Go fish.
In Baltimore, Maryland, you are lucky enough to see thousands of fish from all over the world in one location. The National Aquarium in Baltimore has a ton of fish and animals in various different exhibits. For a day trip or even a few hours, take a trip down to the harbor and hang out with our underwater friends.
Since I grew up a few hours away from Baltimore, my parents took us to the National Aquarium a few times. After growing up and moving out of their house, I still find myself yearning for another trip to see the animals and fish. This is an activity for families, couples or even going by yourself.
If you are planning a trip to the aquarium, book your tickets in advance since it gets crowded on weekends. Pre-Booking allows you to rush through the lines and get into the exhibits faster. The tickets are pricey, compared to other attractions in Baltimore, but the money is going to the preservation and growth of the aquarium.
As you walk through the first exhibit, you are surrounded by tanks of beautiful ocean creatures for 5 stories. Depending on the time of day, you can see scuba divers in the tanks to feed the fish. The hypnotic and mesmerizing movements of the fish going about their lives as the swim in the blue, rippling water is a calming feeling.
Nature is cheaper than therapy.
Moving to the next floor on the escalators, you can see the salt water exhibits from all angles, and watch the amazement on all the kids faces as they see these animals for the first time. There are areas to interact with (safe to touch) jellyfish, rays and many other fish. Just make sure you are gentle with the animals, because you can accidentally hurt them. If you have children, please make sure you keep a close eye on them.
One of my favorite exhibits in the Aquarium is the tall tower that imitates the Amazon rainforest. Once you step inside, you start choking on the thick, humid air. After a few seconds, you start adjusting to the humidity and feel like you are transported hundreds of miles away. The whole tower is an open exhibit with only a few barriers between you and the jungle animals.
In the middle of it all is a wooden observation deck to watch the animals move through the trees and call out their jungle song. I could spend hours in this room, since it is one of my favorite aquarium exhibits.
Depending on the time you are passing through the aquarium, you may have the opportunity to find some seats in the stage show to see dolphins preform. There are special seats for the “splash zone” if you want to get a quick shower.
The day in the aquarium ends with the Jellies Invasion exhibit. In this dark room, you can see the neon and alien-like creatures floating. The exhibit boast beautiful varieties of jelly fish and interesting facts about the species.
As you exit, you become face to face with the Atlantic Ocean that hosts so many of the amazing animals and fish you saw inside. Take a moment here to look out into the water and reflect on the mysterious life just under the surface. Imagine the creatures swimming around in those dark depths that we cannot even see or imagine.
I am not one to advocate for animals as entertainment, but I do have a love and appreciation for aquariums and zoos. It allows growing and inspired minds to see and interact with animals from all over the world in our own backyard. It allows us the opportunity to admire creatures as they are being rescued or studied for scientific advancements.
The National Aquarium Baltimore is a must see when you are in Baltimore or Maryland. The exhibits include:
Amazon River Forest
Atlantic Coral Reef
Atlantic to Pacific
Australia: Wild Extremes
Blacktip Reef
Dolphin Discovery
Jellies Invasion
Living Seashore
Maryland Experience
Shark Alley
Surviving Adaptation
Tropical Rain Forest
This is not a sponsored post.
Alternative Adventures:
If your stomach starts growling after your trip, there are plenty of restaurants in the Inner Harbor and steps away from the Aquarium.
Keep the fun going and visit The Baltimore Museum of Art. Admission to the museum is free for all ages.
