Boston's New England Aquarium

Located at Central Wharf on the waterfront, Boston's New England Aquarium provides an exciting adventure that can last for hours. Both indoor and outdoor exhibits are offered at the aquarium, which is open daily with the exception of Thanksgiving Day and December 25.

Boston's New England Aquarium has a wide range of amazing and interesting sights to see. Fantastic photographic opportunities will have you snapping pictures throughout your travels. More than 20,000 specimens featuring over 600 species of aquatic animals and fish can be found at Boston's New England Aquarium. On any given day, visitors can see something to interest them ranging from live exhibits of marine life to educational lectures to glass tanks full of unique animals and fish. The aquarium offers an extensive array of marine sights and sounds.

Located in the center of the aquarium, a recreation of a Caribbean coral reef community is showcased in a four-story high circular glass tank. Holding over 20,000 gallons of water, sharks, moray eels, turtles, tropical fish, and more, this giant ocean tank draws in hundreds of visitors. Surrounding the outskirts of the tank, one will find various exhibits throughout the rest of the building.

An adorable colony of penguins can be found on the aquarium's ground level. Totally oblivious to the dozens of eyes that are watching them, the penguins waddle about in playful abandon.

Visitors enjoy watching the seals as they frolic in and out of the water in the outdoor seal tank. A special presentation given during predetermined times features sea lions on stage to the sheer delight of aquarium guests who watch in between gales of laughter.

Veterinarians and biologists providing treatment and routine care to the Aquarium's residents can be observed at the Aquarium Medical Center. Local fish and their habitats are explored at the Georges Bank exhibit.

Australian sea dragons can be found in a colorful display on the second floor. Tropical reptiles, 12-foot long eels, color changing cuttle fish, frogs, and more are showcased in the Amazon exhibit.

Showcasing the New England habitat, the Edge of the Sea Exhibit provides easy access for allowing visitors to experience hands on activities including the chance to touch tide pool animals such as crabs and anemones. A tank full of fish whose lower eyelids glow in the dark is the hit of the Twilight Dwellers Tropical Gallery.

An entire medley of special events, exhibits, trips, dinners, and programs take place throughout the year at Boston's New England Aquarium. Reservations are required and should be booked at least two or three weeks in advance by calling the following phone number: 617-973-5206. Admission fees are charged with less expensive rates for members of Boston's New England Aquarium. Additionally, the fees are based upon the cost to provide each event so they vary greatly. Age restrictions do apply to many events and identification displaying the individual's age might be required.

A regular monthly event is the "Gallery Behind-the-Scenes Tour." During this aquarium tour, visitors are taken to one of the four galleries for an all-inclusive exploration of the gallery including the maintenance of the equipment within the room, the feeding of all of the room's inhabitants, and the special care required for each of the room's inhabitants.

Open house events are also held throughout the year and are open to members only. An annual fee is charged to become a member of the aquarium. Other popular events include family sleepovers, holiday parties, field trips through salt marshes or Spectacle Island, and more.

The Celebrate Seafood Dinner event, held in the Harborview Café, features three varieties of ocean-friendly seafood (fish caught in an environmentally safe manner.) The meal is provided along with cooking demonstrations by the chef, educational facts about fish and selecting ocean friendly fish, and more. Wine is typically served at these dinners and all guests must be 21 or older.

Educational programs designed for children of various ages including toddler and preschool are also offered at the aquarium, typically on a monthly basis. The programs typically run in a series and are presented in a specific order. Although it is recommended to enroll your children in each of the programs, each month's program can be attended on its own.

Admission fees are charged for most of the events, but varying prices are offered for children, college students, adults, and senior citizens. Identification is required in some cases to prove the age requirement. The Aquarium hours vary according to weekends, holidays, and season.

For an extra special taste of the salt water, consider taking a whale watching cruise. Whale watching cruises are available for a fee during the months between April and October.

Don't forget to visit the gift shop at the end of your travels to pick up a few interesting souvenirs for mementos. The café also provides refreshments for purchase.