Almost 19 years ago, on a typical August day - my mother, my aunt, my brother, my sister and I set out for downtown Baltimore. It was hot, humid, muggy, hazy, oppressive and we knew that we would likely be standing in a long line for over 4 hours but we didn't care, actually we looked forward to this wait. Why would a 4, 9 and 12 year-old want to do this and why, on earth, would two reasonably sane adults want to purposely put children this age into such a situation??? That's Easy!! The National Aquarium had opened in Baltimore less than a week before.


The National Aquarium is located smack dab in the middle of the Inner Harbor on Pier 3. In fact, it is what revived a long forgotten area and helped it to become a national model of how to rescue waterfront areas that are turning into crime-ridden wastelands.

That hot August day was actually just the first of what would become dozens of visits to The National Aquarium for me. The Aquarium is, by far, the best example of marine life that I have ever seen but it is far more than just a place to go and look at fish. It is also the headquarters for many studies, research and restoration efforts that involve all facets of water and the life that lives in and around it.

Why do I keep going back year after year after year? Simply because not only does The National Aquarium have incredible exhibits and hands on activities that never get boring, they also have new stuff to see and do quite often and always seem to be able to outdo themselves.

I have 3 children of my own now and they have been lucky enough to visit The National Aquarium for as long as they can remember. Now that all of them are in school, I have lost count of the number of field trips I have gone on to the Aquarium. These trips have allowed me to see another side of the work that is done there and the educational programs that they offer for all ages of kids. We have done everything from going out on the pier and scooping out water to find all of the different types of life that can live in a few drops, to physically going out on boats and doing field research with actual marine biologists.




Our Favorite Exhibits


The Seals

When you arrive at The National Aquarium the first thing you see are the 7 seals that live in a large pool outside of the main entrance. All of these seals were rescued and nursed back to health but have conditions that don't allow them to survive in their normal habitat. They love attention and often play flirtatious games with their visitors. Once inside you will meet the two more famous seals, Ike and Lady. Ike and Lady along with dolphins put on several shows a day. I don't think my children would find their visit successful if they didn't get to see this show.


The Sharks

All of my children are fascinated with sharks. They are faithful viewers of Shark Week on the Discovery Channel but will tell you that nothing compares to the huge tank that lines an entire wall of the Aquarium. There are tons of different breeds and sizes of sharks that range from hammerheads to a huge great white.


The Ray Pool

There is a huge pool that has many kinds of rays. The best part is that they are constantly changing because these rays only live at the Aquarium for one year. After a year, they are tagged and set free to become part of a national research study.


The Coral Reef

This exhibit is designed to look just like reefs in the Atlantic Ocean. I have never in my life seen so many different colors, shapes and sizes of fish. It is truly amazing and it never ceases to amaze me that they are real.


Discovery Cove

The Discovery Cove is always a favorite of children. This area is full of hands on activities and has a touching pool that is full of sea life found in the mid-atlantic. I've touched sea horses, starfish and horseshoe crabs. The best part is that kids learn all about this life in a way that they actually remember without even trying to.


Alleghany Pond

This is a favorite of ours, probably because we spend so much time outdoors and on the Chesapeake. As you walk through this exhibit you are going from the Alleghany mountains all the way down to the Chesapeake. As you walk along you see how the life and climate changes. You can even see how the water gets more brackish as you get closer to the bay. During our travels, it may start raining and you actually get misted on.


Amazon River

While walking through this exhibit you see all different kinds of colorful fish, lizards and turtles much bigger than you could imagine.


Tropical Rain Forest

This exhibit takes up the entire top floor of the Aquarium. You have to go up a special escalator and as it is climbing, you can feel the climate change. Once you walk in the door, you are immediately hit in the face with hot and sticky air. Inside you walk through incredible trees and bushes. In the rain forest you will see colorful birds, monkeys and frogs that are every color of the rainbow. Also in the river there are piranha and lots of other types of fish.


Special Exhibits

Every year there is a huge temporary exhibit. Our favorite so far has been the jellyfish. This area was very dark and the jellies glowed in amazing colors. They were all different colors and sizes. My favorite was a deep magenta color and it actually looked like a huge flower. My son said walking through the exhibit made him feel like he was in a laser show.



How Much Does It Cost

Well, you don't have to sign over your first born but the price isn't cheap. An adult ticket runs $14 and the adult rate starts at 12 years old. For children from 3 to 11, you will pay $7.50. Children under 3 are free and don't worry about taking them because the entire building is stroller friendly and I have found that even little kids greatly enjoy seeing all of the different exhibits.

If you live in the area and think you would like to go more than once in a year, it would probably be wise to buy an annual membership. The membership costs $70 but is good for the entire family. With this membership, you get unlimited visits and get to use a special members only entrance. This means that you don't have to wait in line and, believe it or not, even after 19 years there is almost always a line. Your membership also gives you a subscription to the Aquarium's magazine and discounts at the gift shops and food court.



The Bottom Line

The National Aquarium isn't cheap and you may have to wait a bit to get in but it is definitely worth it. After all of this time, I never turn down a trip to the Aquarium. Every time one of my children’s classes have a field trip there, we always have more adults than want to chaperone than spots and have to turn people away. I've visited many different Aquariums but have never found one that comes close to the exhibits and hands on activities as The National Aquarium in Baltimore.




Recommended: Yes