(This story was updated to add new information.)
Since it opened to the public on Oct. 8, the Mote Science Education Aquarium has become one of the hottest tickets in town.
A total of 22,853 people visited the aquarium from Oct. 8-14. That comes on the heels of 4,956 people who visited Oct. 6-7 during Mote preview days.
Located at Nathan Benderson Park near the popular University Town Center shopping and dining district — along the Sarasota-Manatee county line and highly visible to travelers on Interstate 75 — the sprawling campus will welcome guests eager to explore its 146,000 square feet of aquatic wonders.
How do I get tickets?
The aquarium is open to the public from 9:30 a.m to 5 p,m. Daily and is located at 225 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota.
There are 13 admission times to pick from starting at 9:30 a.m and ending at 3:30 p.m.
The best way to guarantee admission is to buy or reserve tickets online at mote.org. Many of the morning slots through the weekend are coming up as“sold out,” but there appears to be plenty of availability during the afternoon.
Mote officials established the admission times at 30 minute intervals to make sure visitors can enjoy their visit to the three-story aquarium.
How much does it cost to visit Mote SEA?
Adult admission can range from$32 to $37, depending on the day of the week and whether they are purchased early or the day of the visit.
Youth admission can range from $24 to $29, depending on the day of the week and whether they are purchased early or the day of the visit.
Children age 2 and younger are free.
How do I get to Mote SEA?
From Interstate 75, exit on University Parkway and then turn south on North Cattlemen Road and follow the signs to the east side of the University Town Center Mall and the Mote SEA parking area.
From Fruitville Road, it may be just as easy to take the scenic route north on North Cattlemen Road and follow the signs to the parking area.
Where can I park?
Most of the parking spaces are on the west side of a scenic pond and can be a healthy walk. But it’s also possible to take advantage of a drop-off loop so adults and accompanying children with strollers and seniors can be dropped off at the aquarium. Some patrons have parked in the east lot of UTC, which may be closer – but there is no formal agreement to allow parking there.
How long does it take to all of the aquarium?
Sure Moe SEA can be speed walked in an hour-and-a-half or so but it’s probably best to block off two or three hours, likely three hours with small children who may want to spend extra time with the manatees, river otters, Humboldt Penguins, the Giant Pacific Octopus – or spend extra times in the touch-tank areas with the rays, horseshoe crab and sea urchins.
What’s the best way to view Mote SEA?
The aquarium is designed to be experienced from the top down. An escalator takes visitors to the third floor, home of Stella and Fynn the river otters; Lou and Buffett, the manatees.
The second floor includes Indo-Pacific habitat tanks designed to showcase an environment similar to the Great Barrier Reef, the giant Octopus and Humboldt Penguins, and the top of the 20-foot tall, 400,000-gallon Gulf habitat tank.
The most spectacular view of the Gulf habitat is from the north side from the ground floor, where the glass arches over spectators, who can look up and see sharks and other Gulf fish swimming above their heads.
Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County as well as land development and environmental issues for the Herald-Tribune. Follow him on Facebook, and X. He can be reached by email at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Before you visit Mote SEA in Sarasota here’s what to know about tickets, parking, timing
Reporting by Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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