The negative reviews about this place are shocking and coming from ungrateful people. Firstly, take a look around at where we are and appreciate the fact that this place exists. An aquarium in a pretty mountainous region is just so special. Secondly, the place operates so smoothly, fair ticket prices, beautiful exhibits. Ya sure, you're not going to see huge sea animals in an aquarium this size but they are incredibly thoughtful about what animals they exhibit. The venue is clean and well maintained but also welcomes its visitors to get messy. There is an epic scene of touch and feel exhibits, my personal favorite was the stingrays. They are so cute and social, they come out of the water just to let you touch them as they swim by. Truly such a unique experience. They had snakes, lizards, turtles, and so many fish! However, the beautiful alligators were our top favorite of the bunch. The exhibits are well maintained but also designed in a way that is very pleasing. They've done incredible job here, we have a toddler and it was a surprisingly relaxing experience and we would definitely recommend to anyone interested in doing something a little different while in the area. I also loved the coloring station, you use dry erase markers on aquatic themed animal templates and then you can scan and upload your creation on the big screen to enjoy your work. Truly such an awesome place and way to spend time. We went through the gift shop, our toddler clearly picked out something, and I was so pleased to see it was a steam toy under $12. An easy yes! Thank you to the amazing staff that keeps this place special. Keep it up, some of us more understanding humans truly appreciate the efforts! read more

Living Shores Aquarium - Coloring station creations - Aquariums Near Me - Glen, New Hampshire

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Great! The staff is so helpful and knowledgeable about all of the animals in their care, my boyfriend and I learned so much here!!

Small, but a wonderful place to go on a rainy morning. We really enjoyed all the touch tanks, educational materials and employees who are very happy to answer questions. read more

Such a small aquarium but wow, they do a LOT with the space! Tons of interactive sea creatures, easily the highlight are the gates riffs fish that eat up your dead skin when you put your hands in. They have a nice bird/turtle room to walk thru. There's a dunks inside (sometimes you may have to find the worker). I'm always in the area in November and even though StoryLand isn't open the aquarium is open all year long so it's a great thing to have. I prefer the Boston one since it's massive but considering this one isn't even a quarter of the size I think it's impressive how much they have here. read more

Living Shores Aquarium - Turtle time - Aquariums Near Me - Glen, New Hampshire

This is my second visit. The place has gone downhill and is really not worth the visit. It's only good for children younger than 5 yrs old. They replaced the otter exhibit fur alligators and they just stay still and pretty much hide. Not much to look at. There is so much glare from the room lights it's hard to see deep in the display. They also closed the bird exhibit which was fun. They have one wall with fish tanks some of which are so high up unless you are an adult you can't even see in them. There are also many tanks that are missing info tags so you have no idea what you are looking at., there were a couple of tanks that looked like it had lizard of some type and the plants were almost dead and the only water source they had was slimy looking. One big tank with various fish was very foggy. There was also a very small tank that held a very large snapping turtle and the poor thing had no place to stand and was just floating trying to hide among fake plants that were floating by him. One staff member I talked to about the turtle says they were trying to get it used to deep water. It should not have been on display or mage it try to be comfortable in an exhibit that is not like it's own natural habitat. I hope the new owners either shut the place down or do a complete overhaul for the sake of the animals. read more

Loved this place 2 years ago and again this week even though the birds are gone my teens love the place with touch tanks, great staff and fed the sting rays. It's a small but truly fun interactive aquarium read more

We went here about 3 years ago and were not impressed since we come from a state with great aquariums. It was a rainy day with not a lot to do so we gave it another shot today. The two exhibits that were actually decent (aviary and otters) were both closed so we basically paid for our 4 year old to touch sting rays for 20 minutes. When we walked in I guess we were supposed to have our picture taken but the kids working were too busy talking to notice us. Today's visit was worse than the first and will definitely be our last. There weren't any staff members in the actual aquarium (besides those selling pictures) giving info about the animals or monitoring visitors so it was pretty much a free for all. It was definitely the low of our trip and not a highlight. Thankfully Storyland and Santa's village were better experiences. Save your money and skip this one! read more

we paid full price to see the advertised exhibit. their 2 main attractions (otters and birds) were closed. We didn't even spend 20 mins there and most of that was trying to figure out why these exhibits were not available. We wanted our money back, especially since we were not made aware that half of the things to see were completely missing. still charged us full price! I was told by the ladies in the front there was nothing they could do, so I called and emailed the info on the site and no one returned our messages. I will literally never go back there again and will tell everyone that asks to beware. Even with those attractions, the value isn't there for what you pay, but i was ok with it because I understand that it takes a lot of money to run an aquarium. But this is ridiculous. read more

The Living Shores Aquarium is such a great little place that is perfect for younger children. The hands on sand box and otters were such a big hit with my 2 and a half year old grandson. He was amazed at the stingray pool. We will definitely go back when in the area. 2 thumbs up!! read more

Living Shores Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Glen, New Hampshire

I love it so much, every staff member is kind. The admission ladies are a hoot! They really care about the animals and it's such a fun yet peaceful mostly) environment. I hope to remain here til I retire? read more

Went today and had a wonderful time. Perfect for everybody! I had so much fun! I also never thought I'd actually touch a sting ray or let fish swarm at my fingertips. All the fish and animals look so healthy and well taken care of, which gives this place so much more of my respect. I usually stay away from aquariums and zoo's, only because they aren't always properly taken care of. This was an absolutely great experience. I will be back! read more

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Good for kids 3-10. There aren't many animals to see. The good part is having your kids touch the animals!

