Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium Reviews

Intimate exhibits, knowledgeable and dedicated volunteers, a huge variety of fish (especially Atlantic reef fish) and a true commitment to the environment. Mote has it all!

Lots of interactive and informative displays; plenty of fish, sea creatures, and more , to see, touch, and learn about. Kids will have a good time and so will the parents and grandparents. You can spend half a day there if you are so inclined. Well worth the time and money (although food is not cheap there, so bring snacks etc.)

Amazing aquarium. A must do activity for kids. We had an amazing day here. Seeing so much marine wildlife. Highly recommend.

We went with our 20 month old and he loved it. We saw some big sharks and a HUGE manatee. All the staff was very polite and took the time to tell us some history about the animals we saw. We really enjoyed it. Loved that the gift shop was filled with a lot of stuffed marine animals.

We spent three mornings here taking classes and exploring. Everyone was so nice and knew so much about the exhibits. There are interactive activities for the kids and we loved the manatees, It was the highlight of our trip to Florida.

A great place for all ages, wonderful folks who work there take such pride in all that they do. Lots and lots of live sea creatures to see. Not overwhelming either can see it all in an afternoon. Plenty of parking available when we went. I made got suggest dovetail visiting the Mote with either a lunch or dinner in St. Armand circle area

Such a great place to hear about research being done on the different aspects of marine life and ocean water in general. Loved the shark feeding area and the interactive aspect of some of the exhibits. The manatees and otters are not to be missed!!
Looking forward to seeing the new aquarium when it is built.

I’ve always enjoyed my visits to the Mote Aquarium. The facilities are so clean, the volunteers are Friendly , informative, they answered questions & genuinely enjoy their work. The new exhibit of the Ancient Seas is amazing . Skeletons of sea turtles & other sea creatures suspended overhead, The displays & exhibits hold your attention!! Totally family friendly experience. Spend easily 4 hours!
And don’t forget to stop & see the manatees swimming & watch thé otters playing & being fed!!

Nice aquarium and laboratory. Not the biggest or most expansive but I think worth the visit. We found it very interesting, definitely visit both building and the bird sanctuary. Staff was so friendly and ready to tech you about what you were looking at and answer any questions. Our group was all adults but I think children would love it. We also did the eco boat tour so it was a full day for us.

very good for a public aquarium, lots of employees waiting to give you information abt the animals and are very friendly. they have little shows too watching them feed the animals. the animals are happy there and are well socialized with people so they actually come out when you arrive.

What a great place, and the wonderful things they are doing for sea life. A must see for children, lots to see and learn. You can even pet a stingray or a shark. So many beautiful aquariums with so many different and beautiful fish. I loved the octopus 🐙 and the jellyfish the most. There is a shark tank and manatees that are so adorable, one kept coming up to the glass a kissing it. They even have an otter 🦦 exhibit that is awesome and they are the cutest. So much more to see. Oh and don’t forget the gift shop, lots of cute things there also. I wish I had grandkids so I could take them, all the kids were so excited about seeing all the ocean creatures. It was fun listening to them explore.

The adult entrance fee is somewhat expensive but the aquarium complex is well organized and clean. The Mote Laboratory and Aquarium is medium size and focused mostly on regional marine life. Good explanatory notes, some interactive displays, helpful volunteers. Two souvenir shops in two different buildings with tempting offer including books, T-shirts, stuffed animal toys, mementoes. The place provides an opportunity to see many species of sharks, turtles also otters, manatees and more unique fish. Impressive little collection of paleontological specimen - huge skeletons of extinct species. For kids there are hands-on exhibits and programs.
Children younger than two enter for free.

My family and I all love Mote Marine Laboratory and aquarium. We live in Florida so we try to go as much as possible! Everyone is super nice. All the sea life are so fun to watch. Its a great family experience. Kids can learn so many interesting fact about the sea life. Some of it is outside as well. It is also great for schools. One of the best activities in Florida! Be ready to see adorable manatees if you go!

Our 10 and 13 year old grandchildren are in town. We almost missed doing this because we visited the Boston Aquarium when traveling there with them and have all been to the Baltimore Aquarium. I thought this would be just another aquarium. It's not. First of all they only sell so many tickets for a time slot, and it limits the crowds - which made it perfect. We paid an extra $5 each to do a 5 minute virtual reality chair with goggles. I highly recommend this! There are four choices for the virtual reality: sharks, humpback whales, a roller coaster and coastal life.

The exhibits are Florida marine life, and they are so well done. We spent about 2-2 1/2 hours there. My kids loved the manatee, turtles, alligators and otters. But the whole experience was good. And I have to say that every single person who works for the Mote treated us kindly and was so well-informed. They check on the turtles (in the separate building with the manatees) a few times a day. It was fascinating to ask questions and they fed the turtles while we were there. That was a special treat. You will be amazed by seeing how big the manatees are. I loved our day. And it's not just "another" aquarium!

Spent Easter morning with our 10 year old grandson at the aquarium and had a great time. He really wanted to see manatees and the jellyfish. We were not disappointed.

Bought the tickets online and then they email your confirmation and tickets. The email went straight to my Junk folder so check your spam/junk folder if you don’t see it right away.

If you have young ones in your group that collect those smashed pennies, be sure to bring change. They had a couple of machines but you have to have your own change.

They required masks and everyone complied so there was no Instagram worthy drama...at least not today. They space out the guests so we were never in a situation where we couldn’t socially distance.

Staff was friendly, helpful and happy to share information. If you have a membership at another aquarium, park, gallery or botanical gardens, check online for reciprocity before you buy your tickets.

Aquarium is a terrific display of FL marine life. It is well laid out, with informative markers for each fish/animal. A great experience, especially for those interested in learning more about FL and its marine life. Staff was very helpful, well informed and shared a lot of interesting facts.

A visit to the Mote involves two buildings an easy walk apart. The displays focus on the Southwest Florida aquatic environment and the threats to it. There are many volunteer docents in the exhibition area and they are knowledgeable and helpful. Parking is free. There is a boat tour available at additional cost from a vendor stationed at the door. There is a wild bird rehabilitation center next to the Mote. It is separate and has its own admission.

We’re from the UK and have been about 5 times. Our kids, who are now a lot older than when they first visited, still want to go here every time we are staying in the area. The turtles, manatees & stingrays are their favourites. The volunteer staff are really friendly and informative. Highly recommend a few hours here.

Working marine laboratory that is also set up for tourists. There is plenty to see including animals to touch, sharks, rays, and even otters.

I had only about 1+ hour to walk thru the aquarium and it was very interesting. Otters, turtles, sharks, manatees, alligators, and several kinds of fish were on display and active. Learned several new things on displays. Staff were volunteers and were very helpful. $24 entry fee is a little steep but it was worth it even though I only had about an hour to spare for this visit.

We've been coming to SK for a few years and finally made a trip to Mote. We bought a membership because it was so awesome. We were all educated and had fun!

My wife and I and a young student visiting us from the Netherlands recently visited Mote and began our day with Morning Rounds at the Mammal and Sea Turtle center. What a good decision this was. You begin a private guided tour at 8:30 am, well before the facility opens to the general public. Our guide Shannon was simply fantastic: she was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and a world of fun. Our young friend was able to participate in feedings and observe training sessions as well. Morning Rounds lets you experience the inner workings of this wonderful facility in a unique and exciting way. Highly recommended, and if you can get Shannon as your guide do so!

This is the most amazing place, a real learning experience that stays with you. The care and respect the Mote and its team shows during your visit is wonderful

very knowledgeable and helpful and friendly volunteer staff, Set up works for Winter and summer, unfortunate the manatees are away as area is being redone, cute otters With informative feeding time, A few cute additional activities for different ages, nice small gift shops

This a must visit if you’re in the area. The incredible range of animals and fish you can experience is well worth, plus the mission of the aquarium is worth contributing to. I would suggest taking the boat tour if you can. You get to see the bay and the knowledgeable tour guides are great. 10 out of 5 stars if I could!

We really enjoyed our time at the Mote Aquarium. It was a rainy morning so a perfect time to be inside. By the time we were done with the Aquarium, the rain had stopped so we walked to the area that had the Manatees. Very nice set up and was very organized. The tickets are sold online at assigned arrival times. This kept the groups small and fairly easy to stay spaced while looking at the exhibits. They are getting ready to break ground on a new location. Can't wait to see what the new place looks like! Hope they keep the timed tickets, it makes for a more intimate experience!

Small but very good for small kids. We went a day it was vey chilly- bring a coat. A good portion is outside. My 3 yr old son loves the sharks and turtles.

At the door you are met with security better than any rock concert. Great right?! No ridiculous for an aquarium! I was told by a security guy still wet behind the ears that I am not allowed to take an open plastic bottle of soda into the aquarium. Now once you get in the doors, they are ready to sell you the same bottle of soda. Is this a security issue or another example of greed? Answer is another non-profit taking advantage. I grew up in Manatee/Sarasota County so over 50 years and know the old Mote Marine well. Visiting most birthdays with my family but after this, I don't think so. Not just because of that but the aquarium was not that impressive at all. My family and I are members but will not give them another dime going forward. Will others new to the area pay for the experience? Probably so unless they read reviews prior to going. It is a lot of hype like the whole UTC area. Why because Manatee/Sarasota Counties have become primarily projects. Can't get to the beach without timing perfectly. Why not move? It has been my home my whole life, but I can tell you what if I can educate people about organizations like Mote that hide behind the vail of being a non-profit helping sea life, I would say spend your dollars somewhere else. Not worth the time unless you are bored out of your mind. I would recommend going to play a round of miniature golf! Very disappointing Mote!

The fact that this is also a laboratory is intriguing. There is so much information about sealife. And the guide on the evo boat your is amazing.

The aquarium’s staff was very pleasant. Many of the exhibits were clean and easily viewable. Plenty of helpful people around to answer questions. And if they didn’t have an answer, they got one.

Some of the exhibits seemed too small for some of the animals. It also was hard to navigate once done with the regular path.

Great day and fun for all. The staff was very informative and helpful. Make sure to check out the additional building across the street and the bird sanctuary!

We went on a whim with our five-year-old. The otters were adorable, the sea turtles were insane, the crocodile/alligator were creepy... and I pet a shark. Overall, a pretty cool experience.

We spent several hours on a rainy day here. It worth the time even on a sunny day. Volunteers were helpful and knowledgeable about the exhibits. The first area is full of aquariums and too many types of fish to remember, but very interesting. There is an area with local natural habitats. My favorite was the shark tank and the manatees. It’s great to see the conservation efforts. I look forward to returning sometime soon.

A nice aquarium exhibit of sea life and includes a second building with turtles and such plus a wild bird exhibit. The price is a little steep ($29 for adults) but it's going to a good cause so... There is free parking on site. A small snack bar was closed while we were there so only vending machines were available for drinks and snacks. Allow about two to three hours if you visit all three buildings. A lot is geared for kids and school groups are common so plan accordingly. Advance tickets are advised so you can pick a date and time online and schedule your visit as you see fit. Not a "must see" but it's still a nice place to visit at the south end of Long Boat Key.

