Top 10 Aquariums for Kids in the USA

Everybody loves aquariums, but there’s something especially magical about them when you’re a kid. They give scale and context to a world we’re rarely privy to in our everyday landlocked lives, and they make learning fun. If you’re planning a family aquarium visit this summer, here’s our list (in alphabetical order) of the most awesome aquariums in the U.S.









Audubon Aquarium of the Americas (New Orleans, LA):

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is part of the larger Audubon Nature Institute, so you can combine your aquarium visit with a trip to the zoo, insectarium, and IMAX Theatre. The aquarium features two species of warm-weather penguins, Rockhopper penguins from South America and African penguins, so don’t expect to see snow during your Big Easy aquarium visit.






Florida Aquarium (Tampa, FL):

The Florida Aquarium boasts more than 20,000 aquatic animals and plants — as well as a two-acre outdoor water adventure zone where the kids can splash around and cool off. (The older generation, meanwhile, can find liquid adult refreshment at the Caribbean Cantina Bar & Grill.) Daily Penguin Promenades let you get up close and personal with everyone’s favorite cold-climate birds.




Georgia Aquarium (Atlanta, GA):

The Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the world, with over 8 million gallons of water, and is conveniently located right in downtown Atlanta. The museum offers a Gentle Giants immersion program, where guests can swim or dive with manta rays, whale sharks, and other aquatic animals. And the new Dolphin Encounter program, opened this past April, gets guests up close and personal with the stars of the museum’s AT&T Dolphin Tales show.



Monterey Bay Aquarium (Monterey, CA):
The sea otters have returned to the Monterey Bay Aquarium! You can watch them swim, both at the surface, and underwater through a window view. The museum also features more than 15 species of seahorses and related aquatic animals — one of the largest collections of these creatures in the country.

National Aquarium (Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC):
  The National Aquarium has outposts in both Baltimore and Washington, D.C.; Baltimore is larger. Both locations feature daily 4-D immersion films that bring you into the action with intense special effects like mist, wind, snow, scents, special lighting, and bubbles. Baltimore also has a tropical rain forest exhibit and a huge Atlantic coral reef exhibit with over 500 exotic fish.


 

New England Aquarium (Boston, MA): 

 

The New England Aquarium is just wrapping up a massive renovation of its Giant Ocean Tank, which itself is massive: 23 feet deep, 40 feet wide, and holding 200,000 gallons of salt water. It’s surrounded by a spiral sloped walkway, so you can get a good look at the more than 600 aquatic animals inside. Don’t miss Myrtle the Green Sea Turtle, who has been holding court at the museum since 1970




North Carolina Aquariums (NC):

The North Carolina Aquariums are a unified system of three aquariums located in Roanoke Island, Pine Knoll Shores, and Fort Fisher. Roanoke Island features the largest collection of sharks in the state, as well as an interactive exhibit where guests can touch an alligator and feed stingrays. At Pine Knoll Shores, there’s a shipwrecks exhibit and a rare white sea turtle named Nimbus. And you can plan a special slumber party at Fort Fisher; kids sleep right in front of the big tank.

 

Oregon Coast Aquarium (Newport, OR):

 If you have a marine-minded kid, check out the summer camps at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. There are programs for preschoolers right up through 5th graders. This summer, the aquarium is also offering a “Shark Slumber Party” and a brand-new overnight camp-out experience for families focusing on the edible plants, clams, and crabs of the Pacific coast.



Shedd Aquarium (Chicago, IL):

The Shedd Aquarium is the largest indoor aquarium in the world and home to more than 8,000 aquatic animals. This summer, you can touch a stingray, learn more about the beautiful-yet-creepy “jellies” of the sea, and enjoy extended hours on Wednesday evenings featuring live music, cocktails, and fireworks during Jazzin’ at the Shedd





Tennessee Aquarium (Chattanooga, TN):

The Tennessee Aquarium has a new 70-passenger catamaran, the River Gorge Explorer, that takes guests downstream into the Tennessee River Gorge. An aquarium naturalist leads the excursion and highlights wildlife and historic sites along the way. Back at the aquarium proper — which is the world’s largest freshwater aquarium — you can check out otters, frogs, turtles, various species of freshwater fish, sharks, and more.

From: Parentsociety.com/ Posted by Mags