1. They charge more if it's school vacation.(order your tickets online early for a discount, but you'll pay an extra $4 fee) 2. Friendly staff 3. Smells bad 4. You'll see freshwater fish, birds (watch out they're flying above you in the bird room), frogs, snakes, spiders, two cute otters, and some more fish and crabs and stingrays. 5. You will be in and out, so go slow. 6. The "trap" - you have to walk through the gift shop to get out. I can't believe I spent $50 for me and my grandson. Don't expect the New England Aquarium lol - seriously, my house is bigger than this place. The sand table was the saving grace. Spent a good 30 minutes there. At least the lockers are free. Lame. read more

Small aquarium, not too too much there BUT it's all touch tanks and you can pay an extra fee to feed the birds or stingrays. Personally that made it worth the trip. Definitely more aimed towards kids. read more

Living Shores Aquarium - Bird feeding - Aquariums Near Me - Glen, New Hampshire

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New Storyland aquarium is open! Located right next door to the theme park, the aquarium is a great alternative for the winter/rain! Admission is $19.99 for 3 years and up (Under 3 is free). When you arrive, there are free lockers to use for your coat and bags because it gets hot inside the aquarium. They also had a photo station area to do family photos. Inside of the aquarium was a bit disappointing because it was small and lacking in sea life. No penguins, no sea turtle, no fishes larger than a few inches... They do have a bird area, stingray touch area, some other fish touching stations, and sandbox. But the overall aquarium experience was finished in less than 1 hour. The kids spent the most time coloring pictures for the computer tank at the end. read more

A great family attraction to complement the others in the Mount Washington Valley. Great touch tanks. The nipper fish are more than happy to give you a manicure, feeding the rays is really cool, and some of the sharks really like having their backs scratched. Some of the birds in the aviary will land on your shoulder. Super helpful and friendly staff, too. Don't go expecting to see a facility as large as a big city aquarium, such as in Boston, New York, Seattle, or Vancouver, BC. The area can't support that big a facility. What yo do get is a clean, really kid and handicapped friendly place, It's perfect if you hit a rainy day during your vacation. read more

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Very overpriced for the size of the place. When we went, two of the main attractions (otters and birds) were closed with no warning when we paid. Definitely not worth the price. Go to a pet store for free instead. The nibble fish were cool, but I could literally see everything else I saw at the aquarium at my local pet store read more

Otter Loses Limb at Living Shores Aquarium. Insufficient barriers and chain link dividers allowed stressed-out otters to fight. One was injured so severely her forelimb had to be amputated. "Violations show why aquarium should stay closed" Published in the Conway Daily Sun -- May 1, 2020 To the Editor: When Living Shores Aquarium at Story Land in Glen opened for business in November 2019, we thought it was a bad idea and said so. Just four months later, the aquarium was written up for Animal Welfare Act violations. During a USDA inspection on March 4, the aquarium received two citations, both involving a failure to keep animals safely separated. Insufficient barriers and chain link dividers allowed stressed-out animals to fight through the gaps. The more serious of the two violations resulted in an Asian small-clawed otter being injured so severely that her forelimb had to be amputated. The inspector reported that the otters "vocalize very loudly and vigorously," adding that, "loud vocalizations and aggressive behavior are indicators of behavioral stress." In the wild, otters establish complex social structures, with relationships often changing over time. When we keep wild animals in captivity, this natural order is easily disrupted. Due to the pandemic, Living Shores Aquarium is currently closed to the public. We are sorry for the hardship they face and for those who may have lost jobs, but our opinion of the operation remains the same: wild animals belong in the wild. Wild animals are not here for our entertainment, and encouraging close encounters with them also drives demand for the illegal wildlife pet trade. We encourage families to find other ways to appreciate wild animals -- from afar. James Glover, president N.H. Animal Rights League read more

If you're wondering, the other reviews are accurate. This is not worth the price of admission. Even with the discount from purchasing the tickets in advance online, a family of four is still nearly $90 to get in. What *is* there is mostly visually appealing. There's some really cool looking tanks. The touch pools were so-so. If your kids are too afraid to put their hands in, like mine, it'll be a lost experience. The bird exhibit is really lacking. They tossed a few tiny tarantula cages into that area to apparently make it more worthwhile. There were a couple of birds set free (not that they moved at all) in an enclosed area but it wasn't in any way a lively exhibit. Dull. The otters were really cute and playful. You could easily spend several minutes watching them. They are surely a bit of a highlight. The other reviews maintain that the star of the show here is a small sand table. Indeed, that is the part my kids took the most interest in as well. So, $90 per family for an attraction where the best thing is a little pile of sand. If they can't add more quality aquatic exhibits, they maybe need to reconsider additional activities they can offer. This just isn't enough. For the price of admission, you need more to justify it. You can barely spend an hour in there. No joke. I'd have perhaps felt comfortable spending $50 on a four pack of tickets. I was not expecting The Boston Aquarium but I was expecting a more substantial experience, regardless of how it was achieved. read more

