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Over Thanksgiving weekend, my family and I drove down to Arizona to spend time with Nate’s brother and his family. On Saturday, us moms (me and my sister-in-law) took the kids to OdySea Aquarium in Scottsdale and it did not disappoint!

We brought a stroller along for Parker, but he didn’t last long all cooped up. He preferred to walk around with his cousins (5 and 3 years old).

Since I’m not from Arizona, it was my first time going. I expected to see what most aquariums offer – fish, fish, and more fish. However, the OdySea had many extra experiences that only added to its value. Needless to say, you definitely get the bang for your buck here.

So, if or when you are in Arizona, be sure to visit OdySea Aquarium! Check out these 10 things you can’t miss while there.

#1: Fish on the Ceiling

As soon as you enter the building, you will see fish on the ceiling! They are kept in glass orbs right above your head. How cool is that? I was told that they are new additions too so go see them before they are taken down!

#2: Sharks in the Restroom

These have literally won an award for America’s Best Restroom 2017. Yes, they are that cool. Located in the lobby, you can see sharks and other fish swim right next to you as you wash your hands. It’s kind of funny to see people walk in just to see the sharks, then walk out. But then again, that’s what I did 🙂

#3: Touch the Fish

There are multiple stations set up throughout the aquarium that let you touch the fish. Of course, there are certain rules you need to abide by and a worker is present at all times to make sure you follow them. The water was a lot deeper than I thought it would be! Even with my sleeve rolled up, my shirt still got wet. Thus, if you do want to pet the fish, you have to be okay with getting a little dirty.

#4: SeaTREK Helmet Diving

Although I chose not to pay the extra fee to scuba dive, we did get to see the divers in action. You can go into the deep end of the tank and swim with the fish. It was amazing to see the manta rays get right in the divers’ faces. In addition, you can pick shark tours or penguin encounters.

#5: Feeding Time

You cannot miss feeding time! We came just in time to see the otters getting fed and it was so cool! OdySea Aquarium has three otters who are triplets and they get fed at the same time. Also at the same time is their training. Delightfully, the otters practiced sitting, standing, and swimming for their food.

#6: Cafeteria Break

The aquarium (especially with little kids) can be a bit of a walk. What better way to reboot than with a stop at their cafeteria? We enjoyed a delicious snack of french fries and loaded fries, plus a nice lemonade. That allowed us moms to relax for a second and the kids could regain their energy for the rest of the trip.

#7: Wall of Movies

Next time you stop by OdySea Aquarium, don’t miss the chance to look at their wall of ocean movies. It makes for such a dynamic backdrop to the cafeteria seating. How many of these movies have you seen?

#8: Measure a Penguin

There is a spot on the wall next to the penguin exhibit where you can measure how you compare to that of a penguin. As you can see, Parker is a little taller than a Gentoo penguin. It’s a fun activity for the kids and a good way for them to remember a fact from the aquarium.

#9: World’s Only Rotating Ocean Adventure

This was probably my favorite exhibit of all because everyone could have a seat to relax in while watching and learning about the animals. As the title mentions, it is a rotating adventure. Everyone sits in theater-style chairs and the whole room moves in circles! This is the only way to see the sea lions and sea turtles.

#10: Meet the Mermaids!

We happened to visit OdySea Aquarium the same weekend they had mermaids on exhibit! Real life mermaids! They swam in the same waters as manta rays and other fish. Obviously they had air to breathe out of, but most of the time they were in full mermaid mode. They even blew kisses at us! The mermaids aren’t always at the aquarium, but the OdySea does have special events happening all the time so keep checking their website for more information.