Exploring Marine Life in Las Vegas: The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay

When you think of Las Vegas, you might not picture kids connecting with nature. But we certainly did plenty of nature exploring during our visit last month.

In fact, one of the kids’ favorite places to play whenever we visit Vegas is the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay.

Turns out the Shark Reef isn’t just any aquarium. It’s North America’s only predator-based aquarium. The facility’s 14 exhibits feature some 100 sharks plus exotic fish, reptiles and sea turtles, a rare golden crocodile, piranha, plenty of jelly fish and rays, a touch pool experience and a 1.3 million gallon shark exhibit.

All this is presented with décor designed to make you feel as if you’ve been transformed into an ancient temple that is slowly sinking into the bottom of the ocean. The grand finale is a 360-degree view of the shark tank in surroundings designed to replicate the inside of a sunken ship.

I must admit that we enjoyed this place a lot more before the big explorer turned 5. That’s because kids 4 and under get in for free, while kids 5 and up cost $11. Add to that the $17 entry fee per adult and the fact that the Aquarium only offers about an hours’ worth of entertainment, and suddenly it doesn’t seem so inviting.

So what made us decide to go? Free tickets! But not because of this here blog – no, the tickets were part of an attempt to make up for the fact that our hotel room at Mandalay Bay wasn’t ready at check-in. Gotta say, I’m impressed with their customer service.

OUR NOTES FROM THE FIELD
The fun started before we ever reached the Aquarium. There’s a cool screen that “follows” your movements as you walk by. The big explorer was enthralled and ran this way and that at least 10 times before we had to drag him away.

Exhibits are arranged along a more-or-less one-way path that eventually leads you to the final huge shark tank. Big hits with both kids during our 45-minute visit included the golden crocodile,

Kimodo dragon,

The rays (always a hit no matter where we go),

The jellyfish,

The touch pool experience,

and of course, the sharks in the 360-degree “shipwreck” tank (sorry, too dark for pictures!), where we ogled at the newest addition – shark rays.

PLANNING ESSENTIALS

• Open Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (last admission one hour prior to closure)
• Admission is $16.95 for adults, $10.95 for children ages 5 through 12, children 4 and under are free
• A free audio tour is provided (via wand), but even the 5-½ year old was only mildly interested
• The Aquarium has two sets of restrooms (one even has a changing table!)
• The facilities are stroller-friendly, though you’ll need to use the elevator to enter & exit
• Food & drinks are not available or permitted within the Shark Reef Aquarium, so plan your visit accordingly
• Beware of the exit – it’s through the Aquarium’s gift shop!

MY TIPS FOR A GREAT VISIT

• If you’re taking young kids, skip the audio tour and let the kids wander at their own pace. The big explorer was only mildly interested in listening to the voice coming out of the wand – and he’s 5 ½ and a nature enthusiast.

• Play “I spy” using the Aquarium “Passport” to guide your search. This free, 20-page full color booklet is the perfect size for little kids. It’s divided up by sections with several animals pictured on each page, making it perfect for “I spy.”

The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is located at:

3950 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89109

This review is based on my family’s personal experience. I did receive any compensation for sharing my opinions. If you have any questions, read my full disclosure policy.