Best public aquariums?

Snoopy 67 · Aug 31, 2021

The reef tank in Riverhead ,LI has been done over a few months ago.
It is a shadow of what it was but is on the way to becoming a contender again, just a little different.
Going fast through the algae stage now.

PeterReefer · Aug 31, 2021

Wasabiroot said:
The Shedd in Chicago has a neat tidal pool exhibit with wave action. Otherwise, most extremely renowned aquariums (Georgia Aquarium, Monterey Bay, etc) have better than average saltwater exhibits.
My advice? Learn to scuba dive or snorkel and go diving. There's no substitute for being immersed in a world you don't belong, and you will see these habitats as they are naturally, while they are still around. I went on a Great Barrier Reef liveaboard for 5 days for this reason - the reef is in trouble and I wanted to see it in person.

I'm sure someone with more public aquarium experience will chime in!

I agree, The Shedd is an amazing spot!

PeterReefer · Aug 31, 2021

Baltimore aquarium is a beautiful spot!

Marco Vasquez · Aug 31, 2021

Sycamoron said:
Future vacation planning - which public aquariums have lots of reef corals and home aquarium size fish on display? Most seem to favor penguins, seals, stingrays, dolphins and similar large animals.

Florida Aquarium is great. Here in Tampa

LiveFreeAndReef · Aug 31, 2021

I vote New England Aquarium in Boston! Might be a little biased though

robert teseo · Aug 31, 2021

i throw my vote to long island as well, behind the tank tour is a must do as well.

sslater0679 · Aug 31, 2021

Has anyone been to the Branson Aquarium. The last time I was up there they were still building it. Wondering if it would be worth the 3 hour drive there. They seem a little steep on the price of admission. https://www.aquariumattheboardwalk.com/

Gup · Aug 31, 2021

I can only speak of a private aquarium. That would be the Atlantis Aquarium on Paradise Island, in the Bahamas. Their aquarium is unimaginable. What is so sweet is that indoors, then transitions outside where the giant Stingrays flap their fins out of the water. It is truly stunning.

Js.Aqua.Project · Aug 31, 2021

My personal favorite aquarium so far is the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. I've been to the Georgia aquarium and (being from Florida) it feels like the Disney of aquariums - everything is great but also feels like you're being sold something at every turn.

Added note: if you wanted, the two are only like two hours apart so you could visit them both on the same trip.

Mr_Knightley · Aug 31, 2021

Sleepingtiger said:
Was it the Georgia or the Tennessee aquarium that had the cylinder aquarium that was two stories tall and the staircase wrapped around it? I remember it was full of lookdowns.

That's the Chattanooga aquarium. It's such a fantastic tank!
Of all of the single aquarium I've ever been too in my life, the Chattanooga is my favorite. It's so cool because so many of the exhibits are arranged vertically (I believe they are built in old office buildings?) to make some stunning walls of life! I haven't been there since late 2019 but apparently they've got a brand new 'Island Life' exhibit with several reefs, which is great because they're previous reef wasn't the absolute best. It looks too much like a hobbyists' tank to me lol But barring reefs, they have some of the most stunning exhibits that I've seen! The top of the saltwater building is a massive greenhouse, with a stingray tank and a fantastic collection of pitcher plants! Then of course the aforementioned cylinder tank that spans four stories, and in the freshwater side they have a massive hallway spiraling down a stairwell at the center of the building, and every inch of the walls is taken up by tanks full of Arapaima and giant stingrays!

I could rave about it all day, but this comment is already too long xD

Sleepingtiger · Aug 31, 2021

I know several posters mention going scuba is probably the best. I was in Cancun and took a scuba trip that included 3 dives. First time i ever been scuba and as they did onsite training. Anyways, i got extremely drunk the night before then ate a full breakfast. After 45 minutes of being on a boat no bigger than 25' long and fighting the gulf chop, i was chumming the water. I managed 2 of the 3 dives and don't remember much other than i was trying to breathe and while gaging on my puke. I do remember seeing lots of wrasses. Don't remember seeing any angels or butterflies. Supposedly the last dive was the one where all the corals were at. LOL

Ultra Aquatics · Aug 31, 2021

I was surprised Sea world in Orlando had a very nicely done reef tank:

James_O · Aug 31, 2021

Georgia Aquarium by far!

Makes tangs look like minnows!

Not only are the big tanks cool, but their smaller tanks are amazing. All of the coral is sick.

I went there when I was 5, so I don’t remember much of it. But I would love to go back some day!

BlueReefer73 · Aug 31, 2021

Sycamoron said:
Future vacation planning - which public aquariums have lots of reef corals and home aquarium size fish on display? Most seem to favor penguins, seals, stingrays, dolphins and similar large animals.

Hands down, the BEST aquarium we have been to so far was the Atlanta Aquarium.

afrokobe · Aug 31, 2021

vetteguy53081 said:
Chicago Shedd
Georgia
Minneapolis

Which Minneapolis one? Is there another one outside of Sealife? I've been to Sealife and its pretty nice.

vetteguy53081 · Aug 31, 2021

Sealife and I believe mall of America has a display also

afrokobe said:
Which Minneapolis one? Is there another one outside of Sealife? I've been to Sealife and its pretty nice.

piranhaman00 · Aug 31, 2021

James404 said:
I was surprised Sea world in Orlando had a very nicely done reef tank:

booooo sea world boooo

Northwest_Scapes_ · Aug 31, 2021

Monterey Bay is hands down the best in my opinion. They have some pretty nice Reef Tanks as well, but what takes the cake for me is the variety + size. They have so many awesome species, some you can only see there, and I think their New Deep Sea Exhibit "Into the Deep" opening in April 2022 is only going to boost it up for me. It's going to be the World's Largest Deep Sea Exhibit displaying Animals never displayed before / never been displayed in the US

https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/visit/exhibits/into-the-deep

Bringing the Ocean’s Midnight Zone Into the Light (Published 2020)

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has learned how to raise the deepest sea life to the surface and keep it alive for display.

www.nytimes.com

GHOSTLY · Aug 31, 2021

Vancouver aquarium. Its decent

ExoS · Aug 31, 2021

sslater0679 said:
Has anyone been to the Branson Aquarium. The last time I was up there they were still building it. Wondering if it would be worth the 3 hour drive there. They seem a little steep on the price of admission. https://www.aquariumattheboardwalk.com/

I haven't been but I would be interested to hear as well. If I was as close as you are, I would go to Springfield's aquarium instead. Its highly rated nationally and similar in cost. I would be scared that Branson's is more of a tourist trap. How is Tulsa's aquarium coming along? When I lived there they had a nice shark tank but there wasn't much else. I always hoped they would build it up a little more.