Planning an aquarium visit

We are not big aquarium people, I find them hopelessly boring. My 3 yr old twin DD's have been asking to go to one, because they talked about them in camp last week. So we are planning on taking a family trip next week. My question...which is the best for young kids? Coney Island, Riverhead, or Maritime in Norwalk, CT? TIA!

Re: Planning an aquarium visit

I've only been to Riverhead and I find it so over priced for what it is. I've heard the mystic CT one is really nice.

Planning an aquarium visit

Before you go to coney island check to make sure its up and functioning. It was hit hard by Sandy and they needed to rebuild. I went their all the time as a kid with my grandma and loved it but that was years ago

Re: Planning an aquarium visit

Planning an aquarium visit

Out of the three you listed I like Norwalk the best. Plus you can combine it with stepping stones children museum.

Re: Planning an aquarium visit

Mystic is by far the best and most expensive but also the furthest. They do currently have an animitronic dinosaurs which was great for my kids. Last time we went (early summer), I thought it was worth it (not in winter). But I think their aquarium itself is small. I do like their additional exhibits.

River head is ok. Also expensive... I’d say overpriced.

Maritime is very little kid oriented. Takes an hour and a half to get through without the IMAX. The IMAX adds 45 minutes, but has been really great. They have a ton of really nice touch tanks (newer than other 2 and better kept). They have a lot of interactive kid things like a fishing boat and an marine animal hospital. We have a membership there so I go often. It’s less than the other 2, but prices keep climbing. It does not have sea lion shows.

Coney Island was a mess 2 years ago. An absolute mess. Only redeeming thing was the sea lion show. It was pretty much all closed.

Planning an aquarium visit

Thanks everyone! Mystic is just way too far for a day trip, and we aren't looking to spend money on a hotel for the night- we already took our vacation this summer. We are looking for day trips at this point. Norwalk sounds nice, I think we may go with that one. Too bad about Coney Island, I hope they can eventually get it back to how it was before Sandy.

Planning an aquarium visit

I like Norwalk. Coney Island is doing construction and hardly anything is open.

Never been to Riverhead.

Re: Planning an aquarium visit

I was way underwhelmed with Mystic. It was so small and we blew through it in 20 min.

Planning an aquarium visit

Coney Island is back and they officially opened the shark tank earlier this week. We are going next week and going to do a POP bracelet for Luna Park and make a day of it. Spumoni for dinner. I’m counting the days.

Riverhead isn’t bad if you prepurchase the tickets at the library. $18pp. We bring lunch and make a lazy day of it. My dd loves feeding the fish and stingrays.

Planning an aquarium visit

Your library might sell discounted tickets to Long Island. Ours does, and it's like $18 and includes the birds and butterflies.

Re: Planning an aquarium visit

Message edited 7/26/2018 9:35:16 AM.

Planning an aquarium visit

I was just at Coney Island aquarium yesterday so felt I should respond! To be honest, the aquarium is just "ehhhh" to me. It's very small and 85% of the exhibits are outdoors, so the weather will make or break your day. The new shark exhibit was very well done and was by far the best part of the day -- all the kids (and adults) we were with loved it. There were only 2 otters in the outdoor tank, 1 sea lion in the outdoor tank, etc. The outdoor exhibits looked dirty to me -- like the water was cloudy, rocks looked slimy, etc. Parking there sucks. The lot opens up at 9:30AM and the aquarium opens up at 10AM. The lot fills up within an hour, and during the summer buses can take up a decent amount of the lot for camps. Other than that, its street parking, which is hard to come by. We were lucky and snagged a non-metered street spot across the street. With all that being said, all summer until Labor Day, admission is 1/2 price if you buy your tickets in advance on-line. I think they are trying to stir up interested and entice people to come, but also realize that they are still rebuilding from Sandy and shouldn't be charging full price when not all the areas are open to the public yet. From start to finish, we were there for about 2 hours. I don't think it could be stretched out much more. If you want, Wednesdays from 3pm until closing (5pm), it's pay by donation only - so whatever you want to give. Maybe you could do the rides at Luna Park in the earlier part of the day, and then head in for the remaining 2 hours? Oh, also, there are little to no food options in the aquarium, so be sure to pack plenty of snacks and drinks. You are not permitted to leave once you enter and re-enter for free (there are no hand-stamps) -- you'd have to pay new admission to get back in. I like Riverhead much better and really enjoyed the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk -- its great for young kids!

Planning an aquarium visit

We just went to the maritime museum in Norwalk this weekend- I had been wanting to go and they had discounted admission for their anniversary last weekend so I took advantage of that. The touch tanks and stuffed animal vet center were my girls' favorites. It was cute but I was hoping for more outdoor exhibits/activities. It did include a ticket to a 45 minutes nature themed Imax movie which was neat. I don't remember much about riverhead except the outdoor marsh which was very cool and the sea lion show. If you are looking to make a day of it Norwalk did seem like a cute town and there is stepping stone childrens museum nearby but that is pricey too.

ETA: we spent about 4 hours at the maritime aquarium, that included the imax and leisurly exploring the exhibits (some twice)

Message edited 7/26/2018 11:29:37 AM.

Planning an aquarium visit

I would do the Maritime with young kids. Another aquarium that no one mentioned is the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ. It is a fantastic aquarium. They are the only aquarium to have hippos on display. It's pretty cool. The drive is doable in one day (about 2 1/2 hours) but we've also done it where we stay overnight in Philly which is right over the bridge from the aquarium.

Planning an aquarium visit

In case anyone in your family has a birthday coming up soon, admission to the aquarium in riverhead is free if you visit within 7 days before or after your birthday. You just have to show ID or a birth certificate. I always call before visiting though to make sure they still have that policy.

Planning an aquarium visit

Thanks, everyone! I think we are going to plan on the Maritime aquarium in Norwalk. We will make a day of it, leave here by 9 am, go to the aquarium, have a late lunch in Norwalk, maybe so Stepping stones late afternoon before we head home.

Planning an aquarium visit

good choice. We belong to Norwalk Aquarium and it's great.
We went to coney Island this past Saturday and I hated every moment of that day. It was NOT worth it. the traffic, parking, it was extremely hot with no cover at all anywhere. employees were super rude, people were assholes, I will never ever go there again lol. I'm just out of NY fro so long now I can't crowds and traffic anymore hahaha

Re: Planning an aquarium visit

Re: Planning an aquarium visit