Some of the challenges will hopefully be addressed after they move to their new space later this summer.

Parking - terrible options. We went at 1130 & couldn’t find parking.
Exhibits - easy to flow, some parts outside (could be problematic in rain) & extra portions of the museum are in different buildings.
Overall not too crowded & a good option to visit when it’s too hot outside.

Great day spent here. It’s not a super huge aquarium compared to others we’ve been to, but great nonetheless. Took about 3 hours including a quick lunch/snack. Focus on FL marine life is wonderful, along with other regions. We loved the manatees, sea otters, jellyfish and touch tanks for my kids. The Wild Krafts center was cute for kids and a quieter area to sit down for a little while and color (they provided all materials). The volunteers are extremely knowledgeable and friendly, always offering some tidbit of info. The manatees are about a 5 min walk in a diff area across the parking lot, so on a hot August day I do wish they offered a little trolley or something, but we managed.
Visit the bird sanctuary by the parking lot- lots of beautiful birds to see (only takes 15 mins or so to walk through).

This is great for kids and adults. There were lots and lots of families there during our visit. It was a great opportunity for children of all ages - and adults - to learn about all kinds of marine life.

My husband and I enjoyed this aquarium for a couple of hours. It wasn’t crowded and had many volunteers willing to share interesting facts. There were so many creatures that could be touched. I loved the baby creature exhibit. You need to stop at both buildings!

We loved this place! The exhibits were interesting, the layout and indoor outdoor spaces were so fun to explore, and the walk across the street gave the little ones time to blow off steam. Everyone was very knowledgeable. We will certainly return!

We have visited Mote Marine many times over the years. It's a great facility and I love what they do for marine animals. It's a fun place to visit and is educational at the same time. I always enjoy the lab area and hearing what kind of research is going on. I like that it is familiar and some things stay pretty much the same but it is also always changing and there is always something new to learn and see. Worth a visit for any age or group of people that has any interest in sea life and animals.

This place is AWESOME! Our teens and our six year old loved it as did the grandparents and parents. Super fun and clean and we LOVED the Wild Kratts hands on learning experience.

We took our grandsons and daughter to Mote again. Each time is an experience. Always love going there.

Extremely disappointed! Can't even compare to The NE Aquarium in Boston or Mystic Aquarium in CT. At least 1/2 of the tanks/exhibits were empty. In addition, these habitats were quite dirty and were not well maintained. For the admission fee we expected more. We went through both buildings in less than an hour. Another huge negative is the horrible traffic. Not worth $26 per person.

What a great experience, that they are in the process of improving!! Well done animal friendly exhibits.

This is one of the best aquariums we've visited! It's somewhat small but the exhibits are really well done with good flow and interesting animals. Be sure to go to both buildings (a few minutes walk between them). The volunteers were plentiful and helpful.

Simply the best experience I have had at any aquarium in Florida by far. It felt closest to the level of the Boston Aquarium with its biodiversity and technical structure.

Excellent aquarium. Not too big not too small. Lots to see, knowledgeable and friendly staff. Parking is a little tough but there is a back lot you can park in and walk a little further. 6 year old had a wonderful time. Timed entry to keep crowds down, masks optional. Cute cafe and gift shop. Nice balance of learning about how our actions impact sealife and enjoying the experience of seeing these beautiful creatures up close.

Wonderful , interesting, informative and interactive marine life for people of all ages. I only wish it was more affordable!!!

Visited the new Mote Marine Aquarium yesterday. It was OK, I'll have to go back again in the summer when the crowds are gone. Lot of kids and parents with strollers, (which the elderly might find challenging). It is a beautiful place with plenty of parking. Found the exhibits great especially the "jelly fish". Nice experience for a family.
But, I found the escalator scary! Being elderly I found that the height of the escalator a bit on the scary side; very high and steep. Suggest taking the elevators (there were 3 elevators on the side, but only 1 was working!) And, may I suggest checking the paper towel dispensers in the restrooms to see if they are working. Nice gift shop and snack bar.
I'll probably go again, and plan on spending more time, when the newness is over with.

We have been to many, many aquariums and this one had some unique features. I have to say that the Atlanta aquarium is the most expansive one I have ever visited and you could spend an entire day there easily. This one is more compact and good for 90 min-2 hours w older kids/teens. But this aquarium was unique because it featured how it helps rescue injured sea animals and birds and how it has an active laboratory studying how to help make things better and stronger for the future. My teens and I enjoyed watching the staff work w baby sea turtles. Each were color coded w paint on their shells for where they were found/lost (hot tubs, swimming pools, etc). The staff were measuring and caring for them. The large turtles in captivity were injured by boat propellers and cant live in the wild but given a nice environment to live. In addition to helping provide a refuge for injured animals, I also noticed how their labs are proactively working towards saving the reefs/living coral. They are growing coral that is more resistant to temp changes etc to help save the underwater marine life's habitat. They are also studying how to combat red tide, which we appreciate since we visited during a red tide. Overall, it was a well-done aquarium w unique aspects in that it is also a fully functioning marine laboratory, which I found unique & interesting.

Lots of fun for the kids and seeing all the sea life and history on mandarin trees that line the coast of Sarasota. The otters were the best... so playful as the trainer was using a cat toy as they chased it all over the place. Lots of fun!

Such a fun place to visit! Small but love the local feel! Definitely a must when visiting Sarasota!!

This is a beautiful aquarium that is both educational and entertaining. There are two different buildings across the street from each other, so you have to be able to walk a bit. Parking is free in between the two buildings. They have every type of water animal you can think of. it's well worth the trip and plan on spending two to three hours. It's appropriate for every age. There is a restaurant in one building, and gift shops in both buildings.

Visited with three adults and a toddler. Our little was engaged from the first minute until the past. Engaging displays and three areas to interact with the animals. Our little was able to touch, sea stars, sea urchin, cuddle fish, and rays. No luck at the shark interactive display. Docents were present and added in details and interesting facts along the way. There are two buildings so be sure to make time for both. The only area that was a bit light was the reptiles with only one alligator. There is also a bird rescue area on the grounds but we didn’t have time for it today. Great activity on a hot summer day. The area was easily covered by our 2.5 year old without a stroller.

Very nice aquarium that includes a gorgeous rescue aviary. The main building has various fish, sharks, and gift shop. Aviary is on the way to the second building. Most of the birds had bios describing what sort of injuries they've endured and why they cant be released. The second building had sea turtles, otters and manatees!

Nice aquarium, but a little disappointing. I expected larger exhibits like other aquariums, particularly because it's on the water in Florida. The lighting is weirdly dark and makes it hard to read all the information on the exhibits. The manatees and turtles were great.

I’ve always heard if more and their research but as far as an aquarium I was very disappointed. You have the standard few tanks with small fish but given more being a shark research lab I was disappointed that they had only one mid size tank with one or two sharks and almost no information on them. Also most of the aquarium was outside so it was extremely hot and then it started raining on us. There are many other better aquariums I’d recommend but not this one.

There was so much to see here. You get very close to some amazing wildlife. We took the boat tour which was very informative. We thought the prices were great!

Mote Aquarium is a great place to visit for all ages. There are amazing exhibits including a huge shark tank, otters, sea turtles, and manatees. Lots of things for the kids.
It is also a first class research facility doing research on such things as sharks and red tide. We have attended some lectures open to the public and they are very interesting and accessible.

I’ve been to over a dozen aquariums across the US and this is one of the best. It’s not the largest or most extravagant, however it offers many unique exhibits that I haven’t seen elsewhere. All in all, definitely worth spending a few hours here!

Really enjoyed our trip to the Mote Aquarium. Really great for a small venue. Nice you can see everything in a few hours.

Wonderful aquarium spread out over 2 buildings; ticket gets you into both. We enjoyed chatting with the volunteers for personality traits and info/stories of individual residents and the conservation/education...loads of exhibits about the area as well the work they do. Other highlights: the shark section has real time tracking and physical trackers with pics/videos and how the tech has evolved throughout their projects and a preserved giant squid , Molly the Mollusk!
Our group: Husband, wife and college aged son. Time spent: 2-3 hours. Date: 12/25/23

This is a gem I found looking for something to do on a rainy day in December when visiting Sarasota. Great place with cool marine life that was entertaining to watch.

My wife and I had a very disappointing visit to the Mote museum. The employees were extremely rude. When not talking on their phones, the employees spoke to guests in a brusque and demeaning manner. Perhaps the exhibits are good but we could not get over how much the employees disliked the visitors.

This was a excellant collection of sea life. Learned so much trough the volunteers about manatees and sea turtles. Great place to take children and adults alike.

This is a great place to do something different. My son loves coming and seeing the fish, manatee, otters and sharks. He learns something new ever time he comes. He loves it so much we bought an annual pass. You could see the whole thing in 2 hours but you could spend so much more time depending what you want to see.

Well-organized exhibits spread over 3 buildings. Great volunteers staffing exhibits who were knowledgeable and super friendly

The best part of the Mote is seeing my little one (4) talking to the marine biologists. The staff are really great at fielding weird questions for kids! My daughter loved it too - especially the ghostly jellyfish. There’s a huge shark tank and shark feeding to watch. The Mote also does nature marine tours which I highly recommend for any age (1-80). If you have kids over 12, book early and try the kayaking tours. It was really interesting and they take you to places you can’t otherwise get to.

cute stop, $26 per adult is a little steep, kids will like this. hated the walk from aquarium to manatee/turtle/otter building. it was far and hot outisde.

Even as our kids have gotten older, we still love going to Mote and seeing the amazing animals! Take advantage of the very knowledgeable volunteers there to tell you everything about the different species! Worth a stop every time we’re in Sarasota!

Krista was super friendly and helpful in getting us our admission! There were so many cool exhibits and the animals were very well cared for. We will definitely be back soon !

I did the Eco Boat tour today with Volunteer Steve, Biologist Wendy, and Captain Angel. Wow! They were all super knowledgable about sea life and the area, and Captain Angel even did a little investigating into some homes. (there are some beautiful homes and we were all wondering....)The 2 hours flew by and I wish we had more time! I had no idea that puffer fish and sea horses were in the water and I live here! We caught some when we did the trawling- it was great to see the animals instead of just hearing about them. The crew kept us all engaged by asking questions, passing around what we collected, and taking us to an island where we got to leave the boat and explore a bit. While it doesn't happen with every tour, we were lucky enough to see dolphins and a manatee!! Like Wendy said, "It never gets old!" Thank you again for a great afternoon! Highly recommend :-)

This was a nice little aquarium to visit. Staff was very polite and knowledgeable. If you are looking to keep the kids busy for just a couple of hours, this aquarium is perfect.

This was fun to do with the kids, but was VERY EXPENSIVE for what you get. almost $100 for two adults, a 3 year old and a 9 year old. It was not worth the price. But, the kids still enjoyed it.

Have taken multiple out of town guests to Mote and they are truly amazed. I feel fortunate to have this in Sarasota and never get tired of going back. Always some new things to see and learn.

