Woods Hole Science Aquarium
Woods Hole Science Aquarium things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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First thing - the Woods Hole Science Aquarium is NOT a large aquarium like those in Boston, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, etc. This is a small, quaint location - it is literally the oldest aquarium in North America. it comprises of a small U shaped hallway that has tanks on one side, props and articles on the other. You can also go upstairs and get "behind the scenes" of the tanks, allowing you to see through the top of the tanks and see a few other tanks that house other fish. There is also a small two finger touch pool upstairs that has sea urchins, hermit crabs, starfish and more. This is a "free" restaurant, with a donation location when you enter. Second thing - parking is ROUGH here. Be prepared to circle for quite some time.
JR CurleyJR Curley
20
The aquarium is a science-oriented establishment that is locally-based. Guests can often witness seals swimming in the pool situated at the front of the building. In the interior, there are touch pools and displays showcasing local fish. The aquarium's displays and tanks are remarkable and effectively teach guests about the sea spaces surrounding the Cape, the ecosystem, and the impact of human activities such as fishing and pollution. The exhibits feature a diverse array of marine life that is sure to impress visitors. It is highly recommended to visit the upstairs area for a distinct viewpoint and the opportunity to converse with the staff who take care of the animals. The friendly and knowledgeable staff make the trip worthwhile!
M Ortiz (Epicurean Explorer Rater)M Ortiz (Epicurean Explorer Rater)
10
We had a great time here! I've rarely seen animals so well looked after. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. On the second floor you get a bit of a behind the scenes look at the displays. They actually pipe in water from the harbor to make sure the animals have fresh, natural water. It's not very big, and parking was a challenge, but we enjoyed ourselves very much. So nice to be able to support free to the public institutions like this.
Fig ToriaFig Toria
30
The aquarium is very small and the signs for which creatures are in which tanks are dark and hard to read. Those are my only reasons for not giving it five stars. It's a lovely, little aquarium with some beautiful sea creatures, with a wealth of information available. We were lucky enough to arrive in late afternoon and observe feeding in several of the tanks, which was fun to watch. Entrance is free and donations are accepted. Definitely a place to visit.
Stefanie RicardStefanie Ricard
00
The aquarium itself was very cool and the staff was absolutely amazing (they answered all 100 million questions my kids asked)! I'm only giving 3 stars because there is NO PARKING lot so you have to drive the same 1 mile radius waiting for an open meter along the street.... this took legitimately 45 minutes. The aquarium is very small and only takes half an hour to see it all so you be the judge on whether the parking hassle is worth it.
Kelly Bernardo-SassKelly Bernardo-Sass
30
This is a great small aquarium that is free to public. Because this is a free attraction you can go for an hour or so and not feel like you've paid so much money you have to spend hours there. The small town has beautiful scenery so why not walk around the town and enjoy lunch before or after. This is a low stress fun time type of field trip for my grandson and I. Loved it!!
Vivian LaymanVivian Layman
40
Nearby Attractions Of Woods Hole Science Aquarium
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Ocean Science Discovery Center
MBL Stony Beach
Woods Hole Historical Museum
Under the Sun
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Ocean Science Discovery Center
4.7
(119)Click for details
MBL Stony Beach
4.6
(99)Click for details
Woods Hole Historical Museum
4.1
(19)Click for details
Under the Sun
4.5
(16)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Woods Hole Science Aquarium
Pie in the Sky Bakery & Cafe
Landfall Restaurant
Captain Kidd Restaurant and Bar
Shuckers
Water Street Kitchen
Quahog Republic Leeside Pub
Coffee Obsession
Quicks Hole Taqueria
Maison Villatte Woods Hole
Pie in the Sky Bakery & Cafe
4.6
(642)Click for details
Landfall Restaurant
4.4
(569)$$
Click for details
Captain Kidd Restaurant and Bar
4.2
(363)$$
Click for details
Shuckers
4.0
(220)Click for details
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
166 Water St, Woods Hole, MA 02543
Map
Phone
(508) 495-2001
Call
Website
fisheries.noaa.gov
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.6
(431 reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
entertainment
family-friendly
accessibility
Description
The Woods Hole Science Aquarium is a small public aquarium in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States. It is owned by the US government and operated by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Marine Biological Laboratory.
attractions: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Ocean Science Discovery Center, MBL Stony Beach, Woods Hole Historical Museum, Under the Sun, restaurants: Pie in the Sky Bakery & Cafe, Landfall Restaurant, Captain Kidd Restaurant and Bar, Shuckers, Water Street Kitchen, Quahog Republic Leeside Pub, Coffee Obsession, Quicks Hole Taqueria, Maison Villatte Woods Hole
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