Have you ever been amazed by the bright colors of a coral reef or the smooth movements of a stingray? Or, are you craving for some deep-sea exploration without needing a wetsuit? Aquariums give you a special view of the underwater world. You can connect with marine life, learn about ocean conservation, and have a fun day with your family.
If you’re planning a road trip or looking for a local weekend activity, visiting an aquarium can be a great part of your adventure. Imagine standing before a huge tank, watching a whale shark swim by, or seeing playful sea otters up close. These experiences not only entertain but also teach you more about aquatic ecosystems.
In this blog, we’ll explore some of the best aquariums in the United States. From the large Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta to the beautiful Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, each place offers something unique and memorable.
1. Georgia Aquarium
- Business Hours: 9 am to 9 pm
- Address: 225 Baker St. NW, Atlanta, Georgia
- Admission Fee: $34.99 to $64.99
Have you ever seen a whale shark in person? The Georgia Aquarium is the only place in the U.S. where you can. The Ocean Voyager Exhibit, with its 100-foot-long acrylic tunnel and massive viewing window, lets you feel like you’re underwater with these gentle giants, manta rays, and other large marine species.
The aquarium offers interactive experiences where you can touch marine life in the touch pools, take behind-the-scenes tours, and even swim with whale sharks and manta rays. You can also interact with dolphins and sea lions. The seven major galleries showcase a variety of habitats, from the icy waters of the Cold Water Quest to the vibrant coral reefs of the Tropical Diver exhibit.
As one of the top aquariums in the U.S., the Georgia Aquarium is also a marine research and conservation leader. It offers educational programs and conducts important research to promote the preservation of aquatic biodiversity.
If you are planning a visit to the Georgia Aquarium and wondering where to stay, hotels in Georgia, like The Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center, are connected to the Georgia World Congress Center and are just a short walk from the Aquarium. It offers luxurious rooms, a fitness center, and multiple dining options. If you enjoy panoramic city views, the Westin Peachtree Plaza offers stunning views from its high-rise structure. It’s a bit further but still within walking distance of the aquarium.
2. Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Business Hours: 10 am to 6 pm
- Address: 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, California
- Admission Fee: Child: $45; Adult: $65
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is the second on our list of the best aquariums in the U.S.
It’s known for its stunning exhibits, groundbreaking marine research, and strong conservation efforts. Did you know it was the first aquarium to exhibit a living kelp forest? This three-story, 28-foot-tall exhibit gives you a diver’s-eye view of an ocean ecosystem, making you feel like you’re right there in the water.
Another great feature is the Open Sea Exhibit, a 1.2 million-gallon tank that showcases long-distance swimmers like green sea turtles, hammerhead sharks, and a massive school of Pacific sardines.
The aquarium is famous for its sea otter exhibit, where you can see rescued otters and learn about their recovery and restoration efforts. If you want to see a deep-sea creature up close, the “Into the Deep” exhibit boasts North America’s largest collection of deep-sea creatures, offering a rare glimpse into the ocean’s mysterious depths.
Regarding where to stay, there are some great hotels in Monterey. The InterContinental The Clement Monterey is just a short walk from the aquarium. This upscale hotel offers luxurious rooms with ocean views, an on-site restaurant, and a heated outdoor pool. Another excellent option is the Spindrift Inn, a few minutes’ walk from the aquarium. It has cozy rooms, a rooftop garden, and a complimentary continental breakfast.
3. Shedd Aquarium
- Business Hours: 9 am to 6 pm
- Address: 1200 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, Illinois
- Admission Fee: $38 to $43
The Shedd Aquarium is one of the oldest and largest indoor aquariums in the world, housing over 32,000 aquatic animals across 1,500 species. Thanks to its extensive and diverse collection of marine life, immersive exhibits, and unique interactive opportunities, a visit to the Shedd Aquarium is a worthwhile experience. It beautifully blends historical Beaux-Arts architecture with modern advancements in animal care and environmental education, complementing the other structures of the Museum Campus.
The Caribbean Reef exhibit features a 90,000-gallon tank with a 360-degree view of a vibrant underwater community. Here, you can spot sea turtles, sharks, and stingrays. If you’re fascinated by the Amazon, the Amazon Rising exhibit recreates the Amazon River basin, bringing you face-to-face with creatures like anacondas, piranhas, and crocodiles.
For a dive into a different part of the world, the Wild Reef provides a diver’s-eye view of a Philippine coral reef, showcasing 540 species of aquatic life and the Midwest’s largest public display of live corals. The Abbott Oceanarium is the world’s largest indoor marine-mammal pavilion and features beluga whales, dolphins, sea otters, and sea lions in a recreated Pacific Northwest coastal environment. It’s a unique way to experience marine life.
As one of the best aquariums in the U.S., it offers interactive experiences like shark feedings, penguin encounters, and the “Trainer for a Day” program, which lets you interact directly with the animals. Don’t miss the 4-D Experience, where you can enjoy aquatic-themed films with added physical effects like vibrating seats and air movements.
After enjoying the wonders of Shedd Aquarium, you’ll want a comfortable place to relax. Consider staying at hotels in Chicago. The Palmer House Hilton is just a short drive away. This historic hotel offers elegant rooms, a fitness center, and a stunning atrium. For a more modern experience, the W Chicago—City Center is close to the aquarium and features chic rooms and a lively bar.