We purchased the Eco Tour along with Mote entrance fee. The tour was wonderful. We saw several dolphins, a manatee and countless birds. Our guide was Martha and she did a fantastic job explaining the importance of protecting our wildlife and their habitat. She pointed out all the different birds and gave info on their habitat and behaviors. It was well worth the entrance fee! Boat Captain Jen did a great job taking us around the bay. A very smooth journey. Martha & Jen made a good team!

The new Mote aquarium is amazing !! Highly recommend to visit this beautiful site that educates us about our marine world.

What. beautiful aquarium! Full of light, interesting exhibits, large enough for everyone to see, Florida-centric. Lots of chances to learn about sea creatures and sea life, between the touch areas and the Virtual Reality Center. We really enjoyed it.

Loved this with my family. Truly educational, with up close access to amazing animals. Knowledgeable staff that was able to talk about each animal and knew where it came from, what it ate, etc. Beautiful and rare fish, giant lobsters, sea turtles, manatees. Well worth the money and time spent. Not huge — it took us about 2.5 hours, and we lingered forever at the manatee exhibit and had a quick lunch, too.

One of the best experiences for an 8 yr old boy. So many displays and inter-active marine exhibits. Beautifully displayed and designed

While this is a smaller aquarium, the exhibits are excellent and informative. The staff is very helpful, knowledgeable, and willing to answer any questions. This is a great aquarium for children with tanks for touching sea life. We had checked the website before going and we knew the manatee area was being renovated. We did not get to see all the aquarium or other areas because our time was limited and we wanted to do the ECO boat tour. I highly recommend this tour. The boat ride is about 1 3/4 hours long. Jill our guide was excellent. Very knowledgeable!!! During the ride they cast a net and caught sea life. The catch is identified, counted and passed around for all to see. The sea life is taken to the aquarium or returned to the sea. At "bird island" we saw egrets, ibis, herons, roseate spoonbills. On a short walk on an island, we saw non native invasive trees, learned why there are so many man-made islands in the area, and learned about the damage the lion fish is doing to sea life. Chuck, our volunteer island guide (1:30 tour Jan 19) was excellent. And on the return trip, the dolphins made an appearance. This was the most interesting tour boat ride I have ever taken. There is a cute "diner" restaurant on site.

We enjoyed outside laboratory one on the left as you enter the best. This is an open building with benches. We saw sea turtle,manatees,otters,alligator.
The aquarium on the right is mainly fish,sharks and jellyfish. Many exhibits of various kinds. Very informative. There are areas that allow 2 finger touch . Benches also available here.
Overall very good exhibits in a beautiful surrounding. I was surprised that there wasn't any dolphins.

We enjoyed our visit very much although parking was a challenge as the number of visitors was reportedly larger than usual although we were told by the person who answered the phone that it was somewhat quiet. The exhibits are well done but the signage can be difficult to see in the darker areas. We were told that they are building a new aquarium to open next year. There is a diner with limited menu items on the premises.

This is a great activity to spend a couple hours! Went with a family of 4, two kids 5 and 7, and 2 visiting grandparents. We got there right as they opened and had front row to everything, including the manatee, otter and shark feeding! A few nice gift shops and very cool, well laid out exhibits that everyone will enjoy! They also have some nice unique things that you don't always see at aquariums! The workers and volunteers were also great, kind and helpful! We spent about 3 hours, everyone loved it!

We are thinking the season pass might just be worth it and head back again!

I loved this place! It was family friendly with a lot of hands on experiences for the family. I would recommend this. I loved the manatee.

The aquarium exceeded expectations for our family! The exhibits were extensive and expansive. Some of our favorites included the petting area for manta rays, the moon jellyfish, and the river otters. Sea turtles and sharks (including a petting area for small ones) also are delightful. The closest thing I can say as a criticism is that I wish the diner had more indoor seating (although outdoor options at smaller tables are available)....and yet, the shakes they serve in their diner are old fashioned, thick, and delicious, so even that is more than made up. One of our trip highlights and very much recommended!

Also glad the money spent supports rescue and rehabilitation efforts!

My husband I visited the Mote and were not disappointed. It is a large aquarium with educational information and great displays. We enjoyed walking through the displays, reading and taking pictures. This aquarium would be a good visit for adults and children.

Visiting new friends who just moved to the area and we went on the 2 hour ECO boat tour which was fantastic. Martha was our marine biologist on the boat and did a great job answering all questions and was very knowledgeable about the sea life. We saw amazing wildlife on this boat ride and would highly recommend for anyone visiting the area. I will definitely be going back when I’m here again!

The exhibits were very well done and informative. I loved all of the tributes/references to Eugenie Clark and her shark research.
I gave it 4 stars instead of five only because of 2 minor things:
1) We bought tickets in advance as suggested because they only allow so many people to enter at one time. Still it was really crowded. There were two school buses of local students visiting when we were there, so it was a little difficult to get around.
2) within the two buildings it was a little bit difficult to navigate around to the different areas.
Overall a great experience though.

Nice, rather small aquarium. We combined with boat trip, which was excellent. The number of volunteer docents was phenomenal and very informative

This is a nice little local aquarium with examples of the local sea life.

Was a bit pricey to get in, but glad to support the community.

I enjoyed the displays of the sea animals. There even was a gentleman who came by to tell my husband some interesting facts about the Moray eel.
There were hands on activities for the kids also.
I loved the seahorse tank, they also had a tank with baby seahorses.
There was a place to grab a fast snack. There was also a small gift shop, although I personally thought it was a bit pricey. That is why I gave it 4 vs 5 stars.

We took our Grandchildren 7 years ago. Every summer it is a tradition. They loved every bit of it especially the Manatees.

I was hoping to see more information about the sea turtles they save and the surgeries they perform so they can be released back into their normal environment. The venue is in need of repairs throughout and is not that user friendly. It was very expensive and there's no senior discount. I love the work they are doing but the information is not communicated very well.

Well organized and maintained aquarium Happy to have had made the time on a Sunday afternoon to see their exhibits, which are housed in two locations around a common parking lot.

My six-year-old had a great day. He loved the Turtles, Sharks, Manatees and all the exhibits. The workers are very helpful and patience with kids.

Beautiful aquarium! We spent almost 3 hours there and have seen so many animals. Also the people working at the aquarium were very knowledgeable and had interesting facts to share! For all if us a realky goid experience!

Educational and newly expanded. This aquarium and research center has good displays. Social distancing is difficult in interior exhibits, but open air ones are less crowded and well-shaded. Lots of hand sanitizer available (for after touching sharks and stingrays). Great way to spend a day in air conditioning or shade. We visited in July - nearly 90 degrees, but comfortable inside and out. Consider a membership when purchasing tickets; it’s not much more than 4 - 6 adult tickets.

We visited on a Sunday morning, and did not purchase advance tickets since we had checked their website the evening beforehand and saw that all of the entry times (every 15 minutes) still had some tickets available. When we arrived at 10:30, we were sold tickets for a 10:45 entry. If you have to wait, there is a free sea bird center across the parking lot that can be visited. We made sure to visit the manatee and turtle building first which is a short walk across the street from the main aquarium. They feed the two manatees around 11:15, and it was enjoyable to watch these huge creatures swim around their tank. Another highlight in the same building are the three otters that were very active (diving and swimming). Shortly after 11:45, a zookeeper began feeding them fish and carrots which was fun to watch. The main aquarium building was quite dark and crowded with children, but we did like the several types of jellyfish that were on display.

My kids loved the Aquarium. It’s bigger than it looks, with loads of space for the sharks, dolphins and manatee as well as smaller attractions. My son particularly liked the giant squid, Molly. If you have time, it’s worth going on the boat ride around Sarasota Bay, well worth it and never disappoints, with dolphin sightings and the chance to take a close look at some creatures they catch from the sea grass.
Highly recommended and a good place to keep in mind for stormy weather too!

Very family friendly aquarium with nice interactive attractions for the little ones. We took our 20 month old grandson and he loved seeing the animals up close and being able to touch and see some of the attractions up close. There is a bit of walking. There are 2 buildings and you take a path from one to the other, so take a stroller in case you don't want to carry your little one if he gets tired of walking. There is a small play area to take a break in and also an are with tables and chairs. There is also a nice gift shop if that appeals to you. we also purchased our tickets online and that was a nice time saver. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable.

We enjoyed our January, 2020 visit to Mote. The manatees are out "on vacation" but the other exhibits were worth the trip. The river otters were our favorites. There are guides and volunteers that share a lot of interesting information about the exhibits.
It was not at all crowded and we were easily able to see everything available.
The facility is a little "tired" but overall it was a great activity on a day where it was too chilly to go to the beach.

Our kids enjoyed the aquarium and so did we. The manatees were unavailable, which is always a frustration with these type of places. However, the experience with the other animals was great. They make good use of the space they have. The river otter exhibit, the shark exhibit, and the sea turtle exhibit were all great experiences for our family.

We did a boat ride out of Mote Marine and had a marine biologist onboard. She was excellent with her knowledge, and the crew were wonderful. What a great way to spend a few hours on a boat, affordable, and great for kids.

Really enjoyed the displays and exhibits. The staff and volunteers and friendly and helpful. Great for everyone.

A lovely aquarium specific the the Florida area of the Area noted States. I found it affordable and educational. There are three separate areas and all were good. A macaw said “hello” as screamed at me!!! My favorite part was the manatee! The otters were a close second- but it was all good. The neighborhood it’s in is rather congested so leave extra time to get there!

We frequently bring visitors on the Mote - Sea Life Encounter tour. -- the only cruise that has marine biologists and Mote volunteers to point out fascinating wildlife. Everyone enjoys the cruise and most folks want to learn more at the aquarium. With our Mote membership, the two of us and two of our guests can tour the aquarium for free.

What a great day! We had Lev and Capt. Rocky for our ecology tour and had such a great time. Both parents and elementary age kids learned so much about Sarasota bay and the marine life. It was a beautiful day on the boat, which was covered so we didn’t get too much sun. Lev is literally an educated ecology professional who taught us about plants, birds, marine life throughout the tour. Could not have had a better day on the water.

They don't care for their animals..one too many are dying in their custody. Animals are not meant to be alone in a box, let them go free.

We seniors thoroughly enjoyed the eco boat tour! Well organized, narrated by marine biologists, hands on with sea life, brief walking tour of an island. Maybe too long and slow for young children but
School age and up would be good. Pontoon boat was covered from sun but be prepared for wind. Mote is an amazing place to explore. I wish we had done the aquarium too. Gotta give a shout out to the boat captain too.

I love Mote Marine. The turtles, the otters, the cuttlefish. I love aquariums in general, but it's really nice to have such a nice aquarium so close by.

We visited here as a family. It is an excellent resource and research center. It can be crowded with kids/buses but there is lots to see. Apparently there is a shark tank feeding that occurs M-W-F and is worth catching. Admission is a bit steep but worth it. Great chance to see manatees too.

