a nice waterfall, clear clean water and lots of toys!

The new location, called Mote Science Education Aquarium, is not the same as the old Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. Not much to learn, no opportunities to talk to scientists or see real research. No sea turtles or dolphins. Definitely not worth the money anymore. Disappointing. We will not go back. Feels like a fancy building without much science or education. Sad.

This is a nice little aquarium located just before Longboat Key outside of Sarasota, Florida. The exhibits are located in two separate buildings and you can buy admission at either entrance. A portion of the exhibits are outside (more open air) as well. Exhibits heavily focused on local marine life and Florida marine life of native to a different area of Florida. We saw a manatee, river otters, several species of sharks, turtles, alligators, and fish galore. My toddler enjoyed the small playground and turtle tunnel. I thought she'd like the touch pool but no splashing was allowed so we quickly left. This activity takes about two hours or less depending on how much time you spend in different areas. I'd recommend if you have young kids, older ones may get bored.

Great stop during our spring break trip. Informational and indoor outdoor was fun. Learned a lot and spent over three hours here. Great family spot if your near lido key.

Fantastic experience for all ages. Tons to see and learn. We especially appreciated the variety of coral reef, and information shared by one of the volunteers named Ken Rear. His knowledge and enthusiasm for sea life, and the most aquarium were infectious. We learned so much during our visit and it was hands-down our favorite aquarium we've ever been to. Highly recommend.

Mote Marine, along with Loggerhead Marinelife Center and Manatee Lagoon, just finished offering a weeklong half-day virtual wildlife camp for kids. Earlier this summer, they offered the same format of one with a more marine focused topic. They also offered a virtual camp last summer. These camps were 100% free to sign up for and for kids anywhere to attend. I just want to say thank you for organizing such an incredible resource. My kids - and, perhaps some adults in the room, ahem- thoroughly enjoyed learning so much about marine life, science, oceans, and wildlife. Not every single activity was that engaging, but considering it was free, the entire concept was pretty awesome. One of the coolest things, is that my kids asked questions live and real scientists answered them. While I was already familiar with Loggerhead and Manatee Lagoon, both of whom are located in my home County, I had only briefly heard of Mote. However, Mote Marine's presentations were BY FAR AND ABOVE the most professional, engaging, interesting, and technically savvy presentations that were offered. My kids were so engaged each time Mote came on the screen. It was clear that they have invested time and money into learning how to use virtual resources and make these kind of presentations. Thank you, Mote, for making my kids super excited about science, answering their questions,, and putting the time and effort into these camps. Now, we have Mote bookmarked to visit someday. THANK YOU!

Nice little aquarium where you can get an up close look at several species of sea life. They have an alligator, otters, reef sharks, nurse sharks, seahorse, stingrays, and many other fish. There was also a few areas where you could touch certain sea life such as sea urchins and smaller sharks. There were also laboratory areas where you may be able to catch them helping turtles, coral, and other sea life. Definitely worth the visit.

We had a great family visit! Very informative volunteers. Unique marine life like axolotl, sea turtles and serval different species of sharks, jelly fish and rays. Indoor and outdoor areas. The outdoor areas are well shaded and there are big fans to help breaking away from the heat.

Cute aquarium! 3 buildings in total. You will need to walk to each building. Lots to see. Great for kids! Debit/credit accepted. Free tickets for active duty military. Adult tickets were $29 when we went. Would recommend.

This is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon. Large tanks evenly spaced allows for leisurely viewing of an impressive array of aquatic beauty. Yellow Moray eel, logger head turtles, cuttlefish, octopus manatee, leopard shark black tipped reef shark, pink flamingos, alligator hammer heads, dolphins , Lion fish , sea otters , seahorses. In comparison to some of the other aquariums in the nation, this is pretty good. But the research that's done here is invaluable to oceanic understanding and preservation.

