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National Aquarium In Baltimore
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Mon-Thu. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
95 reviews for National Aquarium In Baltimore
Huge Aquarium, the price was reasonable, we did the 4-D and Dolphin Show as it was not much more than admission. All three came to $30 each, which really is not expensive considering what you get.
Everything was interesting and the little room where you can look into the Inner Harbor was cool as well. The shark tank was interesting and the dolphin show was interesting. Definitely worth the trip, but plan to be there for a good part of your day as there is a lot to see.
I enjoyed this aquarium....its not that expensive to get in, and it really is worth the money you have to pay. I went on some down time during a convention, and aside from the crowds from a school trip it was really nice. The layout is nice, as each exhibit flows nicely into the next, and the exhibits are really full of information if you want to learn about things. Even if you just go to go, it's a really relaxing trip.
One cool feature is the shark area, which I think is a 5 level area where you walk down and see all types of sharks. And the bird area is pretty cool, you see them up close and personal.
The only thing I didn't get to see was the dolphin area, as the dolphin was pregnant and due to give birth.
I highly recommend this to anyone, its a pretty fun time, and they have old ships outside that you can check out too.
Skipped the dolphin show and 4d because we went in at 4:00 to avoid the crowds. Parked about a block away (omg, parking is expensive) and walked to the aquarium. Enjoyed a little bit of scenery as well as jellyfish advertising the aquarium on the walk over. Had ordered tickets online, so I went right up to the ticket machine, swiped my card, and got my tickets. Also stopped by the adjacent ATM (how convenient)...
Walked in around 3:50 and went right in. Started with the rays (see pictures), went on to view the adjacent exhibits including the sharks. Watched the sharks swim around, took more pictures, moved on because it felt like that one shark kept swimming around me and giving me the evil eye...
Went on to see the Australia exhibit and the jellyfish (see pictures), as well as saw some frogs, and tons more fish (including some local-ish displays).
All in all, a recommended stop. I really haven't been to another aquarium that is quite up to par (that includes various other aquariums in the States as well as in London and Korea). The place has a good flow, even when it is crowded. Aside from some parents who let their children scream and run wild, it was a very enjoyable experience. No matter what exhibit you decide to start with, it's easy to make your way to every exhibit without getting lost.
I think it's nice they hire kids (high school, possibly college students) as well as senior citizens, but around the 5:00 hour, the younger employees can be pretty unprofessional. Groups of them standing by random doors, swinging keys, gossiping, etc. right in front of all the people in the aquarium.
Still, it's a must see in Baltimore!
This is a really pretty aquarium. I am still fascinated by the water tubes...kind of reminds me when toilet flushes and that's how the water are in pipes. It's really awesome watching the jelly fish. I think I can just stand in front of their tank the whole day and watch how they move so gracefully. I also got to see employees scuba diving in the tanks and feeding the sharks, which was pretty neat. I really wanted to see penguins, but it seems like they didn't have any. However they did have puffins, which are cute too. From the outside of the aquarium I saw the HUGE rainforest inside a glass case, but when I went in the rainforest area it wasn't really that big. I guess going in the morning would be better and you get more time to look at things without crowds of people hovering over the tanks.
Do not skip the dolphin show. It's only $3 more, and you'll be regretful when you're just seeing them through the glass on the bottom level.
This is going to sound really awful, but I would have had such a better time if there weren't so many children. I kept thinking to myself, "Is there a night every few months when it's adults-only? Maybe just in the evening?" It would be nice ... please don't send me hate mail. I like kids.
The aquarium is an amazing place. I've never seen such huge stingrays or so many differenct species of fish in one place. You must go if you're in Baltimore. If you live in D.C./VA, you must drive there and see it.
We were in Baltimore for a short time and the National Aquarium was high on our priority list. Tip for the day, get your tickets in advance, so you can skip the long lines.
Our first stop was at the stingray pool. They are so relaxing and calming to watch, you can stand there for hours watching them soar by. Plus, the pool contained some sharks and huge turtles. Cool.
Next we visited The 4-D Immersion Theater. This was nothing I like could have expected. They 3-D movie was great, but you also got some extra "surprises". I was really getting tired of "spit" in my face, if you get what I mean.
Next was the dolphin show. It was fun, but nothing too exciting. Then we were off to see the Jellyfish. I loved this exhibit. I didn't know there were so many different types! After that we saw the Australia and the rain forest. And then just wondered thru and checked out all the other smaller fish displays. All in all, it took us about 4 1/2 hours to see everything. It's a great aquarium!
