School’s almost in session, but there’s still time for an adventure this summer! Use our A-to-Z guide as your syllabus for can’t-miss exhibits and experiences at the South Carolina Aquarium!
A Is for Admissions
Every Aquarium visit begins at Admissions. Scan your ticket and begin your journey! Pro tip: Simplify your entry (and get the best deal) when you buy tickets in advance.
B Is for Blue Mind
As you walk the ramp toward our entry doors, the Charleston Harbor comes into view. Take a seat on one of our blue Adirondack chairs to channel your blue mind, the relaxing feeling we experience being in, on, under or near water!
C Is for Carolina Seas
The fist habitat you see as you enter the Great Hall is Carolina Seas. This 15,000-gallon saltwater tank features beautiful fish from just off our coast with 360-degree views!
D Is for Dot
Before you get all your steps in, take a moment to look at the floor you’re standing on — it’s a map! See if you can find the black dot representing our location (hint: it’s near the escalator)!
E Is for Escalator
This escalator is more than just access to the second floor; it’s a representation of gaining altitude to reach the highest habitats of South Carolina! Start your journey in the mountains after this escalator ride.
F Is for Feathers
Aquatic animals are expected here, but there’s a beautiful bird from the skies welcoming you to the Mountain Forest: Liberty the bald eagle. Though Liberty was deemed non-releaseable after a wing injury, she serves as an incredible ambassador for her species!
G Is for Green
Look all around you as you walk through the immersive Mountain Forest habitat. You’ll see a vast range of beautiful shades of green representing the lush forests of the Upstate (much like you’d find in GREENville)!
H Is for Hunters
Don’t let their cuddly looks fool you… Otters are ferocious hunters! Charlie and Beau — our resident river otter brothers — often make our guests smile as they swim, snack or snooze. Pro Tip: Can’t see them right away? Look at the logs in the exhibit, where Charlie and Beau like to nap!
I Is for Interactives
As you travel to the Piedmont, it’s time to get hands-on! Swap out a nature find for something new at the Trading Post, inspect bugs up-close through the microscope, listen for common frog calls in the Carolinas and duck into a cypress tree from the swamps!
J Is for Jaw
Coming up is a JAWesome photo op! Snap a selfie in front of a life-size megalodon jaw (and take in the massive painted silhouette of a “meg” behind it)!
K Is for Kids Coast
Our littlest guests love the tactile learning stations in Kids Coast! Take a moment to let the kids get some energy out with STEM-based play while you learn more about how we keep our water clean.
L Is for Lookout
Did you know you can spot several popular landmarks — like the USS Yorktown and Ravenel bridge — from the Aquarium? Step out onto one of our second-floor observation decks to see the waterfront from a new perspective!
M Is for Marsh
Your adventure continues in the Saltmarsh Aviary, an open-air oasis that’s a pivotal (and picturesque) Lowcountry landscape for native wildlife like striped burrfish, diamondback terrapins and roseate spoonbills.
N Is for Nursing Room
If you or a member of your group need an area to nurse, our Nursing Room is located on the second floor, adjacent to Kids Coast. You’ll also find a private Family Restroom in this location.
O Is for OMG!
Ready to add some more excitement to your visit? Step into our hurricane simulator to experience the power of nature in a safe environment!
P Is for Paleontology
Fossil Hunt — one of our newest interactive experiences — is a paleontology playground! Adults and kids alike will enjoy grabbing a brush to uncover prehistoric treasures from a wide variety of species.
Q Is for Quiet Areas
With so much excitement around every corner, sometimes a pause from stimulation can be a great recharge. Keep an eye out for Quiet Area signs throughout our galleries to find the best spaces to take a break. Pro Tip: If you or a member of your group would like to utilize our sensory-friendly resources, KultureCity sensory bags are available for checkout at the Info Desk.
R Is for Reach In
Ready to roll up your sleeves? Boneyard Beach Touch Tank Experience offers a crystal-clear connection to coastal critters like Atlantic stingrays, chain dogfish, sea urchins, horseshoe crabs and more!
S Is for SCUBA Diver
As you move toward the Ocean gallery, you might receive a friendly “hello” in the form of a SCUBA diver’s fist bump! Dive shows are a staple of our Daily Programs, so attend one during your time at the Aquarium!
T Is for Tank
The central pillar of the Aquarium — the Great Ocean Tank — is the deepest tank in North America! At 42 feet deep, this 385,000-gallon saltwater tank houses more than 550 animals, including stingrays, sharks and our resident loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta!
U Is for Undersea Explorer Virtual Reality Experience
2025 brought a brand new way to experience the natural world within our walls: virtual reality. Take a seat on Undersea Explorer to dive the depths with sharks or enjoy the waves with whales in a 360-degree, motion-activated adventure!
V Is for Views
No visit to the Aquarium is complete without a stop at our covered outdoor touch tank, The Shallows! Enjoy amazing views of rays from all angles: above, from the depths or even as you hand-feed one a fishy treat!
W Is for Wings
Reach into the water to gently touch the backs or “wings” of cownose rays at The Shallows. This simple gesture creates a powerful connection with these graceful gliders!
X Is for X-rays
The last exhibit on your Aquarium adventure showcases our efforts to give sick and injured sea turtles a second chance at life. Guests can come face-to-face with sea turtle patients undergoing rehabilitation, take in a Turtle Talk with one of our staff biologists and witness animal care in action with a view into our surgical suite!
Y Is for Yawkey
Leatherbacks — the largest sea turtle species in the world — sometimes pass through our coastal waters. Dive into the story of Yawkey, the first leatherback patient, and discover what makes these elusive sea turtles so extraordinary.
Z Is for Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery™ Theater
Before heading home, watch a short film about sea turtles and learn how you can protect them in the Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery™ Theater. Just by being here, you’re already supporting our efforts to save sea turtles!
As the kids prepare to start the school year, we hope this refresher on the alphabet featuring an aquatic twist piques your curiosity for more. Expand your education about the natural world and enjoy all the fun of a field trip by visiting the Aquarium today!
Published August 1, 2025