Texas State Aquarium

Great place to visit. Good information on the aquatic flora & fauna of the tropics. It is right on the bay, so we saw dolphins jumping there. Several multi-level viewing areas outside, and authentic animal displays. Price was reasonable. Downfall was elevator was out of service, but the escalator was usable, even with my cane. Early mornings are less crowded.

At first, I thought the admission fee for this aquarium was expensive. However, after entering and learning about how the aquarium is operated, I was deeply moved. It was extremely educational for children and offers a unique opportunity to interact directly with animals something that feels truly one of a kind in the world. I have visited many aquariums across the United States, but I have never experienced anything like this. It was just as moving as, if not more than, the largest aquariums in Japan and Korea. The admission fee is absolutely worth it. I highly recommend visiting this place is truly inspiring.

Our visit to the Texas State Aquarium was just divine! We went on a Wednesday afternoon, and it was not busy at all. We got into every show they had available, and saw all the exhibits. It was a wonderful experience! The trainers and staff were incredibly knowledgeable about the animals they were showing, and it was nice to see some of them so up close. I haven’t been to an aquarium in over a decade because I do not approve of the mistreatment of animals, but this particular aquarium is the only accredited location in Texas to rehabilitate sea creatures. They have rehabilitated over 5,000 animals in the last couple decades, and they rescue and care for animals that would have not made it otherwise. This level of care is very rare and important to recognize. If you choose to go to an aquarium, please choose this one if you can. You will not regret it!

The Texas State Aquarium is a fabulous educational facility. It offers great viewing of marine life—both from above and below water surfaces. The sand sharks were awesome, the dolphins delightful and the otters were entertaining. The colors of the macaw, flamingos and scarlet ibis brightened my day. A must see attraction in Corpus Christi.

My experience at the Texas State Aquarium with my family was nothing short of amazing! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with friendly staff, breathtaking exhibits, and an atmosphere full of excitement and wonder. The interactive displays kept our kids engaged the entire time, and the variety of marine life — from dolphins and sea turtles to sharks and stingrays — was incredible to see up close. The entire facility was clean, well-organized, and perfect for a full day of fun and learning. It was a memorable family outing that we’ll be talking about for a long time. Highly recommend it for families, nature lovers, and anyone looking to experience the beauty of the ocean without leaving Texas!

We enjoyed our visit to the aquarium. We felt the tickets were a little spendy for what was here but overall a nice place. The kids will love a stop here.

My family has been here twice, and I think it is well worth a visit! My kids (now 3 & 6) love seeing all the animals, like sharks and turtles, flamingos and ocelots, otters and alligators, jellyfish and stingrays, etc. there are tons of different air, land, and water animals. The building is 3 stories and has an outside area, so be sure to explore all of it, watch the fun dolphin show, and touch the stingrays and jellyfish. The splash pad water park area was open the second time we went so be sure to bring swimsuits for the kids, and they liked playing in the sand archeology pit. The food upstairs and on the bottom floor isn't cheap but it's not the most expensive either. Overall we always visit here when we make a trip to Port A , and we will be back!

We've been twice now and it is awesome! Would highly reccomend! Staff friendly and helpful and our 3 year old had the best time!

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

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!

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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!

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!

We went to the Aquarium in June for my mom's birthday. We had a blast with the dolphins! The show was incredible. We loved all of the exhibits - especially the rainforest area. It was gorgeous!

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.

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

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.

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.

This aquarium is more than worth the price tag. My only complaint is that it's a little smaller than I think it should be. Don't let that discourage you though, it's a great place to take both yourself and your family all day to.

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.

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.

IT WAS AWESOME!! $94 for two people with paid parking but it was worth every penny also has a theater inside and a bunch of restaurants and shops

$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.

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!!!

This was a beautiful aquarium! Went to see the dolphin show, it was only 15 minutes but it was educating and entertaining. Friendly staff and many huge underwater displays. A little higher in price than most aquariums but it was worth it!

Busy the day we attended, nice exhibits. $49/per adult to get in, no senior discount. We look as a donation to keep place going. Great to spent3-4 hours.

It is a previously to volunteer because just seeing children's and families and children's and adults with special needs they have amenities for all guest just see for yourself and when when leaving the aquarium stop buy the rescue center and is for anyone and it's all to see when you leave you're too leave happy and family and I forgot they have a playground and a splash zone so make sure you bring you're bathing suits and lunch if not they have a food court so come and enjoy and am a volunteer who love to help others and thanks for reading this Jorge see you soon bye

I would love a refund!! This place had a bunch on enclosures closed and charged us $45 a person plus $5 for parking to not see what they are promoting! This is the worst aquarium I've come to in the United States. This place is not worth the screwing they give you before you even walk in the door! On top of that being a military veteran they only give you a $2 discount, thank you for nothing Texas state aquarium. But if your on food stamps you can get in for $3 so there yall go!!!Highly do not recommend.

