We spent an entire day at Grapevine Mills Mall in Grapevine, Texas while on our family vacation. Besides all of the many, many stores to shop at, the mall is also home to Legoland Discovery Center and Sea Life Aquarium. After a fabulous lunch at Rainforest Café, we headed across the mall to venture into the underwater world.
There was a line with about a 20 minute wait to get into Sea Life. I had learned the day before that these attractions do have a wait time and to just get over it. (Ah, the ignorance of small town living!) We were warned before we entered the attraction that we could not use the flash on our camera because it can be harmful to the marine life. I’ll admit I was a little disappointed because my camera doesn’t even take the best pictures *with* flash, so what I do have to show was the best I could get.
Upon entering Sea Life, the main room is a large tank full of sting rays. These animals are beautiful to watch. You could also go to a raised platform above the tank and watch them.
The next room contained the octopus and, quell surprise, another wait to get into that small room. By the time we made it into the room, I’ll admit I wasn’t too impressed because the octopus was about the only thing to look at, and it was, well…a small octopus, not the GIANT octopus I was expecting from the description.
And? It was ugly. (Kidding) (sort of)
I have NO idea why the wait was so long to see that, but we soldiered on to the other parts of the exhibit.
There were lots of fish. Lots and lots of fish. And sharks.
One of the best parts of the whole exhibit was the room of rock pools where you could actually touch and hold some of the sea creatures. I held a live starfish.
The 360 degree Underwater Ocean Tunnel was amazing, but it was crowded. However, it offered the best view of the sharks and we all enjoyed it.
If you plan to go, you can find several coupons for $5 off admission floating around the mall. We picked ours up on a menu at Rainforest Café, but we also had backup coupons from the hotel we stayed in during the majority of our vacation.
Overall, I’m glad we took some time out to visit Sea Life. I have to brag on the staff there because they are very kind and welcoming. However, I am so glad I didn’t have to push a stroller through this place because it is multi-leveled (but they do have elevators) and crowded.
These are my honest opinions about our visit. I was not compensated in any way to write this post.
That looks like an awesome place! When took Bryson to the aquarium when he turned 2 and have visited several times since. Love the pictures!
It sounds like an amazing place to go with the kids! We visited an aquarium at Pittsburgh zoo last year and it was crowded but the kids loved being able to touch the stingrays!
I think you got some great pics – those jelly fish are really cool!
Sounds, and looks, really neat! I wish we had an aquarium like that closer around here, I love watching things swim around.
I’v never been to an aquarium before. Seeing those pictures just makes me want to really go. I think I’d enjoy it more than the kids. And yeah, that octopus really is ugly!
Sounds like an interesting place to visit.
It really was, Jenny. I’m glad we went!
SO glad your family had a great time in Texas!! Hate that I missed you, but that was my girls’ weekend and they all came to visit me.
I feel so bad for not calling, Stacey. Our days were just jam packed the whole time we were there. However, it sounds like you were having fun with your girls anyway! Hopefully we will have the chance to meet soon!