The National Aquarium in Baltimore is the largest and most impressive regional aquarium that I've been to in recent memory. The structure itself has a distinctive sharp shape.
It's no Sea World, but there's still plenty of exhibits to entertain young folks, and even jaded older folks. Prices range from $20 to $30, depending on your age.
If you or anyone you know is into aquatic animals - and not just eating them - stop in for a visit.
PROS: it's a nearby aquarium, lots of sharks
CONS: where are the jellyfish? i maybe saw a handful of them. dolphin show could be better.
it's an OK aquarium. nothing great. i finished walking the whole aquarium pretty quickly. it gets really crowded there too. i'd recommend going early or late.. not during the day. little kids running around ruins the experience. makes me want to throw them into the water to the sharks. now THAT would make it 5 stars.. feeding little annoying children to the sharks.
there are better aquariums out there.. just not in the area. there was a ripley's in TN that i enjoyed.. and i love Sea World Orlando.
I love aquariums. I like the rotating exhibits (right now it's jellyfish, before that were frogs), dolphin show, and most of the other animals. You're going to be blinded by people's flashes because they're desperately want photos of light bouncing off of the glass tanks. Priceless, no? ;)
Yep, it's expensive but it's not out of line with other aquariums. Going after 5pm (or when school is in session) makes it less crowded and more enjoyable.
Cons: Let's talk about the 4D theater. Neat idea for grownups but I felt badly for the upset kiddos. They tell you to remove your child before the show if they startle easily but really I can't see any kid under 8 (or *cough* 12) doing well in there. The dozen or so children sitting around me, who varied from around 5 years old to 10 years old, either left shaking partway through or ended up sobbing on the nearest adult. Poor kiddos.
I finally got to come here. I purchased tickets online which I redeemed at the Will Call windows and avoided the long lines. This is a really nice aquarium and is built upwards due to limited space. It was quite busy when we arrived and they try to limit the crowd by assigning tickets with different entrance times.
Strollers aren't allowed in this aquarium because of the crowds and sometimes narrow passageways.
I really enjoyed the giant sea turtle in the stingray pool, it only had 3 fins cuz he lost one. The shark pool is also pretty cool too. I would come again if I have the time. Be prepared to spend at least 3.5 - 4 hours here because of the crowds, everything moves real slow.
Run away. Run far, far away. If when going to the aquarium you like not seeing much sea life, unless you count the 1,000 pound beached whale families loping their sweaty way around the cramped and smelly pavilion, then this place is for you. Be prepared to encounter not so much fish as screaming kids, strobe-light flash photography and general touristy madness. I've been to nice aquariums in California (Long Beach and Monterey), and this is nothing like those.
The only redeeming features were a few sharks and some jellyfish, which weren't all that spectacular. Again, you could see these only if you were prepared to wade through the mobs crowded around each exhibit. I've never seen so many people interested in goldfish. I've also never seen so many fat people in one place before. It was generally disgusting. After about fifteen minutes, we hurried through to get some pics of the jellies and then we were out of there.
If I may backtrack a bit, the first thing we had to do was wait in line to get tickets to wait in line again. Once the second line was done, you got to wait in line again while morons got their photos taken against cheesy backdrops that looked like screen savers from 1993. Bear in mind it was 93 and humid outside. I thought there would be some relief once inside, but the boggy fumes emanating from obese tourists from Alabama and South Carolina were enough to replicate the beautiful MD weather. A lovely experience, to be sure. If you're somewhat of a masochist. Blech.
We arrived here first thing on a Saturday morning in the hopes of beating some of the crowds. I think that worked fairly well for us, since only the first two floors of the main tank area were crowded and everywhere else was fine. Try to view the dolphin and jellyfish exhibits while the dolphin show is happening. You still get to see the dolphins doing jumps and playing in the viewing area down below. Both exhibits were empty while the show was going on, but right after it ended they got packed. Also, if you want to see the ray feeding, go up one level, you can see better than on the main floor and it's less crowded. There were also several divers doing a feeding in the big circular reef tanks while we were there and no crowds.
I second Jen R.'s sentiments about the 4-D show. Not appropriate for young kids. Lots of folks had to leave when their young children started crying and they don't offer readmissions or refunds. The young boy next to me started screaming when he got sprayed with water, so his family had to leave.