We had a nice family visit to this Aquarium with our 12 yr-old. After several very hot, sandy days on the beach we were looking for something to do indoors in Corpus. The Aquarium was a good fit. The variety of animals and fish is impressive and it's not too crowded on weekdays. Parking is a reasonable $5 and you can purchase it online prior to your visit. Tickets can also be purchased online with a discount and no reservation date, so check in at the aquarium is touchless. Some things we really liked about this Aquarium were the theatre, the octopus, the nursery where you can see baby sharks and jellyfish, as well as a coral nursery. The food at the lunch counter was impressive for a tourist attraction. We had low expectations of tasteless fried foods that cost a fortune but we're pleasantly surprised by reasonably priced fresh salads, seafood, pasta, and tacos. The wait for the food was a little long and I'd recommend going to lunch either early or late because the rush at the noon hour is extensive. I need assistance with stairs and we found the whole complex to be very accomodations-friendly, which also worked well for parents with children in strollers. There were also benches and seating spaced throughout so we could take breaks when needed. We wished the parking had been covered and that there was more shade offered at the outdoor exhibits. Another plus we found is that if you wish to purchase a membership, they will apply your ticket price toward your membership price if it has been five days or less since your visit.

10/10!! we spent about 2 1/2 hours here. it was so big that we got lost lol. all of the animals were in their enclosure which was nice. we got to see so many things like fish, turtles, stingrays, dolphins, sharks, etc.

This has to be one of the best aquariums in Texas. Easily, you and your family can spend 3+ hours here. Parking is ample. When you purchase your tickets, you get a coin to get you out of the parking lot. Tickets are affordable for families as well. The aquarium has 3 levels and they have interactive exhibits where you can touch some of the fish and animals. They not only have fish but also animals and birds just roaming free on the 2nd floor. They even have flamingos, sloths, bald eagles, sea turtles; it is amazing! Every hour, there are scheduled shows you and your family can participate in. I highly recommend the dolphin show which is quite spectacular. Overall this is an amazing aquarium. I will definitely come back in the future when I'm in the area!

A must visit for seniors or families. Our group of 4 seniors loved it! Very relaxing & enjoyable! Fee seems high but so worth it!!!

This is one of the best aquariums I've ever been. Probably at the same level the Atlanta aquarium is at or better. The knowledge and friendly staff was a nice part of the experience. Moose Out

When I'm Corpus Christi do what the locals do... visit the aquarium. Things have much improved since our last visit. The displays were full and great to observe. Watching kiddos have faces of awe is always a good time. My favorite is always the otters, and they were out and adorable. The kids had a great time at all the indoor and outdoor exhibits. Taking a break on the porch swings after taking in all the animals was wonderful, a breeze off the gulf and talking about sea turtles is tops. The splash pad is a great way to end the visit. So if you're coming bring a change of clothes. And it opens around 11am. Also if you are a member of the SA ZOO there is reciprocity, who doesn't love saving money? We basically BOGO'd the adult admissions, and if your kiddo is under 3 they are free. Great adventure for any age but definitely a great family day trip adventure stop.

3.5 stars We came here last Friday at opening and it was packed. Even with a military discount, we still paid over $70-comparable to most large-city aquariums. You can pay $5 for a parking token. We spent close to 3-3.5 hours, so there's plenty to see on the multiple levels. We enjoyed the dolphin show and the close proximity to the ocean. The sharks are also a favorite, as well as the touch pools for the kids that go. The shows get packed, so get there early. It was a nice place, but not worth the price we paid.

This is a great aquarium. I went here on a date with my boyfriend and I do have to say it is a great aquarium for adults and kids. I liked how I got to pet the jellyfish and other various creatures. This aquarium is beautiful. My only complaint is it's expensive which is not surprising. It was $40 per adult. Military discount was $2 off each ticket. They really could offer a bit of a better discount for military members. I also don't like having to pay $5 to park on top of expensive tickets. I got nachos for $6.99 + 75 cent upgrade for pico. It was not great food but I wasn't expecting much from an aquarium.

If there's an aquarium in a city we're visiting, we will go. The Texas State aquarium is very impressive with well done exhibits. We wore masks the whole time. There are 2 major areas - Gulf of Mexico and the Carribian. The Gulf has some great fish, but the Carribian portion really shines. We went upstairs once we were told that the dolphin show was starting. The seats were full when we got there, but we could still stand behind to enjoy. It's very rare that you see 6 dolphins performing with different trainers at once, but the trainers pulled it off. We were mesmerized as the dolphins waved to us with their tails, played catch and jumped in the air. Definately don't miss the show when you are there. I loved that the Carribian portion had an aviary with lots of large birds and an area where you could see the tanks from above. We then went downstairs and there was an amazing shark exhibit you can walk around on both sides. Definately worth the money to visit this local attraction, especially if you have young kids.

The bathroom was very clean and the stalls are a very pretty coral green color same with the counter tops. The sink has an automatic soap dispenser and automatic sink

We had a great time at the aquarium today as the final adventure of our vacation before heading home. We stopped in at 3:45pm, which only gave us about 2 hours to explore and it was the perfect amount of time to enjoy all of the aquariums exhibits. Although we were too late for any of the shows, we still got to pet the sharks, sting rays, and jelly fish. Most worth mentioning was one of the aquarium staff, David, who gave us our own personal Q&A session about the resident Giant Octopus, Isla. David was so friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about Isla and the rest of the exhibits. He definitely made our visit worthwhile.

