Sea Lab Estuarium Exhibits Make Learning Fun

[caption id="attachment_2376" align="alignleft" width="960"] The Mobile Delta, one of coastal Alabama's four main habitats[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2377" align="alignleft" width="851"] Sure to be a hit with the kids is the 7,000-gallon sting ray tank.[/caption] Visitors of all ages will have a ball at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Estuarium. Both educational and entertaining, the Estuarium features a 10,000-square-foot exhibit hall, a 7,000-gallon sting ray touch pool, and a boardwalk showcasing the plants, animals, and other natural resources of the four main habitats of coastal Alabama. The Estuarium features 31 aquariums with showcasing more than 100 species of sealife. Coastal Alabama’s Four Key Habitats: - The freshwater Mobile-Tensaw River Delta habitat area features a cypress-tupelo swamp, alligators, turtles, and an air-breathing fish called a gar. - Tanks in the Mobile Bay area are home to stone crabs, horseshoe crabs, blue crabs, oysters, spadefish, and flounder. - The Barrier Island habitat features saltwater tanks that blue crabs, hermit crabs, and shrimp call home. - Saltwater tanks in the Gulf of Mexico habitat area hold octopus, barnacles, eels, seahorses, red snapper, sharks, jellyfish, and spadefish. In addition to the colorful tanks and exhibits highlighting each habitat, the Estuarium features the Billy Goat Hole Gallery, a roomful of exciting interactive activities. Touch tanks here offer hands-on experiences with various species of aquatic animals. Summer hours (March 1 — August 31) for the Estuarium are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Winter hours (September 1 — February 28/29) are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The Estuarium is closed on: - New Year’s Day - Easter Sunday - Thanksgiving Day - Christmas Eve - Christmas Day - New Year’s Eve Admission is $10 per person for adults, $6 for children aged 5 to 18 and for students with ID, and $8 for seniors. Group rates are available. For more information on the Estuarium, the field trips, and the educational programs, call 251-861-2141. Visit BeachGuide.com to find a vacation rental in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach.   .

Published on Wednesday, December 24, 2014