Mississippi Aquarium (Gulfport, Mississippi)

 

While on vacation in Long Beach, Mississippi this past week, we decided to take a break from the ocean and go up the road to Gulfport and visit the Mississippi Aquarium. Overall, it ended up being a good choice.

A couple pieces of advice to start, make sure to dress for the weather because a good chunk of it is outdoors. Also, make sure to buy your tickets in advance on their website to save money. You'll also want to have a little extra for parking ($5 for two hours).

Our favorite section of the aquarium had to be the petting zoo area on the top floor. It was a great opportunity to touch as well as see a variety of sea creatures and we even got a kick out of how some of them seemed to actively try to be petted, almost as though they were puppies. 

Another cool feature is the tunnel that lets you emerge yourself and be surrounded by the sea creatures. There's very little that is cooler than a shark or ray swimming above your head while still being safe. 

In addition to sea creatures, the aquarium also offers other kinds of species, ranging from alligators and turtles to an aviary with a variety of birds. There are also quite a few additional experiences, mostly geared toward younger children, such as caves that give a different view and paid experiences, such as the one involving interacting with their dolphins. 

In total, we were able to see the aquarium in about 90 minutes, but the passes are good for the day and there are various benches, beanbag chairs and other ways to remain comfortable if you want to stay longer and just hang out. If we didn't have a limited amount of time on our vacation, I might have done just that.

Final Opinion: We all wished there were a few more displays to make it easier to stay longer but did enjoy the experience overall. If you're in that area of the country, it's worth taking the time to check it out.

My Grade: A