Mote, Marine, Laboratory and aquarium is by far one of my favorite locations to visit in Florida. It's not giant, it's not flashy, it doesn't have the tank size of New Jersey's, adventure, aquarium, or Baltimore, harbor, aquarium, or Atlanta but the people that work there are friendly, informative,lol, and overall some of the kindest to interact with. While it is a little expensive to get into, they have a reciprocal program with many other aquariums in zoos around the country so you can often get in for half price. They are in the midst of preparing to upgrade the facilities and move the aquarium aspect to the entirely new location Relegated the Sarasota area location to pure research and laboratory. If you happen to be in the Sarasota or longboat key area of Florida, stop by mote Marine. You won't regret i

This is a wonderful place that is doing a lot for our oceans and sea life. Everyone should visit and learn about sea life. This is a wonderful place to take children and there are many interactive things for them to try and learn from. A great staff that will answer questions and work and play with your children. I think I was expecting more. Thought i would of saw dolphins, and more sharks. What i was told is that the fish that are there are rescues, which is great they give them a home. I also found the complex a bit confusing to walk around. kept thinking i was missing something or went ten wrong way. a few times I ended up within the halls of their offices. Can have a better path to find exhibits and walk thru then.

We decided to take advantage of our membership and see the upcoming shark exhibit that opens to the public tomorrow- great photos and interesting info on sharks and their species. The last time I had visited Mote it consisted of 2 buildings with tanks- things have changed. The facilities are both kid and grownup friendly now. Most of the staff was helpful with a few exceptions but maybe the hot weather and crowd was to blame. A worthwhile visit if in the Sarasota area to acquaint you to Florida's natural sea habitat.

My family and I were vacationing in Bradenton, FL and our Air Bnb host recommended this place to bring the kiddos. We took a whole day and went to Sarasota Jungle Gardens and this place. Hands down the Mote Aquarium was 100 times better than the Jungle Gardens; and cheaper! They had a nice combo of indoor and outdoor exhibits to look at. There's like three separate buildings to go into. Lots of things were interactive and the staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. I definitely learned lots of new things. They have the main building then following the squid stamps you get to the indoor kids play area. And then following the manatee and turtle stamps you get to that exhibit. Definitely you can make a day of this place. The kids had a great time and it was easy to navigate. Would recommend if in the area.

We were looking for something to do for a few hours and decided to check out Mote and I'm glad we did! There are indoor aquariums with fish, seahorses, jelly fish, etc. Then go outside and see large sharks and then you can touch/pet stingrays, starfish, and more. Take a break and eat in the diner or shop in the gift shop before crossing the parking lot and checking out the aviary. This is full of rescued and rehabbed birds. We loved the owls, macaws and larger species. Finally cross the street and check out the huge sea turtles, two giant manatees and the cutest little otters! We loved watching them run around. There are amazing volunteers everywhere. They answer your questions and give you more info. Truly a great touch, everyone there is so happy! We liked it so much we got a membership so we can come back multiple times over the next year. We love the work they're doing in this area!

What an awesome aquarium! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and wish we had more time. You can easily spend hours in there. There's so much to see and explore. It's interactive, too. It's a lot bigger than it looks from the outside. The space looks clean and well kept. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. There's a team member in almost every station, ready to share their wealth of knowledge. We learned a lot! We got to "touch" certain animals and event watch the octopus feeding which was fascinating. Make sure you hear the story about the sneaky octopus! Just across the street is the rehab center where you'll find the sea turtles, otters, manatees and more. Such a great experience. Highly recommend for families!

Great day ! Loved the presentation of the aquarium tanks, and the descriptions. There were volunteers who would share even more information about the fish, coral, sea life with you as you went thru the entire aquarium I learned a lot! It's interactive, great for adults and kids. Highly recommended this as a must go to activity!

Well organized and educational. We learned a lot, and especially enjoyed the otters! Small enclosures for many of the animals.

This is the perfect stop to view the marine life up and close. Well worth every penny spent on having the chance to touch baby stingrays and other marine life. There are two viewing areas. The first building is dedicated to all kinds of fish. The second building which sits at the other end of the parking lots houses the manatees, alligators and the cute sea otters.

