Boston Traveler's Series: #6 - The New England Aquarium...
Written: Mar 02 '09
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great location, hands on employees, city pass option,
Cons: Can be very crowded, lines, congestion, cost
The Bottom Line: If you have the patience for the crowds this is a great educational and fun visit for all when in Boston.
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| ace3502's Full Review: New England Aquarium |
One of the staples of the great city of Boston is The New England Aquarium. It has a tremendous amount to offer any visitor from adults to children and everyone in between. A day trip here is one you won't soon forget.
Location
The Aquarium is located at Central Wharf in Boston, directly across the street from the Long Wharf Marriott Hotel. It's spot right on the water makes for great views all around the aquarium of beautiful Boston Harbor. Right next door to the aquarium is their renowned IMAX movie theater which showcases fantastic 3D shows and presentations on variying subjects involving nature and sea life. Just a few blocks away from the aquarium is what many consider to be one of the most widely recognized tourist spots in Boston, the
Faneuil Hall / Quincy Market area. Furthermore, just outside Faneuil Hall is the New England Holocaust Memorial, which I would highly recommend a visit to this breathtaking site. The prime location right near a hotel and within walking distance to a few of the great landmarks of Boston, turn this would be few hour trip to the aquarium into a great day of tourism with multiple close locations to visit.
Admission And Other Costs
Pulling up to the location there is a garage right next door to the aquarium which they do validate for. The validation knocks a few dollars off, nothing special. The overall cost will vary depending on the weekday or weekend rate you get but could vary from $15 or so up to $35. I would recommend going on weekends because the nearby garages offer weekend rates of $10 or $15. I was lucky enough to get stuck paying $35 for going on a week day and spending more than 2 hours parked in the garage.
After you're parked you can head over to the aquarium. The ticket prices are as follows (with and without IMAX ticket included):
Adult - $19.95 IMAX - $9.95 Whale Watch - $39.95
Child (3-11) - $11.95 IMAX - $7.95 Whale Watch - $31.95
Child (under 3) - FREE IMAX - FREE Whale Watch - FREE
Seniors (60+) - $17.95 IMAX - $7.95 Whale Watch - $37.95
Combo Tickets are also available. Prices are:
Adult w/IMAX - $25.95 Adult w/Whale Watch - $52.95
Child (3-11) w/IMAX - $17.95 Child (under 11) w/Whale Watch - $38.95
Seniors (60+) w/IMAX- $22.95 Senior (60+) w/Whale Watch - $ 47.95
*Note that all ticket prices are subject to a City Of Boston 5% sales tax, and these prices do not include a $2.00 fuel charge during peak season in the summer time.
One cost effective way to see the aquarium and numerous other locations, that I would HIGHLY recommend, is the City Pass option. The City Pass is a $44.00 packet of admission tickets to The New England Aquarium, The Harvard Museum Of Natural History, The Prudential Building Skywalk, The Museum Of Fine Arts, The John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, and The Museum Of Science. This packet is a fantastic way to see all of these locations at a great cost to you. The packets are good for an extended period of time so you do not have to visit all the locaitons in a day. You can purchase this pass at any of the locations named above.
What You See Inside
After being greeted by the sea lion exhibit outside, the visitor is greeted by the first major exhibit, jellyfish. low lighting and large tanks help visitors of every size appreciate these unique creatures and the exhibit (along with all of the exhibits throughout the aquarium) have educational videos, fact sheets, and displays that help the visitor learn about the marine life they are viewing. After leaving the jellyfish you are greeted by a tremendous display of penguins. Taking up about 50% or so of the ground floor space, this recessed open display has plenty of room that goes all the way around the entire aquarium for viewers to appreciate these birds. Working your way around the outside edge of the square building, the visitor sees countless displays, colors, fish, crustaceans, and information all the way up the 4 floors to the top of the building. Once arriving at the top you begin to look down on the 180,000 gallon cyllinder tank that rests in the center of the building. Housing hundreds of fish from sharks to sting rays to turtles, the spiral walkway that decends this cyllinder is the focal point of the whole aquarium. It gives ample space and opportunity for viewers to sit and watch the marine life as it swims by inches from their face.
One aspect about the aquarium that is very important to me is that it is educational for children. This aquarium certainly goes above and beyond to educate those who want to learn. First off they offer a discount for groups going to the aquarium. This financial benefit can enable schools and other organizations to help children get there at a reasonable cost. Secondly, through numerous different exhibits they offer both one on one and broadcast information about various marine life that you encounter. On the ground floor there is a small activity area for children to go in and cut out pictures, read, and become more educated on marine life and ways to maintain and preserve it. Finally one of the best aspects of the aquarium is the hands on tide pool. There is a small section probably about 20 or so feet long inside the aquarium that is a makeshift tidepool with all sorts of various marine life such as starfish, crabs, and urchins. The tide pool offers a hands on learning experience for children as employees give kids a hands on and audio lesson on the marine life.
Down Sides
The down sides of the aquarium are definitely the crowds. You are hard pressed to find an "off" day to go because of its popularity its pretty much packed to the gills every day. I would recommend trying to get there as early in the morning as you can as to get a good spot in line to get inside quickly. Once you're inside it is a little congested but it is to be expected. Other than that it really was not too bad. So long as you aren't afraid of crowds or being herded into exhibits at some points, you should be just fine.
Overall
The educational aspect of the aquarium makes it a great place for people of all ages. Children to adults can appreciate it for the visuals throughout and learn something in the process. I would highly recommend a visit here for both residents of Massachusetts and New England as well as tourists.
Website: www.neaq.org
© Copyright 2009 - ace3502
Boston Traveler's Series:
# 1 - The Boston Garden
# 2 - New England Holocaust Memorial
# 3 - Fenway Park
# 4 - Lexington, Massachusetts
# 5 - Faneuil Hall / Quincy Market
# 6 - New England Aquarium
Looking for a place to stay around Boston? Try:
Marriott Boston-Burlington Hotel
Marriott Boston-Long Wharf
Marriott Boston-Woburn North Hotel
The Westin Waltham-Boston Hotel
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
ace3502
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Member: Andrew
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Reviews written: 108
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