SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium at Mall of America is calling November Military Appreciation Month. From Nov. 1 through Nov. 30, military members get in free, and veterans and active-duty service members can buy admission for up to 6 friends or family members at 30% off.
Read the fine print, though. The aquarium says at least 1 discounted Friends & Family ticket has to be purchased before the free military ticket can be redeemed. A service member going alone doesn't get in free. One who brings a spouse, a kid over 2 or a buddy does. That makes it more of a family-outing deal than a solo freebie.
To qualify, you have to show a valid military ID, veteran ID or military pay stub at the admissions counter. Kids 2 and under get in free any time, deal or no deal. The aquarium also warns that ticket availability is limited.
The 2 official listings don't agree on how to buy. The mall's calendar says onsite purchase only. SEA LIFE's own promotion page says the offer is redeemed onsite but also says tickets must be booked online in advance. Before you load up the minivan, call the aquarium at 952-883-8800 or check the offer page to find out which process applies.
The deal runs during regular hours, which SEA LIFE currently lists as 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The aquarium is on the mall's lower level, with an address of 2131 Lindau Lane. The promotion page doesn't list regular ticket prices, so the size of that 30% discount depends on the day ticket price when you buy.
The offer is good only in November 2026, and it ends with the month. If you were planning a stingray-and-shark visit with a service member anyway, Veterans Day weekend is an obvious time to go. With the mall's holiday crowds already building, a weekday morning is probably calmer.
