Zoo Review: SEA LIFE Michigan

While the number of zoos in the United States seems to be holding pretty steady, public aquariums have proven to be increasingly prolific.  It seems that every city that currently doesn't have an aquarium is looking to add one, often as part of the revitalization of an area or a building in order to boost tourism.  Many have followed the path blazed by Baltimore, Chattanooga, Newport, et al - building a large complex on the city's waterfront.  Then there is SEA LIFE.

SEA LIFE could best be described as the Hard Rock Cafe of the zoo and aquarium world.  It's a chain-aquarium, owned by Merlin Entertainments, also known for its Legoland and Madame Tussaud's properties.  SEA LIFE aquariums are relatively small, kid-friendly aquariums, often built in shopping malls; for example, the old aquarium at Minnesota's Mall of America is now a SEA LIFE.  At the current time there are over fifty of these aquariums in over a dozen countries on four continents.  I recently visited by first, SEA LIFE Michigan, located at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, not far from Detroit.

I'll admit, I was skeptical of SEA LIFE (it's not me - they really do write themselves in all caps).  It was between the food court and a Rainforest Cafe, and I braced myself for a cheesy experience.  It didn't help when I entered and was immediately trapped in a corny theater that showed an educational cartoon, from which there was no escape - and believe me, I tried.  Fortunately, it was brief, and then I was able to explore the aquarium quietly and my leisure.

SEA LIFE Michigan has a basic, modest collection arranged in a series of themed galleries.  Many of the most popular aquarium species were to be found here, such as green moray, jellyfish, sea horses, and giant Pacific octopus.  One of the themed galleries was octopus-themed, which I must admit I enjoyed, seeing as it was one of the few places I'd ever seen different species of octopus.  There was a touch tank, a native trout display, and, towards the exit, an enormous Japanese spider crab in a circular tank.  The largest display featured an acrylic tunnel leading through some submerged oceanic ruins of the type that H. P. Lovecraft would have delighted in, while black-tipped reef sharks and a green turtle drifted about amicably.

I'll still admit, though, when I finished, my reaction was mostly... "that's it?"  I ended up going back and forth through the aquarium three times, during which I read every label and played with every interactive, just to make sure I wasn't missing anything.

While my primary interests are in birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, I do consider myself to be something of an aquarium connoisseur, and SEA LIFE Michigan... kind of bored me.  To be fair, though, I'm not the target audience.  It is very child-friendly, with lots of simple graphics and exhibits that feature conservation-themed messaging, and it's small size would make it ideal for families with small children.  Which is good, because I've long believed that zoos and aquariums are for everyone - not just elitist snobs like me.

SEA LIFE Michigan