Our thanks to Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, Shedd Aquarium and Monterey Bay Aquarium for hosting our visits so we could write this detailed review of our experience. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Disclosure, visit this page.
Ever since our kids were very young, they were obsessed with marine life, especially our son, who for many years, wanted to be a marine biologist (now he wants to be a paleontologist). Their early love for marine life came from the many books they read and TV shows they watched (like Octonauts when they were toddlers and BBC’s Blue Planet as they got older).
When we travel, we love to find experiences that immerse and educate our kids about the things they’re most interested in and this summer and last, we had the chance to visit three great North American aquariums: Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada in Toronto, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey.
Each aquarium offers unique attractions, from underwater tunnels and touch-pools to mammal shows and conservation storytelling. Here’s what we loved about each one, as well as two other notable North American aquariums to visit.
1. Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, Toronto, ON
Situated beside the CN Tower and Union Station, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is ideally located for families exploring downtown Toronto. We were staying at my sister’s place in the city and getting to the aquarium was easy via streetcar and a short walk. It’s advisable to arrive as soon as they open to avoid the crowds, which we intended to do. But we got a late start and didn’t arrive until early afternoon.
Since opening in October 2013, the aquarium has grown to house over 20,000 aquatic animals across more than 450 species, with 5.7 million liters of aquatic habitats across two levels.
We spent just under two hours exploring all of the exhibits and the kids especially loved the jellyfish …
… the kelp forest …
… and Rainbow Reef, the most colorful gallery, a kaleidoscope of tropical fish like lionfish, angelfish, electric eel and seahorses
But the breathtaking highlight of our visit was the Dangerous Lagoon, a 315-foot underwater tunnel beneath a tank holding almost 3 million liters of water.
A moving walkway transports visitors along the tunnel to see the incredible sea life like green moray eels, giant grouper, green sea turtles …
… and of course, sharks!
This exhibit alone is worth the visit. Also check out the Discovery Centre and Ray Bay touch-pools, which encourage interactive learning. Children can gently touch stingrays and horseshoe crabs before exploring the play-style mini-submarine and bubble windows.
2. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL
We spent a full day on Chicago’s sprawling and scenic Museum Campus visiting the Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium (all are a must-do in Chicago!)
Shedd Aquarium blends architectural grandeur with immersive aquatic life. It hosts 32,000 animals across richly themed galleries such as Amazon Rising, Wild Reef and the Abbott Oceanarium, North America’s largest indoor marine mammal facility.
The Abbott Oceanarium is a 3 -million-gallon facility that features beluga whales, dolphins, sea otters and California sea lions, complete with an amphitheater show and underwater viewing.
Wild Reef, a 525,000-gallon coral reef environment, includes a 400,000-gallon shark tank with towering curved views, perfect for wow-factor photos and up-close encounters
Amazon Rising transports visitors to a flooded rainforest, with over 250 species including electric eels, river turtles and piranhas in an 8,600‑sq‑ft immersive habitat. Plankton Revealed, opened in July 2023, is Shedd’s first bilingual exhibit, with signage fully translated into Spanish. Through interactive displays and live organisms like cuttlefish and brine shrimp, it reveals the vital role of plankton in ocean health.
Polar Play Zone is a hands-on zone where young children can play submarine models and crawl through penguin habitats, moon jelly and starfish tanks, with underwater views of belugas and otters.
3. Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, CA
We visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium last summer on a California road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Overlooking California’s iconic coastline, the aquarium has earned its reputation as a conservation leader and family favorite. Open since October 1984, it houses roughly 35,000 animals and 550 species across multiple immersive exhibits, including the first-ever living kelp forest.
The Kelp Forest exhibit spans two stories, with towering kelp and marine creatures like leopard sharks, sea stars and garibaldi weaving through the fronds.
The Open Sea gallery boasts a 1.2‑million‑gallon tank viewed through a massive 90-foot window, home to tuna, sea turtles, sharks, and sardines, especially spectacular at feeding time.
Sea Otter feeding sessions delight children and adults as trainers engage playful otters using enrichment toys and detailed narration. The Jellies exhibit, for which Monterey pioneered husbandry techniques, showcases various species in beautifully lit tanks with interpretive signage about jellyfish life cycles.
Thanks to the aquarium’s prime location right on the California coastline, visitors are also treated to beautiful views and lookout points both inside and out.
4. Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, CA
Considering our kids love marine life so much, it’s hard to believe that as residents of Southern California, we’ve yet to visit the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, an aquarium that many would agree is one of the best in the country.
Open since June 1998, it is the region’s largest aquarium, showcasing 11,000 animals and 500 species across 100+ exhibits and drawing around 1.7 million visitors per year.
Highlights for families include:
The Shark Lagoon and the Ray Touch Pool, which offer hands-on encounters, plus dive shows with narrating divers that bring marine life story to life.
The Lorikeet Forest is an aviary of free-flying lorikeets that often land on guests.
The Southern California & Baja Gallery includes the 142,000‑gallon Blue Cavern tank, kelp forests with garibaldi and scorpionfish, seal and sea lion habitats and a shorebird sanctuary, all regionally focused.
New Pacific Visions wing (since 2019) features immersive media, art exhibits, educational interactives and a 4D theater, all designed to engage visitors with ocean conservation and science.
5. The Maritime Aquarium, Norwalk, CT
My family and I visited The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT back in 2018 and it deserves an honorable mention since it just landed on USA Today’s 10 Best list of best aquariums in the country.
Tucked along the scenic Long Island Sound, The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, Connecticut, offers a uniquely regional perspective on marine life that sets it apart from larger, more commercial aquariums. Focused primarily on the ecosystems of the Northeast and the Long Island Sound, the aquarium delivers immersive, hands-on experiences that educate visitors about the biodiversity of local waters. Exhibits like the Harbor Seals, Jellies and Sharks bring native marine species up close, while the immersive touch tanks (including rays and intertidal creatures), invite children and adults alike to interact directly with marine life.
Its location in South Norwalk (SoNo) makes the aquarium a convenient destination for families visiting or living in the Tri-State area. Easily accessible by train from New York City, the aquarium is surrounded by family-friendly restaurants and waterfront walking paths, making it easy to pair a visit with a full day of exploration. The Maritime Aquarium strikes a balance between entertainment and education, offering a regional aquarium experience that both inspires and informs. For families seeking a day trip steeped in discovery and local charm, it’s a rewarding New England stop.
KEEP READING:
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