Not too bad, but cannot compare to the Aquarium in Monterey CA. And expensive for what you see.
Being the aquarium aficionado that I am, the National Aquarium in Baltimore gets an a-okay from me! An on-site parking would have been nice, but a stroll along the docks (after having parked in the pier v garage) proved to be nicer.
Greeted by a pool of stingrays followed by all types of sea life thinkable, each exhibit seems to be more fascinating than the last. Head on over to the Australian exhibit and land creatures await you. Creatures that impressed me the most included the coral reefs, poisonous frogs, and the stingrays.
Don't just stop at the ooh and ahhs over the animals though. Seriously consider the dolphin show and 4-D theater package -- and you'll be glad you did! The dolphin show was nowhere as impressive as Sea World's rendition, but it was much enjoyable. The diminutive theater fills up rather quickly, so get your tickets online or at the entrance if possible (rather than purchasing the bundle after having gone through the entire aquarium.) The showing is not recommended for the ticklish folks however :)
Go on Fridays during the discount time for the "Fridays after 5 take a dive" . . . only $8 per person and you have enough time to see everything with less people around. Now, you can't see the movies (go to the science center then) or the dolphin show (go to some other water park), but the highlight of the aquarium is the other stuff to me, anyway. Although, I will admit that seeing the rainforest at night is hard for picking out animals.
The new Australian exhibit is not impressive at all. It's the main reason I wanted to go again (I hadn't been since they put it in), but it was tiny and not as cool looking as it is on the outside.
This is a great place to go as a couple or with a family. You can learn lots of things and see cool fishies! :D
have always wanted to see what the Hoopla was surrounding this place. there are several options to purchase. the first being the regular aquarium showing, which ran about 24.95. you had the option for adding a 4D Imax showing or the dolphin show. Probably worth it as to add both extra shows only added about $5 to your ticket.
I actually chose the regular aquarium showing w/out the dolphin show or movie as i didn't want to wait around an hour to go in. The visitors choosing the extra shows were only let in a certain times.
although there were some amazing and educational things to see, i wasn't as impressed with this place. maybe my hopes were too high at the onset? i don't know. would i have enjoyed it more if i opted for the dolphin and 4D movie? probably. we walked through the place, which at times seemd like a maze, and finished in about 60-70 minutes. i think i enjoyed the smithsonian zoo a little more, and that was free.
there are pleny of paid parking structures around the area, but street parking was hard to find.
great place to see once, but i'd probably never go back.
This is the best animal-related venue I've ever visited. It's very, very nice.
It is starting to show its age, but overall, an amazing experience.
Pros: the ray exhibit (note- don't waste too much time from above, you'll have underground views later that are 10X better), the jellies are terrific, the gift shop is reasonable.
Cons: the ticket purchase experience is lame, the staff are a mix of good/bad, the dolphin show is decent but I seem to recall it being more exciting years ago, the escalator to the rainforest was broken.
Like Fen Z says, I too love going to aquariums and watching all the little fishys and marine mammals swim around! I had not been to this place since about 1990. I was a student at Gallaudet back then and me and my friends would occasionally take day trips up to Baltimore. So having a personal day off from work on a recent Friday, I came to Baltimore on the train.
This place is definitely about the best. Only the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago beats it. Right now they have an exhibit from Animal Planet called "Wild Extremes". This exhibit featured animals native only to Australia, which we would normally never see including the archer fish, the death adder, and the frilled lizard. The Uplands Rain Forest reminded me of Brookfield Zoo's "Tropic World".
Some other fascinating exhibits include the Atlantic Coral Reef in which you simulate a dive into a reef, the moray eels, and the sharks. The sharks really fascinated me and I am not squeamish around creatures like eels and water snakes (as long as they are physically separated from me)!
My decision to come up here was kind of a last-minute one. Had I looked at the website close, I could have found out when the best times to visit were. This place gets really crowded and prepaying your tickets on-line is definitely a time-saver. Also I could have found out about obtaining scripts for their presentations, like the feeding times (I am profoundly Deaf). So a little better planning next time will result in a more enjoyable visit.
On my review of MARC, I mentioned that I wish they would run weekend trains between Washington, DC and Baltimore. Their fares are cheaper than Amtrak. MARC charges $7.00 each way, Amtrak $40.00. You don't want to know how much the Amtrak Acela costs! The museum does have a special fare in conjuntion with Amtrak. One person pays full fare, the other person gets a 40% discount companion fare. http://www.aqua.org/di... But that's still about $64.00 round-trip for two.
