Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

More than 300 distinct species, comprising a total of over 1,800 aquatic creatures, are on show at the Living Planet Aquarium. Admire the speed of the penguins, the magical beauty of sea horses, and touch a shark during your visit. The three main exhibition areas are Journey to South America, Ocean Explorer and Discover Utah.

Journey to South America groups a number of fascinating and deadly animals together. Piranhas are small, but they hunt in shoals and can strip the skeleton of a large mammal in minutes when caught up in their feeding frenzy. Anacondas, alligators and electric eels are other hugely dangerous predators who roam the rainforest, and can be seen here.

Swift gentoo penguins can reach speeds of 27 kilometres per hour, and you can enjoy getting up close with them during the daily 45-minute Penguin Encounter special tour, led by marine biologists. This tour must be booked in advance and is subject to a supplementary charge.

Feel a small leopard shark or a stingray at the Touch Pool in the Ocean Explorer area. Stop by during feeding time, which takes place on a number of occasions throughout the day. A tough 18-kilogram green sea turtle is also on show here – he survived both a shark bite and being hit by a boat before being taken to his new home at Living Planet Aquarium.

Playful local river otters are the stars of the show in Discover Utah. They love to show off to visitors, juggling and sliding around their enclosure.

Light snacks are available from the café, while the gift shop offers t-shirts, art and science kits and books to continue the learning when you get home.

Living Planet Aquarium is located in the town of Sandy, a 20-minute drive from central Salt Lake City. There is free parking available, and there’s a public bus stop nearby. There are regular workshops and events open to the public: check out the website before your visit. The aquarium is open daily, except for Christmas Day and Thanksgiving.