The New England Aquarium. Where to begin? Let’s start with facts. The New England Aquarium is a large aquarium situated on the Boston Harbor. It’s been around since 1969 and has become a beloved favorite of families in the region. Also fact: my husband and I were members for a number of consecutive years pre-children. Not only is the aquarium a great place to see animals you’d probably never see otherwise, it’s engaged in loads of conservation research. A visit to the aquarium is quite literally good for the planet.
I’ve seen lots of posts listing the New England Aquarium as a must-see for kids when traveling to Boston. Today, I’m going to give you all the information you ever wanted for a visit, and tell you my honest opinion of whether it warrants “must-see” status.
Let’s do this!
NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM FAST FACTS
| Address | 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110 |
| Hours of Operation | 9 AM – 5 or 6 PM |
| Admission: Kids/Adults/Seniors* | $34 / $25 / $32 |
| Parking | Garage |
| Water Bottle Filler | Yes |
| Picnic Friendly | Yes |
| Clean Bathrooms / Changing Areas | Yes |
| Stroller Friendly | Technically |
| Gear Recommendation | ErgoBaby or equivalent |
| Apparel Recommendation | Long sleeves / pants |
| Sunscreen / Bug Spray? | No |
| Breastfeeding Friendliness | It’s dark and there are benches throughout |
| Best Ages | 8+ |
| Best Season to Visit | Spring to Fall |
NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM LAYOUT
The New England Aquarium has a very simple layout, which somehow manages to become extremely congested in a hurry. Upon entering the New England Aquarium, you pass a restroom, and are dumped into the main exhibit area. The first exhibit is the penguins, and the entrance to the Giant Ocean Tank walkway is right behind. People tend to accumulate around the penguins and on the Ocean Tank ramp. For this reason, I highly recommend an Ergo or similar device, if you’re in that life stage. A left from the entrance will take you toward the touch tank and in the direction of the shark exhibit. There are stairs to the shark exhibit and an elevator if you absolutely must bring a stroller. A right will take you to smaller tanks with light-sensitive critters. Straight through (and to the back) of the main exhibit area is where the sea lions do their thang.
Outside and across from the main entrance is the Simons theatre. We’ve been a few times, but I’d recommend skipping it and experiencing the IMAX or 4D at Boston Museum of Science, instead.
NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM EXHIBITS
KID’S FAVORITE
The Vending Machine. I wish I were kidding. My kids did not want to go back into the aquarium after we landed in the food court. I think we had been in the aquarium for maybe an hour at that point, and they had all had quite enough.
MOM’S FAVORITE
The Science of Sharks exhibit is definitely the coolest (and easiest to miss) in my opinion. We weren’t able to spend as much time as we I would’ve liked because my middle pinched her hand in the elevator. The shark exhibit has actual embryonic sharks gestating that can be viewed, which is fascinating.
DAD’S FAVORITE
The Green Sea Turtle in the Giant Ocean Tank. My husband struggled a bit to come up with a favorite – so yeah. That’s about all I have to say on that.
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
There are at least two bathrooms in the aquarium. One as soon as you pass through the ticket area, and another in a back alley between the octopus exhibit and the food court. The back alley has a family bathroom which is fine. Any time there is a family bathroom, I am thrilled; however, it would be nice if they had step stools in said bathrooms. The main bathroom (toward the front) is clean, though it is loud. Like the rest of the aquarium, if feels crowded, even on low volume days.
The New England Aquarium has a food court with tables overlooking the wharf. We typically go places mid-week to avoid crowds. Maybe it was the time of day, or day of week, but the food court was mostly closed down aside from some breakfast sandwiches. Nothing looked super appetizing, but that’s okay because we had packed our cooler backpack with snacks and Bentos. Besides cost, I always like to take my own food to ensure there is something nutritious my kids will eat on hand.
WAYS TO SAVE
The New England Aquarium offers a plethora of ways to save money on your visit. Perhaps my favorite way is through your local library. Most libraries in the Boston area have discounted tickets available, making this the most accessible way to save 50% on the cost of tickets. Of course, this only works if you or someone one you know has access to a local library. Typically, the library passes are valid for four people – which is a bummer for families of 5 or more, but some savings is better than no savings.
If you’re interested in alternative ways to save, you can find more information about that here.
PARKING
The two best locations for parking near the aquarium are the Post Office Square parking and Rowe’s Wharf. That being said, Post Office Square is consistently cheaper than anywhere else, is underground and is heated. It also has superbly clean restrooms and almost always has availability. Rowe’s Wharf is above ground and is flipping cold in the chilly months. The sea breeze gets trapped in the parking facility like a wind tunnel. Add in some frozen concrete and cripes. You’re in for an arctic blast.
Worth The Drive?
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