If you are an animal lover or looking to get your children interested in the world of marine life, then the best aquariums in the U.S. should be on your bucket list! This article will explore seven of America’s most popular aquariums and what makes them so extraordinary. We will discuss their location, entrance fee cost, hours of operation, and other details that could make these attractions a memorable experience for any traveler!
This list is not in any particular order. In fact, you could argue that all seven of these places are amongst the best! After reading this article, we hope you have a better idea about which aquariums to visit and why they’re so special.
Aquarium Of The Pacific, California
Let’s get started with number seven on our list: The Aquarium Of The Pacific in Long Beach, California.
Located in the southern part of the U.S., The Aquarium Of Pacific is a world-class attraction that offers nearly two million gallons worth of aquatic exhibits from over 100 different species! This aquarium has been around for almost 20 years and holds one impressive distinction: it’s considered one of the world’s largest aquariums.
Ticket prices are $29 for adults and $19 for children, seniors, and military personnel, with discounts available. A parking fee of about ten dollars is also applicable if you choose to drive yourself there instead of taking public transportation! As far as hours go, they’re open from nine a.m until five p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m until five p.m on Sundays!
Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta
Next, we have the Georgia Aquarium located in Atlanta, Georgia, with over ten million gallons of water to explore! This aquarium is home to more than 100 different habitats filled with aquatic life from worldwide, including whale sharks, manta rays, and beluga whales. Kids will be delighted by the petting pools, live animal encounter shows, and much more!
This aquarium is open seven days a week with general admission tickets costing $35 for adults and $24 for children three through twelve years old. Senior citizens get in at a discounted price of only ~$29, while military personnel receives a massive discount of $24. Group rates are available as well!
Hours vary from seven a.m until six p.m; during the weekdays and ten a.m until five p.m on weekends, so check their website for more information before you visit!
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Lousiana
Our next great aquarium is in New Orleans, Louisiana, at Audubon Aquarium of the Americas! This location is a part of Audubon Nature Institute, which also houses an Insectarium and Butterfly Garden.
The aquarium features several exhibits from sharks to dolphins, including one unique attraction: penguins! You can get up close with these amazing creatures without even getting wet during scheduled feeding times or behind-the-scenes tours!
General admission costs $27 for adults and children, along with discounts available to senior citizens, military personnel, Aquarium of the Americas members (join here!), etc. There are no set hours, but they open at nine a.m every day except Christmas Day so make sure you check their website before visiting!
Monterey Bay Aquarium, California
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is located in beautiful California and has been around for over forty years! It’s situated right on the water, with some of its twenty exhibits even surrounding you from all angles. This aquarium is home to sea otters, jellyfish (including moon jellies), penguins, sharks, eels, rays…etc.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve, with general admission costing $30 for adults and children. Senior discounts are also available, along with a family pass option if you plan to visit more than once within twelve months! The aquarium opens at nine a.m., making it the perfect place to start your day or even spend it.
National Aquarium, Baltimore
Our next pick is the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland, which houses over 16,000 aquatic animals representing more than 800 species! On top of that incredible number, there are also about 400 different varieties of fish on display here, making this aquarium one impressive attraction you won’t want to miss when visiting the East Coast!
The National Aquarium in Baltimore has so many exhibits to explore and special events to attend that we can’t list them all here! However, you should check their website before visiting so you can plan out your entire day because once inside, we guarantee you won’t want to leave until closing time.
Prices vary depending on age and where you purchase your tickets, but general admission for adults is $40 while children receive a discounted price of only ~$32.
American Museum Of Natural History, New York
Next, we have our number four destination, which also happens to be located in New York City! The American Museum of Natural History is a museum that houses the Hayden Planetarium, an IMAX theater, and of course…an aquarium!
The American Museum of Natural History’s exhibits is divided into two parts: indoors, which features impressive sea creatures including jellyfish, turtles (sea), manatees (river), etc. At the same time, the other half can be found outside with penguins, sea lions, dolphins (which are fed daily), seals, etc.
The American Museum of Natural History’s aquarium is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, with general admission costing $22 for adults while children receive a discounted price of only ~$14! Senior citizens can get in at a lower rate, too, if they’re over the age of 65. In addition, you can check the aquarium’s website to see all of their unique events, including Feeding Times (Daily at 11:45 a.m.; Dolphin Show, Wednesdays, and Fridays at noon).
Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Tampa Bay
Our fifth destination is located in beautiful Tampa Bay, Florida! This location is home to one incredible aquarium that focuses on marine life native to the Gulf of Mexico. The aquarium’s main tank is 500,000 gallons with more than 25 exhibits for you to explore along with some special events on their schedule like Nights at the Aquarium (Thursdays) and even a Dolphin Splash Encounter!
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium has daily entrance fees that vary depending on age and what you want to do at the aquarium. General admission for adults is $20, while children receive a discounted price of only ~$15! This fantastic Florida attraction opens daily from nine a.m.-seven p.m., making it easy for everyone in your group to find time to visit if you’re planning on doing so during your vacation.
That is it with the list of our seven favorite aquariums in the United States. They have some of the coolest aquarium fish you can buy. We hope you enjoyed this article. If you think we missed one, let us know in the comments below!