Great visit!! Better to go during the week to avoid crowds. It's a very easy path to get around and the staff is knowable when asked questions. I would recommend going through a third party for parking like spot hero. Can save you some money when trying to find parking downtown The exhibits are great but the facility is showing its age. Still worth a visit. read more

I've been to the National Aquarium multiple times and have enjoyed each visit. One thing to be aware of is the adult entry price which is $50. While there isn't on-site parking, there are a few parking garages nearby that are a short walk away. Usually there is a good sized crowd, so plan to spend at least 2 hours to see everything. read more

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Was in town for a concert and our hotel was by the inner harbor and this aquarium is pretty much the main attraction for tourists as the area has really been hit hard with the closures apparently. The once bustling inner harbor is rather depressing. That said, I love a good aquarium and had to check it out. Why only 3 stars? It was sooooooooo busy. The layout was super confusing. Tickets were just too expensive for what you get. read more

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I haven't been here in years. I wanted to come back and visit because this place was me and my Husband's first date many, many decades ago,lol. We visited on the weekday late in the afternoon. They weren't busy at all which was great because I heard weekends are crowded. This place brought back memories, it has changed a little. They no longer have the Dolphin Show. But it's plenty to see, so many species of Fish and exhibits to see. They have 4 levels, a Rainforest, a main Cafe, places to eat throughout and a Gift Shop. This is a great place for everyone to visit young and old. read more

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We went here on a hot Monday mid morning, after parking at a nearby garage. They validate parking which brings it to around 20 bucks. There were no lines and we paid at the door, which was cheaper than online. It's expensive, over 200 bucks for 5 people. The aquarium is huge and takes about 2 hours to go through if you're enjoying the exhibits. There are many floors and they are handicap accessible but with the crowds it's hard for every one to see everything. We waited and people moved rather quickly. I wouldn't recommend coming on a weekend, just based on how busy it was on a summer weekday. It was beautiful and fun, I really loved the variety of sea life. The sharks, turtles, and many types of fish were so cool and beautiful. The dolphins not offering more of an interactive experience was disappointing but we loved watching them. While we probably won't come back for several years, it was a great experience and recommended if you're near the area. read more

National Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I went on a Friday night for date night and had so much fun! The staff everywhere were phenomenal and passionate about their jobs. My favorite part were the dolphins. They are so cute and it's great to hear that they are moving them to a larger area in Florida (I always wondered if aquariums are enough space for them). However, the Australia room had roaches all over the floor in one spot. Yikes...and the bathroom stalls are hard to get into it. They should swing the doors out instead of in because otherwise you're bumping up against the toilet just to close the door. read more

National Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This is an institution, and I found reason to return after many years during a heat wave in which any indoor attraction seemed advisable. Surprisingly, I found signage explaining that there used to be a National Aquarium in DC (under the Department of Commerce), but that was a smaller facility and was ultimately subsumed into this one. You'll struggle to find a larger or more impressive aquarium on the East Coast. The price has always been high and continues to escalate. For some locals, a membership is probably the right decision. It must be said that despite being an expensive attraction, it still draws crowds. The cleanliness of the non-exhibiting areas is not great, and given what they charge they ought to be hiring every able-bodied person in Baltimore to maintain the place. The exhibits themselves are impressive. The main winding exhibition includes a tour of Maryland's biodiversity and a massive shark tank, as well as a diversion for harbor views. Their Amazonia is not quite as good as the National Zoo's but combining that with an Australian wing will get you some interesting and bizarre wildlife. The dolphin wing included a speculative bit about trying to set aside some outdoor dolphin sanctuary in the future; the ethics of animal husbandry are beyong the scope of yelp reviews but I found this interesting. Certainly, the jellyfish petting tank doesn't raise a ton of concerns as to the limitations on the freedom of jellyfish, but dolphins are a different matter. Regardless of age, visitors will likely find plenty to look at and learn about. read more