I had visited this aquarium about 15 years ago and remembered it fondly, but wasn't sure what to expect after all these years and visits to numerous other aquariums around the country and world.
I read through many of the fellow Yelpers' recommendations to get an idea of what was in store and help plan the rest of our time in Baltimore. This proved to be very helpful. We went on a Saturday in August and our group consisted of 4 adults and 1 four year old. I bought the tickets online, which saved us a lot of time waiting in line, so were worth the extra ~$1.50 fee. The tickets were about $26, with a whole $1 discount for Seniors! (I think the price was fair for what the aquarium offered.) Plus, since i picked the time, i knew exactly when we would get in. (this helped plan our day, but you cannot change ticket times when you get there, so put a little thought into it).
Our entrance time was 1pm, and we were in within a few minutes of that time, which was nice. We were let in with about 50 other people, so to some extent you're moving along with these same people for at least the first part of the aquarium, which makes it hard to see the exhibits at your own pace, especially with kids. We found the rest of the aquarium to also be somewhat crowded. The large crowds also make it hotter, but the cool aquarium was much better than the hot and sticky weather outside.
We skipped the dolphin and 4D show as many advised, and it worked out well. (You can still see the dolphins swimming around in their tank, even if you don't watch the show) We were in the aquarium from about 1-3:30, which included seeing the jellyfish exhibit (about a 10 min wait to see) and a 15 min stop at the gift shop at the end. It was hard to really spend the time reading all the plaques and pictures with the large crowd always moving around you, taking pictures, etc. Id suggest an off time/season/day if you really want to take your time.
Most of the exhibits were good, as expected, although i remembered there being more from my childhood. (i think everything just seemed bigger and better back then!) The jellyfish exhibit was a little disappointing and small, especially after waiting in a somewhat crowded line for about 10min. We moved through that exhibit fairly quick, approx 15min. The sharks were fun to see, with a number of them swimming around in a large tank, with the visitors' pathway weaving around it. The large central pool housed rays, sea turtles and large fish, and it you timed it right, you could watch the aquarium divers feed them.
This aquarium was a good visit and is close enough (approx 2 hrs) to do again another weekend, but maybe not for another year or two. We're going to visit the children's museum next.
If you've been to the Monterey or Atlanta or Chicago aquariums, this will leave you underwhelmed. If you haven't, it's probably one if the best around.
Like all aquariums, there are loads of kiddos zipping around and shoving to get to the glass here, so be prepared if you don't have a child in tow. They don't allow strollers into the exhibits for some reasons, so by the end, there are lots of cranky kids and parents worn out from packing little ones.
Entry and dolphin shows are often timed, so buy tickets online for easiest access lest you have to wait 2 hours (an eternity with a 3 year old) for a dolphin show.
Parking is non-existent, so grab a space a few blocks away and walk around the inner harbor area where the dinner cruises depart. You'll get some nice views of classic ships.
There are lots of unprotected long views down to the open stingray pool and the exhibits go quite high up, so if you've got issues with heights, this isn't a great option. The Australia exhibit offered some up-close views of critters but wasn't very comprehensive.
Expensive, but they all are. Some local agencies offer discount tickets, so if you have local friends, be sure to ask around. It's quite dark in many of the exhibits - more so than other aquariums tend to be. Divers are often in the tanks feeding and are friendly to kids.
HUGE Sharks swimming 360 degree aquariums.
Rainforest exhibit with exotic birds flying overhead.
Giant stingrays. I mean....GIANT.
I have a new pet fish there named TJ.
wow.
ok so I haven't been here in a looooooong time.
But, I spent the day here with some old friends in, like, the spring of 1992 (that's not a typo) and spring of 1998 (no typo again).
I remember both days being quite enjoyable.
It's kinda cool how you can see a shark appear like it's stalking you...if you stand at the glass and stare long enough that is...kinda creepy, but in a really cool "glad i'm not in the water" kinda way.
Considering I haven't been to this place in over a decade, can't really say too much about it.
5 stars for me!
"Is anyone here a marine biologist?"
