Today, cool temperatures and rain greeted the McMackin family on their first day of vacation in Holden Beach. Instead of getting down, they decided to follow a friend's advice and head up to the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher.
"This is our first time here," said Jim McMackin.
Jim, his wife Karen and their sons, Jack and Josh, hail from Johnson City, Tenn.
The Aqaurium offered them an exciting opportunity to see animals they've never seen.
"The eel is fascinating," said Karen.
"Look, he's right there," said Jack, pointing excitedly to a chartreuse Moray keeping watch from under a rocky outcropping in the Cape Fear Shoals exhibit.
The Coquina Outcrop Touch Pool with its horseshoe crabs, sea urchins and sea stars also fascinated the McMackins.
From the fresh water habitats of the Cape Fear Conservatory to the colorful reefs teeming with hundreds of fish in the Marine Building, the McMackins discovered a visit to the Aquarium made their day.
"This is like a best kept secret," said Jim.
