National Aquarium: Baltimore

Prior to our visit, we purchased our admission and dolphin show tickets on the Aquarium web site, with a scheduled entry time of 10:30 am, and would be seeing the 11:30 am dolphin show. Admission prices vary based on the package you choose.

The National Aquarium in Baltimore is located downtown, at the Inner Harbor, convenient to other Baltimore attractions. We parked in a garage located across the street. There was no line when we got to the aquarium and we were directed to the kiosk where the online will-call tickets are picked up. The process was both fast and automated. We got inside quickly -- good thing too, as it was chilly! It was nice that we do not need a stroller for our sons anymore, as they do not allow them. However, the aquarium will loan you a backpack carrier, if you need one.

There is a reception area that is staffed with nice cast members - whoops, I mean greeters - that get you oriented so you can enjoy your visit. The aquarium was built on two piers in the inner harbor. It is in sections and each section has its own theme (and cafe and gift shop - of course). The sections are Glass Pavilion, the Pier 3 (main) Pavilion, and the Pier 4 (dolphin show) Pavilion. You take an escalator up to the main level and approach the main stingray tank, where you may get to see the keepers feed the animals! They have the rest of the main building set up for one-way traffic, which is a good idea, considering the number of student groups that go through here (this worked to our disadvantage later in the day). You take an escalator to the second level and see the Maryland display, Mountains to the Sea, which takes you through the waterways of Maryland with special emphasis on the Chesapeake, as pretty much every drop winds up there! You then loop around and over the main tank and get to the next level via a moving walkway. On this third level, there is the exhibit, Surviving Through Adaptation. You go up again to level four to see Sea Ciffs, Kelp Forest, Pacific Coral Reef, and Amazon River Forest. We especially like the puffins! The top level (Level 5) is the very warm and moist, glassed-in Upland Tropical Rainforest exhibit. Here, the neatest thing is the poison dart frogs! Then, you come back down and over one level to the top of the four-story Atlantic Coral Reef tank. A winding ramp lets you see all the different kinds of sea life from the top down to the bottom of the reef, ending at the Open Ocean section, which is very dark and mysterious looking. This is where the sharks are! They have such big teeth, and are so mesmerizing! At the lowest level you can sit, catch your breath, and watch the rays swimming - very relaxing - it's like they are flying!