Traveling with children can be stressful, but choosing the appropriate family-friendly attractions can mean the difference between a trip you’ll remember for years to come and one that will push you to the limit and have you vowing never to travel with children again. A visit to the aquarium is always a winner, just like a full day at any of the fantastic zoos. Everyone will learn a thing and have a great day thanks to the intriguing marine life, helpful staff, and interactive exhibits. So, here are the 15 best aquariums in the US 2023.
15 Best Aquariums in the U.S
1. Georgia Aquarium (Atlanta, GA)
The Georgia Aquarium, the biggest aquarium in the world, welcomes guests to get up close and personal with beluga whales, sea lions, dolphins, penguins, sharks, and rays! This venerable Atlanta landmark also guarantees a particular pleasure for young children: the opportunity to play with costumed characters, participate in crafts, hear stories, and plunge into the water with slippery aquatic creatures. Unquestionably, one of the best Aquariums in the US.
2. Monterey Bay Aquarium (Monterey, CA)
The Monterey Bay Aquarium, which houses more than 500 distinct marine species, is situated on the famous Cannery Row and is a national treasure for education and conservation. Kids may play on a waterbed, explore a magical kelp forest, and see penguins receiving food at the incredibly interactive Splash Zone.
3. New England Aquarium (Boston, MA)
Be sure to visit the New England Aquarium if you’re taking your family to Boston. A huge IMAX 3D cinema, interactive displays, and whale-watching trips are available through a collaboration with Boston Harbor City Cruises, which depart from Central Wharf, at this enormous marine facility on Boston Harbor.
4. Shedd Aquarium (Chicago, IL)
The expansive Great Lakes exhibit, which features several of the region’s infamous native animals, is unquestionably the Shedd Aquarium’s best feature. Visitors may also get up close and personal with toothy sea lamprey and touch sturgeon, a scale-free fish that dates back to the time of the dinosaurs.
5. Seattle Aquarium (Seattle, WA)
The Seattle Aquarium is a family vacation you can feel happy about because of its ongoing focus on ecology and its goal to enhance the health of Puget Sound. It certainly helps that the area is teeming with indigenous marine life, from birds that breed on the rocky coastlines of the Pacific Northwest to tidal pool dwellers like hermit crabs and deep-dwelling splitnose rockfish.
6. Audubon Aquarium of the Americas (New Orleans, LA)
With intriguing marine life displays from the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico, the aquarium in New Orleans, which is located close to the French Quarter, showcases its Southern heritage. There is also a Geaux fish exhibit that showcases Louisiana’s fishing industry. This New Orleans favorite also safeguards rare and endangered animals like African penguins and white alligators.
7. Oregon Coast Aquarium (Newport, OR)
The Oregon Coast Aquarium offers a variety of activities if one has the time. When you watch sea lions and harbor seals swim through the ocean and try to discover the elusive gigantic Pacific octopus, you are transported back in time to the Paleozoic era. You may also find out about the coho salmon’s yearly migrations.
8. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (Powell, OH)
There are more than just adorable land animals at the expansive Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The Shores & Aquarium’s numerous bodies of water are home to an incredible variety of marine life. Meet amiable manatees, let the kids hold sea urchins, and observe zebra sharks that resemble torpedoes. It’s definitely one of the best aquariums in the US.
9. The Florida Aquarium (Tampa, FL)
Exploring the ocean floor is best done at the Florida Aquarium. It is teeming with aquatic creatures from aquatic settings that surround the Sunshine State. Sharks, coral groups, and local groups of sea turtles are the focus of conservation efforts. Join a naturalist-led dolphin cruise on the Bay Spirit II for a 75-minute opportunity to observe magnificent aquatic mammals in the wild.
10. New York Aquarium (Brooklyn, NY)
The New York Aquarium is a must-see if you’re making travel plans. You can anticipate thrilling performances at the Aquatheater, rides, feedings of sea otters, close experiences with animals, and the popular Spineless exhibit, which features gorgeously weird invertebrates like moon jellies, zombie worms, and the very clever Pacific octopus.
11. Maui Ocean Center (Wailuku, HI)
Hawaii offers a wealth of exciting activities. The Maui Ocean Center earns a spot on that list if you are interested in deep sea secrets and marine conservation. It’s a great location to see green sea turtles and the rare Hawaiian monk seal. Parents and children can learn the value of protecting the ecology below the tides with the Ocean Aloha program.
12. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies (Gatlinburg, TN)
Glass-bottomed boat excursions and multiple fish-filled rooms at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies provide visitors with an up-close view of the aquatic world. Children will go absolutely crazy with the penguin sketching experience and the amusingly called Touch a Ray Bay.
13. Alaska SeaLife Center (Seward, AK)
The aquarium is located in Seward, a town near the entrance to the Kenai Fjords National Park. Everyone can learn about a wide variety of local creatures here. Begin by introducing yourself to the Giant Pacific Octopus, Wolf Eel, Horned Puffin, and Stellar Sea Lion. Octopuses can be fed by visitors, who can also learn about the region’s wildlife and see how the staff takes care of it from behind the scenes.
14. SeaWorld (San Diego, CA)
SeaWorld is a supersized aquarium. The entire family will have fun, from the iconic shows to animal encounters. Potential marine biologists might visit an aquarium, feed the turtles, or go dolphin- and killer whale-swimming. The park’s numerous thrills and rides will keep a person just following along thrilled for an entire day of enjoyment.
15. Newport Aquarium (Newport, KY)
From Cincinnati, just hop over the Ohio River to Newport, the home of Newport Aquarium. Kids will enjoy making their own seahorses, balancing on the stretched rope bridge over a shark tank, and exploring the tidal pools up close. Even the youngest loved ones will enjoy learning about marine life thanks to the variety of interactive events and exhibitions, such as art booths and treasure hunts.
Conclusion
And that was our list of the 15 best aquariums in the US in 2023. These aquatic attractions draw visitors who want to be captivated by a wide variety of unusual and fascinating aquatic animals from varied ecosystems and bodies of water. The aquariums listed here definitely meet the requirements.
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