Visit SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium at Great Lakes Crossing
SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium, home to an exciting collection of sea creatures. A couple weeks back we had the opportunity to visit the much anticipated SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium at Great Lakes Crossing. At first glance, the attraction seems small but it goes on forever into a series of exhibits and corridors.We were fortunate enough to go on a guided tour with the Trade Sales Coordinator, Dawn. She was warm and welcoming and her excitement about the aquarium was contagious!
Our first stop was the interactive portion of the aquarium where staff encouraged me to touch shrimp, horseshoe crabs and chocolate chip starfish while regaling me with fascinating facts about the animals within. I even got a “hug” from a prickly sort of crustacean, who we assumed at first might sting.
From there we moved on to see sea horses, an exotic bread of fish that lives its entire life hovering in a vertical position and a breed of male fish who carry their babies in their mouths during gestation.
The aquarium also contained an exhibit full of fish native to Michigan. Sea Life Aquariums exist throughout the United States and in Europe and each aquarium boasts an exhibit in honor of the fish and other creatures native to that region. This appealed to my teaching background and we were informed that school field trips are encouraged and that the staff is looking into ways to make overnight trips a possibility.
Our favorite parts of the aquarium were discovered toward the end of the trip. The first of these was an aquarium tunnel – surrounded by water on three sides, it’s surreal to watch a giant sea turtle named Benson and a variety of sharks swim over my head without worrying about being eaten alive!
In the next tank, we were introduced to Jeff the Electric Eel – who no longer zaps – and we began to discuss the aquarium’s rescue and conservation efforts. Jeff, has been transferred to the aquarium to live out the rest of his days quite comfortably – in spite of his lack of defense mechanisms – and his bright green mug seems perfectly content to be right there. Benson the sea turtle is also among the rescues. He came with a cracked shell – which made it impossible for him to dive for food. He now proudly wears a weight on his back helping him to move through the tank- and is quite convinced he owns the place. The sting rays who live there are also rescued – no longer able to grow barbs , and the sea horses We mentioned before – an endangered species – are being bred and raised within the facility.
On our way out of the exhibit, I noticed a sign for Merlins Magic Wand a charity that helps disadvantaged, disabled and seriously ill children experience the magic of the aquarium through donations from the public.
Not only does the Sea Life Aquarium make the world a better place through conservation but also by enriching the lives of our most precious resource – our children. This magical place should be visited and supported by all who look for ways to make the world a better place.
Review by Emily
FunInTheD.com
Explore The Sea Life Aquarium
Website: https://www.visitsealife.com/michigan/
Address: Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, 4316 Baldwin Road, Auburn Hills, MI 48326
