North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher - Kure Beach, North Carolina large aquarium with a number of special events annually

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is one of the state's three major aquariums. It is located on Loggerhead Road, fifteen miles south of Wilmington, on Kure Beach. The aquarium opened in 1976, along with the other two North Carolina Aquariums.

Between November 1999 and March 2002, the Fort Fisher Aquarium was closed in order to make renovations. This led to the construction and expansion of the Cape Fear Shoals Tank, the aquarium's largest exhibit, and the aquarium itself went from a 77,000 gallon aquarium to one containing 455,000 gallons of tank space, leading to a number of new and improved exhibits.

The Cape Fear Shoals tank is a 235,000-gallon tank brimming with saltwater creatures such as eels, stingrays, sharks, and many more. Through the aquarium's "Sleeping with the Fishes'' program, kids can spend the night at the aquarium, sleeping among the creatures of the deep and getting an early tour of the aquarium the next morning, before the doors open to the public. The Fort Fisher Aquarium also offers a "Dialog with a Diver'' event, where aquarium attendees can talk to divers while they do their day's work, answering questions and interacting with patrons. Other events include the Ocean Odyssey, animal feedings, Tank Talks, and a Touch Tank where patrons can interact with sea creatures hands-on. Another program is the "Smart Cart Connection'', where an aquarium educator roams throughout the venue with a cart full of shells, skulls, and other nifty educational materials.

Other tanks include the Exotic Aquatics Tank, which has creatures such as poison dart frogs and lionfish, the Shadows on the Sand Exhibit, offering a chance to see animals like skates and guitarfish, and the Open Oceans tank that is filled with octopuses and jellyfish. For those willing to pay a little extra, patrons can gain access to special, educator-led programs that will grant them a behind-the-scenes, more hands-on aquarium experience. There are also before/after hours activities and outdoor excursions available.

The Fort Fisher Aquarium is host to a Gift Shop as well as the SharkBites Snack Bar, asking patrons to stop by for a snack, or even a full-out meal if they're hungry. Vending machines are also located about the premises, as well as a number of water fountains. The SharkBites Snack Bar is open from March through September, and is also open on weekends during October and November.

School groups can attend the aquarium for free, provided they register in advance. The aquarium offers scavenger hunts for these groups, as well as countless other educational programs. Summer camps are held at the aquarium, and it also is willing to host birthday parties.

The aquarium itself is also available for rent, accommodating the needs for any occasion that needs to be extra special. This includes weddings and business events and can account for up to 2,000 people. Exhibit venues, classrooms, and even private conference rooms are available to those looking to rent space at the aquarium. The aquarium is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily and year-round, and visitors can find out more by calling 1-800-832-FISH.