Top Five Aquariums in the U.S.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Named the top aquarium in the United States for kids by “ Parents ” magazine in 2007, California ‘s Monterey Bay Aquarium offers 550 different species in more than 100 tanks. Parents praised the aquarium ‘s Splash Zone for its kid-friendly features for children younger than 9, and synergistic exhibits including touch pools, subaqueous cameras and child-sized microscopes. coastal living placed the aquarium in the No. 2 spot on its top 10 list for its concentration on local anesthetic sea life in exhibits such as the three-story kelp forest – the first base in the country – and a million-gallon tank housing tuna and sharks.

Georgia Aquarium

The Georgia Aquarium, No. 2 on the clear 10 tilt of “ Parents, ” is the largest in the worldly concern. The 550,000-square foot facility includes an award-winning dolphin parade featuring an submerged wake window and a theatrical performance performance with homo and animal performers. twenty-five percentage of the aquarium ‘s display space, dubbed the Learning Loop, is devoted to educational programs. The 4-D Theater combines digital projection, special effects and three-d film to create the sensation of being subaqueous with the animals. The only whale sharks on display in the United States share the Ocean Voyager sphere with 60,000 animals.

Shedd Aquarium

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums gave Ted A. Beattie, director of the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, its 2005 R. Marlins Perkins Award for his devotion to conservation and department of education in zoos. No. 3 on the top 10 list on “ Parents ” and No. 4 on Coastal Living ‘s list, the aquarium features a three-level Oceanarium with an aquatic testify starring beluga whales and dolphins, and a diametric Play Zone where kids suit up as penguins or ride a kid-sized submarine. Forbes Traveler called Shedd Aquarium “ amazing ” and “ one of America ‘s most capture aquariums. ”

National Aquarium

Baltimore ‘s National Aquarium, achiever of the Maryland Green Registry Award in 2011 for its commitment to sustainable practices, features open areas where visitors interact directly with animals. Spectators at the dolphin shows learn the hand signals trainers use, and touch tanks allow kids and adults to feel the skin of the aquarium ‘s residents. Set amid the tourist attractions of the city ‘s Inner Harbor, the aquarium houses more than 16,000 creatures including puffins, two-toed sloths and sharks. Ranked No. 1 by Coastal Living and No. 10 by “ Parents, ” the facility offers a 4-D theater and uses sustainable products in its four cafe.

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans sustained devastating losses to its animal population in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. When the aquarium reopened, Frommer ‘s celebrated the “ first Audubon Institute ‘s joyous, post-Katrina reopen in May 2006 ” and its “ beautifully constructed exhibits. ” The aquarium features a Caribbean reef with a walk-through burrow and a 400,000-gallon tank with sharks and tarpon. Kids get hands-on experience with ocean creatures in a touch pool and experience the disgusting side of things at the Animal Grossology parade. In the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Audubon coordinates animal rescue for Louisiana ‘s coast. Rescued sea turtles are on display