National Aquarium in Baltimore - A Cool Place for Teens

Looking for a fun place to spend the day with teenagers in the DC metro area? Head to the National Aquarium in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. It’s a great day trip from the DC area, and it was the perfect activity for us to do over spring break, since we hadn’t been to the aquarium in a number of years. Not only is it located right on the water, there is plenty of shopping as well as a variety of places to eat all around the harbor.  Here are 3 reasons why teens will enjoy the aquarium.
*This post was updated May, 2020 

1.  They Get to Hang Out with Sharks and Other Sea Creatures. Seeing sharks up close, especially when there is a layer of glass between you, is awesome. The layout of the aquarium allowed us to stroll through Shark Alley for an up close view of these amazing creatures. You can also check the events schedule to catch one of the educator chats or animal encounters. Other highlights included watching Calypso, the beautiful sea turtle, seeing the giant octopus and visiting the Dolphin Discovery exhibit. Consider one of the National Aquarium’s Tours & Experiences, such as the Reef Behind-the-Scenes Tour or the Dolphin Tour for a real behind the scenes experience.

2.  The 4-D Movie is Very Cool. We saw Sea Monsters 4-D: A Prehistoric Adventure and I have to say it was one of the best 4-D movies I’ve seen in a long time. With brilliant graphics along with effects like bubbles and wind (and a few surprises), the story of the amazing journey of a prehistoric sea monster is well worth a view. Best of all, it’s just 15 minutes long with convenient showings throughout the day so it’s easy to pop into the theater during your visit. 

3.  Touching Jellyfish is Fun. Visit the Living Seashore exhibit, which opened in spring of 2015. With a variety of marine animals from the Atlantic stingray and horseshoe crab to moon jellies, it’s the perfect interactive experience for kids of all ages. After spending time at the two touchpools, visitors can also learn about shore conservation efforts. Be sure to also visit the Jellies Invasion exhibit to see 9 species of jellyfish on view safely behind glass!

Know Before You Go:

• Download the free app. It’s filled with tons of information including a daily event schedule, visitor tips, fun facts and notes from the animal caretakers.
• Check with the local AAA office for discounted tickets for members.
• Visit the National Aquarium website for information about discounted parking (with validation) at several garages near the Inner Harbor.
• Stop at one of the many nearby restaurants, like the Shake Shack or Hard Rock Cafe. Or visit Trip Advisor to find the 10 Best Seafood Restaurants in Baltimore.  And don’t forget to stop by IT’SUGAR to get your candy fix, or nearby Vaccaro’s in Little Italy for cannolis.​