New England Aquarium — Attraction in Boston

We visited here on a rainy Sunday afternoon. We just came to Boston for the afternoon and have been wanting to stop. The aquarium overall is fine. It’s not the biggest or most amazing aquarium but it has beautiful features and beautiful creatures. I think their exhibits are average but enjoyable.

Regular adult tickets are $34, kids (3-11) $25, under 3 free, and 60+ $32. They also give $2 off for veterans and $10 for active duty! Members get in for free and never have to make a reservation. If you are visiting and are not member, they recommend making a reservation. If you are purchasing veteran tickets you can’t do so online. You have to call or purchase in person but I tried and their phone system is an ABSOLUTE nightmare. I could not even get to a person to order my tickets! Very frustrating! They run on a ticketed time slot entry so they do run out of tickets sometimes on super busy weekends. They also have combo tickets for movies at the aquarium and whale watch activities. We didn’t purchase advanced tickets and were able to buy tickets when we got there and it was fine. Online when I checked around 12pm (we got to the aquarium around 4pm) there was still about 400 tickets left for the day for various time slots. The last entrance is 80 minutes before close. They are open until 5pm during the week and 6pm on the weekends. It is also four ‘stories’, has ramps/stairs but also elevators. The elevators are not large enough to turn a wheelchair in I think but a stroller, probably. (However I could be wrong about this).

When you walk up you purchase ticket at the outside ticket booth. Part of a tank faces outside so you can see the animals. The aquarium is also right on the water and is attached to a beautiful boardwalk. When you walk in there will be someone to scan your ticket. You can go straight into the exhibits or the gift shop is to your right. When you walk into the exhibits, you walk into the penguins, which is amazing. I could watch them and the seals all day! Then the bottom floor wraps around & will encourage you to move appropriately through the levels of the aquarium. It’s well mapped out that way. Very easy to navigate directionally. They offer some signage and some basic information about the creatures. I wish they had more fun facts or more information about the specific animal that is in their care. Like where they came from, their names, etc. They do for the seals but that’s all I noticed. I did enjoy all the sculptures they have throughout. There is an artistic element that really enhances the user experience. It also dimly lit inside for the creatures and nice on the sensitive eyes. When we were there a couple exhibits were closed and so was the touch tank. There is a giant circular tube tank like in ‘Finding Dory’ in the middle of the aquarium that is really neat. They had a beautiful giant turtle that I was obsessed with. The top of the tank is open and you can look into it from the top floor. Throwing things into any of the exhibits is strictly forbidden and staff will remove you. I’m not sure what happens if you are to accidentally drop your phone though. I think it would simply be gone forever? If you are extra clumsy, don’t test your luck. I was TERRIFIED to capture my video of the top.

We arrived there when they were doing a seal show (training session?) and the seals did seem to enjoy themselves but again, I have no idea what is normal, what hurts them, etc. I’ve never been to Sea World but it made me feel the way I do when I think about them? So take that how you will.

Aside from the seals, turtle, penguins, & fish, they also have an octopus, electric eel, corral, urchins, &...

The last time I went to the aquarium was in 2016 I believe and I loved it. It had a tank with stingrays and sharks. Also had a touch a tank where you could hold starfish when you walked in you could get your picture taken with your family as a memorabilia, also had a nice bench with Penguins in the front next to the seals. Lots of different animals. I just went yesterday with my two toddlers and I was very disappointed as an adult. They got rid of the bench I was told because of Covid they got rid of the picture you take when you walk in because they no longer work with that company, I would honestly get a new company to work with, there was still a touch tank where you can touch the stingrays and sharks but the sharks don’t really come near you so it’s really only a stingrays that you can really touch the tank can hold the starfish. I did not ask why I just assumed because of Covid again There are approximately three levels with ramps One with stairs to get to the top of the big tank where you can see the top of the coral reef. At the top of the big tank in the middle, there’s a couple of exhibits on the side where there’s garden eels and dwarf seahorses. The next level is, where are y’all find the electric eel and octopus and different kinds of fish. The next level is the Penguins, which they have a variety of penguins, emperor, penguins, and other ones if you go out the doors, you can see the Sea lions they do put a show on twice a day. They also do a show at the top of the tank where there’s somebody that just tells you all the information about the water temperature and any other questions you have They also do a show on the Penguins, where they answer any questions you have and tell you about them for kids the aquarium is fun and need to see especially the big tank in the middle but for adults, they might find it a little boring. Parking is in a parking garage right next to it. We got there at 10:20 left at two and it was $44 so if you do not have library passes plan on a $200 day. Hundred dollars if you do not go to the gift shop. It was worth it for my kids excitement. I will make it a yearly trip but not for myself for my kids. I went on a Monday at nine so the traffic wasn’t too bad but if you go Seven or eight to get there for when it opens you will hit all the going to work Traffic And instead of an hour ride, you will have a two hour ride. I brought my own food because the cafeteria is expensive. It’s about five dollars for a french fry and five dollars for water depending on which...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the New England Aquarium in Boston, and I must say, it was an incredible experience! From the moment I stepped through the doors, I was amazed at how clean and well-maintained the entire facility was. Kudos to the staff for keeping everything in such pristine condition. The care and attention given to the animals at the New England Aquarium is truly commendable. It was evident that their well-being is a top priority. Every enclosure was spotless, and the animals looked happy and healthy. I was particularly captivated by the seals at the front of the building. Watching them being fed and interacting with their trainers was an absolute delight. Their playful nature and sheer elegance left me in awe. The variety of marine life at the New England Aquarium is simply astounding. The sheer number of fish species on display was impressive, and the vibrant colors and intricate patterns of each fish were mesmerizing. It felt like stepping into an underwater wonderland. I found myself spending hours exploring each exhibit, learning about the different species, and being awestruck by the beauty of nature. The staff at the New England Aquarium deserve a special mention. Their friendliness and helpfulness added to the overall positive experience. They were readily available to answer any questions and provide additional information about the exhibits. Their passion for marine life was palpable, and it made the visit even more enjoyable. I cannot recommend the New England Aquarium enough. Whether you're a marine enthusiast, nature lover, or simply looking for a fascinating and enjoyable day out, this is the place to be. The cleanliness, the well-being of the animals, the friendliness of the staff, and the incredible variety of marine life all contribute to an unforgettable experience. Don't miss out on this gem in the heart of Boston! Overall, my visit to the New England Aquarium was nothing short of amazing. It exceeded my expectations in every way possible. I will cherish the memories made and eagerly look forward to returning...