**Full Disclosure: My family and I attended the grand opening of new exhibit, Caribbean Journey, at the Texas State Aquarium on behalf of the Corpus Christi CVB. All opinions are my own.
Have you ever wanted to visit the Caribbean but don’t have a passport, time or money? The Texas State Aquarium has brought a bit of the Caribbean to South Texas with their brand new ($50 million) expansion – the Caribbean Journey – which nearly doubled size of the indoor exhibit space to 71,000 square feet!
It’s been about six years since our last visit to Corpus Christi so I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to visit the Texas State Aquarium. When I was a kid, my family and I would go to Corpus Christi every April. After Larry and I got married, we continued to go to the coast with my parents and eventually we added James and Colin to our trips. Each visit was packed full of fun – time at the pool, beach, the Texas State Aquarium and more but the aquarium was always my favorite part!
Photo Credit: Texas State Aquarium
About The Texas State Aquarium’s Caribbean Journey:
Upon entering Caribbean Journey, you will be immediately immersed in the vibrant sights and sounds of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Preserve, an incredibly biodiverse region in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Sian-Ka’an contains lush rainforests, coastal lagoons, coral reefs brimming with life, and underground rivers called cenotes, all of which will be faithfully recreated in Caribbean Journey.
You’ll feel as if they’ve been magically transported to the Yucatan Peninsula, and will leave not only in awe at your experience but with a greater appreciation of our seas and the need to preserve them for future generations.
Fun Fact: The architect who originally designed the aquarium came back to design the Caribbean Expansion! And, the same construction company who originally built it came back to build the expansion, too!
3 Reasons You Should Visit the Texas State Aquarium:
- The Caribbean Journey –
- Trek through tropical forests, coastal lagoons, and coral reefs to experience up-close encounters with exotic Caribbean species including reef sharks, flamingos, tropical fish, a two-toed sloth and other exotic species!
- Educational Opportunities –
- Participate in hands-on experiences and interactive exhibits including touch tanks, the 400,000 gallon H-E-B Caribbean Sea Shark habitat, the Whataburger 4D Theater which shows a 15-minute film about sharks, touch tanks and more!
- Fun for Kids of All Ages –
- Whether you are 3 or 103, the Texas State Aquarium provides an enjoyable, relaxing experience for each guest. Stroll through the aquarium as quickly or slowly as you’d like while taking in loads of fun facts about each animal. When it’s time to cool off, take a trip to the splash pad (included in the price of admission)!
I was blown away by the number of new animals, the attention to detail and the beautiful colors in each habitat. The 400,000 gallon shark habitat was definitely my favorite, though! View (faux) remains of the Caribbean’s history as a trade route in three ways: catch a glimpse of the reef sharks swimming below the surface from the jungle level, walk next to the sharks as you walk through the acrylic tunnel crossing or take in the entire habitat through the 68 foot-long acrylic window (the longest in North America!) which provides a clear view of a massive Spanish galleon shipwreck. It’s an amazing sight!!
The goal of the the Texas State Aquarium is to be educationally focused and fun. They’ve hit the nail on the head. There is so much to take in and learn while exploring!
Will you visit the Texas State Aquarium this summer?
The Texas State Aquarium is open from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. Parking is free but ticket prices are: Adults (13+) $34.95 | Senior (65+) $32.95 | Military or Student $32.95 | Children (3-12) $24.95 | Children under 2 FREE
WOW! Doubled their size? That’s awesome! I haven’t been in over 15 years so I think it’s time I introduced my daughter!
Always looking for new sites and attractions to visit when traveling. We were in Corpus Christi many years ago. Will definitely have to return one day in our RV travels. 🙂
It has become very cost prohibitive for young families , and for us grandparents who would love to take our grandchildren to the Aquarium. I understand the expense to sustain such a venue, but the cost is a deterent. Unfortunately.