This is a fascinating "working" lab with some great exhibits. Take the boat tour explaining the many environmental aspects of the Sarasota Bay. Your entrance fee also supports the crucial scientific research Mote Marine maintain. Wonderful opportunity for kids --- of all ages.

Great experience at this adorable aquarium. Lots of smaller exhibitions and sea animals to view. Very accommodating staff

The laboratory is so cool I have never seen an aquarium have an outside part. The marine life was majestic and mysterious......the rest of the adventure is yours to find

What a stunning Aquarium. So many great things about this place. To start I loved to see some focus on local vs. invasive species, the display in the first take (freshwater) and how it is split is one of the first things I tell people about when recounting my visit. The coral is also unreal, and the map that highlights the danger in which coral is in is a great visual way to get the information across. Cecil is such a cutie. Also did the VR which is a different experience for me to see in an aquarium but it was very neat. Then seeing the turtles, spoonbills, manatees etc was AMAZING. Nothing like that where I am from. HIGHLY recommend this place.

Nice but smaller aquarium. All of the hands on exhibits & interactive activities were closed and there wasn’t any drink options or souvenirs available in the manatee and turtle building because the shop was closed and the soda machine was empty. I think with all of the interactive and hands on exhibits closed they should’ve offered discounted tickets; it cost us $84 for 2 kids and 2 adults. It was a good way to spend some time out of the sun but it’s not an aquarium that we will go back to.

Interesting! Not what we expected. Perhaps a little overrated but ok. We’ve heard so much about it so expected more. Ok to introduce children to marine world.

Finally was able to check out this place after watching it being built for years. Bummed that they don’t have the sea life projected on the building like it was indicated in the initial blue prints and revelation plans.

Inside. Overall nice consistent color theme. Signage was in English and Spanish. 3 floors. You can complete everything in 1 (maybe 2 hours if you have kiddos). Theres an inside quick grab cafeteria. And of course a GIFT SHOP. You can round up your purchase to go back to the Aquarium.

Several touch zones. Overall it was nice. But thought it would have been bigger.

I loved the animals the SeaTurtles, manatees and other marine life was great, with unending gorgeous views. The docents were clearly passionate about the animals and sea life.
What I did not enjoy was a large group of middle school children from SSAS pushing and shoving, knocking on the aquariums. We actually waited for them to leave before continuing. We went to the bird sanctuary nearby which was not on their itinerary. They were loud, this is not an amusement park and they should not be allowed to act so disrespectful in a public place, especially since they can disturb the animals. I spoke to one of the “chaperones” and she was clearly embarrassed! The teachers stood by and did not try to correct the behavior. If we return I will make sure it is not during one of there school trips! I actually felt sorry for the people that worked there and the animals. Someone should contact the school!

We come here every visit. These people are amazing for the work they're doing for the planet. It is wonderful to look at the wildlife, learn and see what these wonderful people are doing to help and protect the wildlife. They are currently introducing a manatee to the two others. We did not get to see him yet as he has his hasn't got his beach bod ready :))
Bring your children to this place it is purely wonderful.

It's a low key self guided tour of lots of tanks full of fish and coral reef life. Some of the healthiest reef life I've ever seen in captivity. Not a huge selection of fish. No petting that I saw anywhere. The facility is a little shabby after the hurricanes, but a brand new state of the art aquarium is due to open in May this year, so I see why they're not spending money to polish this old place up. The bird sanctuary is in pretty bad shape. The staff was fantastic, friendly and knowledgeable.

All in all, it was a good pass time for a few hours.

Excellent aquarium! Well laid out and Very educational. Great variety of different species. Set up in two different buildings. Live feedings of the manatees, the river otters and the crocodilians was very interesting. A lot of research goes on here and they are doing important work to benefit everyone. Several places where you can touch the creatures and wash your hands after. Plenty of free parking. Cafe on site if you want a bite. There was a virtual reality ride available for a reasonable extra 6$. Nice gift shop and if it’s a little on the pricey side, remember it goes to important research.

Had a fabulous experience boating around few bays, seeing amazing birds, fish, dolphins and even just beautiful architecture! Martha, our guide was very knowledgeable, great with the kids on board as well as the seniors! The Captain was also very helpful Great time!

This aquarium is a fantastic experience for both young and old. We had a great time and all was so informative. Definitely worth a return visit.

Great exhibits, friendly and knowledgeable staff/volunteers. We booked the Eco Boat Tour right there which was spectacular! Overall a wonder-filled experience- we highly recommend if you’re in the area!

This is an incredible local experience and the new historic area is extraordinarily exciting. Who knew Kansas was in the ocean??? Manatees will always be my favorite part of Mote!!!

We visited the aquarium with our kids, ages 10 and 14. It was a great time and a great opportunity to learn about fish and other marine animals that are native to the area. We loved seeing the sea turtles and the hatchlings. The staff were great and were very informative when telling us about the animals. Definitely recommend visiting Mote if you are visiting the area.

This was a awesome aquarium that our family of three enjoyed on a rainy vacation day. We were not expecting much, but we were enchanted by this small aquarium that takes about 2 hours to complete. My 11 year old son loved the touch exhibits and was fascinated by the manatee and giant sea turtles. I would suggest buying your tickets in advance online. We did not and when we arrived we had to wait an hour and a half to get in as they have timed entries right now due to COVID. As we were waiting, they sold out and were turning people away. There is a nice bird rescue near by that is free and we were able to spend about an hour there before heading to the aquarium. We are planning on visiting again when we return to this area.

Very nice aquarium and still able to see everything while social
distancing and wearing masks. This was our 1st time and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Mote is probably excellent for studying and saving threatened and injured animals and environmental education. I was frustrated however, in the quality of the displays of numerous fish in tanks. Videos jumped around, were poorly lit and at odd angles above the tanks. A clearer approach might be simple charts with clear photos and descriptions of each creature at eye level next to the tank.
There were beautiful plants and/or corals in the tanks which were not acknowledged. I would have loved to know what they are.

This is a definite must see if you are in the area. Perfect aquarium for adults, teens, & kids. The exhibits were fantastic and the docents were very knowledgeable. You can tell they love what they do! The animals were well cared for too. Highly recommend.

My 10 year old granddaughters really enjoyed this museum. We can't wait for the larger new Mote Museum!

While it wasn't my first visit to Mote, it was well worth the trip. Last visit was in 1993 and it has grown and changed. The exhibits were great and very informative, and very well kept. Being a SCUBA diver the only thing that I found negative was the display of the Grouper and Green Moorey Eel. The eel really could use more room. We really enjoyed the Manatee and Sea Turtle exhibits. Great for all ages and gives people accustomed to seeing the various sea creatures in their natural habitats a new perspective, especially seeing the various life stages displayed. Well worth the trip!

We went during COVID. You need to sign up for a specific time slot - so we bought our tickets online beforehand. Our 10 year old grandson enjoyed himself - especially the virtual experience - that cost $6 extra. There was a mixture of indoor and outdoor exhibits.

Great Aquarium!! Had a great time !! So much to see and do! I loved being able to touch some of the Aqua life!!

This aquarium was a lot of fun for the kids, and we enjoyed it too. They had a variety of nice displays. We enjoyed watching the otters playing in the water and sliding down the slide, and the manatee smash it's nose against the glass. This was time and money well spent.

We are from Baltimore where the national aquarium is and this was so much better. So personal and family friendly. Can't wait to come back! We loved the touch exhibits

We were stranded in Florida by a noreaster and spent two days in Sarasota looking for activities. Our first choice was the Mote.

We are used to the Mystic Aquarium and Norwalk Maritime Center, and have been to Boston's and Monterey's as well as Coney Island's. I would put the Mote on a par with all of them with the possible exception of Monterey Bay.

There are two main buildings. The first is home to, basically, fishes. The sharks and rays seem to be the big attraction here. There is a "black room" of aquaria filled with all sorts of sea life...this room has the disadvantage of printing the information about a majority of these creatures in white-on-black plaques posted above the aquaria on black walls with very little light - I gave up trying to read any but the ones that happened to be signs lit from within. Don't know what they were thinking with that.

The second building is about half a block away and houses marine mammals and birds as well as reptiles. The sea turtles, manatees, alligators and spoonbills are the stars here, as well as a curiously interesting upstairs exhibit on procreation in the world of corals, seahorses, other fishes, crustaceans et al.

Between the two buildings is the Save Our Shorebirds wildlife rehab exhibit - see separate listing for that (it's free and worth it).

I think my favorite part of the visit was standing by the lily pond (in the sun on a record cold day) where an egret and a small heron had come in from outside and were sunning themselves and going after insects. It was a bit of authentic natural activity taking place in a lovely, but artificial natural construct. I watched those fellows for quite some time in quiet peacefulness (no one else was around that area).

Be prepared, in other areas, for lotsa kiddies!

Very limited on anything 3 turtles 3 otters 1 manatee some fish 1 turttle 55.00 for 2 .I am just amazed .we are in Florida this place should have been full of fish. turtles .alligators ? We were so disappointed .They are building a new one by the UTC mall . so i hope its better

Mote is a fantastic combination of a staff and volunteers who have an obvious passion for marine life, breathtaking sea creatures, and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to get up close and personal with some absolutely stunning animals. This is a must-see for all aquarium-lovers.

We spent a delightful hour and a half at the Mote Marine, and unfortunately, we ran out of time and energy and did not see the second half of the aquarium with the manatees.

What we did see was marvelous, and educational and fascinating. Highly recommend going.

Loved sharing Mote with our daughter and granddaughter from Michigan! They loved the manatees and otters. We always bring our out of town visitors to Mote! ♥️

We visited the Mote with our adult daughter and son-in-law. We had read online that the Manatee exhibit (or actually the manatees) were on vacation as their home was being renovated. My daughter REALLY wanted to see the manatees again after seeing them many years earlier. We debated not going but in the end decided to go. We paid the admission and headed toward the shark feeding (only certain days). We found out as we headed to the sharks that it was Hugh and Buffet's first day back. When my daughter heard that she was so excited, it was like she was 8 all over again! Needless to say we went to visit the manatees immediately after the shark feeding and enjoyed a reunion. What a neat place - it is a research facility which makes it a bit different than other aquariums but plenty to hold your interest for several hours. Plenty of docents on hand to answer questions. We ate lunch at the cafe thee and it was not outrageously priced and the food was fine. Totally enjoyed our visit to the Mote.

This is a must see if you are in the area. Incredible facility, great for kids AND adults. Fantastic aquarium, exhibits and staff.

This was a perfect morning activity when the beach was too windy to partake in.
Favorites were the manatees, otters, sea turtles and stingray. We spent about two hours there. Afterwards we ate at salty dog across the road.

I absolutely love Mote Marine. As a Sarasota native, I have loved seeing all the exhibits over the years and more recently, have been to many corporate events and weddings there. I definitely recommend this to anyone - native or visitor alike!

High caliber learning and supported by a great staff. Facilities are clean, well run and a great learning experience. Every age walks away having gained some new knowledge or appreciation for our marine ecosystem.

