Boasting attractions such as a 750,000-gallon shark tank, a hands-on multimedia playground where guests can learn about (and even touch) fascinating creatures such as horseshoe crabs, and an Indo-Pacific coral reef filled with brightly colored tropical fish, Myrtle Beach’s Ripley’s Aquarium has already made a huge splash with families living on and visiting the Grand Strand. And soon, the aquarium — located at popular Myrtle Beach shopping/dining/entertainment complex Broadway at the Beach — expects to introduce an all-new reason to waddle onto the scene.
The aquarium plans to open its long-anticipated Penguin Playhouse exhibit, which designs indicate will occupy a 5,500-square-foot addition to the sprawling facility’s upper level, in late 2019. While specific details for the Myrtle Beach location have not yet been made public, a similar attraction at the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, features:
Regular opportunities to see the penguins swim, eat and play
An indoor/outdoor penguin habitat that allows guests to see the flightless aquatic birds up close and personal, from both above and below the water
Clear, crawl-through underwater tunnels that allow visitors to view swimming penguins from below the water’s surface
An enclosed pop-up area in the exhibit on the penguins’ private beach that allows visitors to get nose-to-beak with the creatures
Other cool offerings at the Tennessee attraction that could also be incorporated in Myrtle Beach include the chance to purchase an original, penguin-created artwork via the aquarium’s Penguin Painting program (with half the proceeds supporting a penguin-focused nonprofit) and the opportunity to (for an additional fee) get face to face with the exhibit’s playful African Penguins — plus pet a penguin and get a photo with one of the amazing birds — with the Penguin Encounter program.
To learn more about all of the unique aquatic offerings available at Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, visit the aquarium’s website. And, after taking in all the family-friendly experiences that Broadway at the Beach has to offer, guests at Ocean Reef Resort can make the quick trip back to their comfortable oceanfront accommodations and wide-ranging amenities for some rest and relaxation — and to gear up for another day of exploring the Grand Strand’s top attractions. Book your Ocean Reef getaway today!
