Voted "America's Best Aquarium" multiple years in a row, Johnny Morris Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium (WOW) will bring a whole day [or two] of captivated and interactive attention during your family vacation to the Ozarks.
Impressively laid out and wonderfully designed, Wonders of Wildlife (WOW) in Springfield, Missouri, is a family favorite in our household. WOW is an easy-to-access family attraction located inside the Bass Pro Shop off W Sunshine St and S Campbell Ave.
The aquarium at Wonders of Wildlife holds a 1.5 million-gallon tank. It is home to more than 600 species of wildlife, including fish, mammals, reptiles, and birds. Focused on conservation, WOW works with over 40 conservation organizations throughout the nation. They've homed injured sea turtles and recovered 10,950,00 gallons of used saltwater annually.
Entry to the Wonders of Wildlife Museum is included with your aquarium ticket and is filled with Native American artifacts, history, and respectfully taxidermied wildlife native to the Ozarks region staged inside impressive realistic displays imitating their natural habitats. Plus, you'll get to watch a group of playful penguins swimming about in the second half of the museum.
The Experience
From entry to exit, the WOW captures the still of aqua life in a calm, a dimly lit lobby where you purchase tickets [or purchase tickets online a week ahead for discounted prices. My family has come here multiple times. Even when it's busy, there's never been an unreasonable wait time to get in, and the place is so large the crowd disperses quickly.
After buying your tickets, you walk through a rounded door into a circular room surrounded on every side by floor-to-ceiling tanks. My son is on the autism spectrum, in love with water and fish, and we always pause in this room for what feels like forever. Once we leave this room, there's an even cooler attraction, though.
Spanning from the bottom floor all the way up to the top, there is a large tank with hundreds (maybe thousands) of fish swimming in a circle. They "just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming, swimming"-Dory, Finding Nemo. I'm always mesmerized by these guys.
Circling the winding hallway like the fishes, you'll come into the Great Oceans Hall, which shouts fishing sport. They have a massive display of taxidermy sport fish, trophies, facts, and gear sprawled across a staircase landing that looks like it came from the Titanic. However, after seeing the rest of this aquarium in Springfield, you'll be so blown away you might forget how cool this spot was.
When I say they nailed this aquarium, I mean like architects should be taking notes; they did such a fantastic job! Each area of aqua life is themed to the habitat it would naturally live in. From the vegetation to the tanks, you see what each fish looks like in their own space. For a memorable experience, tanks have cutouts where the kids can crawl through tunnels to get a 360-degree view from inside the aquarium.
I can't pinpoint a favorite attraction in this place, so I'll highlight a few favorites aside from the previous mentions. Shipwreck Reef is by far my favorite room. With sharks swimming above you, and the most colorful fish here, the whole room is just like being in the middle of the ocean. My favorite little creature resides here, too, the octopus. He peeks in, pops out, and is just so interactive.
You'll run into owls, marmosets, eagles, snakes, and tarantulas as you explore the Wonders of Wildlife aquarium in Springfield, Mo. If you miss the otters, you'll have to come again. You won't miss the otters, though, because they'll call you to come to play! In my opinion, the crown jewel of the place is held as the last attraction.
On the bottom level is a large open tank where guests are invited to feed and pet stingrays. These guys welcome the attention too. They'll pop up, circle back, and say hello from underwater as you give them little fish and a pet on the back. Plus, the kids can color a shark, clamshell, or treasure box to put into the virtual aquarium on the walls of this space. Read more about it in our Drop-in Arts post.
Planning Your Visit
If you're planning a family vacation to the Ozarks, put the Johnny Morris Wonders of Wildlife aquarium on the list. It's open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 7 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.
Helpful tip: Prices are set at a variable rate. Tickets purchased upon entry will be the most expensive, so buy online ahead of time. Adult tickets range from $35 to $52 a piece, while a child's ticket costs $20 to $25. Military discounts are available.
There are a few add-ons that you can include to enhance your experience here. If you'd like to dive with the sharks, you can do so for a price between $65-$89. Suppose you'd like this experience during a feeding frenzy. In that case, you can do so on certain days at specific times for an additional $90-$114. You can also get up close and personal with the aquarium's penguins for an additional $30-$40.
Pro Tip: You can also watch scheduled fish feedings & learn about the fish from an experienced diver for free inside the Bass Pro Shop Uncle Buck's auditorium. Look for a sign near the camping section. We were lucky enough to catch a 3pm feeding. Public feedings are scheduled for Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays at 3pm.
Unless you want to swim with sharks, dress in comfortable clothing & walking shoes here. There's no climbing, navigating, or hiking, so casual wear is acceptable here. If you've got young kids in strollers, you'll have no problems with accessibility. There are elevators and ramps throughout the facility.
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The aquarium does have a dining facility and a snack bar. If you get hungry, you can eat here. The prices of food and drinks are what you'd expect at an aquarium, so we've always just eaten after. They do run a happy hour ticket special where you can get afternoon access to the museum, aquarium, and a $5 drink voucher for a discounted price. See our deals page for more info.
Is the Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium Worth it?
Absolutely! They've been voted "best" multiple years in a row for a reason. The aquarium is impressively designed and captivatingly laid out. It's interactive, engaging, and educational while also being an incredibly fun day.
You could easily make a day (or more) of the whole experience at the Bass Pro Shops HQ, which includes the Wonders of Wildlife. However, you can visit just the aquarium if you want. If you're spending a week in the Ozarks, other nearby stops like Fantastic Caverns or Dickerson Park Zoo are worth checking out!
Book Your Trip
As noted earlier, pre-planning this trip will save you a lot of money, so get your tickets online at least a week ahead.
If you're ready to make this destination official, we've included a couple of helpful links.
WOW Tickets: See Buying Options
Book a Hotel: Hop on Hilton Honors to find a nearby hotel at an affordable rate.
Rent a Car: Check availability and rates to rent a car to get you around Springfield, Missouri.