New England Aquarium
add photosTwo new special programs that are about as interactive as it gets are the Morning Play with the Harbor Seals ($45 per person, ages 9 and up) and the Trainer for an Afternoon ($150 per person, ages 9 and up) with the fur and harbor seals. Watch for the new sea lion exhibit that will be unveiled soon.
The Exploration Center is in a separate building. It’s an ideal classroom for anything with a marine-related theme, attracting preschoolers to teens; the activity center offers arts and crafts, science investigations, and different resources. This area is very popular with members and is free (included in your admission ticket).
Don’t forget to register for one of the Family Sleepovers, held throughout the school year on Friday and Saturday nights for $45 per person—a memorable treat!
Winter Hours (After Labor Day to the end of June)
Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday and most holidays*
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Summer Hours
July 1 to September 1 (Labor Day)
Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday - Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
July 4th 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday and Labor Day 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Aqua Kids Family Day
On the first and third Monday of every month (excluding holidays), the Aquarium offers activities especially for families with young children.
Throughout the day, you can hear stories, create art projects and see Live Animal Presentations in the Curious George Discovery Corner, located on the first floor of the Aquarium. Family Days are open to all Aquarium visitors, and no registration is required.
20 Reviews for New England Aquarium
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54
'10, '11, '12
0 families found this helpful
"Pricey and Crowded"
I grew up going to the New England Aquarium on field trips. Back in Boston for a visit with the kids, I was excited to take them to an aquarium I was familiar with. I was sorely disappointed.
We visited on a Sunday, and it was packed!! The line just to buy tickets was over an hour long. With some quick thinking, we bought our tickets on our Iphones and jumped in the will call line. Saved us a bunch of time! There is essentially one large room to this aquarium with a few off-shoots. The main room is a large tank that goes up three floors. You can follow it around to watch the turtles and sharks swim about. If you're lucky, you can catch a glimpse of workers inside cleaning the tank or feeding the fish. At the very top, the tank is open and typically there is someone there giving a brief talk.
Encircling the bottom of the tank are ALL kinds of penguins. Probably one of the better displays at the aquarium.
Out back (with a great view of the harbor) is the sea lion tank. Don't be fooled, the Sea Lion show isn't so much a show as an environmental talk. Definitely needs to be reworked.
The best part of the aquarium is the touch tank at the entrance. Don't miss it!!
If you are visiting Boston, I wouldn't run to visit the aquarium. There are so many other exciting activities for the kids.
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0 families found this helpful
"Nice Aquarium..nothing fantastic"
It's a nice aquarium, but I find it a little pricey. For us it's nothing great..maybe because we seen it before and not a whole lot has been changed or added. It's Ok if you really like aquariums. If I had to chose between this and the Museum of Science, the Museum of Science has a lot more to see and more variety in exhibits.
0 families found this helpful
"New England Aquarium"
This is a wonderful place for both adults and children. My kids and I love to see all the fish, especially the sharks even though it is a little scary.The admission is a little expensive but they have discount cards available. The only thing I dont like about the new england aquarium is seeing all the animals in captivity. but other than that this place is definitely a great learning experience.
0 families found this helpful
"Fun for the whole family"
We went to the aquarium a couple of years ago. We bought tickets to the Whale Imax show and the aquarium together. The imax was dissapointing but the aquarium was very enjoyable. It was fun to watch the divers clean the tank. They did do one show while we were there. Great for kids of all ages.
0 families found this helpful
"I love the New England Aquarium"
The New England Aquarium is fun for all ages. Walk the spiral tank to see the sharks, fish and giant sea turtle! They've got a small hands on exhibit where kids can pick up starfish. Get your families picture taken when you walk in. Then you have the option of buying it on the way out.
0 families found this helpful
"It's missing something.."
Came here on a Saturday afternoon. It brought back memories. I remember coming here as a child for school field trips. The highlight of my trips was the HUGE glass cylinder with all of the sea life. This continues to be the best part for me. I feel like there could be more. For the money spent, I don't believe that there was that much to see/do.
0 families found this helpful
"Penguins!"
We only visit the aquarium when we have a discount card for admission as it's very pricey. However, it's a very fun trip! There are all sorts of sea life and kids are always enthralled! I don't have much to compare to, but I've heard that it is one of the top aquariums to visit!
