Perhaps no other Las Vegas attraction is as much an educational tool as it is a must-visit entertainment destination as Shark Reef Aquarium. Its very existence in the middle of the dry desert is amazing enough (considering it simulates a humid jungle region for its many denizens), and it’s been going strong for more than 20 years. That’s because its appeal is undeniable regardless of age. Whether you’re 9 or 90, this offers infinite wonders.

Despite what its name suggests, you don’t see sharks right away upon entering. The beginning of the experience features the aforementioned “jungle,” home to Johnston’s crocodiles and Komodo dragons, not to mention Burmese pythons and piranhas. You’ll also see South American species like pacu, arapaima, razorback catfish and motoro stingrays.

Then comes the shipwreck! Every week is Shark Week here, where there’s so many different species of shark, you’ll have a tough time telling them apart—blacktip and grey reef sharks, Galapagos and Port Jackson sharks, sandbar and sand tiger sharks, blacktip reef and whitetip reef sharks, bonnet head sharks and nurse sharks … It’s all very overwhelming in the very best way possible, as all swim around, above and under you.

And as if all this wasn’t enough, Shark Reef has added a very cool new feature: The Undersea Explorer virtual reality theater from Immotion. The 360-degree experience features motion platform seating, from which you can enjoy immersive shows like Shark Dive (where, thanks to a strategically placed camera, you can see what a shark sees). There’s also footage of mother humpback whales and their babies.

Of course, for safety, seats and VR goggles are cleaned between each group, and 6-foot social distancing guidelines are maintained at all times. (You must be at least 5 years old to enter this experience.)

Mandalay Bay, 702.632.4555

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