Very disappointing. I didn't realize how small this place was. It only took 20 minutes to go through. (We ended up walking around again) I paid 80 dollars for four people. I expected a little more for the money. read more

It was really small for how much it cost to get in. It feel like a tourist trap. Overall not worth how much you have to spend to get in. The exhibit where very small and there wasn't much to offer. A lot of the exhibits shown on the website were over played for what they actually were. read more

My visit here was not worth it . There nothing to do. You pay $19.99 for what? To put fingers in water of couple fish. My kids where bored said that is it?Should offer more. read more

This establishment does not appear to how it may seem. After my previous experience, I was very unsatisfied with the customer service and the enjoyability of the activities. After my experience I also realized that it is quite overpriced with how little activities are provided. Therefore me, my friends, and family will not be visiting this aquarium any more. read more

this place is a joke. things are closed with no warning they don't tell you before hand and their people sitting up front don't care at all

Great activity for toddlers for a rainy day in Conway. Had a great time this morning, my son was very well entertained for a solid hour and the other kids seemed to be having a blast. You have to take your time and look at all the exhibits. Sure if you speed through it won't take much time, but if you take the time to do the interactive things, then it is worth your time. Normally at home I spend $15 for a toddler play room for one day so $20 for an aquarium is reasonable. Today was playing with bugs, the coloring interactive display, the sensory treasure chest and sensory sand box. There was also a treasure hunt for older kids. My son was running around this place for an hour going back and forth to the displays. All the staff was extremely friendly as well. Clean as well! People are too harsh on Yelp sometimes and this business is trying their best. This is a tourist destination so not sure what people expect. read more

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We (two 70+ year old women) had a great time and will be going back. The aquarium is small but there is a lot to take in if you take the time to read and do everything. The staff is very friendly and knowledgable. read more

Very disappointed with the price of this place... $25 per person.. ages 3 and up. That is highway robbery. The maximum time you could spend in this place is 45 mins to an hour. The touch tanks are cool but besides that there really isn't much to see. read more

Total tourist trap!! We're a family of 6 so spending almost $170 (including the extra fee to "feed" the sting rays) was highway robbery. There is little to nothing to do in this place. It's one room with a few tanks and touch pools and that's it. We were done in about 30 mins and that included killing time coloring pictures and playing in the sand table. We love storyland so we were very excited to visit here. We all ended up disappointed. Do yourself a favor and pass on this! read more

The earth 71% water. Of that 96% is the ocean. 80% of the earth's oxygen is produced by plankton. Yet most schools teach little or nothing about marine science. This place is a gem that every school children to visit. Some previous reviews complained about the admission price. Yet I guess few or little with a complaint about the cost of a ski lift gondola which offers zero educational value. This is not a place to go expecting quick mindless entertainment. This is a place to discover the wonders of sea life. It is not a major aquarium like in Boston. But it is a wonderfully educational and entertaining experience for all ages. Before complaining about the cost, think about how much it costs to operate. Maintaining all the different tanks. Each tank must be kept to exact specifications for each habitat. Then, having experienced personnel to answer questions. It has to cost a lot to maintain. But, If you have any appreciation for marine science and want to take a break from video games and arcades, then this is a must for your ski trip. read more

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What a great time we had at this hidden treasure! It may seem small at first, but there are HUGE interactive things to do! We stayed for quite awhile as our 7yr old did not want to leave! He along with us learned so much! Staff was awesome! We will definitely return! Thank you all for a great hands on experience!!! We highly recommend a visit!!! read more

Clean, well put together aquarium. That's where the positives end. Super small exhibits, even taking your time here, 45 minutes will Take you through all the exhibits. $10 is what a ticket should cost at this aquarium ,no more. I feel absolutely robbed spending $43 for such an underwhelming experience. read more

Purchased the Exploration Monday deal ($19.99 for a toddler and 1 adult ) plus a Gen Admission ticket for my husband ($19.99). The toddler activity in no way was meant for any toddler 2-5. Activities of coloring, using scissors for cutouts and glueing items for craft at the speed the instructor was going was completely unrealistic. Instead, you have a group of parents doing the craft and their children eager to leave. Our son is 3 and was able to tolerate about 15 minutes of this. The instructor made things feel rushed and overall unenjoyable for those participating. The aquarium was basically one big room maybe the size of a school cafeteria. The aviary was closed. Our family was done with all activities at Living Shores in ~ 55 to 60 minutes( that's including time spent with the crafts as well). We had higher expectations since it is affiliated with Storyland. Overall, felt like a tourist trap for sure. read more

This is a very small aquarium for the price. The kids were done in under an hour. They also have an incredibly overpriced gift shop. The rainforest had about 10 birds and 2 turtles. They have a couple otters which were cool. But it's a very small amount of ocean life to see here. I was disappointed read more