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We have been to the aquarium many times but this last time was the best time. We went on a Friday morning and I'm not sure if school had started back yet, but it was empty! It was great being able to actually see the various fish, frogs, turtles, etc. usually when we have gone it's so overcrowded you can't even get close to any tank to see anything. Def recommend going in off hours if you truly want to be able to enjoy the experience. read more

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Came here for a visit. National Aquarium is located at the Inner Harbor. There is plenty of parking but make sure you call or visit the website to find out which garages will validate your parking for a lower cost (around $18). Unless you purchase your tickets online, you have to visit the ticket kiosk to purchase before proceeding to the entrance. We went to visit on a weekday before noon, known as "Maryland Mornings"' which entitle you to $10 off your admission. The ticket person was a bit salty, but I didn't let that get in the way of a fun time to be had. Upon entering, we were greeted by pleasant staff who scanned our tickets and we were on our way. Right past the entrance, they have a photo opportunity set up and you can choose to take the photo (for an additional cost) or not. We started from the bottom and worked our way to the top. I forgot just how informative and interesting the aquarium is. They had numerous exhibits showcasing aquatic life in and around Maryland in addition to around the world. Sharks, stingrays, poison frogs, jellyfish (which you could touch and turtles too!), snakes, an assortment from freshwater and saltwater sea creatures and plant life, I was intrigued and so glad I decided to pay them a visit after so long. The staff were excellent at the describing some of the exhibits. They had a 4D shark movie and other attractions for an additional cost. Don't forget to visit the rainforest area that was amazing with birds, fish, and other sea life specific for that region. They have a cafe that had an assortment of snack items (burgers, chicken tenders, fries, hot dogs, cookies and drinks). The he food wasn't half bad. The aquarium is easily accessible for those who have mobility issues as well. All in all, a great place to take the family, out of town guests, a fun date option, or a solo trip. read more

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Nice place to visit to see a variety of sea life - and even some land life (got a picture of a sloth we saw). There's 3 main sections. You start on one that is 5 stories long. Basically you get in on the 2nd floor - see that floor - take the escalator up to the next floor - see that - and so on until you get to the top floor. Then there's a ramp you take (with tanks on the way) all the way down to the 1st floor. There's not really a good option to do it any other way. Our first 90 minutes were just following that route - and there were a lot of exhibits - hence the time needed. Nearly all are water-based, but one is land-based. The 2nd section has a large dolphin tank; we got there at training time and it was excellent. They have a large room as well with many different types of jellyfish. This took us 30 minutes. Our final 30 minutes were in the last section; Australia - 2 rooms. Quite a cross-section. If you park at the parking garage across the street that faces east - you can get validated parking. There are a couple touch pools as well. read more

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Visited on a Sunday morning, we got there at 9:30 am and were excited that it wasn't packed as I had read in previous reviews. The aquarium is pretty big, the exhibitions were not crowded at all and we were able to pace ourselves and watch all of them without feeling rushed or crowded. The positives: - overall it was very clean - lots of fishes to see! - 2 interactive tanks for kids to touch the jellyfish and some other fish - the layout with the big fish tank in the center that can be seen from all the floors is pretty spectacular - toy store has nice items - steps for younger kids to see the tanks - beautiful views Cons - it is SOOOOO expensive - no strollers allowed - we saw mice in the tropical exhibition, I'm still a little traumatized lol. Overall it was a great day! I do wish it wasn't as expensive so we could go more ofter read more

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So this one is kind of tough. We came on a Thursday evening when admission after 5 PM is half off and I'm glad we opted for that because paying $50 per adult seems pricey for what we actually experienced. While there were definitely some cool creatures to behold my husband and I found the aquarium itself hot and underwhelming. It was definitely crowded and just hard to really enjoy the space. While I'm glad we checked it out, this wouldn't be on my list for a repeat visit. read more

National Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The National Aquarium in Baltimore is normally $49.95 for adults, but on Friday nights there is a well known secret - Half-Life Friday Night, when you may enter 5pm-9pm for $24.95. The line was long, and we had to pass by it to buy our tickets. Go early to have enough time to see everything including the surprise! exhibit located by the gift shop. Yes, we sadly missed the Australian exhibit with birds that might land on you. My personal favorite were the Jellyfish which were tucked off and away from the hanging jellyfish decorations. If you arrive early or are all done with the aquarium on another day, take your crew out on a paddleboat! There's two sorts - pirate ships and Loch Ness monster (my words/description, not necessarily theirs). No idea what they charge though. read more

Went to this aquarium for a day trip, everything was to my expectations and the employees were very helpful and friendly. Over all great experience and lots to see. read more

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The overall experience was fine. The aquarium didn't have as much as we'd hoped for. We had planned for about a 4 to 5 hour experience, but we were able to go through the entire exhibit in about two hours. We were hoping to see more of a variety and different types of aquariums. Overall, it was fine and it was still a good time. The food here, though really wasn't as good as we were hoping it could have been. Honestly, don't think I would go back but for a one time experience, it was fine. read more

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I expected a larger aquarium like the one in ATL but not sure per square footage but this one looks small in comparaison. It could be the layout, it being somewhat stock up than spread out, I guess. Houses beautiful marine lige and some exotic amazon jungle both land and water specimens like turtles and crocs... Half priced after 530pm when we toured; otherwise, it's $50 a head! Spaces are narrow so viewers are a bit crowded but most were considerate during our visit. A nice quick tour! read more

All three sloths came out! They validate parking for a flat rate $10 at LAZ inner Harbor parking garage. There are sharks, dolphins, eels, fish. And you can touch the jellyfish, and you can touch the crabs. read more

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Sensational aquarium that delivers a well-rounded experience, regardless of age, interest, or type of visit. Yes, you should visit! Multiple floors of exceptional exhibits at this Inner Harbor masterpiece, and it is truly manageable. Many interactive exhibits. Well-labled places. Loved the sharks, the various worldwide elements, and i could have watched the sloths for hours. Never felt crowded, despite visiting on a busy day. You'll learn a lot if you just give them your attention. Pro Tips: they offer reduced parking rates at three neighboring indoor lots, and their half-price Friday nights are an incredible deal. read more

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We recently visited the National Aquarium with our 6-year-old daughter, and overall, it remains a strong family outing--though not without reservations. The Positives This is undeniably a terrific place to visit with a child. You can see virtually every fish imaginable, along with dolphins and sharks. Walking through the shark tanks and watching them glide past you is impressive--and I say that as a fairly jaded 45-year-old. All of us were especially fascinated by the sloths in the Amazon rainforest enclosure when we returned later in the evening. My daughter joked that melatonin bottles should not feature a sloth, because the one we saw was actively moving from branch to branch, munching on leaves. It was a small but memorable moment. Another major plus is that this is a year-round activity. During colder months, when hiking at a state park is impractical, the aquarium offers a reliable indoor option where a family can comfortably spend several hours. Where It Falls Short The primary issue is price. At roughly $50 per adult and $40 per child, the cost is substantial and will absolutely factor into whether we return anytime soon. The last time we visited in 2021--when our daughter was just over two--we purchased a yearly membership because it made financial sense. This time, we considered the membership again, but at $185 it did not appear optimal; it would not even cover the cost of bringing our child with us. The pricing changes seem clearly designed to push revenues higher. The gift shop reinforced that impression. Even our daughter commented on how expensive everything was. When we take her to stores like Target or World Market, she is often allowed to choose an item under $6 or $7 ;). Here, I do not believe there was a single item under $10. Magnets--something my wife collects from nearly every place she visits--were priced at $12, and she forwent buying one. These prices leave little room for small, spontaneous purchases. Crowding also detracted from the experience. Several school groups arrived during our visit. The children were energetic and, in some cases, poorly supervised, which made it harder to enjoy certain exhibits at a relaxed pace. Dolphins: While I am perfectly fine with the decision to no longer hold formal dolphin shows, I was frustrated that staff could not provide even an approximate time for the dolphin feeding. We ended up waiting nearly an hour before it took place, without any clear guidance as to when it would happen. In our case, the wait was not a major problem--we had already done a lot of walking and did not mind sitting for a while. However, for visitors who are short on time but still hope to see a feeding, the lack of even a general time window is inconvenient. I understand the need to vary the schedule to keep things stimulating for the dolphins, but providing a rough range (e.g., within a certain hour block) would materially improve the visitor experience. Finally, the exhibit lineup felt somewhat thinner than I remembered from 2021. I distinctly recall seeing seahorses--possibly even witnessing one give birth to dozens of tiny seahorses--and we did not encounter them this time. My wife also remembered seeing an eel on our earlier visit, but we did not find one during this trip. Exhibits may rotate, but the overall experience felt slightly diminished even as ticket prices have risen considerably. Bottom Line The aquarium remains an engaging and educational destination, especially for families with young children. That said, at the current price point--and with what feels like a somewhat pared-down experience--it is unlikely we will return within the next year. It is good--but no longer compelling at its current price. read more

National Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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This is a well designed aquarium. It has lots of areas to step on the side to rest if you need to and as the exhibits spiral upwards , there is lots to see either on the walls or the windows looking onto the harbor. Wheelchair access makes it fairly easy to maneuver around as well. We had a two yr old and the exhibits also make it easy for them to look at their height level without having to pick them up to see a tank. You are not allowed to take strollers into the aquarium, but they have a check in area at the entrance. While it seems inconvenient, it makes it easier for all patrons to explore the space. read more

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We were in Baltimore and the wife wanted to do the aquarium. It was ok...but nothing super exciting. If you are into sea life a lot, you may really enjoy it, however, I found it to be fairly boring. Also thought it was overpriced for what it was. Not a cheap date for sure. If you're in town, maybe worth a visit, but I wouldn't go out of my way to plan a trip just for that. read more

I came here as a kid and I think it was more magical now. Touching jellyfish seeing sharks even the new features for different environments. Kids and adults alike will love this place. As we moved through the museum with so many rooms and came across dolphins a jellyfish room frogs and so much more. If you are in the Baltimore DC area this is really a must. read more

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I used to LOVE this place. The Aquarium needs to figure out crowd control. Their timed entry doesn't do anything for the chaos in the galleries. It's so congested you can't actually see 70% of the tanks. It's also very challenging to keep track of your littles in the dark crowded areas. This experience made me feel as if tickets sales in the priority over their mission. read more

I love this aquarium. Since my last review I now have a membership. The membership is so much better. If you are a local & love aquariums. You can visit as much as you like. This one is so exciting. For all adults and children. I don't have any small kids but I have dual membership. They have different membership to choose from to fit your family needs. They have the dolphins which I love and sometimes depending on your timing they will perform tricks. We arrived right at feeding time and caught a nice show. I love dining at their eateries and my salmon sandwich was delicious. Non members receive a discount on parking with ticket validation but members receive a bigger discount. Just show your membership card. We paid $14 for parking. Not bad for a garage and we were there for quite sometime. Members enter through a different entrance. The four stars is for the gift shop. I always make a point to support the gift shop and with a membership you save 10 percent. Really? Come on now. With membership you should offer at least 20 percent savings. I'm just saying let's make membership pay off please. read more

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Entry fee is $50.00 The set up of the fish tanks and exhibits of the fish are ridiculous. Too small, too many people crowded in each spot, too dark, horrible experience. This will be my first and last time I go. It was a huge rip off. read more

