5 Aquariums Across The U.S. To Check Out

Forbes

10-07-2025

West Coast Sea Nettles at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. getty
You don't need a PADI certification to get an up-close look at some of the ocean's most fascinating creatures. Across the U.S., world-class aquariums showcase everything from ethereal sea dragons and mesmerizing jellyfish to playful otters, inquisitive penguins, and even sharks. Many also offer live feedings, interactive exhibits, and unforgettable experiences, like joining naturalists from the New England Aquarium for whale watching right off the Boston coast. Here are five must-visit aquariums that bring the deep blue to life.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Brittany Anas
Perched on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a world-class destination that opened in 1984 within a former sardine cannery. The aquarium has been a pioneer from the start, unveiling the world's first living kelp forest exhibit and debuting large-scale displays of jellyfish—hypnotic creatures that pulse rhythmically through the glowing blue waters. Monterey Bay is also the only aquarium outside Japan to showcase sunfish, yellowtail, and bluefin tuna. With nearly 200 exhibits focused on the rich habitats of Monterey Bay, around 80 percent of the marine life on display hails from California's own coastal waters. Sync up your visit with some of the daily shows, whether it's hammerhead sharks lunging for lunch or sea otters, who come to the aquarium as rescues, snacking and playing.
Penguins at Shedd Aquarium. Shedd Aquarium
One of the most eye-catching features of the Shedd Aquaurium is at the heart of the aquarium in the historic rotunda: Wonder of Waters includes two towering 28,000-gallon habitats, one freshwater, the other saltwater. Fish fanatics can see the creatures dart about colorful corals and lush underwater plants and spot the differences between the environments. Other exhibits showcase colorful coral reefs teeming with fish, an oceanarium with beluga whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, sea otters and sea lions, and a Great Lakes exhibit where you can feel the leather backs of lake sturgeon at a 'touch experience' station.
Shedd Aquarium ranks among the largest indoor aquariums in the world. Since its opening in 1929, it has more than doubled in size—growing from 225,000 to 480,500 square feet with the addition of the Abbott Oceanarium and Wild Reef. The original building, a 300-foot octagonal gem wrapped in white Georgian marble, cost $3.25 million to construct in 1930. Today, replicating that iconic structure would run upwards of $225 million.
Boston Harbor City Cruises and New England Aquarium partner for whale and dolphin-watching cruises each summer. New England Aquarium
One of the New England Aquarium's most beloved residents is Myrtle, a green sea turtle who's called the Giant Ocean Tank home since 1970, which is just a year after the aquarium first opened its doors. Visitors can catch daily presentations featuring penguins, sea lions, harbor seals, and the vibrant marine life of the Giant Ocean Tank, where Myrtle is a star of the show.
The aquarium is home to thousands of aquatic animals, ranging from African penguins to California sea lions. At the new Ancestral Fishes exhibit, visitors can learn about the fish that were around when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
Beyond the tanks, the aquatic adventure continues on the open water: Join a whale watching tour led by naturalists from the aquarium in partnership with Boston Harbor City Cruises. You'll learn from the friendly guides about how a whale consumes a million calories a day! After the tour, unwind at the aquarium's dockside beer garden which has primo views of Boston Harbor. The Maui Ocean Center In Maui, Hawaii
An exhibit with sharks, rays and fish at the Maui Ocean Center in Ma'alaea, Hawaii. (Photo by Tamir Kalifa for The Washington Post via Getty Images) The Washington Post via Getty Images
Ocean explorers come to Maui for epic dives at Molokini Crater and to perhaps see honu (green turtles) from a distance on the beach, or to whale watch in the winter. But to dive deeper, the Maui Ocean Center offers a Living Reef with more than 40 Hawaiian coral species and a chance to see seahorses, clownfish, and blacktrip reef sharks. Visitors can also walk under an underwater tunnel in the Open Ocean exhibit and get a glimpse of sharks and stingrays. Experiences at the ocean center include yoga sessions, dives with sharks, sleepovers for kids, and educational events like a chance to witness coral spawning. Tennessee Aquarium In Chattanooga, Tennessee
Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, Tennessee. getty
Set on the Chattanooga Riverfront, the Tennessee Aquarium spans two buildings that combined house more than 10,000 animals. It also features an IMAX theater that brings the underwater world to life with immersive 3D films.
In the River Journey building, freshwater habitats teem with turtles, lake sturgeon, alligators, and other river-dwellers. Over in the Ocean Journey building, visitors can encounter playful penguins, sand tiger sharks, lemurs, and butterflies floating through a lush tropical garden.
Sync up your visit with the twice-daily feedings of the aquarium's Gentoo and Macaroni Penguins (10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.) Check in on your favorite creatures via live webcams that film Penguin Rock, otters at play, as well as the vibrant 'Secret Reef,' a saltwater habitat brimming with reef fish, a rescued sea turtle and sharks.