4. National Aquarium
- Business Hours: 9 am to 6 pm
- Address: 501 E Pratt St., Baltimore, Maryland
- Admission Fee: Check the official website
The National Aquarium is known for its award-winning Blacktip Reef exhibit and a wide range of marine species. Through its various programs, it emphasizes conservation and education. One of the highlights of the top aquariums in the United States is the Upland Tropical Rain Forest. You can walk through a multi-story rainforest with lush vegetation and exotic wildlife featuring sloths and tropical birds. If you’re fascinated by coral reefs, the Atlantic Coral Reef exhibit offers a 335,000-gallon tank to get a diver’s perspective on a Caribbean reef.
If you want to see sharks, you’ll love Shark Alley, a 225,000-gallon exhibit where you can see large sharks up close. Have you seen an Australian river gorge in person? The Australia: Wild Extremes exhibit replicates this environment with free-roaming birds, lizards, and 70 other native species in Australia.
The aquarium also features a Marine Mammal Pavilion where you can see Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Although they’re currently there, there are plans to retire them to a sanctuary in the future. For a truly interactive experience, don’t miss the Living Seashore exhibit, where you can touch sea creatures like stingrays and moon jellies.
In the 4D Immersion Theater, the 15-minute viewing experience has sensory effects that make you feel like you’re part of the action. The Blacktip Reef exhibit, with its stunning Indo-Pacific reef and creatures like blacktip reef sharks and a green sea turtle, is another must-see. Plus, you can take behind-the-scenes tours at the Animal Care and Rescue Center to learn about the care and rehabilitation of rescued animals.
After a day at the National Aquarium, consider staying at one of the hotels in Baltimore. The Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore in the Inner Harbor offers luxurious rooms with waterfront views, a rooftop pool, and a relaxing spa. Alternatively, the Sagamore Pendry Baltimore in Fell’s Point combines historic charm with modern amenities, featuring stylish rooms, a courtyard, and an outdoor pool.
5. Mystic Aquarium
- Business Hours: 9 am to 6 pm
- Address: 55 Coogan Blvd, Mystic, Connecticut
- Admission Fee: $30 to $43
The Mystic Aquarium is a renowned marine aquarium featuring thousands of marine species. Its outdoor beluga whale habitat is the largest in the United States. If you’re a fan of sea lions, you’ll be thrilled to know that Mystic Aquarium is one of the two U.S. facilities that house Steller sea lions.
The aquarium also offers some fantastic interactive experiences. Have you ever touched a ray or shark? The touch pools at Mystic Aquarium let you do just that, making for a hands-on and engaging visit. If you’re into educational experiences, the aquarium provides a range of programs and special events that dive deep into marine science and conservation. Another highlight is the Dino Seas: An Immersive Journey exhibit. It combines marine life with prehistoric adventure through animatronic dinosaurs.
After a day of exploring the aquarium, you might be looking for hotels in Mystic to spend the night. The Hilton Mystic is just a short drive from the aquarium. It offers a fitness center, an indoor pool, and The IRONS restaurant. Another fantastic place to stay is the Inn at Mystic near the waterfront, with beautifully appointed rooms and scenic views of the Mystic Harbor and Fishers Island Sound.
6. Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
- Business Hours: 10 am to 5 pm
- Address: 1 Canal St, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Admission Fee: $25 to $49.95
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas offers an immersive journey through diverse aquatic environments. With over 10,000 animals from 530 species, this aquarium offers a fascinating journey through diverse aquatic environments, from the Caribbean Reef to the lush Amazon Rainforest.
When you walk through a 30-foot-long acrylic tunnel surrounded by a Caribbean reef, you’ll see moray eels, stingrays, and angelfish swimming all around you. If you’re into history, the Great Maya Reef exhibit lets you explore colorful fish and ancient submerged Mayan ruins through the 30-foot tunnel.
The Gulf of Mexico Exhibit offers a 400,000-gallon tank that simulates life around an offshore oil rig with sharks, sea turtles, and stingrays. Or maybe, you’re more interested in the Amazon-Orinoco rainforest? The climate-controlled glass cylinder there houses anacondas, macaws, and piranhas, giving you a peek into the rainforest’s rich biodiversity.
The Shark Discovery touch pool at the aquarium offers a hands-on marine experience. If you’re looking for something extra special, the Undersea Explorer Virtual Reality lets you experience the South Pacific, swim with humpback whales, or dive with tiger sharks—all from the comfort of a VR pod.
After all this excitement, consider staying at hotels in New Orleans, like the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, just a short drive from the aquarium. It offers comfortable rooms and a rooftop pool and is close to many other attractions. Another option is The Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter, which combines historic elegance with modern comforts and is far from the aquarium.
Takeaway
The best aquariums in the U.S. offer a magical glimpse into the underwater world. Imagine being awestruck by the beluga whales at Mystic Aquarium, exploring the vibrant Caribbean Reef at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, or marveling at the diverse marine life at the Georgia Aquarium. Each one promises a unique adventure and highlights the beauty of marine creatures while stressing the importance of conservation.
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