--Seinfeld, Episode #78, first aired 2-10-1994
I am not a marine biologist, but I do like to gawk at the fishies every once in a while. More specifically, I am a big fan of the shiny, fluorescent tropical fishies. What can I say, I am a visual person who likes bright colors. Sharks are pretty amazing, too.
I've been to this aquarium three times, and I always managed to have a good time. If you find yourself in Baltimore, the National Aquarium is a definite must see. For my money, it's one of the best aquariums in the country, second only to the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. Speaking of money, a visit to the National Aquarium in Baltimore is not cheap. Basic admission will cost you $21.95 ($12.95 for your kid under 11). Prices go up to $25.95 and 14.95, respectively, if you're interested in seeing the dolphin show. Warning: first three rows may get wet!
We came in last Sunday around 12 noon, and the place was PACKED. I don't remember any aquarium being that crowded before. I never thought I'd suggest it, but they should really consider limiting admission. Why not sell tickets for 12:15 and let the 12:00 group enjoy the exhibits in peace?
The crowds were pretty bad. We had to give up on seeing some of the exhibits because of the sheer number of people trying to fight their way to the glass walls. I swear, it would have been easier to find seats on the glass at the Rangers game at Madison Square Garden! To move from one exhibit to another, I had to be the lead blocker for my friend, creating holes for her to run through. All the while, I wanted to make sure I didn't trample over some poor kid trying to see the starfish or the catfish. Advice: go during off-peak hours to avoid crowds.
The only place that was not crowded was the cafe. The menu included overpriced hamburgers, overpriced chips and . . . overpriced fish sandwiches. Fish sandwiches at the aquarium? Talk about irony! I guess it's never too early to teach your kids that Flounder from Disney's Little Mermaid is nothing but a fish stick waiting to happen . . .sigh. Why not just cut out the middleman and put price tags on the fish tanks:
"Spotted Puffer, $6.99/lb"???
The National Aquarium is nice. The escalators between the floors is impressive. They do a nice job of showing different habitats and the layout is great at keeping everyone shuffling along the same direction. Everyone always loves seeing the dolphins. I've been to the aquarium twice as a general visitor and once as a guest to an office holiday party that was booked at the aquarium.
The reason why I like the Monterey Bay Aquarium a little better is that aquarium focuses completely on their own ecosystem instead of copping out on the ubiquitous tropical critters. I've seen most of the smaller critters, like lion fish, in pet shop aquariums, so it's rather wasted space in a public aquarium. I believe that Monterey Bay was the first public aquarium to exhibit jellyfish. I haven't seen it at Baltimore but it turns out that jellyfish are actually are a very mesmorizing exhibit. If you haven't seen them before in a tank, it's very cool.
And the Tampa Aquarium had things I hadn't seen before, like dragon fish. If an aquarium is going to use fish from an outside area, it should use critters that I can't find in the pet store. (Dragon fish are related to sea horses and also are very mesmorizing.)
I'd still recommend the aquarium. It's well-designed and it's well-run. The kids have a wonderful time and even the adults get giddy when they see the dolphins.
The best aquarium I've ever been to. I love the way it's laid out so you don't miss anything. It's almost like the Ikea of aquariums, you go in and then you follow along the hallways and slowly move through each exhibit taking it all in. There aren't a million rooms with different things so you rush around worry you've missed something. The aquarium is huge and takes about five hours to get through. We bought the tickets that included everything including the dolphin show and the 4D special movie they had. I thought it was well worth it since it was only about ten dollars more to get the additional two shows. I also love how the guide gives you the amount of time it will take to get through each one and it was pretty darn accurate! Would recommend this place to anyone visiting Baltimore.
Surprisingly large. Reccomend going earlier in the day to avoid the crowd. Coral reef/pier 4 section was the most extensive and coolest in my opinion. A few large sharks as well, nurse tiger, sand. Didn't see the dolphin show, but did look in the pool, and it seemed cool.
I've visited this aquarium twice & had a good time - I certainly suggest getting a ticket if you're heading to Baltimore.
Is it the biggest, best aquarium out there? Frankly, I dunno. I know it's five floors and that it houses many varieties of marine life as well as rotating exhibits, a 4-D movie, & a dolphin show.
Is it crowded during peak times, & might you encounter rudeness? Of course it is & of course you may - it's a tourist attraction. My feeling is, you'll encounter rudeness at any tourist attraction provided it houses more than ten at a time. I happen to think it's worth it in this case.