I had a good time at the aquarium. it's a conservation heavy (yay) marine research and aquarium center, so there is a lot of age appropriate information. The exhibits are at kid level, with little windows almost on the floor for the turtle tanks, which was super cute. There are a couple of touch pools and agriculture displays that were neat. I liked the big turtles best - they have some rehabilitated turtles that aren't able to return to the wild due to injury, but live peacefully at the aquarium eating shrimp. They also have a little baby turtle hospital for any that need a little help after hatching. Mote assists in the local turtle population conservation efforts and according to their display, the population has been increasing! There are 2 buildings, with a cute little turtle and manatee painted pathway between. it was a fun activity for adults and kids.

A wonderful aquarium that features more than 100 amazing marine animals. Right now, tickets must be purchased online. The admission price is $24 for adults and $18 for children. Tickets include admission to the main building, the Rehabilitation Center, and the ancient seas exhibit. The main building includes different varieties of fishes, invertebrates, and sharks. The jellyfishes and sharks were my favorites. In this section of the aquarium, you can pet the stingrays. Their rehab center is dedicated to the study and rehabilitation of sea turtles. Here you can also meet otters, alligators, and manatees. The Ancient Sea Exhibit is a small room containing replicas of skeletons of extinct marine animals. Because of COVID-19, the gallery and one of the gift shop is currently closed. I was highly impressed by this aquarium. I would definitely visit again. 5 stars.

Great place to visit for all ages. There are many exhibits to see! The shark tank was a favorite.

Have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The main building isn't too large but the exhibits are beautiful and educational and their shark area is home to baby hammerheads, which I had never seen before. They also have small shark and ray petting areas, and have a separate outdoor manatee and turtle exhibit, which also has another aquarium walk though on the second floor. Had an amazing visit and would highly recommend to anyone else.

Such an educational and cool place to visit with or without kids! My nephews really enjoyed the virtual reality experience. There's so many exhibits and it was really nice to see all the rescued mammals and birds. Definitely worth every penny.

The Mote is an excellent place to spend some time enjoying sea life and learning more. Separated between 2 buildings we spent about 2 hours enjoying the sea life and reading the displays. Very educational. Also - they also have 4 spots with free electric vehicle charging!

I really think this is a great place. If you have young children and if you just want to get a break from the beach or the heat you can come here or if it's raining you can come here and just see about the life ecosystem of this part of Florida. They do have some sharks you'll learn about. They have a couple manatees you'll learn about. If you don't already know. Other than that that's about it. It's not going to take a full day to see everything. You can see everything in a couple hours. Other than that that's it. Understand that the manatee facility aquarium is quite a walk away from the main area. It's not a bad walk, but if you're limited and mobility, iit's a walk. It's a good walk. Other than that, check it out, you might like it!

Nice aquarium with a lot to offer. I was going to be in the Sarasota area and was looking for something to do with my son. This place made the cut and it was a good experience. At $18 for the kids and $24 for the adults, it's a pretty good price considering. I bought the tickets online and it was a breeze entering. They have a lot of tanks and fish/animals. There's a lot to look at and read, some of which are very informative. I thought that the plastic bags in a tank near the various jellyfish was a good lesson. They have a few preserved creatures including a shark and a large squid. If you have younger kids with you, you might want to skip the dead squid display - impressive though that there was a squid that size. The place is a good overall size and they make the most with the space and do a great job at it. Just when you think it's over, you're instructed to walk basically across the street and slightly down the block for the manatees, otters, turtles, and more. Along the way there is a bird house for an additional charge, but no comments on that since we didn't go there. It looked fairly small however. The manatees are great. Staff was friendly. It was raining on the day we went, so in the second structure there are some spots where without a roof and we had to keep the umbrella. Not a big deal, but if it rains on the day you go be sure to carry an umbrella with you for not only the second half, but for the walk between buildings. Parking lot fills up quick. Some park on the grass, so use your judgement. You could do this place in about 3 hours, depending on how fast you are. I only purchased general tickets, but there is more to do and for members, there's the discounts involved. The gift shop is ok and priced about what you'd expected at an aquarium. We didn't eat anything, so no comments on the food or pricing. Overall a great aquarium and recommended if you're in the area.

