The BigTree Blog Kids and family
Sharks, Sea Turtles and Manatees: Mote Aquarium With Kids
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is a working research lab with an aquarium attached. Kids get to see real science in action.
Mote Marine Laboratory is a respected ocean research institution, and its public aquarium lets families peek into that work. You will meet sharks, rays, sea turtles, manatees, octopus and many of the fish you might spot while snorkeling off Siesta Key.
What makes Mote special is the story behind the animals. Many are rescued or cannot return to the wild, and signs explain the research Mote does on red tide, coral reefs, sea turtles and sharks. Kids come away knowing why the turtle nests on the beach have little fences around them.
The aquarium is on City Island, just over the bridge toward Lido Key, so it pairs perfectly with an afternoon at Lido Beach or gelato on St. Armands Circle.
Mote has also been building a large new science education aquarium in Sarasota, so check which location is open for your dates.