Downtown Aquarium
add photosExplore a wide array of aquatic habitats at Denver's Downtown Aquarium. Don't miss lunch or dinner next to the 150,000 gallon tank.
17 Reviews for Downtown Aquarium
41
30
'10, '11
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"WAIT! There are Mermaids?!?!!?"
So let me start is review out by saying that we never made it into the actually aquarium. With time constraints the aquarium was not something we had made time to do. However, during our last hour in Denver we thought it would be fun to eat at their restaurant before we left for home. Then it happened. I had reviewed all the information at the hotel about this aquarium, but something was defiantly left out. As we waited for our table a sign with a “real” mermaid stood before us. My four year old daughter is more than just a little obsessed with mermaids to say the least, so much that had we known this it would have been top of our list of things to do. We enjoyed a very yummy (yet expensive) lunch. Because we got there early we got to sit right by the wall of water that was home to many salt water fish. It was a lot of fun to watch while waiting for our food.
Lucky for us, and the save of the day came shortly after we finished lunch and there was a short mermaid show in the restaurant, which appeased our disappointed little mermaid. As far as I understand the make other appearances in the aquarium as well. Next time we are back in Denver we will be back to see the mermaids.
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"Small but awesome!"
This aquarium is pretty small but is GREAT for kids. Took my daughter here when she was very little and it worked out perfectly as it was short enough that it kept her attention.
Has a lot of great displays that are interactive too which I really liked.
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"All kinds of sea life"
We visited the aquarium while in town with some friends. Our son really enjoyed looking at all of the animals and sea life! The aquarium is clean and I found it to be a very nice place to spend an afternoon. Loved that we could go at our own pace and really explore on our own. Fun activities for kids at the very end too!
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"shark"
The aquarium was pretty fun. I have younger kids so they were not quite as interested but my husband and I thought it was so fun. The one nice thing was that you can just walk around, at your own speed, doing whatever you want! The price was a little much for me and I didn't like how you had to park across the street, pay to park, and then walk across to the aquarium.
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"Lots of fun"
Going to the aquarium is always lots of fun for our whole family. We can go and get through the exhibits in an hour or so, so it doesn't take all day on a Saturday. The kids are engaged by the various sea creatures, especially the ones that swim over them! You can also pet the sting rays and even feed them. It is pricey so I'd recommend a membership if you are going.
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"Amazing To The Eye!"
We visited this aquarium as a family and it was a wonderful place! As an adult I was taken back by some of the sea life and exhibits there! All the colors, and just the sense of it all. It was truly amazing. The food was expensive, in my opinion, but other than that the place was perfect to spend the day as a family!
1 family found this helpful
"Denver Aquarium"
We visited the aquarium with our two year old daughter and she really had a great time. She loved, loved, loved seeing all of the different types of sea life that were on display. And the tigers were quite a surprise! The gigantic bubble machines are you enter and exit the museum really added a lot of fun and excitement to our visit. If you don't mind the entrance fees, this should definitely be a place to visit on your trip to Denver.
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"Great time"
I took my 2 year old son, 2 year old neice and 4 year old nephew to this aquarium on Summer afternoon and it was a blast. They have excellent full wall exhibits that captured their attention for a long time. The price was not too bad for admission but food once you get it was sky high as always in places like that.
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"Expensive and Smaller"
I grew up in Denver, but never made it to the aquarium. We took our daughter here this summer while on vacation, and I was sad to admit I was underwhelmed by the whole experience. It's expensive (although if you 'like' them on facebook you can check to see if any coupons are available for entrance), and it's not nearly as big on the inside as we thought it would be. There are plenty of fish and other animals to check out, but honestly our favorite part of the whole experience was dining in the Aquarium's Restaurant. It features a large fish tank that flanks one whole wall and plenty of fun choices to choose from to eat. Definitely recommend staying to eat!
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"Somewhat disappointing."
We took our 6-month-old daughter to this aquarium while on vacation. We had a hard time with such a steep price, but the displays were nice. There were fewer than we had expected, and the "swimming" tigers were not in the mood to swim that day. Interesting display, though. The place seemed more commercial than we'd have liked. Ate lunch on-site, only okay. Coupons available.
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"The Downtown Aquarium in Denver remains a Family Favorite!"
My kids LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. They ask to go here way more often than we can afford to (that's my one complaint- it's too expensive and there's not really a way around that- there's not often coupons or membership discounts or anything like that). That said, we still LOVE this place. There's lots to see, there's some pretty creative layout stuff for viewing (and it's all kid-sized), and the best part is at the end... you can purchase food and hand-feed the sting rays. It's a fun and unique experience!
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"Nice, New Exhibits But Too Expensive to Make Regular Visits"
All of the exhibits seem to be brand new and there are lots of hands-on adventures. There is a tiger exhibit, which is odd in an aquarium, but delightful to kids none the less. Having visited the Chicago Aquarium hundreds of time, we finished the 'loop' of Denver Aquarium exhibits and had a 'Is that it?!' feeling. The sting ray area at the end is really cool as the kids can 'pet' the animals. Overall, this is a beautiful aquarium with fantastically maintained exhibits but the cost to visit is very restrictive. Membership isn't a much cheaper option. I wish it were cheaper and then, maybe, I'd be less critical of the smaller size.
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"Loved it, but too expensive to go back!"
We really really loved this aquarium, but we went when our daughter was really small, and our son was a baby (he was free). Now that we have 4 kiddos, it is just too pricey to go back with the whole family. I really wish they would offer some kind of family plan, or annual pass. A one day entrance would cost this family of 6 over $70! We can buy an annual pass to the zoo, or nature and science museum for $80... so those are the places we'll continue to frequent.
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"great aquarium for inland state"
I've been to several aquarium in my time and this one is by far my favorite. It is clean, bright, well maintained and more interactive than any aquarium I've been to on the east coast. It is pricey, but this is an attraction Denver can be proud of. Oh, the restaurant is a MUST. It's expensive because it's inside the aquarium, but it really is a beautiful place to relax and dine.
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"its expensive, but totally worth every penny!"
yes its spendy, and if you want any souvenirs you better check the bank first. But on the plus side, its amazing. you can go around time and time again, and there is a huge tank in the cafe area. Such a good time, and well wort every penny spent . I plan on going again when we visit denver again
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"Expensive, but good exhibits"
My kids aren't unduly fascinated with marine creatures like some kids are. Still they were entertained by the exhibits here, which have sea life and other creatures arranged by habitat: at the beach, coral lagoon, rainforest. (In addition to fish, you'll find tigers here.) The restaurant is overpriced, but you can't beat the location, siting around a 150,000-gallon aquarium. Again, my kids made it through the exhibits quickly -- but if your child loves sea creatures you can eek out a bit more time here. Special programs -- like "Marine Biologist for the Day" and "Behind the Scenes Tours" -- cost extra, but sound cool. These fee-based extras might make a neat birthday gift.
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"downtown aquarium"
My girls were just loved here, and they go around two times. You could see not only fish but also animals like river otters (my girls favorit!) and tigers.
Feeding rays are pretty fun activity. Also they provide restrant you can sit right next to huge fish tank.
Children also enjoy free jamping room and bubble box out side of exit.
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