No matter the season, aquariums are a popular family must-see when traveling. From the touch pools to the massive tanks full of sea life, the magic of a beluga whale and the thrills of a sea lion show, an aquarium visit is always sure to be a hit with kids and family members of all ages.
Miami mom Jennifer Nicholson tries to make it a point to visit aquariums wherever they go.
“We travel often for gymnastics and in every city, we always hit the aquarium,” she said.
The family has visited the New England Aquarium in Massachusetts ("Always one of our favorites!"); Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga ("Loved this, what a great town to visit!"); Frost Science Museum in Miami, Fla. ("Amazing place!"); the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta ("This place wowed us!"); and the Florida Aquarium in Tampa ("Great for little ones, and it had a rooftop splash pad!") ... just to name a few.
Want to plan a trip around a particular aquarium destination? Here are 14 suggestions from parents around the country:
Northeast United States
New England Aquarium
Boston, Mass.
“It's tops in research and the giant ocean tank wins awards for recreating a coral reef environment," said Jennifer Chasse, a former New Englander turned Virginian, about the New England Aquarium. The aquarium is home to thousands of sea creatures including two giant Pacific octopuses, sea dragons, green sea turtles, northern fur seals and more. Families will want to spend a lot of time just admiring the sea life in the giant centralized tank. Families can also book one of the aquarium's special animal encounters such as a meet and greet with harbor seals, a behind-the-scenes tour with marine mammals, or even a whale watch.
"The aquarium is right on the shore, allowing it to build exhibits that involve the ocean," Chasse said. "Most of my life I lived within 45 minutes of Boston, and this is certainly one of Boston's gems. So worth the visit!"
Mystic Aquarium
Mystic, Conn.
For some New Englanders, the Mystic Aquarium is a welcome alternative to the larger New England Aquarium.
"We enjoy Boston, of course, but found Mystic to be much more manageable for our 4-year-old," said Lindsay Hollenbaugh, a Western Massachusetts mom.
Visitors can take a peek a the aquarium's animal rescue clinic, catch a sea lion show, partake in an interactive experience at Ray Touch, Shark Encounters, or Discover Long Island Sound, and mug for a photo with the beluga whales.
"I could watch the beluga whales all day," said Laurie Corbett of Rockland, Mass. "The seals and sea lions show, too."
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Julie Holland, Mystic Aquarium, Conn. | Holli Carlin, Adventure Aquarium, N.J. |
 Amy Breault, Georgia Auqairum, Atlanta, GA. |
Adventure Aquarium
Camden, N.J.
Adventure Aquarium is the only aquarium in the U.S. with a great hammerhead shark living in captivity. That alone might convince parents that this is a venue worth visiting. But New Jersey mom Holly Carlin has a slew of other reasons why the Adventure Aquarium should be part of a family's Aquarium Bucket List.
"Touch tanks — lots of them," she said.
Carlin also said that the hippos are a must-see, as well as the penguins and sharks (check the website before you go to try to make it to one of the many daily feedings). There are also stingrays, turtles, frogs, reef fish, a little outdoor playground, and more. One more note from Carlin, "Don't miss the shark bridge! It's a little walkway that goes right over the shark tank."
The National Aquarium
Baltimore, Md.
Home to more than 20,000 animals, you'll never lack for something to see at the National Aquarium in Baltimore.
"I grew up going to the Baltimore Aquarium, which is incredible," said Janel Plunkard, a Springfield, Mo. mom.
Explore the wild extremes of Australia, Shark Alley, the Living Seashore, and more.
"I loved visiting the National Aquarium in Baltimore as a kid with my family and on school field trips," Plunkard said. "The Blacktip Reef exhibit brought sharks and tropical fish up close for viewing ... The Dolphin Discovery show and exhibit was always an exciting experience. The Tropical Rain Forest Exhibit, with its birds and warm climate, at the top of the aquarium was always a favorite part, too."
View the museum's live Blacktip Reef Sharks, Blue Blubber Jellies and Pacific Coral Reef webcams.
