The New England Aquarium is a great place to take the kids when visiting Boston. You can see some amazing marine creatures like the Little Blue Penguins, Cownose Ray, Giant Pacific Octopus, Green Anaconda, Sea Turtle and the Sand Tiger Shark. Here is a list with all the animals and aquarium exhibits.

Animal Feedings and Shows
• Giant Ocean Tank Divers at 10, 11:15, 1:15, 2:30, and 3:30
• Penguin Presentations at 11:05 and 1:50. Feedings at 9 and 2:30
• Harbor Seal Training Sessions (Front Plaza) at 10, 11:45 ans 4:15

Here is detailed daily schedule of events.

Admission and Operation Hours
• Adults $19.95, children (3-11) $11.95, seniors (60+) $17.95. You can get an IMAX film ticket for extra $5.

• Winter hours (September 2 - June 30): Monday - Friday 9AM - 5PM. Weekends and holidays the aquarium is open till 6PM. In the summer the aquarium is open until 6PM during the week and respectively 7PM in the weekends.

I really wanted to see how the New England Aquarium compares to the one in Myrtle Beach. The admission price and the time to tour them are pretty much the same, so it was left to the animals and overall ambiance to decide.

Ripley’s Aquarium Advantages
• Sharks, sharks, sharks! It has a larger variety, bigger monsters and an awesome underwater walkway.
• More entertaining changing exhibit. Last year Ripley featured a macabre “license to steal” Pirate Adventure.
• Better food, airy, colorful and comfortable interior. More places to relax, awesome cafeteria overlooking the stingray tank on one side and the lake on the other.

The spiraling walk around the New England’s giant ocean tank is solid rock and way to steep for babies and toddlers to wander on their own. The exhibits at Ripley’s have soft carpet and floor is flat so little ones can crawl and play safely on their own.

New England Aquarium Advantages
• Penguins exhibit. Loved watching the blue penguins (smallest in the world!) swimming and goofing on the rocks.
• Access to harbor seals and whales (via harbor cruise)
• Sea and loggerhead turtle programs

TIP! If you’re in Boston for several days get the $44 Boston CityPass. The Winter Special pass is valid for 9 days from its first use from December 15, 2008 to March 31, 2009. It gives you access to 6 family attractions:

• Museum of Science
• New England Aquarium
• Harvard Museum of Natural History (including Peabody Museum of Archeology)
• John F. Kennedy Presidential Library
• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: general admission
• Skywalk Observatory at Prudential Center

Enjoy!

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