New England Aquarium

The highlight of many Boston vacations - plus whale watching!

The New England Aquarium is the highlight of many Boston vacations, as well as a favorite of Boston locals.

Boston's Aquarium opened in 1969 to rave reviews, and no wonder.  It was the first modern aquarium in the U.S. 

Although many other American cities now have aquariums, ours is still one of the very best. 

Once you get your tickets and step inside, you'll become immersed in a variety of marine habitats where you can observe, close-up, a wide range of ocean creatures. 

Outside, you'll find playful seals.  And if this isn't enough, you can join one of the New England Aquarium's popular Boston whale watching cruises.

What you'll want to see at the New England Aquarium

You can't miss the centerpiece - the Giant Ocean Tank right in the middle of the Aquarium.  It's 4 floors high, and so huge that it had to be built first, and then the rest of the Aquarium was constructed around it. 

The tank contains 200,000 gallons of seawater heated to a warm tropical temperature.  Inside, you'll see an enormous coral reef surrounded by Caribbean fish of every variety imaginable.

My kids always want to zoom right over to examine the fish inside the tank as soon as we enter the Aquarium.  However, a better strategy is to go all the way up to the top of the ramp that winds around the tank and then walk down, slowly exploring each habitat layer.

You'll see stingrays, sand tiger sharks, moray eels, colorful tropical reef fish, and sea turtles, all swimming freely.  Be sure to look for Myrtle, a green sea turtle who has lived in the tank since 1969.  If you return 40 years from now, she may still be there.

What else will you see?

Although the Giant Ocean Tank can easily keep you occupied for an hour or more, it's actually just the beginning of the fascinating exhibits that you'll see here.

Other favorites include sea dragons, an Amazon rainforest, a Pacific reef community, and more. In the Gulf of Maine exhibit, for example, you'll see all of the different types of habitats that make up this body of water, which includes Boston Harbor.  Each habitat includes all of the creatures that live there, such as lobsters, fish, and even giant sea stars. 

The New England Aquarium's Must-See Sea Jellies

The 2-story Sea Jellies exhibit opened in 2004 as a temporary exhibit.  Fortunately, its 14 tanks and many occupants are still in place.  As the Aquarium points out, sea jellies are brainless, bloodless, spineless creatures.

Watching the jellies - moon jellies, comb jellies, upside-down jellies, and more - move about in their habitats is mesmerizing.

But by the time that you're able to tear yourself away from this exhibit, you'll have learned a lot about them.  And that's the core of what the New England Aquarium is about: education, along with conservation and research about marine environments, and everything that lives in them and depends on them.

A day at the Aquarium is a great way to learn new things and have fun at the same time.

Don't forget the penguins!!!

Once you're down on the first floor again, you'll want to spend lots of time with the playful penguins.  More that 70 of these adorable birds frolic in their watery playground. 

Watch them for awhile, and you'll begin to recognize individual penguins.  Each one has its own personality.

What can you see outside the Aquarium?

When you first go into the Aquarium, your eyes will take a moment to adjust to the dim lights that help you focus on the life inside the tanks and also feel a bit underwater yourself.

Walk outside and you'll blink for a few moments - but the adjustment is well worth the effort in order to see the seals.

Two families of harbor seals live in their outdoor tank year-round.  You may be shuddering at the thought of being outside during the cold New England winter, but this is the seals' natural habitat and they actually enjoy.

Their Aquarium home contains 42,000 gallons of sea water and is deep enough for them to dive down to cool spots during the summer.  Just like the Atlantic coast, their tank includes plenty of rocks where they can nap or sunbathe.

What else?

You'll also find the Simons IMAX Theatre here, one of 2 IMAX theaters in Boston.

Not surprisingly, this one specializes in marine-oriented shows. The surround-screen will make you feel like you're actually underwater.

If the marine life in the Aquarium has whetted your appetite for even more close encounters with sea life, sign up for one of the New England Aquarium Whale Watch trips. 

The Aquarium's Voyager III high-speed catamaran will whisk you out to the Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary just 30 miles east of the city for a memorable whale watching experience.  This area is a rich feeding ground for whales, dolphins, seabirds, and more.

You're highly likely to see one or more types of whales here, including right whales, minke whales, humpback whales, finback whales, and pilot whales.  If you're lucky, you may also spot white-sided dolphins.

Feeling unlucky?  If so, you can opt for a "guaranteed" version of this trip - meaning that if you don't see any whales, you'll be given a free Whale Watch ticket to use again at another time. 

Insider Tips

• You can easily spend several hours or even an entire day at the Boston Aquarium.  The Aquarium is a top attraction for many Boston vacations.
• If you're here for a Boston weekend getaway or even a longer vacation, the Aquarium is the perfect place to be on a rainy day.
• Hungry?  You'll find a cafe right in the Aquarium.  Other options are to walk over to nearby Faneuil Hall / Quincy Marketplace or stop by Sel de la Terre's nearby Boulangerie / Carry-out shop (255 State Street) for something French and fabulous. 
• Not enough time for a longer visit?  Stop by the outdoor seal habitat, just to the left of the Aquarium's entrance.  Watch the seals frolic as long as you like, winter or summer.  Best of all, it's free.
  
  

Details and Directions to the New England Aquarium

Tickets (2009): Adults $19.95, Children 3-11 $11.95, Children under 3 free.  IMAX tickets can be bought separately (Adults $9.95, Children 3-11 $7.95) or as a combo ticket with Aquarium admission, which will save you a few dollars.  Getting an Aquarium membership can save you a few dollars, and some hotels also offer an "Aquarium" or "Boston weekend getaway" package that includes tickets (although do the math carefully on these - sometimes you end up paying more than if you got the cheapest hotel rate and regular-price tickets).  Whale Watch tickets are priced separately and run about $40 for adults and $32 for children.
Address: Central Wharf, Boston
Closest T stations: Blue Line/Aquarium
For more information: 617-292-0020
Parking: Boston parking garages near North End attractions