Want to see your child’s face light up? Take them on a trip to one of these coolest aquariums in the United States! There’s really nothing quite like seeing that look of awe on their faces when they catch a glimpse of all the amazing sea creatures floating around them. Aquariums aren’t just great places to look at fish, they are also incredible educational experiences. The best aquariums offer plenty of interactive, hands-on features. Here are some of the coolest aquariums in the United States to visit on your family vacation this summer.
Related: Fundy Discovery Aquarium in New Brunswick: Interactive Family Fun
Coolest Aquariums in the United States
Affiliate links included below.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is located in Monterey, California. The aquarium first opened its doors on October 20, 1984. The aquarium features about 450 paid staff along with over 1,200 volunteers and sees about 1.8 million visitors each year. There are several exhibits at the Monterey Bay Aquarium that feature birds, fishes, marine mammals, reptiles, octopus and invertebrates. Check out one of their newest members, a happy little horn shark!
Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium is located in Atlanta, Georgia. The aquarium first opened its doors on November 23, 2005. The aquarium is the largest in the Western Hemisphere and the 2nd largest in the world, with Singapore’s Marine Life Park being the 1st largest. Georgia Aquarium features five fascinating exhibits: Ocean Voyager, Dolphin Tales, Tropical Diver, River Scout and Cold Water Quest.
New England Aquarium
New England Aquarium is located in Boston, Massachusetts. The aquarium was established on June 20, 1969. It sees over 1.3 million visitors that walk through its doors every year. The aquarium is set on 75,000 square feet, featuring 20,000 animals from 600 different species. The main exhibit at the New England Aquarium is the Giant Ocean Tank, featuring 200,000 gallons and showcasing an array of sea life including sea turtles, moray eels, stingrays, and barracuda. They even have birthday celebrations for their animals!
The Florida Aquarium
The Florida Aquarium is located in Tampa Bay, Florida. The aquarium was established on March 31, 1995. The aquarium features 200,000 square feet with more than 20,000 sea animals and sea plants. It is set on Tampa’s Downtown Channel District and has accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The Florida Aquarium features five exciting exhibits: Wetlands Trail, Journey to Madagascar, Bays & Beaches, Ocean Commotion and Coral Reef.
Shedd Aquarium
The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago is the largest indoor aquarium in the entire world. More than 32,000 creatures spanning 1,500+ different species live at the not-for-profit aquarium, making it one of the most diverse aquariums. In fact, it’s known as “The World’s Aquarium.” The aquarium’s exhibits take on on a tour around the world, from the Amazon rainforest to the polar regions. Since the aquarium itself is situated on Chicago’s lakefront, you’ll also see plenty of marine life from the Great Lakes regions as well. This summer, they have an awesome feature called Sting Ray Touch. Check it out!
I forgot to mention the aquarium in Galveston Texas is a wonder in otself. Definitely a must see if you are in the area!
The aquariums in Baltimore, Virginia Beach, San Diego and Gulf Coast are some other beautiful aquariums to visit also.
This is good information right here. A great resource for the summer months
I always love visiting aquariums with my kids as they love fishes so much & I agree that they give some wonderful educational experience as well. Thanks for listing out these coolest aquariums which I will keep in mind during my journey.
My son loves going to aquariums! Taking note of these aquariums… who knows, we might be able to finally visit the US someday. :)
It was so wonderful place to visit. I want to go there together with my family.
I really love visiting aquarium with the kids, it’s such a great learning experience for them and it makes them more aware of their environment too. Thanks for this list, I hope we can go to at least one this season!