We returned to the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota in August of 2021 for our annual work pilgrimage. Things were much different this year than in 2020 (see previous blog post). We have that video linked at the bottom as well for those who haven’t seen it yet. For 2021, we actually got a lot accomplished. We ended up bar hopping, trying some interesting drinks, eating some delicious food, and even finally ended up getting some coaster credits at Nickelodeon Universe.
One of the highlights, and the focus of this post here, was our visit to the Sea Life Aquarium, which is located on the first floor at the east side of the mall. This was our first visit to Sea Life since August of 2017, and there were quite a few changes. Check out the video below and we’ll discuss a bit more below! (Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel too!)
An Aquarium That We HIGHLY RECOMMEND
First, if you have never been to the Mall of America, we highly recommend you do. It is the largest mall in the Western Hemisphere, features 520 stores and numerous attractions spread over 5 million square feet of floor space. It truly is a magnificent mall. Here’s the thing, you’ll enjoy this place even if you aren’t a mall enthusiast OR if you don’t like shopping. The mall features bars, a theme park, terrific restaurants, several mini-golf courses, arcades, go-karts, a flying theater, a movie theater, an aquarium (as we are discussing) and much more! It is also connected to two hotels. It truly is a destination and not “just a mall”. Yes, they have many terrific and unique stores as well, but it can truly be a family vacation, especially being open year round (can ride some coasters during winter break).
With that said, not only do we recommend a visit to the Mall of America…but we recommend a visit to the Sea Life Aquarium while at the mall. This is a terrific attraction for the entire family. Actually, many of the attractions at MoA are! Ticket prices are reasonable to the attraction and it is more than just fun…it is also extremely educational. Not only will you get to see these amazing creatures, but you will also learn all about them. With so many exhibits and a nice flowing walkway through the whole attraction, you can do it at your own pace and can easily spend some time just taking it all in (the sights and also the information). Here are some highlights of the attraction:
Brave the Rainforest: This is the first official exhibit you see after passing through the entrance. This is where you walk through a two-and-a-half story rainforest exhibit, complete with waterfalls, simulated lightning and more! Some of the creatures seen in this section include piranha, Caiman Crocodiles, giant cockroaches, hairy tarantula, poison dart frogs, and more! This is an exhibit that you would not expect at an aquarium and it is truly a wonderful experience!
The Underwater Tunnel: Sea Life at the Mall of America also features Minnesota’s LONGEST Underwater Tunnel. It stretches more than 300 feet (about the size of a football field) and sits 13 feet deep. You’ll pass through numerous exhibits here, including Sturgeon Lake (where you can see numerous species of sturgeon, including some that are endangered, soft shell sea turtles, and alligator gars….which is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world! You’ll also pass through Shark Cove, where you’ll be able to see numerous species of Shark, as well as rescued loggerhead sea turtles. The highlights, besides tiger sharks and the like, are two rare species…the giant shovel-nose guitarfish (which are critically endangered) and Green Sawfish (named Duke & Duchess, which are among the ONLY of their species you can see in an aquarium in the United States. They are also critically endangered). You’ll also pass through Rainbow Reef and Wild Amazon.
Ray Lagoon: This is exactly how it sounds. There are seven total species in the Ray Lagoon, which also doubles as a two-story shipwreck on a beach. You can see cownose rays, guitarsharks, and more! There are even babies that were born right at Sea Life. There are more species within the shipwreck as well.
Coral Caves: See some beautiful coral and some of your favorite fishies from movies, including angelfish and clown fish!
Pacific Northwest Rockpool: One of the most unique experiences you’ll be able to find at an aquarium. This is where you can get your hands wet, literally (and warning, the water is EXTREMELY COLD). All you have to do is wash your hands before and after, don’t move any of the creatures, and don’t splash the water. Otherwise, you can feel the glass and rocks along with many unique species, including underwater flowers, sea anemones, sea stars and more!
There are numerous terrific species you will see that we didn’t mention above too…such as Jellyfish (which opened in 2010 as the largest jellyfish exhibit in the World), Sea Horses, Sea Dragons, Pufferfish, and more! No kidding, there are so many species you can learn about that it is hard to discuss them all in a post….so head on over to the Sea Life Mall of America website to see all of the EXHIBITS and CREATURES you will see on your visit.
Conservation
We can’t really discuss Sea Life without talking about conservation. Many of the creatures at the Mall of America location have been rescued. In addition, conservation and breeding remains a core component of the aquarium. As mentioned previously, some species here are endangered or critically endangered. Conservation ensures survival of the species and our ability to continue to learn about them. It is an important topic to read about and discuss while visiting the aquarium. See more on the guitarsharks, sawfish, and rescued sea turtles at the Sea Life website.
In Closing
Once again, we recommend a visit to the Mall of America if you can. If you’re looking for something to do for the whole family, there is literally something for the whole family under one roof here! The mall is located in Bloomington, Minnesota and is right near the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP). There are numerous hotel options nearby aside from the ones connected to the mall AND the mall also has a stop on the Metro Blue Line light rail (underneath the mall) and stops on the Metro Red Line bus service.
The Sea Life Minnesota/Mall of America attraction is a must visit for families or those who are interested in animals/aquariums/zoos. It truly is a unique attraction that everyone will enjoy AND also learn something from. You can purchase your tickets to the Sea Life Mall of America here!
Also, there are many other Sea Life attractions around the globe (owned/operated by Merlin Entertainments). There may be one near you! Check out the main Sea Life website to check for locations!
If you haven’t seen our video from our previous visit to the Mall of America (in 2020, at the height of the pandemic), then check it out embedded below. Don’t forget you subscribe on YouTube either. Also, check out our blog post regarding it as well.
Until next time, thank you for watching/reading and subscribing. Keep on Adventuring!!
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