Really special aquarium. I especially loved seeing the manatees up close. Just wonderful!

Really fascinating stuff here. I particularly enjoyed the local fauna, such as Florida gators and manatees. There's also a very intensive sea turtle exhibit, which features rehabilitating adults all the way down to newborns stretching their flippers for the first time. In particular, I loved how this aquarium stressed the importance of sea turtle preservation. Humans are the invasive species here, and our actions can affect these creatures in extremely harmful ways. This exhibit is very informative and raises awareness on how we can be conducive to the sea turtles' survivability. The biggest attraction may be the 135,000 gallon shark habitat. The cool ting is you can view it from either above or below. It's kind of hard to make anything out from above, save for the dark, shadowy outlines of some unknown creatures, but it's a neat perspective nonetheless. Lastly, the one other exhibit that I truly loved with all my heart was "Otters & Their Waters." Basically you put three juvenile otters in a multi-level enclosure with a giant water slide, an expansive basin, and numerous toys, and let them do whatever the hell otters do. As it turns out, they play nonstop for hours on end. Overall I was pleasantly surprised by what this small-town aquarium had to offer. I think more aquariums should stress the preservation aspect as Mote does... it's fun to see exotic sea creatures, but we also need to save them and protect the habitats in which they live.

Five stars plus! Wasn't expecting much, but we needed an indoor place to stay cool with our child. Great aquarium displays. Very educational. The youth staff were knowledgeable and pleasant to interact with. It was fun to see the manatees up close! The only "warning" is that there is a lengthy path between the shark exhibit and the manatee/turtle exhibit. The path is well marked, but some individuals may benefit from moving their car parking spot.

I want to start this post off by saying I LOVE animals and always love supporting animal organizations and causes, so I was happy to get to stop by a new aquarium. This Laboratory & Aquarium was on the smaller side, but I definitely still saw wild life I haven't seen in awhile (if ever). Definitely worth a stop off.

Accreditation: AZA 501c3 nonprofit My friend was an intern and they're offered free admission for guests (if this seems like a super nice opportunity for interns, note that the internships are unpaid despite the cost of living in the area). I stopped into town quickly to visit and she offered to get me in to see the place she works but couldn't be at the gate with me because her work day started at 7:30am and they don't open until 9:30am (her position required her to be off site that day). She left me with an identifier of herself to try and help with this last minute situation. I recognize that this situation isn't ideal, so staff refused to accept this and I can honestly understand that aspect, them turning me away isn't the reason I'm giving MOTE a single star. I'm giving them a single star because of the work culture I experienced when bringing up an intern. Both of the staff members I interacted with specially said "we can't do that for an iNtErN" and showed such a lack of respect for the young people who work unpaid for this place just to try and get their foot in the marine animal field. I also work in this field and have literally never witnessed (first hand) a complete lack of care for the way interns were being discussed. Typically in this kind of situation I would've just then opted to pay to get in and it would've been fine but the disrespect being shown for interns left a horrible taste in my mouth and I will no longer be holding this place in any high regard whatsoever as a place to work. Interns are already underpaid in the animal care field, they shouldn't be disrespected as well. I also wanted to add that since I've been to this facility before for a Youth Ocean's Conference the aquarium itself is wonderful but heartbreaking to see that the support I saw for people interested in the field doesn't show outside of the conference setting

Really cool place, but really crowded. It was raining the day we went, so I think everyone had the same idea. The manatees we're awesome! Being from NY, they aren't in aquariums around us. I would definitely recommend a visit! They also had stingrays you could touch, as well as an area with starfish. There were also two tanks with sharks!

It was great to entertain us as red tide ruined our trip plans. Wish it was a little more interactive as the cost was pretty high. Overall it was a nice way to entertain the kiddos.