Aquarium and Tropical Fish Tank Store

Public Aquariums


Guide to Public Aquariums

Explore aquatic centers from coast to coast, and everywhere in between.

 

Public aquariums are a great place to go for vacation, or for an educational outing. Here's where to find public aquariums and exhibits in the United States. Reef exhibits displaying vibrant fish and invertebrates tempt aquarists to try replicating the ocean’s perfect ecological habitat — or perhaps to add just one more aquarium to their fish-filled homes. Those who’ve never kept fish encounter images of the deep they have only seen in books previously — in photos seemingly saturated with bright color that could only exist on an artist’s palette — only to come face to face with reef inhabitants and find that such lush-colored creatures truly exist.

Looking for something to do during summer vacations or school breaks? Find yourself with extra time on your hands during a business trip? Need a fun activity for a special event? Consider visiting a public aquarium - you won't regret it. Whether your passion is for saltwater or freshwater, there's no shortage of exhibits available throughout the world.

Some aquariums and zoos even offer the option to use their facilities to hold special events outside of normal business. What could be more fun than to have a birthday or anniversary party at an aquarium?

During holidays and summers, aquariums often have special displays as well as special discounts on admission prices. Some aquariums have even begun offering visitors the opportunity to scuba dive in their displays.

Alaska

ALASKA SEALIFE CENTER
301 Railway Ave.
(at mile 0 of Seward Highway)
Seward, AK
(800) 224-2525
Website

Photo Credit: Jason Wettstein/Courtesy Alaska Sealife Center

Colorado

DOWNTOWN AQUARIUM — DENVER
700 Water St.
Denver, CO
(303) 561-4450
Website

Photo Credit: Scott Dressel-Martin/Courtesy of Downtown Aquarium - Denver

Florida

THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM
701 Channelside Dr.
Tampa, FL
(813) 273-4000
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of The Florida Aquarium

MOTE MARINE LABORATORY & AQUARIUM
1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy.
Sarasota, FL
(941) 388-4441
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium

Hawaii

MAUI OCEAN CENTER
192 Ma’alaea Rd.
Wailuku, HI
(808) 270-7000
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maui Ocean Center

THE WAIKIKI AQUARIUM
2777 Kalakaua Ave.
Honolulu, HI
(808) 923-9741
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of The Waikiki Aquarium

Idaho

MK NATURE CENTER
600 South Walnut
Boise, ID
(208) 334-2225
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of MK Nature Center

Louisiana

AUDUBON AQUARIUM OF THE AMERICAS
#1 Canal St.
New Orleans, LA
(800) 774-7394
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

Maryland

CALVERT MARINE MUSEUM
Solomons, MD
(410) 326-2042
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Calvert Marine Museum

NATIONAL AQUARIUM IN BALTIMORE
501 East Pratt St.
Baltimore, MD
(410) 576-3800
Website

Photo Credit: George Grall/Courtesy of National Aquarium in Baltimore

Nevada

SHARK REEF AT MANDALAY BAY
within Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 632-4555
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay

New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE AQUARIUM
2601 Central Ave. NW
Albuquerque, NM
(505) 764-6200
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Albuquerque Aquarium

North Carolina

NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM
AT ROANOKE ISLAND
374 Airport Rd.
Manteo, NC
(866) 332-3475
Website

Photo Credit: Ray Mathews Photography/Courtesy of North Carolina Aquarium

NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM
AT PINE KNOLL SHORES
1 Roosevelt Blvd.
Pine Knoll Shores, NC
(252) 247-4003
Website

Photo Credit: Scott Taylor/Courtesy North Carolina Aquariums

NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM
AT FORT FISHER
On U.S. 421 near Wilmington
(Take the Ferry from Southport)
Kure Beach, N.C.
(910) 458-8257
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of North Carolina Aquarium

Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA AQUARIUM
300 Aquarium Drive
Jenks, OK
918-296-FISH
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Oklahoma Aquarium

South Carolina

SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM
100 Aquarium Wharf
Charleston, SC
(843) 720-1990
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of South Carolina Aquarium

Texas

DALLAS AQUARIUM
AT FAIR PARK
1462 First Ave.
Dallas, TX
(214) 670-8443
Website

Photo Credit: Robert Cabella/Courtesy of Dallas Zoo/Aquarium

DALLAS WORLD AQUARIUM
1801 N. Griffin St.
Dallas, TX
(214) 720-2224
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Dallas World Aquarium

California

AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC
100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach, CA
(562) 590-3100
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Aquarium of the Pacific

BIRCH AQUARIUM AT SCRIPPS
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD
2300 Expedition Way
La Jolla, CA
(858) 534-FISH
Website

Photo Credit: Susan R. Green/Courtesy of Birch Aquarium at Scripps
MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM
886 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA
(831) 648-4888
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Monterey Bay Aquarium

Connecticut

Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration
55 Coogan Blvd.
Mystic, CT
(860) 572-5955
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration

Georgia

THE MARINE EDUCATION CENTER AND AQUARIUM
(on Skidaway Island)
Savannah, GA
(912) 598-2496
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of The Marine Education Center and Aquarium

Illinois

SHEDD AQUARIUM
1200 South Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL
(312) 939-2438
Website

Photo Credit: Edward G. Lines, Jr./Courtesy of Shedd Aquarium

Maine

MAINE STATE AQUARIUM
194 McKown Point Rd.
West Boothbay Harbor, ME
(207) 633-9559
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maine State Aquarium

Minnesota

UNDERWATER ADVENTURES AQUARIUM
Mall of America
at the intersection of I-494 and Hwy. 77
Bloomington, MN
(888) 348-3846
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Underwater Adventures Aquarium

New Jersey

ADVENTURE AQUARIUM
1 Aquarium Dr.
Camden, NJ
(866) 451-AQUA
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Adventure Aquarium

New York

ATLANTIS MARINE WORLD
431 E. Main St.
Riverhead, NY
(631) 208-9200
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Atlantis Marine World

NEW YORK AQUARIUM
Surf Ave. & West 8th St.
Brooklyn, NY
(718) 265-FISH
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of New York Aquarium

Ohio

COLUMBUS ZOO AND AQUARIUM
9990 Riverside Dr.
Powell, OH
(614) 645-3550
Website

Photo Credit: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

THE TOLEDO ZOO
Toledo, OH
(419) 385-5721
Website

Photo Credit: Jay Hemdal/Courtesy of The Toledo Zoo

Oregon

OREGON COAST AQUARIUM
2820 SE Ferry Slip Rd.
Newport, OR
(541) 867-FISH
Website

Photo Credit: Michael Durham/Courtesy of Oregon Coast Aquarium

Tennessee

TENNESSEE AQUARIUM
One Broad St.
Chattanooga, TN
(800) 252-0695
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Tennessee Aquarium

Virginia

VIRGINIA INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE VISITOR CENTER
Rt. 1208, Greate Rd.
Gloucester Point, VA
(804) 684-7000
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Washington

SEATTLE AQUARIUM
1483 Alaskan Way,
Pier 59
Seattle, WA
(206) 386-4300
Website

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Seattle A