New England Aquarium, Boston, Massachusetts

I fondly remember the New England Aquarium from my many visits when I used to live in Boston. I took my children there and, despite the price of admission, the aquarium was under construction, so we didn't get to see all the fish swimming in the core (center) of the aquarium, which usually is the coolest part. They did have the fish swimming around on the ground floor pond area, though. My kids loved petting the sting rays and seeing all the jelly fish on the lower level. The sea lion show was definitely a highlight and we also got to see some adorable little penguins in a glassed-in area. The penguins, which are normally out in full display, were displaced during construction

It's not often that all three of our kids (ages 9, 13 and 15) are entertained at an attrraction, but when we took them to the New England Aquarium, we were pleasantly surprised. All three loved the touch tank, which is a fairly large structure set into it's own room at the aquarium. Two experts are on hand to answer questions and ensure the safety of the creatures in the tank. After we enjoyed the touch tank for a while, we went downstairs to the jellyfish displays, and listened to an engaging presentation on snapping turtles. The main building is arranged around a large spiral ramp which wraps around a large cylindrical tank housing the largest species. This arrangement makes it easy to maneuver through the aquarium and enjoy the sights without getting lost. At the top of the ramp, we were able to look down into the main tank for a birds-eye view. Outside there is a seal pool and presentations are scheduled throughout the day. A separate building houses a well-kept IMAX theater, and several different aquarium-related movies are scheduled each day. IMAX theater admission is in addition to aquarium admission. We found the New England Aquarium to be just the right size for a 1 1/2 - 2 hour visit. Allow extra time for an IMAX movie.