Mystic Aquarium — Attraction in Stonington

If you’re planning a family trip to Mystic, Connecticut, Mystic Aquarium is a must-visit destination, especially for families with children under 14. While it may not rival the size of aquariums like SeaWorld, it offers a rich array of interactive and educational experiences tailored for younger audiences.

Highlights for Kids:

Beluga Whales: One of the standout features is the beluga whale exhibit the only one in New England. Children can observe these gentle giants, including the popular Juno, known for his playful interactions with visitors .  

Sea Lions & Seals: The aquarium houses a variety of seals and sea lions, including the rare Steller sea lions. The sea lion shows at the Foxwoods Marine Theater are both entertaining and educational, captivating audiences of all ages .  

Penguins: The African penguin exhibit allows kids to learn about these unique birds and their behaviors, with opportunities to observe them both on land and swimming . 

Interactive Touch Tanks: Children can engage directly with marine life by touching sharks, rays, and other sea creatures in designated touch pools, fostering a hands-on learning experience . 

Seal Pup Playspace: Designed for toddlers aged 2–5, this undersea-themed play area offers a safe and imaginative environment for the youngest visitors to explore and play . 

Dino Seas Exhibit:

The “Dino Seas” exhibit is an immersive journey through prehistoric marine environments, featuring animatronic dinosaurs, a two-story indoor play area, and live reptiles and amphibians. While it offers interactive experiences, some visitors feel that the additional $15 ticket may not be justified for older children or adults.

Educational Programs:

Mystic Aquarium provides a range of educational programs, including:  • Summer Camps: Week-long camps that combine fun and learning about marine life.  • Overnight Programs: Unique sleepover experiences that allow children to explore the aquarium after hours.  • Homeschool Series: Curriculum-aligned programs designed for homeschool families . 

Conservation Efforts:

The aquarium is actively involved in marine conservation. Notably, it rehabilitated and released six gray seals back into the wild, highlighting its commitment to wildlife rescue and rehabilitation . 

Mystic Aquarium excels as a family-friendly destination, offering a variety of engaging and educational activities for children under 14. While it may not offer the scale or thrill for older teens and adult only groups, its focus on interactive learning and conservation makes it a valuable experience for...

I was excited to visit this aquarium as a college student with a group of friends interested in marine life and biology. We put research into the aquarium before buying our rather pricey tickets (unfortunately no student discount :( ) which seemed to show it would be a good experience with well-kept creatures.

Unfortunately this was not the case. The aquarium is catered more towards children (which we knew and expected!) But informational bubbles were either irrelevant, inaccurate, or non-descript.

Multiple sea jellies were dead or tangled in their tanks, likely due to fast-moving currants in very small enclosures.

fish and crustaceans (specifically larger fish and the Japanese spider crabs) do not have near enough space for their size and number in their tanks. Making attempts to keep large deep-sea creatures in enclosed spaces is a well-studied inhumane venture that is more or less uncalled for, and sharks were tucking away behind their minimal hides.

Fortunately the marine mammals (bar the penguins in their rather small enclosure, but I can't speak much on that) seemed very well cared for and had ample room to roam and hide away. I am really sad to bash this aquarium for their work, so I am relieved they at least have good care for their seals, whales, and sea lions.

Aound every corner was a QR code to donate more money to the aquarium, which felt uncalled for considering the price of admission :(. They also change pricing of the gift shop depending on the amount of visitors, which to me personally is just a bit grubby and pushes a bad message from the aquarium coordinators regarding their priorities. While I didn't come with a family and kids, it just adds another issue for parents trying to do something fun for their kids.

The reason my review isn't a 1 is because of the on-floor staff being absolutely stellar and incredibly patient, despite the evident stress of their work. They clearly show passion for what they're doing and the creatures they care for. They handled the overwhelming crowd of noisy kids well despite the chaos, for which i commend them greatly!

I would recommend searching for a different aquarium with deeper focuses on legitimate conservation efforts, whether you're going for your kids or as adults. I think the care and respect of other life was not displayed well by this aquarium, unfortunately. While no place is perfect, I'd rather support a more dedicated facility with an emphasis on legitimate,...

My daughter, dad, and I came here to celebrate my birthday Labor Day weekend. Despite it being very crowded, we had a great time. We got there at 9 am. to avoid too many lines and crowds.

We decided to go to Dino Seas first as I wanted my daughter to do her thing first. We spent about an hour here. It was nice as it was air-conditioned. When you first walk in, there's a giant sharks jaw you can stand behind and take a picture, with a holder for your phone conveniently a few feet in front. There are games for kids, short 3D movies, large figures with their descriptions on the wall, a play area, as well as fish, reptiles, and amphibians displays.

By the time we made it out of there, the place was packed, but we made our way to the seals,sea lions, and penguin outdoor displays. We also saw beluga whales, which I had never seen, which was super cool, but I do worry about their welfare.

After that, we went inside and saw all the cool fish and shark displays. Spent some time at the very crowded but very cool touch tank. Tried to be patient with the crowd and just be able to take in as many tanks as we could. The jellyfish were definitely a favorite. 🪼

After that we went to the sea lion show. We got there 30 mins early so we could sit in the front. By the time the show started, it was packed, so if you are there with small children, the elderly, or disabled I recommend getting there early. The show itself was great. Even my grouchy 11 year old liked it. The sea lions and their trainers are very smart and funny.

We took 1 last look around outside before we left and headed for the giftshop. Being a financially challenged family, we opted for smaller souvenirs like a magnet, a pin, and a small novelty toy for our daughter.

I had a great time and didn't really have any problems. It was cool to see all the animals and all the employees were kind...