INSIDE LOOK: Mote SEA is now open in Sarasota and it’s INCREDIBLE!

There's a brand-new aquarium in Tampa Bay for you to explore with the kids, and it is absolutely incredible. We got a chance to get a peek at Mote SEA: Science Education Aquarium before opening day.

So let's dive into all the details so you can map out an epic day under the sea!

When will Mote SEA open?

Mote SEA officially opened to the public on Wednesday, October 8, and will be open daily from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm.

Where is Mote SEA located?

The location is a genius move, right in the center of all of the fun things to do at UTC, University Town Center. It's at Nathan Benderson Park and was actually built on top of what was a pond that had to be filled to make way for the incredible structure.

It's right off the University Parkway exit on I-75, right next door to Pop Stroke and Dillard's–in case you've visited this area before.

The exact address of Mote SEA is 225 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota.

How much are tickets for Mote SEA?

Adult tickets start at $32, and kids ages 2-12 are $24. Children ages two and younger are free. While you can walk up and purchase tickets, it is recommended you buy your tickets ahead of time online so you can secure your time slot. The aquarium is likely to be busy to start, as there has been a lot of buzz over the years about this new attraction in Tampa Bay.

They also offer reciprocal discounts to other zoo and aquarium membership holders, but the discount is only available at the ticketing window.

Another option is to become a Mote Member. A party of four membership is $195 and comes with fun perks like discounts on summer camps, activities, merchandise, and birthday parties, access to exclusive member events, and reciprocal discounts at 100+ other partner attractions around the world.

Learn more about daily tickets and Mote memberships here.

Parking is FREE.

How much time should I expect to spend at Mote SEA?

This is entirely up to you. We were there for about an hour, but that was our allotted media time slot. Mote SEA staff estimate 1.5-3 hours as plenty of time to experience the aquarium and its exhibits.

There are so many things to do around Mote SEA, like shopping and dining at UTC, University Town Center. There is also Benderson Park across the street, where we hear this is a playground and a splash pad if the kiddos have some extra wiggles to get out before heading home.

What's there to do at Mote SEA?

There is so much to do with the kids at Mote SEA, and while it is absolutely FUN, it is also an educational experience. Hundreds of animals now call the three-story building home, and you'll find them within the 28 exhibits, taking you on a tour through the sea creatures of Florida Waters to the Indo-Pacific.

Mote SEA is not just an aquarium attraction; it is also a classroom with three STEM classrooms for local K-12 students and even five STEM Workforce Development labs where college students and scientists can work on their research.

The idea is to maybe inspire a new generation of marine biologists to continue the work of Mote scientists who are stationed around the world, not just here in Tampa Bay.

“It's undergraduate research experiences, it's graduate research experiences. You can work on your thesis right here at Mote Science Education Aquarium, but it's also about delivering a pathway, a plausible career pathway for marine scientists. So, as they're in their post-secondary education experiences, they can get hands-on experience of what it looks like once they get their degree, and how they can create a meaningful, lasting impact on the oceans,” said Kevin Cooper, Mote Marine Laboratory's vice-president.

When you get there….

Once you get through security, head for the escalator or elevator and make your way to the third floor. It is recommended you start at the top and explore your way back down to the first floor.

What you'll find on the third floor of Mote SEA

On the third floor, you'll find the Florida Waters exhibit, where you can interact with river otters who love attention! They were in full force during our visit, interacting and swimming with the kids on the other side of the aquarium glass. You can view them from indoors or walk outside for a better look.

The outdoor area is also where you'll find the manatees and gopher tortoises, alligator snapping turtle, and coastal fish you'll find along Florida's waterways.

The third floor also houses the Conservation Laboratory, where it looked like they were growing jellies!

Next stop, the second floor of Mote SEA!

Once you've experienced the wonders of the river otters and manatees, head for the second floor, where you'll explore 14 different exhibits. We first encountered the penguin exhibit, which is adorable. You can view under the water and above ground, and they even built a bubble window to get an even closer look at the penguins and take an awesome photo!

The kids loved crawling through the tunnel to get the observation bubble!

We next walked through the Kelp Forest exhibit, met a Giant Pacific Octopus named Breezy, watched the Giant Crabs waddle along the bottom of the tank, and were mesmerized by the Sea Nettles.

You can also see a live coral reef, which is beautiful, and right near here is a series of touch tanks.

Fun Fact: There are seven touch tanks in four different areas at Mote SEA!

Touch tank experiences include a Pacific Invertebrate Encounter and a Shark Encounter (yes, you can touch a shark — don't worry, they are small and won't bite). 

The second floor also houses a view of the Indo Pacific Reef tank, the Shallow Indo Pacific Reef tank, and the Florida Keys Reef tank.

We loved the interactive exhibit dedicated to the “Shark Lady”, Dr. Eugenie Clark.

There are also multiple STEM labs on this floor, including the Coral Reef Laboratory, where you can see a baby coral nursery, and there is also a Veterinary Clinic.

And now on to the first floor!

The first floor of Mote SEA is home to nine exhibits, including Sharks & Rays, Deep Water Bethnic, Lionfish, Invertebrate Encounter, Stingray Encounter, a Sea Grass exhibit, Common Octopus, Moon Jellies, and Coastal Fish.

The first floor is also home to the three STEM classrooms, which will host about 70,000 local students, where they'll learn about ROVs, coral bleaching, growing corals, and more through interactive experiences.

This is also where you'll find Bite Cafe in case you get hungry, and you'll definitely want to give it a try–we hear the chef is a Michelin-starred chef. The coffee kiosk is on the first floor too, and we can confirm it's yummy!

From all three floors, you can view the Gulf Tank, which is filled with a whopping 400,000 gallons of water. We love the viewing window that almost seems to envelope you in a wave. It was a popular spot for photos and for just sitting back to relax and watch as the sharks and fish swam by!

Our final thoughts on Mote SEA

There are so many incredible things to see here at Mote SEA, and we only scratched the surface here. It's one of those things you really just need to go experience in person.

We loved that it was almost entirely indoors, other than the outdoor viewing spots for the river otters and manatees, so it's a perfect place to visit on a rainy or hot Florida day. And a perfect spot to make forever memories with your family as you learn about the importance of conserving our waterways and the creatures that call our waters home.

“As a parent of young children myself, one of the things I want to do is make sure something's educational. We'll always say that, but it has to be fun. It can't be boring.  I think Mote Science Education Aquarium kind of hits that right mark of, hey, it's educational, but it's super fun. So what you're going to see is your kids learning about the importance of conservation and sustainable use of our waterways, and they might not even know it,” Cooper told us. 

And side note–if you happen to be driving from Pinellas County or South Tampa and take the Sunshine Skyway, be sure to make Ananda Farm in Terra Ceia part of your visit. It would be a great spot to visit on the way home to grab dinner, pick flowers, and play on the 15 attractions around the farm! They are open Fridays-Sundays.

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• INSIDE LOOK: SEA LIFE Florida at LEGOLAND Florida Resort
• INSIDE LOOK: TECO Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach
• The Future is WILD at ZooTampa: A look at what's opening soon at Florida's favorite zoo!