My daughter and I both love aquariums, so I was very excited to take her to the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. This isn’t some little fish tank in the middle of a casino. This is a massive exhibit that features a variety of sharks, sting rays, fish, and even a huge komodo dragon.
After the typical tourist-trap photo that they’ll try to sell to you for a fortune at the end of your visit, you’ll begin your journey with the gigantic komodo dragon. I love that the exhibit is designed so that you can get a really great view of the animals. It’s disappointing when you’re struggling to see an animal way in the back, hiding behind a tree.
My daughter was nervous at first because the glass was so clear it looked non-existant. But after I showed her that there was nothing to be worried about, she had a fantastic time observing the lizard before moving on to the sea creatures.
The highlight of the Shark Reef Aquarium is the 1.3 million gallon shark tank, which houses a variety of animals such as green sawfish, blacktip reef sharks, zebra sharks, and the fierce-looking sandtiger sharks.
I liked the aquarium’s emphasis on green living and conservation. A portion of the shark exhibit discussed the fact that millions of sharks are killed by humans each year, yet there are only a handful of human injuries caused by sharks. In other words, rather than fearing sharks, we should be working to preserve them and their habitats.
Although the aquarium isn’t cheap (adult tickets are $18), the Shark Reef offers free admission to children age 4 and under as well as discounts for Nevada residents. The aquarium also offers annual passes, which might be a good option if you plan on visiting Las Vegas more than once a year or if you live nearby.
For tips on making your visit to the Shark Reef even more enjoyable, check out Debi’s post Exploring Marine Life in Las Vegas: The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay at Go Explore Nature.
Have you ever visited the Shark Reef? What did you think?
I’m so glad to hear you guys enjoyed it. It’s one of those hidden gems most people don’t know exist in Vegas. Thanks for the shout out!
We lived here for quite a while before we gave this place a try. I had actually heard that it wasn’t worth the money, but I disagree. I thought it was great. I was surprised how big it was!
I love aquariums – so if we ever get to Vegas then Mandalay Bay will definitely be on the itinerary! Hope you’re settling in to your new home!
We tried to go once, but it was closed for a private party. My kids really like the free aquarium at the Silverton though, so I guess I should probably take them here one time.
I know on they have a promotion on the last day you can file your taxes each year. If you bring your return in and get it postmarked there, you get a coupon for a free admission to the Shark Reef. It’s a pretty busy day there though.
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Still haven’t been to the Shark Reef, but we really want to go. We’ll get there one of these days….silly that I thought that someday we might actually get to the end of our Vegas bucket list! I’m convinced we’ll never run out of things to do.
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