Boasting attractions such as a 750,000-gallon shark tank, an Indo-Pacific coral reef filled with brightly colored tropical fish, and a hands-on multimedia playground where guests can learn about (and even touch) fascinating creatures such as horseshoe crabs, Myrtle Beach’s Ripley’s Aquarium has already made a huge splash with families vacationing on the Grand Strand. And soon, the aquarium — located at popular Myrtle Beach shopping/dining/entertainment complex Broadway at the Beach — expects to have an all-new reason to waddle onto the scene.
The aquarium plans to open its long-anticipated Penguin Playhouse exhibition, which designs indicate will be housed in 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:
An indoor/outdoor penguin habitat that allows guests to see the flightless aquatic birds up close and personal, from above and below the water
Clear, crawl-through underwater tunnels that allow visitors to view swimming penguins from beneath the water’s surface
An enclosed pop-up area on the penguins’ in-exhibit private beach that allows visitors to get nose-to-beak with the creatures
Regular opportunities to see the penguins swim, eat and play
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 available at Broadway at the Beach, guests at Long Bay Resort can make the short trip back to their comfortable accommodations and luxurious oceanfront amenities for some rest and relaxation — and to gear up for another day of exploring the Myrtle Beach area. Book your Long Bay getaway today!
