We thoroughly enjoyed our recent trip to the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk. So much so that we are on our way back (5 days later) with a whole group of friends! The Maritime Aquarium is home to more than 3,000 animals all indigenous to Long Island Sound. The aquarium makes for a fun and educational day for the whole family!
We like to arrive at 10am as the aquarium is opening. The harbor seals are front and center as you enter… an exciting encounter and a great way to kick off your tour! We usually start our adventure at the Shark and Ray Touch Pool which offers the chance to touch a variety of sharks and rays.
After the touch pool, we check out the special Dragons! Real or Myth? Exhibit which is home to a variety of lizards, iguana, and a baby black dragon…1 of only 31 in the U.S.! A viewing bubble even lets young visitors stand up right among the meerkats.
We make our way upstairs to the children’s play area (5 and under). We suggest going to the play area early because it tends to get crowded as a last stop for many families to unwind. The kids have a great time running around the soft gym and making new friends.
The next hour is spent exploring extraordinary exhibits and the Intertidal Touch Tank where we touch and learn about everything from sea stares to horseshoe crabs.
Afterwards, we made our way to the shark tank and watched these amazing creatures up close and personal!
“Marine Care & Culture Lab,” which brings some of the aquarium operations that formerly were behind-the-scenes out into the open for visitors. These include the jellyfish and seahorse “nurseries,” where our year-round supply of these delicate animals are raised, and also treatment tanks, where fish new to the aquarium stay until their health is assured for the exhibit population.
We end our visit with the feeding demonstration of the harbor seals and grab an ice cream from the cafe on the way out. Seal feeding times at the Aquarium are 11:45 a.m. and 1:45 & 3:45 p.m. daily. We have a blast learning new things and enlightening their senses… Overall, a very successful trip!
Although we can offer a unique perspective, we highly recommend going and seeing, for yourself, the amazing experiences the Aquarium (and IMAX) has to offer!
Sign up for a Maritime Annual Membership which pays for itself in only 2 visits! Inquire upon arrival!
Enjoy Toy Boat-Making Workshops on Saturdays and Sundays during the month of March!
Open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays & Sundays
Visit the toy boat-making area for a fun 20-minute boat-building project. Build and decorate a toy sailboat to take home as a special keepsake of your visit. Cost: $5 per child (plus Aquarium admission).
Special Event On March 19! Feeding Time program for families
Join The Maritime Aquarium for a family breakfast you’ll always remember! After a sumptuous buffet in the Cascade Café, your family will make the rounds with Aquarium staff as the aquarists feed an amazing assortment of hungry animals. Take a turn feeding the turtles, horseshoe crabs and rays. Get up close and personal with the harbor seals at a private feeding. Best of all, watch behind-the-scenes as the aquarists feed the big sharks in the Aquarium’s Ocean Beyond the Sound exhibit.
Children must be age 5 or older.
Cost: $50 per adult & $25 per child 5-12 ($45 & $20 for Aquarium members).
Advance registration is arequired. Call (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206
For more information about The Maritime Aquarium, call (203) 852-0700 or go online to www.maritimeaquarium.org