To cut down on the bane of every tourist - waiting on line/in line - buy tickets ahead of time. You can do this online or at the Aquarium itself - just mosey on over the day before you want to go, get on line (Hey! I said "cut down on", not "eliminate"!), buy a timed ticket. When you come back the next day, you just mosey on in.
The other nice thing is that you can leave & come back during the same day - just get a hand stamp. I have no idea what the cafeteria food is like, but I bet it'd be nicer to leave, have lunch in the Inner Harbor, & come back. Also, parents of young kids may want to split up the day with a nap (for everyone) - the re-entry policy makes it possible.
Do go - it's fun at least once!
Compared to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, this aquarium was just mediocre. They had a good amount of different types of fish, shark, etc. If you're bored out of your mind and need to fill in some time, this place can be a filler to be added onto your schedule. Somewhat pricey, there are some IMAX presentations, dolphin shows (seem to be sold out all the time), and other children-oriented activities. You'll be in and out within the hour.
The National Aquarium here in Baltimore is Amazing. It starts from as soon as you enter and goes like 4 floors below the sea level to all of these different exhibits. I'll say it even rivals that of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The architecture of the building outside and in is well thought up. But I think the best part of this aquarium is the dark portions of this place. The shark exhibit that they have is way sweet because when you walk through the museum you walk above it and across it, allowing you to look down at all of the sharks, turtles, and rays they have.
The location is great, right in the harbor, so you can go here then get a bite to eat at the near by restaurants.
And if you bring a camera, bring extra film or memory cards cause you'll be photographing everything!
Enjoy.
I take the 2hr drive from Philadelphia at least once a year to check this place out. It is constantly changing.
I would stay away from the 4D Planet Earth movie if you are going with kids. It may be too scary considering you get poked in the back and get hit on the legs with a wire and also get wet. Its supposed to feel like the animals are coming out of the movie which adults will understand but not so much the children.
The Shark tanks is crazy! They swim around you in their tank and you feel very close to them. I dont want to spoil too much. Each exhibit tries to make you feel like you are really in their world. This is a MUST see.
I suggest taking a day off or even a half day of work to go here. It gets really packed during the weekend. A certain number of people are allowed in at any given time so you are given a time of entry. If they are too full you may be left waiting hours or might end up going back home without getting in. If you are left inside close to their closing time you may miss an exhibit. They close the exhibits off as soon as they are empty even though you didnt get there yet. (This happend to me last time). Its nice to take your time so go early.
As a Chicagoan that's taken his son to the Shedd Aquarium more times than Pamela Anderson has taken nuptials it takes a lot to impress me. I didn't even make it inside four feet before I was awestruck by the three-story Cheasapeake Bay Waterfall habitat. More jaw drops ensued at the new Australian exhibit, which puts you right in the middle of a habitat among high rock cliffs, bats hanging from the ceiling, birds chirping... Plenty of docents to answer your questions, I even heard one leading around some awestruck Aussies- KRIKEY!
Next up, or next down the spiraling path is the Rays. Looking down into a pool of about ten different kind of rays with a beautiful sea turtle with one front fin, I kinda freaked out. This part was empty on a rainy Thursday afternoon and my shark phobias kicked in with the trippy underwater soundtrack and "added" fish noises. I don't mind music, but adding bumps and gurgles, I could see kids (and fish freakers like me) getting a little spooked. You can also go down a winding path to look beneath the ray and sharks, truly a great positive to the National Aquarium is the unique design.
The main aquarium has ped-friendly escalators that guide visitors up through about five stories of traditional aquarium-in-wall displays. Which include short learning facts and "Seymour Says" quick bites. Sometimes one sentence written on a Yellow Post-It note stuck right to the face of the aquarium was what got everyone talking!
Well worth the money, this is truly a gem to Baltimore's Inner Harbor!
This is such an AMAZING place. LOVED LOVED LOVED. File this one as a cool first-date spot.
The Aquarium's design is really neat as you feel like walking through a massive, vertically positioned fish tank. So even in summer's heat, you are enjoying the site in air-conditioned comfort; this isn't always the standard, ie. Miami. There are various levels, with exhibits in each floor ranging from stingray's to sharks to toads and other critters. There is a Rainforest area with lots of plants to admire for city dwellers.
We paid $29 bucks for admission to 3 exhibits: aquarium, a 25-min dolphin show (housed in another tank connected to main building) and 25-min 4D screening.