Went on the Marine Life Cruise on Friday, February 21st and almost froze! Given the weather. The Aquarium should have cancelled the boat ride. It was so windy and cold, you couldn't enjoy it. Unfortunately, if we had canceled when we realized how cold it was going to be, we would have been penalized $10 per ticket and with 7 people, that was too much. It could have been a lovely tour. The young Marine Biologist who did the talking was excellent. Unfortunately, Maggie, the lady who did the introduction and island tour. Was very difficult to understand. Her voice is very soft. She did have great knowledge. All in all, we were disappointed because of the extremely cold weather and feel we should have been given the option of a mist cost cancellation

Such a fun visit! This is such a great aquarium with lots of sea life to view. From turtles to manatees, there is so much to see! The staff is very helpful and informative. This was a really fun way to spend the afternoon!

The exhibits were Excell. My 4 year old grand nieces loved the aquarium, as did their brother and mother. We skipped the cafe because the prices were extremely high.

A great place for adults and kids alike. Friendly volunteers explained all exhibits . As a lab they care for turtles etc in need. Worth a visit.
John & Sandy Thomas
Brooklyn , NY

This was a wonderful destination, and was more than I expected! We really enjoyed it a lot, I was really impressed. Plenty to do for about a 2 hour visit, or more if you take time to read and learn. :)

The Mote is awesome! Saw Manatees, Sharks, Crabs, Rare Fish, River otters (the best) and a whole lot more.

Great small aquarium to see the ocean around you. The turtles and manatees are always cool to see. Great research facility.

It’s not the biggest nor the smallest aquarium I have visited. But saying that it is very well taken care of and I had a ball with my grandchildren and the sting ray splashing us and playing . It amazes me how our animal kingdom interacts with us.

Great attraction for kids, busy on Sunday, when we were here.
Parking may be a problem , especially if Ski show is on same day.
Enjoyed the Otters, touch tanks and Sea turtles, highlight of visit.
Guides were informative. Can easily spend 2 -3 hours here.
Went to buildings across the street also. Good gift shops.
Area where you can feed fresh water fish was cool and filled with
colorful lilly pad flowers.
Clean and accessible.

The collection of marine life is amazing. The ambiance of the aquarium was very relaxing as well. Special shout out to the volunteers, their knowledge is superb!

Just make sure you follow little turtles on the sidewalk over to the other facility. It was wonderful. Once they are ready to accept guest again put it in your list

Great experience for our boys. The property is set up to house three buildings of animals and activities.

An excellent aqiuarium, displaying a wide range of marine life from dwarf starfish to giant manatees. Great for kids.

Whenever we have guests with young children, we always visit the Mote. Each member is fascinated with the often hands on interaction with the beautiful marine creatures we see there. The best part is always taking the boat ride. It is up front and personal. The staff is courteous and so informative. We all love it!

Love the work done here by the marine biologists! There were some marine animals to be seen, the displays were not extensive.
However, there was a dolphin and marine cruise offered and it was WONDERFUL! The marine biologist on our boat was Martha, and she did a great job. She shared so much interesting information about the dolphins and the area birds. And we spotted lots and lots of dolphins! We will definitely enjoy this cruise again!

I visited this incredible place while I was with my father in September. Had a great time seeing all the exhibits and animals.

As far as aquariums go this one is worth a visit. We went on a rainy day and mostly we were covered. They have 2 buildings a short walk in between them maybe a football field away. The place was kid friendly and they encouraged education too even I learned a few things. It was a good day

First time visit, 4 adults and one child. Masks were required and social distancing was practiced. We went during half price weekends for residents. It was a great deal, as we had been wanting to come here(regular pricing is quite expensive). The exhibits were nice, there were plenty of them. They had multiple touch areas for kids. For the size, they do pack in a lot to see. Loved all the fish, sharks, jellyfish, otters. You can learn a lot if you take your time. We were there for about 2-3 hours and this was going through fairly quickly. Did not eat there so cannot comment on their cafe. Everything was clean. Outside area was nice for a break(from the masks) and to relax a bit as we had to feed our son. To see their other section you have to drive or walk over. Not a big deal but was pouring at the time and parking in the other area was limited. Our biggest complaint and disappointment was the staff. Though most were nice and informative, one lady we encountered was quite rude to us and it certainly put a negativity to the day. Other then that, we did have a good time. Displays were well done, clean, animals seemed well taken care of. Lot to learn and to see. We would return again but still try to catch a deal as normal pricing is costly for a family.

I have been to many aquariums and although Mote is small, it is diverse. There are a lot of areas to cover, but it isn't exhausting like, for example, the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The employees are friendly and knowledgable and the aquarium is easy to navigate. I wish it had a better cafe, but that is a small complaint.

I enjoyed all the exhibits. They have a lot of different animals you can touch. I liked the seahorses & baby jellyfish the most. I also went on their ECO boat ride and learned about different birds to the area. My favorite part of that was when they cast the net and see what sealife they captured in the net. A big flounder, 3 different types of crabs.
The Volunteers do a lot of work there. They give you information on each of the exhibits.

Wonderful day at the Mote aquarium! Many tanks with different fish and marine life!
Staff and volunteers were very informative as to what we were viewing.
Loved every minute of our time at the Mote! Well worth the $24 admission fee!!!

When visiting Lido Key during unseasonably cool weather, we weren’t sure how we would keep our little one busy. And with the cost of traveling, we tried to be intentional with the activities we chose.

Hands down, this was the favorite activity of our trip (for my 2 year old and husband). We had a great experience in the first exhibit, and then went outside and got to see sharks and pet stingrays.

The second building has manatees and seals, along with a play area for littles to run and get their wiggle out. There are also some nurse sharks you can pet if they’re having a good day.

On the way back to the parking lot, you’ll pass a free bird rescue that was a great end to our visit!

The aquarium is well worth the money if you need something to do on a rainy day (and often you can find a small coupon in the brochures around town)

This place is great for kids and adults alike. Nice variety of animals in nice tanks/enclosures, and it just feels like a nice space with some of the exhibits being outside.

Please keep in mind that this is a research center and not a full blown aquarium. If you look at my previous posts you know that I love a good aquarium. That being said, this is a must see, especially with young ones. Amazing.

It's a good aquarium with a lot of diverse exhibits that are well maintained. My understanding is that they have a huge expansion in the works for the aquarium that will be completed in a couple of years. Once it is this will easily become a 5 star aquarium.

In January we brought our grandson here. What an awesome day with family. He was very stimulated and the experience was also educational as well as fun.
Kudos to the volunteers who work so hard and are so kind.

Mote is a lovely little place to visit for connecting with and learning about sea life and conservation.

They conduct a great deal of research and conservation efforts, so it's nice to visit and support their efforts.

Engaging aquarium with focus on conservation. Relaxed setting with plenty to see for all ages. Be aware that the aquarium is in two separate buildings and you have to walk about a block between the two. We loved seeing the sea turtles and manatees but the main fish building was more coordinated. Very knowledgeable docents shared interesting facts. Parking was a bit crowded.

I was in Sarasota with my dad for doctor appointments and purchased tickets as something to do while in town. The exhibits are nice. It takes under 2 hours to do. The only negatives are: the volunteers are nice, but they have a spiel to say and it is difficult to ask them basic questions such as how to get to the exit etc., the other negative is - to get to the other building that has the otters and other animals it is a 2/10th of a mile walk in the direct sunlight, no shade. It was difficult for my 86 year old dad to do. If I had been given the heads up about the distance and that parking was available at the other building we would have taken the car and not walked.

Overall a good experience, though a little small compared to some other aquariums we have visited in the past. It took us about two hours to go all the way through.

Always glad to support conservation efforts. It was a nice break from the sun on a hot summer day.

We had a rainy day so perfect to head to the aquarium. It was okay but not worth the $24 admission. There were some sharks and one manatee and the turtles were cool.

What a wonderful place to go!

We did Morning Rounds with Becca and it was fabulous! She was very knowledgeable and was great with the kids. She showed us around the mammals and told us all sorts of interesting things. We got to pet a shark and sting rays and fed some of the turtles.....A huge hit with the kids.

The facilities are very nice and the animals are very well cared for. We had lunch at the cafe and that was good. All in all, a great day!

Just went today on a boat cruise. Our guide, Skye, was great! Very engaging with everyone one on board, especially the school age children. She was very knowledgeable about the surrounding marine life. The crew of the staff was also very nice. Very worthwhile and fun!

We did both the behind the scenes morning tour and the by walk and recommend both. The behind the scenes tour was before the public is allowed in so you have the ability to enjoy the aquarium without the crowds and see how they care for the animals. They provide toys (they call them enrichments) for many of their animals and we got to help feed the stingrays which was a wonderful experience. The bay walk ties in what you see at the aquarium with the surrounding ruminants of habitat. Sean was our guide for both tours and did a fabulous job.

Was expecting something more since it was in Florida on the water. Felt like the same old cookie-=cutter aquarium which is now in nearly every major city.

We saw sharks, manta rays, manatees, baby turtles and caymans, but the otters are the absolute best. Make sure to allow enough time to just sit and watch them. They are so entertaining!

We had an amazing time! Martha our tour guide was very informative and shared a wealth of knowledge with us about the area and the wildlife that habitats it, we got to see some amazing sea creatures, laugh, enjoy the beautiful sunshine,see birds, dolphinsand touch wildlife and adventure onto an island and share some beautiful memories with friends. Highly recommend this for anyone! So fun and interesting!

Believe me, this place is worth visiting simply to watch the adorable river otters. The exhibits are very interesting and information.

Was trying to find something to do one day and landed on this. We have a twelve and nine year old and we thought we would be in and out in about an hour but much to our surprise we spent about three hours or a little more there. There was so much information and things to learn and see. Totally recommend it!

We had a rainy day on our beach vacation so we decided to check out mote marine and it was so much fun my nephews enjoyed it as much as the rest of us and seeing all the sea life up close was wonderful. We also liked learning about all the great programs they provide.

Have visited the Mote annually since the 80's. It is just part of our yearly vacation. I can spend hours there and learn something new each time. Fun and educational. Staff/volunteers are great.

I've loved Mote Marine since I took their marine biology camp back in the mid 90s, as a high schooler. Coming back decades later and seeing the progress they've made to their lab was awesome.
The aquarium was great. The kids (and my wife and I) enjoyed every part.
Highly recommend.

Watched this be built and was looking forward to finally visiting this place with my family. Such a disappointment. This whole building can be viewed within an hour. The ticket cost to visit doesn't include everything inside. There were exhibits that required more money. And there are much better restaurants all around this aquarium so no need to eat in there. Nice to see the 2 manatees but skip it and go to pop stroke or jet skiing instead.

Amazing experience. Staff was knowledgeable, kind and willing to share information. Sea turtle exhibit was hands down my favorite. I would and will visit again.

Two children ages 10 and 8 enjoyed 3+ hours spread out over the three venues. Venue 1- across the street were the large sea turtles, manatees, otters and larger mammals/reptiles. Venue 2- aquarium on grounds that had fish, sea life, VR experiences, petting aquariums and historical aspects. Venue 3- WildKrats exhibit- interactive for kids to draw, play, and experience marine science. It is a MUST GO when looking for a break from the beach. Prices were reasonable, and since we went during Covid, we wore masks and they did ask that you keep them fully on.

