Lionfish and reef sharks and octopuses – oh, my! Find these and tons of other deep-sea critters at Sea Life Michigan Aquarium, opened Jan. 29, 2015 at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills.
And it’s been giving southeast Michigan its biggest, most diverse aquarium ever since.
This fished-filled experience checks in at 35,000 square feet with 250 different species in 22 themed tanks that transport families to underwater worlds to see and learn about the unique animals that live there.
One very Michigan touch – this is the brand’s seventh U.S. location – is a freshwater exhibit similar to the Great Lakes, says marketing manager Debbie Gibb.
There’s also a harbor full of lobster and angelfish, a jellyfish area where kids can change the color of the tank (and jellies) and a 360-degree tank of pilchard fish that swim one way and then change direction suddenly.
There’s even a touch pool where you can handle crabs, urchins or sea stars – with a kids play area at the end.
“Some of the tanks are built at a lower level for kids,” Gibb says, “and there are some where kids can pop up and put their head right in the middle of the tank.”
At the heart of the aquarium is a 120,000-gallon ocean tank with a 180-degree tunnel surrounded by sharks and stingrays, a temporary turtle tank and a shipwreck exhibit that is the home of a very intelligent giant Pacific octopus.
Seal Life Michigan Aquarium is one of 42 total all over the world run by England-based Merlin Entertainment. A portion of proceeds from ticket fees helps the company’s conservation programs and charities.
Sea Life Michigan Aquarium
- Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays; last entry one hour prior to close
Costs: $23.50/ages 13-plus, $18.50/ages 3-12 (free/kids under 3)
Where: Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, 4316 Baldwin Road, Auburn Hills (in District 7, near Rainforest Café)
Contact: 866-622-0605, visitsealife.com/Michigan