To avoid the crowds, buy your tickets in advance with late afternoon admission (our queu was @ 3:30). We killed time having lunch at nearby McCormick & Schmicks. We felt a bit rushed in between the exhibits/shows, but even so we had ample time to take pics in front of the great whites. If I had to do it again, I'd skip the 4D show to spend more time in the aquarium.
It was a busy summer day and there were LOTS of kids and many cranky parents (strollers must be checked in upon entrance) ...but as the day winded down (4sh), the crowds dropped dramatically. By 5 pm, we walked leisurely without worry.
Mmmmm nature!
This place is really awesome and I highly recommend visiting. So much to see!
The name might say aquarium but there is a lot more than just fish here. Lots of snakes and frogs, penguins, all sorts of stuff. One of my favorite things is the tropical rainforest they have at the top level. You go up there and you feel like you are in the rainforest (Complete with the humidity). All in all a great place to come and see sharks and stingrays and you name it.
The view! The exhibits! THE SEALS!
What an amazing aquarium. I was last here right after they opened the Australia exhibit, and just sat and watched the waterfalls for a while. There's so much to see and even more to learn. And the staff (which I seem to recall being primarily volunteers, or at least the ones I chatted with were) is so helpful and knowledgeable and can answer almost any question.
When you're done admiring the animals (the seals really are the most adorable things ever), you can take a walk around the harbour, which offers a beautiful view.
And, honestly. How can you NOT love a place where adults can shout out "I FOUND NEMO!!" just as enthusiastically as small children as they pass the clown fish exhibit?
We took our 15 month old kid, and he loved it!
My husband and I purchased a year pass- it was about $100.
(It would have cost around $50 for a one time admission for both of us).
First, we went to the cool dolphin show, although my son wasn't too interested.
The aquarium has a great set-up, they do timed entrances so it was not too crowded. We went on a Sunday, and it was still a little crowded in certain parts. I think next time we will go during the weekday. I liked the way it was laid out, there was a little escaltor path to see the different exhibits. My son was able to enjoy it for 2 hours before getting cranky. A great place to go on a hot day!
I will definitely try to get my money's worth with the year pass...
It was $25(we bought admission to the dolphin show). It was really crowded the day we went and I think that really changes the feel of the place. Unfortunately, My friend was also feeling really sick so we ended up not waiting out the long lines and sorta glanced over what we could see. From what I did see it is amazing. I have been to the aquarium in Boston as well and while both offer different attraction's Baltimore Aquarium is waaaaay worth it.
I also suggest seeing the Dolphin Show-for an extra $5 it is worth it.
TIP: If you go in the winter try to stash your jackets elsewhere-there was a huge line to do coatcheck and carrying them around with us was a pain-especially when we went through the tropical zones. It was hot!
Excellent place to spend a Saturday afternoon with the family...The shows are really interesting and fun and the experience is just awesome!
Best aquarium I have been to (so far). its going to be super packed on the weekend with soccer moms and children pushing you out of the way to see exhibits. I was probably one of those children growing up. If you can go during the weekday you will probably get more out of your visit.
First, I appreciate this as a world class aquarium and the staff are very helpful and eager to help you learn and point out hidden animals and fish.
The exhibits are all well done, and the fish are all displayed very well. When we got there, we traded our daughter's stroller for a "snuggli" which was free of charge. That was a very nice (free) benefit. The walk was easy, and the only nit I have was that some of the moving pathways were a little narrow - and I was there when there were a lot of young school students. (Geez, do they even teach manners anymore?)
Do not come here if you want a cheap date. Entrance fee is $22/person and parking is $15 even with validation. Also, stay well away from the offered Cafe's, the prices are excessively high. $1.50 for a soda is well above the norm, and the pizza and other food looked like it had been sitting out from the day before. (Two sodas, a salad, a Ceaser chicken wrap, and a small cut veggies and ranch dip were over $20 - mind you, I know it helps support the aquarium, but oy.)
Bottom Line: Try the fish... save the lemon. Plan to spend at least two hours.
So you want to learn about sea base animals. Or, do you want your kids to go "Hey NEMO, are you okay???". Or just take an afternoon and do something different.
Well, here is the place to do all of the above. Very nice aquarium that also includes other exhibits such as the rain forest and Australian terrain. And the shark tank is super cool.
Be sure to take your time when going, the place is very big and will take some time to see it all. Specially if you want to really see everything and every show.