Mote Marine has something for everyone. We bought our kids here many years ago and this time brought our grandkids as well. Everyone finds something to love! There is a cool shark tank now and seeing manatees is always cool!
The place is nice and clean and they have the best volunteers! We also did the excursion you can book on a boat through their site and it was excellent as well.

While in Sarasota this year for a brief vacay, my husband spent a couple of hours at this lab and aquarium. It is very well done and interesting, with very friendly staff and volunteers. Children would also find it fun, as well as educational. Definitely worth the stop!

We loved our time here. Timed tickets limit the number of people milling around. Good way to spend a cool afternoon.
As a side note, by late afternoon, the condition and smell of the ladies room was appalling. More attention needs to be given to checking the cleanliness at regular times .

My family and I enjoyed visiting the Mote Aquarium on a cloudy day in December 2023. The shark tank and manatee tank were the highlights. The facility was clean and the admission price is fair.

We took the Sarasota Bay Eco Tour on a large (40-50 ft) pontoon boat. This boat tour took us past many beautiful waterfront homes, under bridges and to uninhabited islands in Sarasota Bay. Our tour guide Molly was well informed and enthusiastic about the sea life and ecology of the Bay. We experienced hands-on sealife exhibits and had a wonderful 2 hour tour of Sarasota Bay.Well worth the price.

Fantastic people great exhibits. Nice way to spend a day. The diner has good food. Would go back again.

Our first visit to Mote Marine was great. We enjoyed all the exhibits on all the water animals. The otters were great to watch as they played around in their enclosure. Lots of info on turtles, sharks, jellyfish, snakes and alligators that are in Florida. The bird exhibit was closed but we hope to see it next time we go back to Sarasota.

Great aquarium and not too costly.
Wish the touch exhibits were open but otherwise very nice.
Its spread out between 2 campuses, please visit both.
We also did the boat tour, it was $47 for 2. It was a nice trip over the bay and they do a neat exhibit where the biologist tour guide does a net troll and has a real time lesson in whatever is brought up.

Pricey admission, and the place is small. However, its fun and there is good variety of animals. Free petting of stingrays was a nice touch!

We always visit the Mote. Staff is friendly and helpful. Learn something new each time. Still cool to pet a stingray and a small shark.

After visiting the Georgia Aquarium we thought the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium would be a big let down. I have to admit it definitely was not. In one sense I actually enjoyed myself more here than the Aquarium in Georgia (it definitely was not as crowded). They have a great collection in 2 separate, but close buildings and wonderful volunteers who are eager to answer your questions. It was fun to watch a worker feed the trained otters! It was definitely worth the cost to visit. A must see!

My husband and I visited the aquarium while on vacation and enjoyed learning about all the animals. It was cool to see this aquarium is also a research and protection facility for endangered animals. All the volunteers and staff were incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about the animals. I think this is a very kid-friendly place as well. It took us a while to go through the 3 buildings, but we stoped for a smoothie in middle, which was delicious. We saw live manatees, alligators, cayman, sea turtles, and sea otters. The bird exhibit was closed because of covid, but we still enjoyed the areas we could go in, that was the only restriction. I would recommend this aquarium in the future.

We were a bit disappointed that the Manatees were not there. We were going to come back when our grandchildren came to visit, but we have 4 grandchildren and at $18. Per child, we think that is a bit costly.

I am so proud that we have a world class marine lab in Sarasota! The visit is quite educational and fun. The Sarasota Bay pontoon boat ride is the best! Experience the great estuary that Sarasota Bay is!

The aquarium is small but it was a good activity for an overcast day. Our absolute favorite were the otters. They were so much fun to watch. The manatee feeding was a bit disappointing but everything else was good. And the volunteers were really friendly and knowledgeable. We would go back, just to watch the otters!

In addition to coming to the aquarium, we also participated in a spring break session (it was 2 hour program of collecting and studying nature from the bay). The entire experience was more than we could have hoped from.

The Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium has been an amazing educational spot for 20 years for our family. The new location, Mote Science Education Aquarium, is disappointing. Not nearly as educational, not as much to see, or to learn. We even heard another patron say, "Wow, they really dumbed this museum down." It was a waste of money in our opinion. Skip this and instead take a boat tour of the bay with the Sarasota Bay Explorers, so much to see and learn.

A truly enjoyable visit to a very well managed operation. The displays are phenomenal the fossils amazing and the actual animal life is fascinating. I recommended Mote for all.

Several floors, many displays and live manatee exhibit. It is pricey check for discount days or coupons.

I had not been back to the Mote Marine Laboratory in 50 years, so I decided to spurge on the 8:30AM behind the scenes tour. we deshelled and tailed shrimp and then fed them to small rays. we went behind the filtration tanks and learned how the system works, etc. For the same price we could stay and go through the museum seeing manatees, sea otters, seahorses, octopus, etc. I would recommend spending the extra bucks and doing this too.

Would not recofor adults especially if you have been to Monteray or Mystic . Not a world class facility for sure. Its ok for children to keep them amused.

Wonderful and extensive displays in 2 big buildings. The docents were all very friendly and informative. Be sure to stop at the Free Bird Rehab center between the 2 buildings (but be sure to donate or buy as they are a separate charitable org).

We spent part of the day here while on vacation. Great place to visit. My family is particularly fond of sea turtles. We actually learned a lot from the staff and the lectures about certain turtles they had there. The different buildings and walking to them was odd but would definitely return.

We absolutely LOVED visiting Mote Marine Lab and Aquarium. We are a family of 4 with 2 teenagers. It took us about 55 minutes to get there from Holmes Beach due to horrible construction traffic in Bradenton. And it was completely worth it. We bought our tickets online for a specific time slot, making our entrance to the aquarium so quick and easy. Each time slot is limited to a certain number of people so we never once felt crowded or rushed and it made viewing each and every tank and exhibit very easy and comfortable. We were entertained watching the cuttlefish (I've never seen one), the sea horses, and jellyfish. I was particularly impressed with the simple, yet very impactful display showing how similar a jellyfish and a plastic bag look to a sea turtle or bird. My kids took notice. We spent a lot of time watching the shark tank, and also enjoyed the sting ray touch tank. We moved over to the other building to see the sea turtles, manatees, and sea otters. Again, the displays were really fantastic, clean with lots of viewing space. We were there with an elementary school group and we were never crowded. I loved how up close we could get to the manatees. They were enjoying their lettuce lunch which was fun to see. We spent about an hour and 45 minutes at Mote and it was a highlight of our week. We went because we needed something to do out of the sun, and we're so happy that we did!

Very informative - lots of touch pools for the kids. Otter display was wonderful. Great little aquarium with lots to see and do.

We enjoyed all of the exhibits. We arrived too late to go on a boat tour. This is a great place to take kids. The exhibits are well displayed and explained. This is well worth the price of admission.

Such a great place to go! If you're down in the area this is a must do! Every time we have went it has been a great experience with awesome friendly and knowledgeable staff. No matter how many times I go I learn something new each time. Love this place

We absolutely loved this place! We spent 5 hours here and it was so much fun! We love what they’re doing at Mote for the animals. ❤️ we will definitely be back! So educational and so many animals!

We spend 3 hours here and it was amazing
So many unique animals, such cool exhibits and volunteers that knew so much it was great to talk to them! Majority of the place is outside so be prepared to walk and bring a hand fan to cool off!

Amazing place for the kiddos and kiddos at heart to learn about ocean life and other animals. Clean and very modern. Be prepared to walk out in the elements by foot as the exhibits are divided into 3 different buildings. Took us about 2 hrs to walk it on a brisk walk.

Great experience…rain or shine. Well worth the time and expense for all ages. Plenty variety for kids and adults. Favorites were the manatees, otters, giant grouper, sharks, seahorses.

Went on a Sat when we had to kill a few hours between being kicked out of one resort and checking into another. No school kids, nice sunny day, but cool weather. We loved it. My wife had never seen manetees - she loved 'em. Small tanks with most exhibits but kept pretty clean. Good jelly fish exhibit, otters, mangrove tanks, turtle building with a good explanitory educational program at regular intervals. Lots of good stuff. As a 25 year scuba diver and a dedicated oceanagraphic documentary devotee I was very surprised by how impressed I was

My young adult daughter and I did the morning rounds followed by a general visit. It was great seeing some behind the scenes action before the aquarium opened. Loved seeing the otters being trained. Would def do again

Super friendly staff and great things to see. The exhibits are great and well maintained. The facility is large and you can spend plenty of time in all of the areas

Visited on a cool/rainy day in December. Most of this place is open-air so it's a nice option with COVID. They require buying tickets ahead of time to control numbers, but then every hour they allow a large number of people to rush in together in a big group. The room you enter is very small/crowded so I would recommend going beyond this area to the open air space and then come back to this room after it clears out. There are great sharks, manta rays, turtles, manatees, and otters. Dress in layers.

Our family really enjoyed our time here. Though the place is not very large, there's a lot of interesting things here that are not commonly seen elsewhere.

We bought our tickets online and there's a code to save $1 per ticket for up to $4.

The location is comprised of two main buildings which is separated by a short walk. There are a lot of volunteers at the exhibits and all are quite friendly and knowledgeable.

Getting a selfie with the manatee was a highlight for me. I've also never seen a giant squid before.

Also, be sure to checkout the free bird exhibit during the walk between the buildings.

One of the best restaurants in the area, New Pass Grill, is also close by.

This long established and very popular facility does great work. The entrance fee helps support the main purpose of restoring reefs, researching sea life, and providing environmental education. Yes it is an AZA certified attraction and maybe it could you a facelift in certain areas. It takes millions of dollars just to keep the lights on. Entrance fees provide only part of actual expenses. Bring the family, learn about what you can do to keep our environment healthy, and follow up in your daily living. Keep up the good work Mote staff and volunteers!

What a great place! A hidden gem. Wish there were more things going on in the laboratories but it was Sunday. I enjoyed seeing and learning about Florida species. A great place for children to learn about there surrounding environment.

Absolutely a wonderful place to go. Prices are very affordable for what you get. Easy parking. Lots of walking, but beautiful. Great for families and anyone else.

The best marine aquarium I have ever been to. Gigantic clean tanks with so many different fish and marine life. Friendly and informative volunteers. Worth the trip for sure.

Go to Mote with the right expectations, and you will spend a pleasant couple of hours observing local sea life. It's a much smaller aquarium than most of the ones I've seen, but we are scuba divers and aquarium lovers, so we've seen a lot of them.

It would be a very good place to take kids, as the smaller scale makes it very accessible for them, and there are friendly volunteers who can answer basic questions about the exhibits.

There were two standout exhibits that made the trip worthwhile for us: the manatee tank and the otter training. You can observe the two resident manatees from below (I had only ever seen them from a boat before), and you can get very close to them. They like to swim close to the glass (maybe they like to watch us, too?). It was great to get such a clear, up-close view of these amazing gentle giants.