I'm such a big kid and love aquariums. It just brings back these really fond memories of field trips or weekends with my family when I was kid! I've been to this aquarium twice. Once while I was on a work conference trip and went with some colleagues. The next time I was on a mini trip to Baltimore with my mom and took her. I enjoyed both times. I love the interactive aspect where you get to touch jelly fish! *squeal* It was so fun. I loved seeing all the different types of sea creatures and loved the labyrinth shark section as well. It was extremely fun and great for all ages! read more

National Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The National Aquarium has an event every year called Shellebration in which it is completely free however, you have to register as soon as the link comes out because it fills up really quickly. I have been going for the past 3-4 years consecutively. They have everything open including fun activities like scavenger hunts, educational stations and coloring activities. The time is typically weekday from 6-8pm in which offer 2 dates. They give out free swag like drinks, pencils and pencil cases among other things. The aquarium has interactive exhibits that is really cool and fun like touching the jellyfish and baby string rays. The dolphin show was not available #bummer. Gotta grab a few items from gift shop like candy for my daughter. Closing dance party with bubbles, characters and fun music. Great experience. The staff is really helpful throughout the aquarium. Love it. Will definitely return. read more

National Aquarium - Interactive activities - Aquariums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Wow 10/10 highly recommend! This is seriously the coolest aquarium I have ever been to. It's 5 stories inside a building, has regions from the Amazon to Australia and a separate dolphin and jelly fish exhibit. I knew very little going in and was blown away. Definitely a must see in Baltimore read more

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National Aquarium is well maintained with a wide variety of exhibits. It is physically large and you should expect to do plenty of walking. It wasn't too crowded on the day we went, but on a day with a school visit, expect it to be packed. An interesting upside/downside to the layout of the aquarium is that it's very linear. There's really only one pathway through the aquarium. It's hard to miss anything, but that also means that everyone is constantly moving and it's hard to stand still and enjoy something or to go back to something you really enjoyed. read more

We went to the National Aquarium as part of a family trip to Baltimore, and overall, it was definitely worth doing. It's crowded, as most of the reviews mention, and there's really no way around that, so I'd go in expecting a busy experience rather than thinking you're going to somehow beat the crowds. One tip that helped us: start at the top level and work your way down. That made the visit feel much more natural and kept us from overthinking where to go next. Honestly, I don't think you need to study the map too much here. It's the kind of place where you can just roam and still have a good experience. A part I'd specifically recommend is the dolphin area. You have to cross the bridge / catwalk to get there. They don't do the formal dolphin shows anymore, but there's still seating from when they used to. If you happen to be there around feeding time, you still get a fun and surprisingly entertaining dolphin experience. Good family stop, just be ready for the crowds. read more

Been wanting to come here for the longest time and finally got the chance to visit. Brought our 8 month old baby and it was a blast. The museum is beautiful and the exhibits are really cool. We only spent about 4 hours there but could have easily spent the day. read more

My fiancé and I have been aquarium members for two years. We love going. I got to take my 60 year old father who lives in Arizona last night to the aquarium and it was absolutely magical. It was like seeing him be a kid again. Avi was such a gem, he fed the archer fish and we got to see them in action shooting water to knock crickets off a stick. Seeing my father pet a jelly fish and the joy that brought. Truly this was priceless. Watching him marvel at the sharks. We love the aquarium as is. But this just became such a special place in my heart now. read more

National Aquarium - Moon jelly petting. - Aquariums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

It was fun to visit the aquarium since I haven't been there for a very long time. It appears it has expanded over the years. The only downfall is that there were not octopus, seals, otters, etc., but yet they had a sloth? Last time I checked a sloth wasn't sea/water related, but it was cool to see. And there are no more dolphin shows, which is ver disappointing, They had items relating to the above-mentioned animals/fish in the gift shop, but not at the aquarium. It is a bit overpriced for what is there, but it is neat if you have never been there. read more