0 families found this helpful
"Fishes!"
The Boston Aquarium is great! The exhibits haven't changed much over the years but there is a lot to look at and information posted at each tank. There is a tank where kids can handle small sea creatures such as starfish. It can get quite busy on the weekends, I would suggest going mid week if possible.
0 families found this helpful
"ok, but not the best"
NE Aquarium is definitely a great learning experience but after having gone to Mystic's it just doesn't add up anymore. The penguins are always a big hit and the middle tank is exciting for the kids to walk around. Our favorite part is free...the sea lions in the outside tank! We could watch them for hours!
0 families found this helpful
"Love the Aquarium"
I have gone to this Aquarium at least 6 or 7 times and it is a great place to take your kids!! My daughter just loves watching the penguins for hours and hours and you can go to so many locations to see them with the walk way going upwards which is awesome. Last summer I took my daughter and one of her friend's that had never been to an Aquarium and she loved it!! It is a great place to take kids!! The bad side it is pricey like the previous reviews had mention but if you check with your local library you can might be able to get a better discount or even half of entries.. I reserve the passes at my local library and get a discounted rate which is awesome!!! My next visit I would love to take the whale watch that leaves right from the aquarium..
0 families found this helpful
"surprised"
we went there last summer. To our surprise (mine at the least) I was expecting something more than a big tube and a walk around it for that admission price.
It is pricey really, the parking too, but my family loves the theatre.
Other than that, I'll go with Mystic Aquarium in CT. Smaller but much more to see and interact for my 2 younger kids.
2 families found this helpful
"Central tank is the star"
Boston's aquarium is a great highlight for a trip, but it is quite pricey. As with many things in the downtown area, street parking is almost impossible, so plan for garage parking. Inside the aquarium, the central tank is huge and chock full of exotic fish, sharks, and even a sea turtle. A concrete walkway (stroller and wheelchair friendly) spirals up the tank, with lots of places to stop off and watch for awhile. This is wonderful for kids of all ages, from the littlest ones who just watch, to the budding scientist who can't wait to tell you everything he or she knows!
At the top, it's open so you can see well down into the tank -- fun for everyone. You can often catch staff taking a dive to check the health of the animals or to do a regular feeding.
Penguins and a sea lion show are also big attractions for kids. The side exhibits leave a little to be desired, but the aquarium does seem dedicated to constant improvement.
Even if you're just walking by, you can see an exhibit of seals in an exterior tank (that's fun and FREE).
I can't wait to take my kids this summer to the new Marine Mammal Center.
The New England Aquarium is dedicated to conservation and education, so visitors can see and hear about rescue efforts up front.
For older and more inquisitive visitors, I recommend the extra time and money for a whale watch.
1 family found this helpful
"Great day trip!"
This was an enjoyable day. I have never enjoyed an aquarium quite so much! There are lots of great exhibits. The penguins are my favorite. They have some very good shows there as well. If you are in Boston, it is a great day trip! We went with a small child and he really loved it!
2 families found this helpful
"a day at the aquarium"
We went to the aquarium on a Friday, during school vacation. To avoid the crowds, I would not do that again.. We had to wait in line for 30 mins or so, which wasn't too bad. We packed snacks and drinks, which helped to pass the time.
Once inside, it was very, very crowded. Too crowded to really spend quality time looking at the many different exhibits. We were lucky to get a space at one of many tank windows, or the 4 story high tank, and we were able to enjoy seeing many different forms of sea life such as sharks, turtles, stingrays, and many more as they swam past us. A very friendly worker stopped to talk with us and answer questions for at least 20 minutes or so. He was great with the kids!
Thankfully, we packed our own lunch food and drinks, so we stopped in the cafe with our food and enjoyed a leisurely lunch. They have food for purchase, both hot and cold meals, but I would highly recommend bringing your own. We also had discount passes from our town library, which saved us a lot of money. We splurged on the parking, and paid $18 to have the car a short walking distance from the aquarium.