Southern United States
South Carolina Aquarium
Charleston, S.C.
LEGO and marine life fans alike will enjoy a visit to the South Carolina Aquarium. Through the end of January, more than 250,000 LEGO bricks make up a dozen sculptures of animals that call South Carolina home, displayed throughout the aquarium. Exhibits guide visitors from the mountains to the sea highlighting South Carolina’s native plants and animals. Plus you won't want to miss the Kids Coast discovery area and a sea turtle hospital.
“It is right by the waterway, so a great place to take the kids and they have a nice lunch outside overlooking the sites,” said Shelley Lapham-Pastore of Knoxville, Tenn. “They have some really great exhibits and there is a lot to see and do around the aquarium area.”
Georgia Aquarium
Atlanta, Ga.
Fans of the Animal Planet's "The Aquarium" will definitely want to book a stay in Atlanta and a visit to the Georgia Aquarium.
"It’s a nonprofit and the largest aquarium in the western hemisphere," Louisiana mom, Tiffany Olmstead said.
Visitors will definitely want to catch a glimpse of the largest fish in the sea, the aquarium's resident whale shark. You'll also want to learn about the museum's conservation and research efforts and explore the aquarium's own Dolphin Coast, which is home to the bottlenosed dolphin. You also won't want to miss the California sea lions at SunTrust Pier 225.
One definite must do? "A Behind The Seas Tour, which led us above the tanks and through the back hallways where we learned more about how the aquarium is run, how the animals are cared for, and an up-close look at the penguin nursery," wrote a group of Macaroni Kid publisher moms who visited the aquarium last year.
Visit Georgia Aquarium's webcams at georgiaaquarium.org/webcam.
Clearwater Aquarium
Clearwater, Fla.
Home to the famed dolphins Winter and Hope of the movie "Dolphin Tale," the smaller Clearwater Aquarium is growing every year in size and in its animal rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
"The trip was so much more than just a day trip for us," said Amesbury, Mass., mom and fourth-grade teacher Tiffany Houle after her Florida vacation last year. "We learned so much visiting the hospital wing and made sure to say 'hello' to Nicholas, a resident dolphin."
Along with dolphin viewing, highlights include turtle tanks, sea otter viewing, and a pelican exhibit.
Visitors can enhance their visit with one of the aquariums' eco-boat tours, behind-the-scenes tours, or animal care experiences.
View the aquarium's dolphin cams at seewinter.com/animals/webcams.
 Shelley Lapham-Pastor, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Tenn. |
 Janel Plunkard, Wonders of Life Aquarium, Mo. |  Zulema Gomez, Shark Reef Aquarium, Nev. |
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Home to more than 100,000 exotic sea creatures, this is the perfect sized aquarium for families. “Not too big, but still very informative and fun,” said Tennessee mom Megan Vargas. The aquarium features a touch ray tank, glass-bottom boat tours, penguin encounters, a centrally located children’s play area, and more.
“The penguin encounter is the cutest,” said Vargas. “They offer an opportunity to actually meet and touch the penguins."
Midwestern United States
Shedd Aquarium
Chicago, Ill.
Chicago mama Melissa Alcorn said she would definitely recommend a trip to the Shedd Aquarium in the city.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “They are home to eight beluga whales and have great animal encounter opportunities.”
While there, families can visit the Polar Play Zone where children watch the sea lions, dolphins, sea otters, and beluga whales at the Oceanarium, a stingray touch tank, and exhibits that feature animals native to oceans, lakes, and rivers.
“We love the Shedd,” said Tina Villalobos, a New York mom. “There’s a great dolphin show and it’s right next to the planetarium.”
Wonders of Wildlife
Springfield, Mo.
Janel Plunkard may have grown up visiting the National Aquarium in Baltimore, but now she lives in Springfield, Mo., and highly recommends her new local aquarium.
"Wonders of Wildlife is phenomenal. It was recently voted America’s Best Aquarium and New Attraction by USA Today readers,” she said.
