Topsail Aquarium

The main aquarium in the area is the Topsail Aquarium, located in Surf City, NC. It is a delightful, small-scale, and interactive facility known as the "Topsail Touch Tank Aquarium," which focuses on education and conservation, particularly highlighting local marine species. It is celebrated for providing hands-on experiences, allowing visitors, especially children, to safely interact with marine life in touch tanks, which often include stingrays, horseshoe crabs, hermit crabs, and various small fish. The staff are noted for being friendly and knowledgeable, enhancing the learning experience. The aquarium's exhibits often feature both local catch-and-release species and non-local marine and reptilian life.