Outside the aquarium is where several large boats are docked, and it can be fun for the kids to look at these. There are a lot of benches to sit and people watch, but with young kids, they might get a bit antsy. There is a sea lion exhibit outside the doors of the aquarium, which is fun for the kids to watch. The penguin exhibit inside was another favorite. All in all, we spent about 2 hours or so inside, including a trip to the gift shop.
2 families found this helpful
"It's great, if you have the time & patience."
Our family has visited the Boston aquarium about 5 times in the past 8 years. We're a family that loves going to places like aquariums, zoos and wild animal parks because it's really a no-brainer type of activity. Kids are engaged, hopefully they get some hands-on experiences and we overpay for parking. Really, a win-win.
The pros are obvious: "Oooh, fishies!", "Oooh, penguins!" and "Ooooh! Those kids are touching things? Can I touch things, too?". Later those same little voices are squealing things like "Oooh! Can we go to IMAX? They have a MOVIE!" and "Ooooh! There's a gift shop!".
The cons are few, but combined can make some of us a little anxious. Parking fees have gone up considerably since our first visit. That is to be expected and planned for. What we didn't plan for is that the aquarium would take OUT the family room with the cool dress-ups (starfish, butterfly, etc.) and sand boxes to usher in the age of IMAX. There is something to be said for having a place where kids 1-5 can roam free, without the fear of a) them eating something like a starfish, b) hurting themselves and c) annoying other patrons who are trying to get a golden Kodak moment with the sea turtles.
Bottom line: I wouldn't take anyone under 5 here, or make a special trip just for this venue.
0 families found this helpful
"The best aquarium"
Boston as one of the best aquariums! The kids will have a blast looking at all the fish in the huge 4 story tank. My kids favorite is the sea turtle and the sharks. Some local libraries have passes to get in either discounted or free, so make sure you check your library for passes to save yourself some money. If you get a chance to do the imax theater you should! It's an excellent show the kids were nervous going in, but loved it coming out and wanted to watch it again!
2 families found this helpful
"New England Aquarium "
This is one of the best aquariums we've ever been to. The cylindrical aquarium that is around three stories high is amazing. We loved the turtles! They were the best! My little girls loved the sea dragons, the fancy cousin of the sea horse. The only thing I would like to be able to change was how nervous I was about riding the train with my little kids. Not being familiar with Boston and having to make all those changes to get to the aquarium was a little nerveracking.
1 family found this helpful
"5 star aquarium"
This is such a fun place to spend a morning or afternoon with the kids! they will definitely love it! the variety of sea creatures is amazing! Definitely check out the seafood restaraunts in the area--they are really really good! And you can take a cruise of the harbor or go whale watching in the area too!
0 families found this helpful
"Fun with the Family"
One of Boston’s greatest attractions is the New England Aquarium, and rightly so. Penguins, turtles, sea lions, and sharks share the stage with thousands of smaller fish, all contained in brilliantly designed tanks and pools. The four-story glass tank (with an ocean tank webcam), wrapped by a spiral ramp, is the highlight of the aquarium. There’s nothing like being eye to eye with a shark or walking up and down to folow a sea turtle’s movements through the water.
Plan to spend at least a couple of hours here, beginning with the harbor seal tank in front of the aquarium. Younger kids may be spooked, initially, by the dim lighting inside the aquarium; if you show them that the only illumination comes from the tanks, they’ll probably forget their fear and become interested in the fish. Feeding time (five times a day) in the main tank is worth waiting for: Scuba divers jump right in to feed the fish. The kids also get a kick out of the penguin feeding, and the penguin holding area is the first thing that you see upon entering the aquarium building. On the third level is the ever-popular Edge of the Sea Tide Pool exhibit, which allows kids of all ages to touch and hold small marine creatures such as starfish, horseshoe crabs, and sea urchins. Don’t miss the sea otter exhibit featuring two rescued animals from the West Coast that didn’t have the skills to survive in the wild.
3 families found this helpful
"Boston New England Aquarium"
I was amazed at how big this Aquarium was and how much there was to see and do there. Make sure you take a camera~! This place is awesome to take the children to. I highly recommend this place. They Have seals that swim right below your feet and they are real cool to watch. You will see North Atlantic Right Whale, Sand Tiger Shark, Green Sea Turtle and much much more.
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