Odds are your kids have finally seen the movie Jaws (it’s streaming everywhere these days), and odds are they might be a bit … obsessed with sharks at the moment. If that’s the case, there’s a perfect attraction for families in Las Vegas that will create memories to last a lifetime. Shark Reef Aquarium is one of the most unique destinations in the world—after all, if someone said you could find denizens of the briny deep in the middle of the desert, would you believe them?

But believe it, because not only does this manmade wonder feature sharks (and a huge variety of them to boot), it’s got more than 2,000 creatures, all of them in no way indigenous to the Mojave Desert. You’ll start your journey by marveling at how humid it is; Shark Reef Aquarium simulates the climate necessary to sustain this life, and it might take a second or two to get used to. But ultimately it becomes a vital part of the experience. This is no simulation; it’s all very real, and when you see some of the animals close up, it can almost be a little unnerving.

For example, there’s no way you would ever want to approach Komodo dragons, Johnston’s crocodiles or piranhas, but there they are, all just a bit behind the see-through partitions. Menacing? Oh yeah. Fascinating to look at? Absolutely. You quickly realize it’s possible to lose hours here—watching some of these creatures, from Burmese pythons to South American species like pacu, arapaima, razorback catfish and motoro stingrays, can be absolutely hypnotic.

When you do get to the sharks, it’s almost overwhelming, as there are so many to look at. A simulated shipwreck is visible through a large viewing area (a tunnel allows you to see fish swim all around you). You may not know exactly what type of shark you’re looking at, and that’s understandable; the varieties here include blacktip, grey reef, Galapagos, Port Jackson, sand tiger, sandbar, whitetip reef, bonnet head, nurse … we suggest taking lots of pictures here. Maybe there’s a shark expert back home who can help you figure it all out.

Perhaps the best thing about Shark Reef is that it makes you want to know more about the world you live in, that life is everywhere, and that our perspective is severely limited. And for a truly different perspective, check out the Undersea Explorer virtual reality theater. Created by Immotion, this 360-degree experience features motion platform seating, from which you can enjoy shows like Shark Dive (where, thanks to a strategically placed camera, you can see what a shark sees).

Shark Reef currently has timed ticket entry, so reserve your spot in advance (good for the one-hour window selected). And a limited number of anytime tickets lets you enter any hour until 5 p.m. on your date of entry.

Mandalay Bay, 702.632.4555

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