Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236

"I have been upwards of four times and loved it each visit! Wide variety of wildlife, information, and interactive activities. I spoke to a few volunteers, who were all super knowledgeable and sweet- one had been volunteering there for 15 years! There was also a section on the history of the research center and aquarium that was fascinating. It was very crowded, as I went on a holiday, but that did not affect my experience. Points off for the cost (I understand that aquarium upkeep takes funding) and the fact that there were countless additional activities that cost extra. Would definitely go again, but it would be much more frequent with a reduced cost/student discount!"

"This was my third visit to this aquarium, each time taking visiting family members. We had two kids under 10 in our party. I was disappointed in the pricing for kids at $21. Nevertheless, the aquarium is cool, with a manatee, sharks, rays, and huge turtles. Some of the exhibits (like the Ray tank) are interactive. There are many volunteers who are helpful in describing things and were quite informative. Overall, it was a good place and cool experience. I'm sure I'll be back."

"Second timer, but it's been a while. Pretty stellar spot -- was pretty spread out and they now have two buildings that you can walk between. Definitely thought that was a cool new addition. Had several exhibits that I felt you could sit and enjoy for a while, including the river otters that were quite amusing. Different activities for all ages, including a virtual reality experience, several touch tanks, opportunities to feed some birds, and a gem mining experience to name a few. They have a restaurant on site with basic items and have both inside and outdoor seating areas. There is also a very large area for events and/or kiddos to get the wiggles out. Highly recommend."

"Mote is an absolute blessing. Their animals are so well taken care of and you can tell this is a place built on love and dedication to sea life. I always feel joyous and fulfilled coming here, and it never gets old. There’s also a bird section which is a lot bigger than it looks from the outside! There’s also a park on the beach a short walk away with boardwalks through mangroves which is always a must."

"Mote Marine Aquarium is difficult to review. On the one hand, there are some unique exhibitions: a preserved giant squid, a great shark tank, and a massive sea turtle. Despite that, the exhibition hall felt overcrowded, dingy, and slightly outdated. I give them credit for the awesome (and free/open to the public) aviary! It was a welcome surprise to the visit. Overall, I'd recommend making the trip and forming your own opinion. I think the ticket value is there for at least one trip. Definitely definitely buy your tickets a day or more in advance!"