They also have three rescued river otters. They do training sessions (I believe 4 times a day) with them, to keep them active and occupied and to facilitate their care (e.g., they have them come up onto a scale to check their weight). The otters were rescued as orphans when they were very young, and they imprinted on the humans who raised them, so they can't be released back into the wild. But the "show" doesn't feel like it's exploiting them for human entertainment - it's more showing their natural behaviours.

The place is pricy for what it offers, but your ticket supports much needed marine research and conservation efforts.

We experienced a rather rainy day so we decided to head to the Mote Aquarium! It was much larger than we expected it to be and the exhibits were quite good. Everybody learned something! There is a short walk from one part of the aquarium to the other where the sea turtles and manatees were, but it is well worth the short walk.

There are two different building on the property about 1/4 mile apart. BOTH are well worth visiting. Don't miss the second location where they are doing rehabilitation. Both sites have informative staff and volunteers. We saw rescue turtles and manatees. Well worth a trip to view this lab and aquarium.

A must see visit. I love taking my teenage daughter here as we learn so much about Florida marine life and the science behind the sea animals.

This isn’t the type of aquarium that has dolphin shows (or even dolphins) but it has a sting Ray tank, shark petting (bitty sharks), a shark tank, otters, alligator, manatee, and more. It was really laid back and the volunteers there were so friendly and helpful. And knowledgeable. Two locations just across the road from each other. Two teenage girls and a tween boy—hit everyone’s interests.

We were pleasantly surprised at all of the different exhibits. From manatees to see otters to logger head turtle‘s two sharks and tuna. We spent about three hours going through all of the exhibits. I’m sure you can spend more time if you would go through and read each and every placard. Great little areas for kids as well. We had a rain day and Chose To visit the aquarium. Definitely get your tickets ahead of time and the aquarium closes at 5 o’clock. Definitely recommend getting there by one at least.

We had such a great time as a family, and felt it was well worth the price of admission. There was plenty of sea life that left us in awe; sharks, sea turtles, sea horses, a manatee, a preserved sea squid, plenty of fish ... and the staff were great sources of information. Thank you Mote Aquarium!

The staff was very knowledgeable and talked us through the aquarium. Because of Covid-19 some of the hands-on exhibits were closed and that is the only reason I gave it a 4 out of 5.

Once again, we totally enjoyed our visit to Mote. I love that they rescue and rehabilitate so many animals. Hugh and Buffet, the manatees, are always a treat. We loved petting the stingrays and little sharks! We go to Mote Marine every time we come to Sarasota.

Very well done with a well presented history that was how this extraordinary facility is not just a attraction, but a well developed learning/research laboratory.

You can spend as much time as you want to just observe and/or learn. You won't be disappointed, and if your not careful, you may even learn something.

Rude Glenna H.
On July 4th, I went with my dad who is 75 years and this woman was rude, aggressive and harrase us telling us different information. The name of this woman Glenna H. I did report her to the manager and these people instead had someone else to do a review saying how everyone is great!
Sad they don't care about every single person deserves to be treated with respect!
THIS IS NOT DISRESPECTFUL OR FALSE INFORMATION

We enjoyed the Sarasota Bay Explorers boat ride. We observed the local birds nesting at the rookery and took a very easy, short hike to learn about the formation of Edward's Island and the trees growing there. The biologist tour guide net fished to show everyone and document native sea creatures. We then spent several hours wandering through the well stocked aquarium. The manatees and otters were very active and especially fun to watch.

The Mote is a must do when around the Sarasota area.
We always learn new information about the ocean and the local marine life. We especially appreciate the Motes actions on Coral Reef Restoration efforts.

Awesome aquarium and education center. Unlike many aquariums, the MOTE focuses on research, and has a lot of research data and information about protecting and restoring populations in the wild. Very interesting, along with some great displays and touch tanks. Although the Tampa Aquarium may be a little bigger, the MOTE is more interesting overall, has more touch tanks, and has Manatees! And about 2/3rds the cost of Tampa. Worth a visit.

We went on a rainy day to have some family fun. Prices are a bit steep for the size of the aquarium. I've seen a lot better aquariums in the Midwest. You have to walk outside and down the street a little bit to get to the manatee and turtles. We missed it because they closed early. That was a major bummer.

This was a very nice visit...good displays, easy to walk around. Staff was very pleasant and helpful.

Otter exhibit may have been my favorite, but they are all great. Nice mix of indoor and open-air spaces.

I was super happy to visit the aquarium,eager overjoyed and ecstatic.However upon entering no one checked our tickets,both places so how do they know that you payed or not.Felt unsafe as no one checked bags for weapons or other harmful objects.We are accustomed to this in every other state that we’ve visited before.Overall nice aquarium but wasn’t happy about it as it just felt like an exposition,not an aquarium.The otters were fun to watch,Mote was nice but expected a better exhibit for them.But yes I would recommend this aquarium everyone has their own taste.

Pleasant atmosphere, sweet and helpful staff. A perfect children's learning mecca. Family friendly. Just the right size to take everything in.

The Mote aquarium is a nice, smaller aquarium. There are touch tanks with crabs and sea cucumbers as well as one for rays and one for sharks.

There are many small tanks of fish and jellyfish to view and the information on the walls is very informative. There is also a couple tanks with sharks. Our 9 yo loved the touch tanks and the sharks.

Across the street on another building was some turtles, alligators, manatees and more fish. We loved learning about the turtles and the manatees. They have one manatee that is 1845 lbs! We never knew they got that big. It was fun to watch the two playing together.

There are a few quiz station games that our family had fun playing and learning together as well that were very informative.

It’s a bit expensive but since it does conservation and also houses some animals that cannot be rereleased to the wild it is worth it. Just seeing the huge turtles, and manatees made it worth it for us.

Such a nice place to visit when visiting in the area. My parents (not the most mobile), my daughter, her friends, my husband and I all enjoyed this little aquarium. The staff was very helpful and knowledgable, and the entire park is well kept. I would highly recommend this attraction.

This aquarium in Sarasota has a large variety of sea creatures in 2 buildings for the most part and some interactive areas for all the participating if you want to . The is also boat road out into the Sarasota bay About 2 hours for a additional charge of $35 if you have not already visited the aquarium $26 if you have

When we drove there, looking at the address here on Trip Advisor and on Google it is the 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy, that is no longer the address it is 225 University Town Center Drive which is 30 minutes away from the original location. We had an appointment for 10am time to come in and thank goodness we were early at 9:45, by the time we got to the other one we were 15 minutes late but were allowed entry. This museum is not worth the $37, I am a travel agent and would also not recommend to my clients. We started at the 3rd floor, there are no escalators down, just going up so to come down you use elevator or stairs The top floor had manatees and sea otters and a virtual realty spot (for $10 more ). I did the VR for Humpback Whales and it looked like VR from when it first came out, it was grainy and not very good. We ventured down to the 2nd floor which had the Vet (you could look in the glass but it didn't really show me anything and also a breeding glass you could look in. It would probably be good to have something explaining more about it or a video showing how they breed and what they do at the Vet. Then you went into a larger room where you saw the top of a tank, in order to actually look in the tank you had to squat or sit down, good for the kids but not so much for older people. Down on the first floor is the gift shop and places to eat (we did not eat there) then they have the bottom half of the tank on the 2nd floor so you got to see the fish in it, and then there are 2 areas The Gulf and The Bay, the Gulf had a glass you could see fish in, but to me it seemed like it was the same tank, maybe I am wrong, they had some weird seating in there a couch and a couple of chairs (the whole place could have used more chairs, and in The Bay there was nothing in there. They had a couple of touch stations with a worker standing behind it, but they weren't talking about the animals people were touching or giving us any kind of information.

Mote aquarium is a place to spend the day and enjoy a nice aquarium. It is not large but is laid out well and offers a number of hands on experiences. Please be aware that there are two buildings, the main aquarium and then a building containing manatees, river otters and sea turtles. It is about a 5 minutes walk between the buildings. The price was $24 per adult with some of it going research that Mote performs.

I was excited to visit because it's a new installation. The exterior design of the building is creative and inspiring and looks like an enormous ship. Inside is new and modern as it's just opened. However the entire experience was disappointing. It felt small and cramped and the displays were meh. The two manatees looked like they were in a goldfish bowl without enough room to move around. The Humboldt penguin exhibit was fun and at ground level for children to see. The big aquarium was average. The lighting was good, but varieties of fish and the display itself so-so.
We spent $10 each to do the immersive VR. It too was mediocre. The quality of the video was poor and nature videos on NatGeo are much better. You'll spend $35 per person for admission.

Easy access and sufficient carparks. Exhibition was good for all ages with several interactive elements. Staff was very helpfull and available to answer questions. The acquaria/tanks were not crowded with too many species; the animals seemed to have sufficient space. I especially liked the jellyfish on display; you are able to carefully observe these beautifull creatures.
One downside was that there are two buildings and they are not adjacent. It's a five minute walk, but at a 100 + degrees fahrenheit (realfeel) with no shade, the walk is not the nicest experience. Hopefully, the new building will resolve this.
Very good experience. Recommended to visit.

Love for the sea animals and passion are at the center of the hard-working staff keeping this place alive. Very clean and easy to get around for young kids.

We visited the Aquarium on Monday, June 16 and really enjoyed seeing all of the fish, turtles, sharks, birds, manatees, otters and alligator. It was very informative, has great displays and is a great place to take the family. It is a self-guided tour so you can take plenty of time as you visit. The cafe had really good food and was clean. A must see when visiting the Sarasota area. You need to book ahead.

We visited the aquarium on our Spring Break and really enjoyed it. The interactive exhibits were fun for kids. The sea otters were adorable and put on quite the show.

Tickets are timed. We tried to reserve on line, but found many slots filled. However, when we appeared anyway, we were able to purchase tickets for entry within 20 minutes. As the afternoon wore on, the wait lines grew much longer. This was during spring break, which was probably a factor. Get there early if you can. Well worth the time and money. There is a basic cafe, for lunch.

While this location open til July 6th 2025 til transfer some to the new facility which will be spectacular and opening shortly there after. I did enjoy the animals and many varieties. Worth it to see the manatees, otters, spoonbill, turtles and many types of fish and reefs. Indoor outdoor exhibits and one building across the street , so plan accordingly. We spent about 2 1/2 hours here. Suggest leaving and cutting the corner to Longboat Key to eat at Dry Dock Restaurant just minutes away.

We went to the Mote Marine Lab and Aquarium for something to do on a windy afternoon. What a delightful surprise it was! The exhibits are beautiful but what we appreciated even more was the extensive information we received about the damage that is being done to the aquatic ecosystem in this area. There was a knowledgeable volunteer at every single exhibit who was more than happy to tell us about the animals we were looking at, at the threats to that particular species from invasive species (plant and animal) , climate change and plastic pollution. So, while it is possible to go to the aquarium just to see the animals, what you come away with is so much more. I feel even more passionate than ever that we humans are the custodians of the earth and all of its creatures and we need to do more to protect them. Watching the manatees swimming languidly around their pool, seeing the playful otters running and swimming and sliding and seeing all of the beautiful fish was definitely worth the price of admission. The learning piece just made it all the more meaningful. This is one place in Sarasota that shouldn’t be missed. And yes, the manatees are back from their “vacation”!

