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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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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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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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

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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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

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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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 really wanted to enjoy myself at the national aquarium. However, I don't know if it's just when we decided to go, but it was extremely crowded and made me feel claustrophobic. To be honest there really wasn't a lot to look at. It pretty much had the same fish and sea life that I could see at any aquarium. I did enjoy watching them do the dolphin experience and seeing the trainers work with them that was fun. The structure was beautiful to look at and it was extremely clean so I like that. But if I had to pick an aquarium to go to, it wouldn't be this one. read more

National Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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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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

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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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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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

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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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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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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This was a wonderful aquarium. The prices are half off after 5pm. We went on a Friday and it was pretty crowded but still worth it. Beautiful sea life, well organized layout and even land animals upstairs. Must see if you are in Baltimore. 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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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

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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I've heard amazing reviews of this aquarium and had to check it out myself. There is SO much to see and do. I enjoyed the interactive activities like touching jellyfish, which I can imagine would be great for kids as well! My favorite exhibit was the sharks by far, but also enjoyed the rainforest as well. It does get very busy and crowded on a weekend, so if that bothers you plan to go early or on a weekday. Overall, a great outing for the whole family! read more

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

Took advantage of the half-price Friday night offer (available after 5pm year round), for my first visit to the National Aquarium. It wasn't overly crowded, which was nice. We could easily navigate from one exhibit to the next and spend as much time enjoying all the amazing creatures as we wanted. Be sure to check out the dolphins and the jellyfish exhibit. Highly recommend a visit to this national treasure! read more

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Dear reader, The National Aquarium in Baltimore is absolutely worth a visit and then, quite possibly, another. The exhibits are not merely tanks in a building. They feel theatrical, transportive, and wonderfully well curated. The shark areas were especially striking, with a dark, slightly eerie atmosphere that made the whole thing feel more dramatic in the best way. The jellyfish were another standout, with so many different varieties drifting about like tiny, glowing aristocrats of the sea. The birds and sloths in the rain forest added that extra bit of surprise and charm, making the whole visit feel even richer. The Aquarium's Upland Tropical Rain Forest does in fact feature sloths and tropical birds, while Blacktip Reef and Shark Alley anchor the shark experience. What stayed with me most, was learning about Kai, a green sea turtle. She has buoyancy issues from a prior boat-strike injury, cannot dive properly, and would not survive in the wild, so the Aquarium provides long-term care. That was genuinely touching. It added real heart to an already excellent visit. read more

It's a beautiful at night! We went on a Friday when it was half price, which is great, but it was packed! We were able to get through in under 1.5 hours and didn't speed by anything. read more

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We went to the aquarium early on a Friday to take advantage of Maryland mornings ($10 off tickets if you arrive before noon). This aquarium was so much fun! The building itself is very architecturally pleasing with lots of cool harbor views throughout. There are multiple floors of exhibits complete with a rainforest section, an Australian section, jellyfish area, touch tanks, and all manner of water creatures big and small. We also enjoyed watching a trainer session with the dolphins. It's so much fun watching them swim and play. I've visited a few aquariums and would say that this is probably my favorite! We spent close to three hours here wandering around to see everything so it was worth it in my opinion. Aquarium employees were also friendly and happy to answer questions about the animals. I'd highly recommend visiting if you enjoy aquariums! It did seem best to go in the morning, as the day got later there were more school groups and people so it started to get a bit crowded, so consider non-peak times for your visit. read more

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My family and I visited the national aquarium to celebrate my friends daughters 2nd birthday. There was 10 of us in total and we started the tour around 10:30 am. It was a Saturday so it was really busy and sort of a mad house. All in all, the kids really enjoyed all the exhibits and demonstrations throughout the aquarium. I would advise going during the weekday to get the most of the visit and not feel rushed. read more

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The main part of the aquarium is extremely immersive- very well designed! Some of the smaller exhibits are not designed as well- too many people trying to see them at once. The jelly and ray touch pools are fun. There aren't an overwhelming amount of animals which is nice. However. The animals they do have are pretty cool . They have a nice harbor view area too. The dolphin exhibit was also cute read more

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The best aquarium around! Been here a few times and it's always fun and exciting, the entire experience is immersive. I love the rain forest exhibit I think that's what it is called and the animal there. The path going down the spiral with the sharks is also nice. Definitely a must for those who love sea animals. read more

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It's a little pricey but it's still a great experience. When you get hungry or thirsty, you pay for your hunger and/or thirst. The overall experience is very pleasant. I've been here many times in my lifetime. I have a good experience each time but this was probably the first time I came thirsty. Lol. I'd recommend eating before you come. The layout is great and involves a lot of walking. There's good information to learn and some fun educational games along the way. A very cool thing that the aquarium still has is the petting area where you can pet a horseshoe crab, jellyfish, and even a stingray. It's a wonderful experience and luckily they have an area to wash your hands afterwards. read more

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This place is truly amazing! Starts off kinda slow as it looks like empty space and not much exhibit. But then.. there are wrap around walls of aquariums that are just breathtaking. Love the jellies exhibit. Largest puffers I've ever seen. So many different colors of dart frogs. Loved watching the dolphins training! It took us about four hours to really see everything. Parking can be a challenge but there is a lot almost across the street that is reasonably priced. read more

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very poor experience. overcrowded, couldn't see all the exhibits I paid for. rude employees and quality of the food is poor. sadly would not recommend. overall has gone down in quality from previous visits. read more