Atlantic City Aquarium — Attraction in Atlantic City

ACCESSIBILITY ALERT: While it does have a ramp for wheelchairs in the back of the building, it leads back to the front doors that are impossible for lone wheelchairs and very difficult for caregivers to maneuver with a wheelchair.

While the apparent manager did come to assistance, she was downright ignorant with regard to our service dog. In violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, she demanded an "id" for the dog. When I tried to tell her she wasn't allowed, by law, to ask for that, she said that a "nice person" (sneering and insinuating that I wasn't) would do that because they have "animals." As ignorant as it gets. I tried to tell her that all she is permitted to ask, by law, is if the service dog is needed for a disability and trained to perform tasks. She made a point of ignoring me and did not respond as if I was the idiot in the encounter. I'm a lawyer.

Considering it has been closed since COVID lockdown for renovations funded by the stimulus package, you'd think they'd have the decency to have an accessible entrance.

Leaving the exhibit, there is a swinging sort of chrome turnstyle that is a barrier to access for a wheelchair, particularly a manual one. Our service dog fell out of her sling bag as I tried to maneuver it with the wheelchair.

As far as the Aquarium itself, PetSmart has more fish. They give half price admission because the second floor animals have not been purchased . . . whatever they were supposed to be. The one small aquarium with a few large fish and a stingray was the high point, although nothing was identified. It also seemed more like a prison than a habitat. The three attached pictures are most of the exhibit. Nothing interactive or educational. There is a separate room with a tank with a few wetlands turtles and a trough filled with sand and water that have young horseshoe crabs. A woman who was working to feed the turtles was delightful, kind and informative.

Basically, though, it is a 10 or 15 minutes exhibit at best. It is not worth a planned excursion or the cost of admission. And that arrogant, snotty...

There are pros and cons. Great prices on everything. The con to that is they don't have much of a variety of sea life. They're is no education department to educate the kids. They rely on signage and hopefully the parents will do the education. The 2 people I saw working seemed quite flustered. Almost like they couldn't manage such a small crowd. It almost seemed like one person should have been the education director and the other should have managed the "gift shop/concession (popcorn only, no drinks)/ ticket sales." They had some interesting animals that my kids did seem to enjoy. But the tanks seem small and lackluster for their natural environments. No sinks near the touch tanks like other zoos or aquariums either. I also feel that the observation deck, although it had beautiful views, could be perked up a bit. They just maybe need some teen volunteers looking for environmental studies college credits or something. Maybe have a local school (or multiple schools come up with a group marine biology project) visit and come up with ideas to make it more inviting and interesting. I'd rather see a skeleton of a whale or other sea creature hanging from the ceiling than a boat. I wasn't expecting sea world, but I have been to numerous zoos and aquariums in my lifetime in different states. This one was, for us, a disappointment. Again, prices were fantastic. But you get what...

Atlantic City Aquarium – A Charming Comeback! Visited on May 16, 2025

After being closed for five long years, the Atlantic City Aquarium has finally reopened its doors – and what a delightful return it is! While the renovation is still in progress (with the second floor under construction), the first floor is fully open and offers a small but charming selection of exhibits.

The aquarium may be modest in size, but it’s packed with personality and perfect for a short, relaxing visit. The marine life on display is well cared for, and the atmosphere is clean, bright, and welcoming. It’s a great spot for families with young kids or anyone looking to enjoy a peaceful hour or two by the water.

One of the highlights is the incredible view from the third floor – a beautiful panorama of the beach that’s worth the visit alone.

Currently, they’re offering a generous 50% discount on admission: just $6 for adults and $3 for children, which makes it not only enjoyable but also extremely budget-friendly. Plus, there’s plenty of free parking, which is always a huge bonus in Atlantic City.

All in all, the Atlantic City Aquarium is making a great comeback, and we can’t wait to see it fully restored. It’s a sweet little gem that’s definitely...