High-Touch Underwater Adventures for Families
What are the Top Aquariums?
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Whether your little one is obsessed with figuring out where Nemo and Dory are hiding or they just want to get their hands wet, they’ll love the top aquariums we’ve compiled into this list. Each one has dedicated areas for small children to interact with ocean creatures and plants, teaching them how to gently handle animals like starfish or what penguins like to eat. Several of the aquariums also include bonus kid-friendly features, such as indoor playgrounds, splash pads, and art areas with child-sized tables and chairs.
Our nominees were researched and selected as the top products in their category. We then turned to the experts—the Motherhood Community—to place their votes and determine the best of the best! The votes are in, and the winners are...
- Maui Ocean Center | Wailuku, HI
- Shedd Aquarium | Chicago, IL
- Georgia Aquarium | Atlanta, GA
- Tennessee Aquarium| Chattanooga, TN
- National Aquarium | Baltimore, MD
- Aquarium of the Pacific | Long Beach, CA
- Audubon Aquarium | New Orleans, LA
- New England Aquarium | Boston, MA
- OdySea Aquarium | Scottsdale, AZ
- Children's Aquarium at Fair Park | Dallas, TX
Top Aquariums of 2025 Winners
Maui Ocean Center | Wailuku, HI
If your children aren’t old enough to snorkel but still want to see the gorgeous creatures that fill these island waters, visit the Maui Ocean Center. They’ll love walking through a glass tunnel as fish swim overhead and touching a sea star in the outdoor tide pool. Getting dangerously close to lunchtime with a hangry toddler? Grab some food at the Seascape restaurant, which features locally sourced food and flavors.
Shedd Aquarium | Chicago, IL
Planning a trip to the Shedd Aquarium? We’ve got the perfect itinerary. Walk through the Amazon Rising exhibit to touch the rugged shell of a red-footed tortoise, and then snag a seat in the Abbott Oceanarium for a 10-minute animal presentation. After the show, head into the Polar Play Zone area, where your children can climb aboard a kid-size submarine, touch sea stars, and watch waddling penguins.
Georgia Aquarium | Atlanta, GA
Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the country, so it’s no surprise that there’s plenty to do and see for even the youngest of your crew. While reviewers rave about the live dolphin and sea lion shows (which you should definitely see if you can), Explorers Cove is a hit with kids, thanks to two huge touch pools, a saltwater marsh play area, and a virtual coral reef.
Tennessee Aquarium | Chattanooga, TN
The Tennessee Aquarium features one of the largest freshwater aquariums in the world, reminding us all that fascinating aquatic animals abound in backyard streams and lakes. In addition to its freshwater fish, the facility has an array of tropical creatures to encounter at exhibits like Stingray Bay, a 100-foot shoreline touch station. In the summer, an outdoor water feature tempts even the biggest of kids to get wet.
National Aquarium | Baltimore, MD
You can easily spend an entire day at the National Aquarium, which has a full schedule of animal encounters, feeding sessions, and critter chats. Of course, toddlers may need to get their wiggles out in between the talks, and the Living Seashore, with its two touch pools, is the perfect spot to let them do that. Families with multiple little ones also love that children four and under are free.
Aquarium of the Pacific | Long Beach, CA
With 12,000 animals in over 100 exhibits, the Aquarium of the Pacific is sure to have your kid’s favorite sea creature. Follow your children as they meander through this indoor and outdoor aquarium and prepare to be mesmerized by jellyfish, catch sea lions performing a live show, and gently touch a bat ray. Add-ons like the tour of the harbor provide an immersive experience.
Audubon Aquarium | New Orleans, LA
Watch your toddler smush their face into eye-level tanks as they track an array of rainbow-colored fish at the Audubon Aquarium. When they start to lose interest, direct them to a Bayou-themed exhibit with an albino alligator or to the Shark Discovery Touchpool for a hands-on encounter with a coral catshark. Extra perk: Aquarium guests can visit the Audubon Insectarium for no additional cost.
New England Aquarium | Boston, MA
The New England Aquarium is the perfect size for small kids; the activities and exhibits are plentiful, but just as your toddlers start to get antsy, you’ll realize you’ve seen just about everything. Highlights of the facility include the training shows and feedings in the penguin and seal exhibits and a hands-on area with sharks and rays.
Vanessa Kahn - New England Aquarium
OdySea Aquarium | Scottsdale, AZ
Boasting the world’s only rotating aquarium experience, the OdySea Aquarium offers an unforgettable underwater adventure in the middle of the desert. Four different touch pools, sharks in the restroom, and a dedicated kids’ area with interactive activities will wow the whole family. And with the promise of your favorite Starbucks drink waiting inside, you can beat the crowds by arriving right at opening.
Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park | Dallas, TX
Designed specifically with the smallest visitors in mind, the Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park is a must-visit for families with littles. Begin your tour at Doctor Fish, where tiny fish give giggle-inducing nibbles to your hands, before heading over to the kids-level touch tank that has horseshoe crabs, sea urchins, and starfish. Ready to dry out? Spend time in the arts area to create your special sea animal.