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The national aquarium is a must visit in Baltimore. It is worth the value to get a pass. Depending on the pass, you only need to visit twice to get your moneys worth. I go often with my kids and it is fun every time. Not to mention you get discounts with the membership. As for the fish and fun, the flow of the aquarium is very nice. You are guided through with an obvious route and even on crowded nights, it doesn't feel over crowded. The fish are interesting and varied around the world's oceans. The shark ally is my families personal favorite. The old dolphin show bleachers are a nice place to just sit and relax too. read more

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Just landed in Baltimore after taking a red eye flight from the west coast. Our hotel wasn't ready yet, so we decided to do some sight seeing. We randomly picked the National Aquarium and it was a great decision. This place is pretty massive. I enjoyed the knowledgeable staff along the way. There are also places to sit and rest. The kids did kind of ruin the experience as they kept tapping on glass or running around. read more

National Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Best aquarium I've ever been to! I'd been to at least eight other aquariums in the country and am always excited for the opportunity. This one really blew me away. Not only do they have many many fish and exhibits that I have not encountered elsewhere, they really put an emphasis on engaging education. This place is definitely a great time for the whole family. Not only will you get to see the big exciting stuff like sharks, turtles, and rays, but even their smaller fish are quite beautiful and the assortment never seems to end. The aquarium does an impressive job with its layout taking you through the layers of the oceanic ecosystem and there are even some areas dedicated solely to dolphins and jellyfish. I would say budget *at least* two hours to get a full experience here. I would return to Baltimore for this aquarium alone. read more

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Ay ay ay. I don't know where to even start? $50 per person is highway robbery for the quality of the aquarium. The variety of animals/critters is lackluster. The whole place is a cluster. The touch exhibits are so cramped and small you can't even get in there to see or touch. Stinky and smelly everywhere. Bathrooms are a nightmare. For the amount of people they want to come here there NEEDS to be more than 3 stalls. (And more bathrooms in general) The layout is so bizarre and doesn't support the amount of traffic they're looking to have here. One escalator per floor is ridiculous. Also ITS SO DARK!!! Like the entire place is dark and so hard to see - yes I get some exhibits need dark but the whole place??? No parking is BS esp when the aquarium is an expensive disappointment and adding parking fee on top is just disrespectful. For the "national aquarium" it's a huge letdown (which I guess reflects the state of our country currently but YIKES). Absolutely do not recommend. read more

National Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Great way to spend time with family. I don't live locally, so I'm not sure about events throughout the year. The Atlanta aquarium is better in my opinion. There are exciting exhibits and you can sit and watch the dolphins. I liked looking at the sharks. Plenty of options for parking and you can purchase snacks and beverages inside. If someone needs a wheelchair you must provide an ID which is returned to you when you return the wheelchair. Everyone in our group was over 18 and we had fun. read more

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I haven't been to the aquarium in a few years but had a great time on a weekday with my kids. The staff within the exhibits were friendly and engaging. My little one enjoyed touching jellys, shark alley, trying to coax the parrots in the rainforest into talking, finding a real live sloth, and seeing "Nemo." They offer a few additional experiences ...a virtual reality ride and 4D short films, both of which we paid the up charge to partake in. My youngest loved the VR and we all had a blast in the sealion 4D film. You could feel the "wind", the "splash of the waves", as well as the "bubbles" as we "dived" under the sea. They also have the dolphin area with stadium style seating though they no longer have actual "shows". It was still quite fun to watch them frolic and play above and below the water. We lucked up and they were being fed so they were quite active. read more

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Not sure what all of the hype is about. Very crowded, confusing at times as to what the flow of this place is. Cafe took forever and was nearly as expensive as the tickets! No dolphin shows anymore. Unless you have time and money to waste, I'd probably skip this. However, it is one of the only remaining attractions around this area so heck if you want, check it out. Be prepared to walk a lot and bring your patience for the crowds. read more

National Aquarium - Fish - Aquariums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland