THE VISITOR'S GUIDE TO THE BEST CHARLESTON EXPERIENCES

South Carolina Aquarium

The South Carolina Aquarium is located on the Charleston Harbor at Aquarium Wharf. The aquarium has over 10,000 aquatic animals from across the state of South Carolina, along with 60 displays and exhibits including an interactive touch tank with hermit crabs, whelk, sea urchins, horseshoe crabs, and Atlantic stingrays.

Visitors enter the aquarium, and encounter The Great Ocean Tank which holds over 385,000 gallons of water and 10,000 species of marine life. Now the journey through the aquarium begins visiting aquatic animals from the mountain forest, Piedmont, coastal plain, salt marsh, the Charleston Coast, and the ocean. The aquarium is fairly small and all exhibits can be viewed in about an hour. Any questions about the marine life or exhibits can be answered by the friendly and helpful volunteers and staff.

Buying advance tickets is recommended to avoid waiting in long lines or missing the hospital tour which often sells out early. The aquarium also has a gift shop and a cafe that serves pizza, sandwiches, ice cream, chips, and cold drinks. A deck that projects out over the Copper River provides awesome views of boats and dolphins in the Charleston Harbor. Parking is available in the city parking garage at 24 Calhoun St for $2 an hour or metered parking is offered along Washington St. and Concord St. The free CARTA Dash shuttle also stops at the aquarium.