NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores Inspiring appreciation and conservation of our aquatic environments. www.ncaquariums.com/pine-knoll-shores

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Toddler Time at the Aquarium is on Tuesdays and Thursdays! Join us for stories, crafts, songs, puppets, and animal encou...
10/05/2026

Toddler Time at the Aquarium is on Tuesdays and Thursdays!

Join us for stories, crafts, songs, puppets, and animal encounters! “Colorful Creatures” runs September 2026 – February 2027 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m.- 10:00 a.m. in the Discovery Classroom for ages 2-5. Two sessions are repeated weekly with limited seating, get here early! Free with admission or membership. 15 participants max per session.

Save the date for our Halloween event Phantom Seas on Oct. 24 with a special sensory-friendly version on Oct. 25. Dress ...
10/04/2026

Save the date for our Halloween event Phantom Seas on Oct. 24 with a special sensory-friendly version on Oct. 25. Dress up in your favorite costume and enjoy the Aquarium as it’s decorated for the spooky season. Themed crafts, activities and programs are sure to thrill children of all ages. Find more information here: https://bit.ly/3QEUHqR

🦋 Happy Butterfly and Hummingbird Day! 🐦🦋 Did you know that there are about 17,500 described species of butterflies worl...
10/03/2026

🦋 Happy Butterfly and Hummingbird Day! 🐦

🦋 Did you know that there are about 17,500 described species of butterflies worldwide!? There are about 178 butterfly species known from North Carolina.

🐦 Hummingbirds are only found in the Western Hemisphere with almost 350 species. The most common hummingbird you'll see in North Carolina is the ruby-throated hummingbird. The black-chinned humming bird is a regular visitor to North Carolina and the females are sometimes hard to distinguish between the female ruby-throated hummingbirds.

🦋 You can see many different butterflies and skippers among the flowers in our pollinator gardens at the front of the Aquarium. You might event spot a hummingbird too! Look for some when you visit, we're open regular hours from 9-5 all weekend!

The next Evening Yoga at the Aquarium is October 8 from 5:30-6:30.Flow into tranquility with Yoga at the Aquarium where ...
10/02/2026

The next Evening Yoga at the Aquarium is October 8 from 5:30-6:30.

Flow into tranquility with Yoga at the Aquarium where movement, mindfulness, and marine magic come together in a truly unique setting. Enjoy a relaxing evening with yoga at the Aquarium.

Bring a water bottle and yoga mat or towel. This is a limited time event. Purchase tickets in advance online. No ticket sales at the door. More information and register here: https://bit.ly/4vB4fEu

🦝 It's International Raccoon Appreciation Day! 🎉🦝 The name raccoon comes from the Powhatan (Algonquin) word, "arahkun" w...
10/01/2026

🦝 It's International Raccoon Appreciation Day! 🎉

🦝 The name raccoon comes from the Powhatan (Algonquin) word, "arahkun" which means "he scratches with the hands" and was adapted and used by early English colonists in Virgina in the 1600s. In Latin, the racoon's scientific name Procyon lotor means 'before-dog washer' because they are known to wet their food. Raccoons are some of our favorite animals for their smart and silly antics! They're always ready for Halloween with their cool black eye masks and looking for treats at night. 🥷

🦝 Their resilience adapts them to many environments and here in North Carolina, they're more active year-round than those found in northern states because of our warmer winters. Have you seen any raccoons peeking around recently? 👀

Join us for Sound Bath at the Aquarium coming up on October 6! A sound bath is a meditative experience where participant...
09/29/2026

Join us for Sound Bath at the Aquarium coming up on October 6!

A sound bath is a meditative experience where participants rest comfortably, either laying down or seated comfortably, while being immersed in soothing sounds and vibrations.

Register here: https://bit.ly/4feJ58q

📅 Save the Dates! 📅 🎃 Phantom Seas: Legends and Lore Halloween event featuring haunted histories, ghost tales, and folk...
09/27/2026

📅 Save the Dates! 📅

🎃 Phantom Seas: Legends and Lore Halloween event featuring haunted histories, ghost tales, and folklore is Saturday, Oct. 24 from 9 am - 5 pm.

🧡 Sensory-Friendly Phantom Seas is on Sunday, Oct. 25 from 4-5 pm! Join us for a low-sensory Phantom Seas experience. Enjoy the spooky season spirit in a comfortable and accepting environment with tactile and sensory-friendly experiences.

🎃🧡 All Phantom Seas events are for all ages and are included with a regular admission ticket or member reservation for the day. Be sure to reserve your ticket for the day and the 4 pm time period to participate in this sensory friendly event.

📅 Don't forget to mark your calendars for all the fun!

🔗 More info: https://bit.ly/3QEUHqR

🐰 Hoppy International Rabbit Day! 🐇 🐰 Did you know that we have three native species of rabbits in North Carolina!? 🥕 Th...
09/26/2026

🐰 Hoppy International Rabbit Day! 🐇

🐰 Did you know that we have three native species of rabbits in North Carolina!?

🥕 The Appalachian cottontail (Sylvilagus obscurus) lives in western NC.
🥕 The eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) lives all throughout NC.
🥕 The marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris) lives in wetland habitats here in eastern NC.

🐇 Eastern cottontail rabbits get their name for their short, white fluffy tail that looks just like a cotton ball! They have large eyes and long, alert ears. They’re the most common native rabbit here in NC.

🐰 Marsh rabbits have brown fur and smaller feet than other rabbits, but they're really good swimmers. They're sometimes called “swamp rabbits” but the swamp rabbit is a different species that doesn't live in NC.

Uwohali, one of the bald eagles in our care, recently had a veterinary physical! Reagan our aviculturist, our veterinary...
09/26/2026

Uwohali, one of the bald eagles in our care, recently had a veterinary physical!

Reagan our aviculturist, our veterinary team and zoological medicine residents from NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine worked together to check the large bird's physical condition. They drew blood for testing, checked her feet condition, smoothed down part of her beak, and checked her wings.

She's doing well and is back on habitat. Up close, it's easy to see how large these birds are as well as the quality of care the animal team gives to each of our animals.

09/25/2026

🦞 Lobsters are cool crustaceans! 😎

🦞 Spiny lobsters are decapod crustaceans with ten legs. They belong to the family Palinuridae. Their antennae can grow to be longer than their body. They can use their spines to defend themselves against predators.

🦞 Watch this video of our cool lobster in the lobster habitat and see if you can find and tell the difference between the antennae and spines! Come check out his cool digs the next time you visit us! 😎

Address

1 Roosevelt Boulevard GPS: N34 42; W76 49. 45
Pine Knoll Shores, NC
28512

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5:15pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12522474003

Website

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