The Mystic Aquarium is a delightfully surprising aquarium located in the beautiful Mystic, Connecticut. We’d been considering a visit for a while, but between the two-hour trek and three kids with motion sickness, we had been deterred. Until now. We just came home from our visit and I am happy to report that the Mystic Aquarium should be on your New England bucket list. Read on to find out why, what to expect, and how to make the most of your day!

Let’s do this.

Mystic Aquarium Fast FacTS

Address	55 Coogan Blvd. Mystic, CT 06355
Hours of Operation	Varies by season, Winter – 10 AM to 4 PM
Admission: Kids/ Adults/ Seniors	Varies by day
Parking	Lot, free
Water Bottle Filler	Yes
Picnic Friendly	Yes
Clean Bathrooms / Changing Areas	Yes / Yes
Stroller Friendly	Yes
Gear Recommendation	Wear babies, small stroller for toddlers
Apparel Recommendation	Seasonally appropriate & layers
Sunscreen / Bug Spray?	Yes / TBD
Breastfeeding Friendliness	Benches throughout. Main aquarium is dark but loud.
Best Ages	3 months +
Best Season to Visit	Any time!

MYSTIC AQUARIUM LAYOUT

The Mystic Aquarium is set up a bit like Squam Lakes Science Center. Beyond the check-in area, is an open-air courtyard and atrium. To the right is a “wildlife” trail – this is where you’ll see the belugas, seals, penguins, and turtle marsh. To my surprise, it is also the only way into the main gallery. To the left is the Dino-Seas exhibit, gift shop and cafeteria. Straight ahead is Ray Feeding and the Sea Lion Show. I didn’t particularly love the flow but understand why they want to funnel people in a one-way type of direction. I also didn’t love that there were no maps other than what was posted. I get they’re trying to conserve paper, so maybe a QRTY code or app that can be carried around would be helpful.

MYSTIC AQUARIUM EXHIBITS

Kid’s Favorite

Oldest: Didn’t have a favorite. Middle: The penguins! Youngest: “I liked-ed the wha-els.”

The oldest was enthralled with everything. Normally a bit grumpy, she had a fantastic time, and wants to return. We had the chance to speak with a marine biologist on staff, which made her briefly consider a future in marine biology. Her first love is geology, so I’m not holding my breath.

On the flip side, my middle thought the penguins were awesome. We’ve been studying penguins in our homeschool for a few weeks and seeing them zip around underwater was awesome. It also opened up a conversation about how they keep up with the different birds (which the staff explained), and the kids had a fun time determining who was a boy or girl based on their beaded bracelets.

Calling all Free Willy lovers everywhere. My little cast the first vote for the Belugas! Seeing whales up close is a moving experience, especially when you can see them swimming underwater. Nothing quite compares to making eye contact with a whale. While it makes me sad to see large, migratory animals in captivity, it feels better knowing all these critters were rescued (not captured) and were not able to be rehabilitated and released to the wild. The designers of Mystic Aquarium have done a great job trying to replicate the natural habitats of the Belugas – going so far as to give them rubbing rocks, and a small waterfall, among coves and other underwater features.

Mom’s Favorite

For me, it was a tie between the Main Gallery and the Sea Lion Show. The Main Gallery was clean and dry, albeit loud and crowded. The touch tank in the main gallery was accessible from all sides, which made it easier for everyone to have a turn. I loved all the exhibits in the Main Gallery, and I’m very excited to go back. Furthermore, after four hours we were still finding new things to check out!

On the other hand, I cried at the Sea Lion show. As a young girl who grew up wanting to be a marine biologist, then graduating with a degree in environmental science and biology (and interning as a naturalist), I loved how they combined music, dance and a party invitation to educate children (and adults) about the importance of recycling and keeping the ocean clean. It was educational without being in-your-face, and I think they did a perfect job. Bravo to the trainers on this one – they should get a raise! Pro tip: Sit directly behind the handicap section and you’ll get a close up of a very adorable sea lion.

Dad’s Favorite

My husband threw in a second vote for the Belugas. He is a man of few words, so there’s not much to elaborate on here.

BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS

Eating

Despite having a cafeteria, we opted to take our lunch. However, know you won’t starve if you don’t bring something along. I regrettably did not get into the cafe to check the menu as my own kids were in meltdown mode by the time we sat down to eat.

Bathrooms

There are bathrooms throughout the facility – along the “wildlife” trail, in the main gallery, and next to the cafeteria. I did not see any in the “Dino-Seas” building, but it doesn’t mean they weren’t there. It was dark, I might’ve missed them. The bathrooms were clean and dry. Additionally, the changing table had no visible dirt, which is always a plus. As always, bring something to lay your baby/toddler on, but you probably won’t feel the need to burn it after a visit to this bathroom. A hot water wash should do the trick.

One thing of note is Mystic Aquarium does not have any family bathrooms that I saw. With three little ladies, this means mom is solely responsible for all the bathroom endeavors, and that can be a hustle.

GERMS

Much of the New England Aquarium is outdoors. Of the spaces that are indoors, there is plenty of access to bathrooms to wash hands. Truly, if you just wash your hands after touching things, you won’t get sick that often. That said, I also noticed hand sanitizer throughout (though that won’t save you from Norovirus).

WAYS TO SAVE

It seems counterintuitive, but the easiest way to save at Mystic Aquarium is to buy a membership. The VR and Dino-Seas exhibit is an extra cost, but Dino-Seas is free with membership and VR is a reduced price. We wouldn’t have survived the four-hour stretch if we didn’t have access to Dino-Seas. The “Seal Pup PlaySpace” was closed for the winter, and my younger two needed to let off steam.

PARKING

Parking at the Mystic Aquarium is in a lot and it is free dollars! How awesome. A family museum that has a safe place to park that doesn’t cost a fortune. I didn’t know these existed anymore.

TIPS & TRICKS FOR AN AWESOME DAY

Pack a lunch, water and lots of snacks.

Nothing will end your day faster than a hangry baby/toddler/child/parent. Opt for complex carbs, healthy fats, and protein to keep your kiddo fueled and happy.

Dress for the weather.

A good portion of the Mystic Aquarium is outdoors. Dress for the weather, and dress in layers. We made the mistake of not bringing mittens, but it all worked out because we had planned our trip on a “warmer” winter day. Additionally, consider that your kids will have their hands in a touch tank, so you will either want to bring a change of clothes, short sleeves, or long-sleeves that are easy to push up.

Bring earmuffs for noise-sensitive kiddos.

The Main Gallery can be crowded and noisy. For noise-sensitive kids, I recommend bringing a pair of earmuffs to dampen the noise. We’ve used these, these and these with great success.

Take the smallest stroller you own.

I saw a lot of people struggling with strollers. And I also saw a lot of strollers parked in awkward places. At the time of this visit, we are traveling with a 7, 5 and 3-year-old. As someone who brings our stroller everywhere, I didn’t find it to be necessary. That said, if you have a new toddler, you may want to bring a small umbrella stroller to give their little legs a break. Personally, I find the walking good for using up energy. I do not at all recommend a wagon for this experience.

Plan your day around your kid’s energy level and routine.

It always makes me so sad to see parents and kids in a battle of wills on a day out. Daytrips are supposed to be f-u-n! That doesn’t mean there won’t be challenges, but you’re setting yourself up for misery if you don’t take into account your child’s normal routine and plan your day out accordingly. Think about their normal energy fluctuations throughout the day and use the inhale/exhale philosophy to customize your day for what is right for your family.

Plan your days so that you visit Dino-Seas, the wildlife trail, or the Seal Pup PlaySpace during “exhale” periods. This is when your child has the most energy and is often boisterous. Then plan your visits to the Main Gallery and Sea Lion show during an “inhale” period. These periods are defined by more withdrawn / quiet activities. Your child will cycle through them throughout the day. This will set your child up for success and minimize your frustration because your child will be exhibiting appropriate behavior for the activity selected.

WORTH THE DRIVE?

The Mystic Aquarium currently holds the top spot in my heart for aquariums in New England. Having visited the Seacoast Science Center and the New England Aquarium so far, this one is far and away the best in the region. We drove two hours to visit Mystic and enjoyed it so much we bought a membership. We will be back – no questions asked. If you can only see one aquarium in New England during your lifetime, make it this one.