Woods Hole Science Aquarium — Attraction in Falmouth

Woods Hole is the home of of many marine biology establishments, and this wonderful FREE aquarium was an absolute treat. It was a tad out of the way of our route to Hyannis, but it was worth the excursion. This Aquarium is quaint yet beautiful. They have a wonderful amount of art on the outer walls of the displays, as well as a significant amount of wonderful history to learn about, concerning marine life, fishery practice and evolution, the vessels which made it possible, and the wonderful assortment of wildlife found locally and around our humble Atlantic coastlines. Little tidbits about the fish inside the beautiful aquariums are scattered above and around the glass to help you learn and recognize the fish and other marine creatures. My family from across the pond loved this experience. Who says the best things in life aren't free?! I may come back someday to see how it has evolved...

Located in a beautiful setting, the Aquarium is not very big, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in the quality of the exhibits. The first floor has numerous traditional aquarium exhibits in large tanks. Upstairs there is a hands-on tank where kids can explore crabs, star fish, and other aquatic creatures; upstairs also houses numerous large tanks that house a variety of aquatic animals apparently undergoing research and extended care. The Aquarium gives a good tourist view into sea life while also providing a great glimpse into the day-to-day scientific/research aspect.

The day we visited, the aquarium was uncomfortably crowded and we felt rushed through the exhibits; so it would be worthwhile to plan your visit accordingly and make for a relatively at-ease,...

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...