Family-friendly Aquariums

Focusing on the four key habitats of coastal Alabama, this aquarium offers a look at the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, Mobile Bay, the Barrier Islands, and the Northern Gulf of Mexico. It features over 30 aquariums and a 7,000-gallon stingray touch pool.

The Aquarium of Hawaiʻi, Maui Ocean Center, is dedicated to fostering understanding, wonder, and respect for Hawaiʻi’s marine life. It features a living coral reef, a 750,000-gallon Open Ocean exhibit with sharks and rays, and exhibits on Hawaiian green sea turtles. Offers educational programs and conservation initiatives.

Located in the historic FirstEnergy Powerhouse on the west bank of the Flats, this aquarium houses both local and exotic aquatic life. The centerpiece is the SeaTube, an 175-foot underwater walkway through a 230,000-gallon shark exhibit. Also features interactive touch pools and exhibits on Ohio's native species. Offers educational programs focused on local and global aquatic ecosystems.

Located in Newport, Kentucky, just across the river from Cincinnati, this aquarium features thousands of animals from around the world. Highlights include the Surrounded by Sharks exhibit with an underwater tunnel, the world's first and only Shark Bridge®, and the interactive Penguin Palooza with multiple penguin species. Offers educational programs and interactive family experiences.

Located in Charleston, the South Carolina Aquarium highlights the state's diverse aquatic habitats. The centerpiece is the two-story, 385,000-gallon Great Ocean Tank teeming with sharks, fish, and a sea turtle. Also houses the Sea Turtle Care Center™, a working hospital for sick and injured sea turtles. Features comprehensive sea turtle rescue programs and marine conservation education.

Showcasing the aquatic environments of North Carolina from the mountains to the sea. Features include a 306,000-gallon Living Shipwreck exhibit with sand tiger sharks and schooling fish, a sea turtle rehabilitation center, and hands-on touch pools. The aquarium is dedicated to conservation and education about local ecosystems. Features sea turtle rescue programs and marine conservation education.

Located in Camden, New Jersey, Adventure Aquarium houses more than 15,000 aquatic species. One of only a few aquariums in the United States to exhibit hippos, it also features the longest shark tunnel in the Northeast, a touch tank with both sharks and stingrays, and a popular African penguin colony. Offers comprehensive educational programs, summer camps, and accessibility accommodations.

Located at San Francisco's PIER 39, this aquarium focuses on the diverse aquatic life of San Francisco Bay and nearby waters. Features include 300 feet of crystal clear tunnels with sharks and rays swimming overhead, hands-on touch pools, and exhibits on watershed conservation. Home to over 20,000 marine animals. Offers educational programs focused on local marine ecosystems and conservation.

Located in Chattanooga, the Tennessee Aquarium offers a unique approach with two buildings: River Journey traces water from the mountains to the sea, while Ocean Journey explores saltwater environments. Home to over 12,000 animals including penguins, otters, sharks, and even a butterfly garden. Features educational programs focused on freshwater and marine ecosystems.

More than just an aquarium, this Houston attraction combines a 500,000-gallon aquatic wonderland with a full-service restaurant, amusement rides, and a tiger exhibit. Visitors can explore diverse marine life, including sharks, stingrays, and various fish species, and enjoy a unique dining experience. Offers educational programs and entertainment for all ages.

More than just an aquarium, this Dallas attraction combines aquatic exhibits with zoo elements. Visitors journey through a tropical rainforest with free-flying birds and monkeys before exploring underwater tunnels filled with sharks and manatees. Features endangered species from around the world in naturalistic habitats. Offers educational programs focused on biodiversity and conservation.

Located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, this popular aquarium features a 340-foot underwater tunnel through Shark Lagoon, where visitors can ride a moving glide path surrounded by sharks, sea turtles, and tropical fish. Other highlights include penguin encounters, interactive discovery zones, and coral reef exhibits. Features educational programs and family-friendly interactive experiences.