Nice little aquarium with a terrific staff. The volunteers are passionate about marine wildlife. There are several buildings, one is dedicated to marine mammals and has a couple of manatees and otters. There are a variety of sharks to see. I digress; the first building is where you'll see all kinds of fish. The sea dragons were fun to see and the several species of jellyfish was awesome. You can be there all day or out in about an hour. It's close to St. Armands Circle.

A great half day or so for the younger members of the family. Lots of "hands on" things to do! A Sarasota gem!

Visited first time with our granddaughter who is two years who was absolutely fascinated by the beautiful fishes, turtles, otters, sharks and manatees and many more. The bird sanctuary was also lovely. Staff have done a very good job in the upkeep of this facility. Will visit again.

They have some interesting exhibits including a skate tank for interaction, manatees, otters, etc. Eat across the street at Old Salty Dog. Can't wait for them to get the new place open out by University Mall.

Great to spend a couple hours walking around the nice aquarium, two separate buildings, the exhibits and staff are great. Parking is plentiful and somewhat shaded, there are a couple picnic pavilions too. Very well presented multitude of fish, crabs, coral, and sorts in well maintained tanks. Beautiful giant squid exhibit (preserved), mash and sea shore exhibits, shark feeding tank and plenty to keep kids focused. Manatee, sea turtle, otter building is also well maintained all the fish and animals are active and well maintained. Great to beat the summer heat as mostly indoors, small snack bar in the main building, and restrooms available at various locations were very clean.

Small aquarium but big on information and learning. Don’t miss the ecotour by boat! We had biologist Martha and Capt Jen. Such professionalism by both, from the Captain’s handling of the boat to Martha’s endless information about the bay, marine life and the little island where we docked. Volunteers are posted throughout the aquarium eager to help you interact, answer questions and direct you through the buildings.

Had a great time. Take the boat tour. Very educational and well worth the price of admission. Martha gave us a great tour.

We went on a Friday afternoon and it was a bit busy but not too bad. If you're in a hurry, you could go through and look at most of the stuff in an hour. If you take your time, you can easily use up 2 hours. I thought the $24 was a touch steep for the size of the place, but I guess it is a non-profit, and it looks like they do quite a bit of interesting things. Lots of volunteers on hand to answer questions etc, all of them very friendly!

One of Sarasota’s wonders. See marine mammals, sharks and local fish in a pleasant and well organized display. Well trained volunteers are there to teach and inform. Cafe serves good food!

This is an exceptional aquarium and a treat for all ages! We took our almost 7 year old grandson and he was enthralled. There is walking between exhibits so strollers are advised for the littles. You can touch starfish, sharks, rays and more. The volunteers were friendly and knowledgeable, adding to the positive experience. The exhibits are well maintained and great for those who can’t view sea life in natural habitat. Expensive but we’re glad we went! Thank you!

IF you are a Florida tourist or seasonal resident, then this place has to be put on your "To-Do-List".

We had a really enjoyable couple of hours here. Although it's a smaller size than many aquariums we've visited, what is here is very well presented and has the added benefit of enthusiastic and helpful staff and volunteers. Our 9 year-old really enjoyed the interactive exhibits, including areas where you could stroke rays and touch-screen exhibits with information or educational games. As we got back into our car he said, unprompted, "That was really good", which is rare praise from this particular boy!

This is a great aquarium filled with fun things to do with kids. My son loved it and took many pictures. We liked the manatees and the virtual reality shark exhibit the best. It was fun to have outdoor as well as indoor exhibits. The large shark exhibit was great too.

If your in or around Sarasota Florida you HAVE to check out Mote! From the shark feeding to touching stingrays it is amazing!

Can’t review because we can’t get in. If you are planning or wanting to get in make sure to buy tickets in advance. We wanted to go today, saw online that they are full for the day. Called to see if they took any walk ins and the annoyed lady on the phone bluntly said “no, we are full” alrighty then, I guess I should have known. Hopefully this will help others plan better than I did 🤷🏻‍♀️

Mote Aquarium is not only for viewing the many fishes of Florida waters but it is also a laboratory with on-going research. It is well designed so that one is not backtracking as you walk through. There were a number of hands-on exhibits that children would find interesting...adults too. There were two buildings of exhibits of fish. I found the manatees, huge animals, fascinating. For kids, to be able to touch a sting ray or one of the types of catfish swimming in shallow pools was exciting. There is excellent information there and worth a return visit.

I've been going to this aquarium since I was in 4th grade and it's always been an awesome experience! I've gotten to see how the place has changed and advance with the care of it's animals and guests, and it's always an improvement. The aquarium is a little small compared to others I've seen, but they have a lot of variety, unique attractions, and information to give. We also went to the Save Our Seabirds section, which is between the two buildings, but admission is free even if they aren't a part of Mote Marine (I think).

I specifically went with my husband during our honeymoon and we both had a great time learning about local and ocean wildlife. The staff were very informative and willing to answer any questions we had. It was about $52 for the both of us, which is a bit expensive, but they have two buildings to maintain and are in the process of completing their new facility where everything will go to, so I find it justifiable. Since they're also a laboratory, funds go into their coral and jellyfish nurseries, which you can see workers maintaining live. It's mostly a great place to learn about the ocean and local wildlife!

There are many fine fish and aquatic animals. A little tiled facility. Not very interesting exhibitions. Expensive admission relative to how big the museum was.

Wonderful aquarium! Loved the octopus, sea horses, watching the otters do back flips into the water and swim, seeing a manatee, sharks, jellies, sea turtles, & touching sting rays. Highly recommend the ecotour boat cruise that leaves from the aquarium from Sarasota Bay Explorers as well!

The family always loves an aquarium. Nice layout, a lot to see. A little pricey. Loved the seat turtles and otters. Multiple buildings for your admission, nice way to spend a couple hours.

Very educational. Love that Mote Aquarium is doing so much to save our waters and sea life. We only had two hours before closing, but could have easily spend another hour there.

Omg - this place is amazing and so are staff and volunteers. I did shark virtually reality experience, worth the $6. Take a spin threw the bird sanctuary. Of course my fav was the loggerhead sea turtle and the manatee exhibit. So fun bc I got to watch the manatee’s chow down on some lettuce for lunch! There are a bunch of fun kids interactive things to do as well! Don’t miss this!

A grouper is the ugliest fish I've ever seen. Which is why I can't understand why it is one of the most delicious tasting seafood of all. See for yourself at the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota, Florida. Located at 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, at the northern tip of St. Armands Key, adjacent to the bridge that connects St. Armands Key to Longboat Key, the 10.5-acre site opened in 1955 on what is known as City Island as an independent, nonprofit, marine research organization that conducts more than 20 research programs, including the world's longest-running study of a wild dolphin population and a public aquarium that displays more than 100 marine species, including sharks, manatees, sea turtles, seahorses, rays, skates, octopus, sea jellies, river otters, American alligators, crocodiles, caimans and, yes, grouper. Have you ever witnessed a shark feeding?

My wife and I found the Mote Acquarium to be extremely informative, educational, and entertaining. The displays were well labelled as to what you were looking at. Lots to see: seahorses, lobster, octopusses, sharks, manatees, and sea turles to name a few. It was a good experience for all ages. They also have wheel chairs that you can use, if you have someone who might not be able to walk the entire distance. Definitely one of the better acquariums we have visited in our travels.

Mote is an amazing aquarium. The staff seemed eager to answer our questions and ther were so knowledgeable

So happy to have been able to come back for a visit 19 years after doing an internship at Mote Marine Laboratory but this time with my parents, husband, and children. My daughter absolutely loved the aquarium and eco boat tour. She was so excited about the touch tanks where she was able to touch stingrays, sea urchins, and small sharks. We did the aquarium first and booked our boat tour for the afternoon. Jess was our Marine Biologist and she was brilliant. She was super knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. My daughter loved when Jess netted loads of sea creatures and we were able to identify, look,and sometimes touch them. My daughter felt very special on her birthday as Jess gave her the job of taking notes, tallying up the different species we found. She felt like a real scientist ! I highly recommend this trip. We all enjoyed... it, kids, parents and grandparents...and to top it all off we got to see dolphins on our way back !

This marine museum has been open to the public for a great many years, however, the marine displays have been dwindling over the past few years.

The cost for entry is now very expensive and needs to be reduced significantly.

Started out great and was so until we went to the mammal building. We were watching the sea turtles and apparently got in the way. I was all but yanked out of the area by a very rude employee yelling at me that she was doing an observation. 1. How would I know that? There was nothing to indicate that, the area wasnt marked off. 2. I was a paying customer also observing. 3. This is the worst part-she had an intern with her. Is that anyway to be a leader? She literally ruined the experience for us. Hopefully managment can recognize her behavior and correct it so others dont have to encounter this rude employee.

We visited the aquarium today. It’s beautiful with so many neat exhibits and lots of cool information. We were there a lot longer than I expected to be. We had tickets for 12:45 and stayed until close. We love the work they are doing here with coral restoration. Go check this place out!

Just can’t say enough great things about this facility, and the organization! Plenty of Covid precautions in place to ensure a safe visit. The displays and exhibit are amazing! Educational even if you don’t want it to be, LOL. Our favorites were the Manatee and Otter exhibits. The animals were active and engaging, it was fascinating to watch. A great way to spend a few hours, definitely a do not miss attraction if you are in the area.

Love love love. I was able to get so close to a sea turtle and to manatees. The layout is fun between inside and outside exhibits. The place is very clean and staff/volunteers were all very friendly and knowledgeable. I can't wait to go back!

Volunteer docents wonderful. Great learning experience. Not too crowded early in the day. Fair price for entry. Two excellent gift shops.

We loved our day at the Mote! It exceeded all my expectations! The staff/volunteers were knowledgeable and around if you had any questions. You could touch sting Ray's and a couple small sharks. So many different kinds of fish laid out spaciously. We loved seeing the sharks, as well as the manatees and sea turtles. There's also so many educational blurbs at each station, so you aren't just seeing the fish, you actually learn about them as well. An added bonus was the Save our Seabirds, which is free and keeps injured birds (owls, hawks, pelicans, and sooo many more) that would not be able to survive in the wilderness. It is well worth the price of admission to spend 1/2 day at the Mote! You won't regret it!

Looking for something to do this afternoon and ended up at the aquarium. This was much better than I expected, it was not too crowded and there were a few nice, hands on exhibits. Plenty of hand washing stations along the way. The whole family really enjoyed it. Favorites were the otters, sharks, and the exhibit with all the babies on the second level above the otters. Glad we found this place and would come back!

Been here 3 times on vacation since 2014. Everytime it is better. We will keep coming back. All ages like it. Ages 3 to 16 in our group.