The South Carolina Aquarium is the place to be for the holidays. Guests can visit Santa, immerse themselves in waves of color from tens of thousands of lights, and enjoy the transformation as they journey through Aquarium Aglow.

It’s well-worth a day trip to Charleston to watch the animals snack on festive "fish pops" and frolic in their holiday-themed environment, and let the kids participate in a special scavenger hunt to win prizes. Bonus: Get up close and personal with the animals (accompanied by an educator, of course).

For truly immersive holiday fun, feed the “RAYndeer” by hand. Santa’s favorite cownose rays await their treats in The Shallows from 10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Feeding vouchers ($5) are available at Admissions and the Information desk.

Trying to decide when to make the trip? Santa will be coming to (Charles)town Dec. 4, 11, and 18 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Look for the special red mailbox for kids to drop their letters to the North Pole, and don’t forget the keepsake photo.

Bring the kids to visit with Santa (and mail their letters to the North Pole) Dec. 4, 11, or 18. | Photo provided by the South Carolina Aquarium

Pro tip: Reserve your tickets early to join in the fun — and consider giving yourself an early gift of membership. Aquarium members enjoy special privileges like discounts, unlimited visits, and the ability to skip the line with a reservation. Merry Fish-mas, Greenville.

Reserve tickets.*