Located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Ripley's Aquarium offers an immersive underwater experience. Highlights include a 340-foot underwater tunnel through Shark Lagoon, a mesmerizing jellyfish exhibit, and a playful penguin habitat. The aquarium provides educational programs and interactive opportunities for visitors of all ages.

Located in Kure Beach, the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher showcases the diverse aquatic life of North Carolina, from freshwater streams to the open ocean. Highlights include a 235,000-gallon ocean exhibit, a rare albino alligator, and a sea turtle hospital. Offers educational programs and conservation initiatives.

Located on the Mississippi River in New Orleans, the Audubon Aquarium houses more than 250 species, including rare white alligators, jellyfish, and sharks. The impressive Gulf of Mexico exhibit is 17 feet deep, filled with 400,000 gallons of salt water, and home to stingrays, sharks, sea turtles, and more. Offers educational programs focused on Gulf Coast marine ecosystems and conservation.

Located in Sarasota, Florida, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is a working marine research institution. Visitors can explore exhibits showcasing marine life, including sharks, manatees, and sea turtles, and learn about Mote's cutting-edge research in marine science and conservation.

Dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured marine animals, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is famous for its resident dolphins, including Winter from the 'Dolphin Tale' movies. Visitors can learn about marine conservation and witness the care of various marine species.

Located on Key Biscayne in Miami, the Miami Seaquarium is a marine life park featuring dolphin and sea lion shows, manatees, and sea turtles. It is dedicated to marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, offering educational programs and interactive experiences.

Located in Atlanta, Georgia Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in the world, housing over 100,000 aquatic creatures. Visitors can experience unique exhibits like Ocean Voyager with massive whale sharks, interact with penguins, beluga whales, and sea lions, and enjoy captivating dolphin presentations. Features extensive educational programs, summer camps, and accessibility accommodations including sensory-friendly hours.

Dive into an amazing underwater world at SEA LIFE Arizona. Explore thousands of creatures in themed exhibits, including a 360-degree ocean tunnel, interactive rockpools, and a dedicated play area for kids. Learn about marine conservation and get up close with sharks, rays, and sea turtles.

Located in Birmingham, Alabama, the McWane Science Center is a hands-on science museum and aquarium. It features interactive exhibits, a 280,000-gallon aquarium, and an IMAX Dome Theater. The center offers educational programs for all ages, focusing on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Located on historic Cannery Row in Monterey, California, this renowned aquarium features a living kelp forest, colorful Pacific wildlife, sea otters, penguins, and deep-sea exhibits. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a leader in ocean conservation and education, dedicated to inspiring visitors to protect our oceans. Offers comprehensive school programs, teacher resources, and marine biology research opportunities.

Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, OdySea brings ocean wonders to the desert with 2 million gallons of water, over 65 educational exhibits, and 370 species. Features include the world's only Russian sturgeon touch pool and Voyager, a unique rotating aquarium experience where visitors sit as they move past massive viewing windows. Offers educational programs and interactive experiences for all ages.

Located in downtown Toronto at the base of the CN Tower, this aquarium features more than 20,000 exotic sea and freshwater creatures. The highlight is the Dangerous Lagoon, a moving sidewalk tunnel through a tank filled with sharks and other marine life. Also features a stunning jellyfish gallery and interactive touch exhibits. Offers educational programs and family-friendly interactive experiences.

Showcasing the aquatic environments of North Carolina from the mountains to the sea. Features include a 306,000-gallon Living Shipwreck exhibit with sand tiger sharks and schooling fish, a sea turtle rehabilitation center, and hands-on touch pools. The aquarium is dedicated to conservation and education about local ecosystems. Features sea turtle rescue programs and marine conservation education.

Located in the historic FirstEnergy Powerhouse on the west bank of the Flats, this aquarium houses both local and exotic aquatic life. The centerpiece is the SeaTube, an 175-foot underwater walkway through a 230,000-gallon shark exhibit. Also features interactive touch pools and exhibits on Ohio's native species. Offers educational programs focused on local and global aquatic ecosystems.