I visited this aquarium last week while in CC on vacation and was pleased with everything I saw. This is an above average facility that you would expect in cities larger than CC. Adult tickets purchased on line last week were $29 when I bought mine but as of this writing I noticed that the same ticket is now over $32. Not sure why. They also have a paid parking lot for $5 or there is cheaper metered street parking if available. There were many exhibits to view with plenty of glass walled underground tanks to view the aquatic life along with a large bird atrium sanctuary. A few of the features are located outside with the USS Lexington providing for an attractive backdrop but most things to see are in air conditioned comfort inside. Unfortunately, Covid closed some special things to see like the outdoor dolphin show for example. But other attractions like the feeding of the sting rays, like I participated in, were still open. This event is free to watch or you can donate $5 for 3 small fish that allows you to hand feed the rays in their outdoor pool. As an add on, there is a large outdoor splash pad area for kids to have fun getting wet. They do have an on-premise outdoor casual restaurant but it was closed due to Covid. I recommend coming here while visiting in the area and would budget 3 hours to see everything. Possibly even more time if you bring the kiddos.

Fun way to spend the afternoon in corpus! This aquarium is really nice. I've been to aquariums all over the world and I have to say, this one is one of the best. The animals aren't shoved in tight spaces or over crowded. It could seem like they don't have a lot, but they do, they just provide decent space. I do think that the price was a little hefty, especially since it's smaller in comparison to a bunch of other aquariums. I'm sad I didn't stay for the dolphin show but it was just too cold outside, so be prepared for that in the winter time. I personally thought they were taking covid precautions well, but I also went during a winter storm time so I'm sure not many people are going out this weekend. The gift shop though, lord those prices. That's all I'm going to say about that though.

Bought tickets and parking online was super easy! Amazing experience will definitely be back!

This place was the best aquarium I've been to, they treat their animals sooo well! And they're all happy and healthy! If they aren't healthy they can moved into their rehab facility, which is the ONLY LICENSED one here in Texas! Their staff is so knowledgeable and caring, and super friendly! Their entire facility is super wheelchair friendly and they're super accommodating of anyone with sensory issues. They're tanks are all clean, not too clean which is perfect! They have a HUGE variety of animals, not all of them being aquatic animals! All the habitats are beautifully made and they're very realistic to the animals normal habitat. All the different tours and shows they have throughout the day are a lot of fun and extremely informative. I would 100% recommend coming to this aquarium no matter your age or abilities! My fiancé and I went for his 22nd birthday and we had a blast! GO CHECK IT OUT ITS AMAZING!!! STAY AWAY FROM AUSTIN AQUARIUM COME HERE INSTEAD!!!

Probably a better draw for families with kids than retirees. While I found the tanks of critters interesting and a bit educational, the two things that I liked best were the ocelot and the huge mosaic column (next to an escalator) depicting marine life at deep, middle, and surface zones of the Gulf. Overall I think of this as a small aquarium with rather limited selections of displays that seriously overcharges ($40/person) for the experience. As I say, maybe the excitement of kids would make it feel like a worthwhile expense. But to me it's just too little return on too much upfront investment.

We had the best time at the Texas State Aquarium! We pre-bought tickets and our parking so we were able to skip the line and they scanned our QR code. Kept the parking token in a safe space and away we went. Everyone was very helpful and showed us how to get around the campus. Grabbed snacks at the back porch and enjoyed the view of the water and the USS Lexington. Will definitely go back.

Very clean aquarium, very nice employees. Beautiful tanks. Will definitely go again. We got a caricature by Wren on second floor and she did a great job with it. The food in the restaurant The Canopy, it was delicious.

I love it to see the animals and what they are doing in the background of the movie I think it's

Nice but to small , but a great place for children and schools otherwise its a one time visit

Overall, the experience of the aquarium was fun! They offer military discount, and parking was a breeze. They have some great exhibits to view. This is definitely a kid friendly place. When it is packed it is a pain to experience the fun here. So try not to go during a peak day. All the staff during my encounters with them was delightful and customer friendly. The place has two floors, but most of their water tank exhibits were on the first floor. They have a souvenir shop, a place where you can eat, a Starbucks, and a movie theater. Definitely a great place to learn about our oceans and to bring a family on a vacation.

Way overpriced for what it is. 90 bucks for one adult and one senior and parking. April 2024 visit. How does the average family afford it? I've been to better ones, such as the one in Baltimore.

I make it possible to visit aquariums everywhere I visit and this was one of the best I have seen. The aquarium is huge and even has a splash park for kids, how cool is that? The aquarium is also separated by regions such as gulf coast, Caribbean etc. the Caribbean was my favorite region. The section felt so open as we were so close to many of the animals and they felt so free as well. I saw a flamingo fly and it was awesomeness. There is a lot of walking , but honestly it didn't bother me. I got to see dolphins up close and personal and it had a huge touch tank.