Video:Sea Life Arizona

Transcript:Sea Life Arizona

Hi, I'm Judy Hedding with About.com. I'm at Sea Life Arizona, in Tempe, let's go on a tour.

Fish to See at Sea Life Arizona

A visit to Sea Life is a visual and educational feast for all ages. You won't get lost as you follow the path that begins with displays of fish that are indigenous to the State of Arizona. From there you'll move on to a series of habitats that include a variety of sea creatures such as seahorses, jellyfish, rays, sharks, eels and, of course, all kinds of beautiful fish. You might even get to see giant Japanese spider crabs or other temporary exhibits.

Features for Kids at Sea Life Arizona

Children -- especially Arizona children who might not have seen one before -- love the aquarium. They can participate in quizzes and other activities during their visit to Sea Life Arizona, and at the end of the aquarium trail there's a playground where kids can expend any built up energy. Check the schedule for lectures, films and creature feedings that might be offered while you are there.

Keep in mind -- this isn't a California theme park. You won't see dolphin or sea lion shows at Sea Life Arizona. There are no penguin habitats here, and no killer whales. On the positive side, another thing you won't see here is a bunch of fish tanks lined up in a row. All the sea environments are designed for both the fish that live in them and for the pleasure of the humans watching them.

Accessibility Is a Key Feature 

It certainly is a colorful place, although some of the areas that you'll walk through are rather dark.Some people seem to be a little put off that Sea Life Arizona is at a mall, but once you're inside, that doesn't matter. One advantage to this location is that there's plenty of free parking, and it is accessible by public transportation.

Another plus to being at the mall is that your ticket entitles you to entry all day long -- you can visit Sea Life Arizona, do some shopping, have lunch at the food court or even see a movie, and then go back through Sea Life before you head for home. And let's not forget one of the biggest advantages to an indoor aquarium -- it's a cool place to be when it's over 100 degrees!

Guided Tours of Sea Life Arizona

For an additional fee, you can take a guided tour of the aquarium. It takes between an hour and an hour and a half, and includes a visit behind those doors that say "Employees Only" so you can see what goes on back there, too!As you might expect, Sea Life Arizona is a destination for schools and groups. If you would prefer not to visit while a hundred 1st Graders are on their field trip, you might call first and see what kind of groups are expected that day. Many of the areas within Sea Life Arizona are quite small, and when it is crowded it can be terribly noisy and difficult to maneuver. When are the best times to visit? Late afternoons or early evenings are probably your best bet.

For more information about Sea Life Arizona, visit us at About.com.