Trip Overview
Date: June 27, 2026
Who: Me, Michael, and Frankie (age 4)
Where: Mississippi Aquarium, Gulfport, Mississippi
After spending the night at Margaritaville Resort in Biloxi, we headed over to the Mississippi Aquarium before driving home. It was the perfect way to end our weekend getaway, giving Frankie one last adventure before the two-hour drive back to Louisiana.
The aquarium opens at 10:00 a.m., which felt late for our early-rising family (our four-year-old was ready to go long before then!). If your kids are early birds like ours, plan for a leisurely breakfast before heading over.
Admission isn’t cheap, but when compared to other regional aquariums—like Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans—it felt much more reasonable. Plus, the aquarium is clean, beautifully designed, and offers plenty to see for families with young children.
What to Expect
One thing that surprised us was how much of the aquarium is outdoors. There are two large indoor exhibit buildings connected by outdoor pathways featuring animal habitats, so if you’re visiting during the summer, be prepared for plenty of sunshine and heat. Sunscreen, hats, and water bottles are definitely recommended.
Despite the outdoor layout, we thought the exhibits flowed well and made it easy to explore at your own pace.
We started our visit in the Changing Tides building, where we were immediately greeted by colorful tropical fish and one of the aquarium’s octopuses. It was an impressive first stop and quickly grabbed Frankie’s attention.
One feature we especially loved was the number of tunnels, caves, and viewing windows built specifically for children. Instead of simply looking through glass, kids can crawl into small openings that let them get face-to-face with many of the animals. These interactive viewing areas kept Frankie engaged throughout our visit.
This building also offers a motion ride experience for an additional fee, but we decided to skip it this time.
The Aquatic Wonders building was one of our favorite parts of the aquarium.
On the upper level, you’ll find the touch pools where visitors can gently interact with stingrays, small sharks, and other sea life. Frankie loved getting close enough to touch the animals, and the staff was wonderful about answering questions and helping younger children feel comfortable.
As we explored the lower levels, we walked through a beautiful underwater tunnel surrounded by fish swimming overhead. It was one of the most impressive exhibits in the aquarium and a highlight of our visit.
Throughout the building, there are several interactive exhibits designed with children in mind, making it easy to keep little ones interested between animal displays.
Outdoor Animal Habitats
Before the afternoon heat really set in, we explored the outdoor exhibits.
Here you’ll find animals native to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, including:
- American alligators
- North American river otters
- Beavers
- Coastal birds inside the walk-through aviary
Our favorite outdoor exhibit was easily the dolphins.
The dolphin habitat allows visitors to watch from both above and below the water, giving two completely different perspectives. Watching them swim underwater was especially fun, and the aquarium also offers scheduled dolphin presentations and paid dolphin encounters for guests looking for an even more interactive experience.
There’s also a café located in this area if you want to stop for lunch during your visit.
What Frankie Loved
Like most four-year-olds, Frankie moved through the exhibits quickly, but a few things really stood out:
- Crawling through the kid-sized tunnels to get closer to the animals
- Touching the stingrays
- Watching the dolphins swim underwater
- Picking out a stuffed turtle from the gift shop before we left
Tips for Visiting
- Arrive when the aquarium opens to avoid the hottest part of the day.
- Bring sunscreen since much of the aquarium is outdoors.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes because you’ll be moving between buildings.
- Budget extra time if your children enjoy interactive exhibits or you’d like to attend a dolphin presentation.
- Save room in your budget for the gift shop if you’re traveling with kids!
Final Thoughts
We really enjoyed our visit to the Mississippi Aquarium and would absolutely recommend it for families with young children.
The exhibits are beautifully designed, there are plenty of interactive experiences to keep kids engaged, and seeing the dolphins from both above and below the water was something we haven’t experienced anywhere else.
We spent about an hour exploring, but families with older children—or kids who like to linger at each exhibit—could easily spend two to three hours here.
If you’re planning a weekend on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the Mississippi Aquarium makes an excellent stop and pairs perfectly with a stay in Biloxi or Gulfport.