Children can “step inside” the piranha tank, witness 6,000 herring fish swim in formation, or become mesmerized by the jellyfish tanks.
“We learned a lot about local habitats and what lives in the lakes and streams of the Ozarks. The kids loved the stingray tank, where they could touch the rays as they swam past,” said Plunkard. “We all enjoyed the viewing capsules that you can climb under to catch a different view of the fish — our favorites were the piranha and clownfish capsules!”
Western United States
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey, Calif.
Mary Campbell and her family are also big fans of the Monterey Bay Aquarium and mini-experts of sorts.
"My husband's grandma is a docent there, so we are there a couple of times a year," she said.
With 13 exhibits, 19 species of birds, 160-plus species of fish, 14 different marine mammals and more, there is plenty to see at this California aquarium.
Visitors to Monterey Bay also have the opportunity to see nine daily feedings and shows. They include a penguin, sea otter, open water, and kelp feeding sessions, as well as "Luna: A Sea Otter Story," "Project White Shark," "Mysteries of the Deep," and more.
"The aquarium is geared toward all age groups, with varying kids areas for them to get hands-on with underwater adventure," Campbell said. "They offer plenty of educational 'chats' with marine biologists that are really fun, even one where the scuba diver is mic’ed and taking questions while in the tank with the marine life."
Experience views from 10 aquarium live webcams at montereybayaquarium.org/animals-and-exhibits/live-web-cams.
Shark Reef Aquarium
Las Vegas, Nev.
One of Zulema Gomez's family's favorite activities in Las Vegas is a visit to the Shark Reef Aquarium in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. This California family has become enamored with all-things at the aquarium, especially with its exhibits of sea life from tropical habitats including piranhas, alligators, and snakes. With 14 exhibits consisting of nearly 1.6 million gallons of water, this Las Vegas attraction is also home to 15 species of sharks, exotic fish, turtles, and more.
"Also, it is a quiet, peaceful family refuge from the business of Las Vegas," said Gomez.
 Renae Gonzalez, Waikiki Aquarium, Hawaii |
 Mary Campbell, Maui Ocean Center, Hawaii |  Mary Campbell, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Calif. |
Waikiki Aquarium
Oahu, Hawaii
There’s no doubt Brentwood, California, mom of two, Renae Gonzalez, would plan another trip to Oahu just to visit the Waikiki Aquarium.
“It is amazing,” she said. “It’s the second-oldest public aquarium in the United States and it’s on the beach, so it’s beautiful.”
Unique exhibits include the Jet Set exhibit, which highlights sea creatures who use jet propulsion to move around. There's also the Amazing Adaptations exhibit, featuring seahorses, seadragons, and pipefish. But that’s not all.
“They have a monk seal that my girls loved,” Gonzalez added. “And an Edge of the Reef exhibit where you can see things that you’d see along Hawaii’s reef and touch some of the animals found in local tide pools.”
Get a sneak peek of HΕΚ»ailona the monk seal on the aquarium’s webcam at waikikiaquarium.org/experience/webcam.
Maui Ocean Center
Maalaea, Hawaii
California mom Mary Campbell says her family's Hawaii favorite is the Maui Ocean Center.
"It's so unique. All the reef is grown naturally inside the aquarium and they only keep the animals in the aquarium for a short time and then cycle them back into the ocean," she said.
All of the species in the aquarium are native to the North Pacific Ocean, as it's the center's mission "to foster understanding, wonder, and respect for Hawaii’s marine life," according to its website.
Families can visit Turtle Lagoon to see Hawaiian green sea turtles; view the Open Ocean Exhibit where sharks, stingrays, and hundreds of fish share the sea together; or take a behind-the-scenes tour of the aquarium. Another aquarium must-see and one of Maui's best attractions is the aquarium's Humpbacks of Hawaii Exhibit and Sphere. It uses cutting-edge audio and visual technology to bring visitors "eye-to-eye with humpback whales in their realm beneath the sea."
This aquarium has a live webcam that captures outdoor views of the park and marina at mauioceancenter.com/explore/live-cam-gallery.
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