No trip to the Baltimore Inner Harbor would be complete without a stop in at the National Aquarium. With over 17,000 different animals there’s a lot more than just fish to see. They feature mammals, birds, and reptiles in a series of innovative and interactive displays.
Opened in the late ’70s as part of a revitalization of the Baltimore Inner Harbor the aquarium began with humble roots. However after the joining forces with the now closed National Aquarium in Washington, DC they were able to combine forces and put together a stunning collection of animals.
Upon entering the National Aquarium we were surprised to see a large high roofed area that looked more like an aviary than something you’d expect to see at an aquarium. It turned out to be their Amazon River forest. The exhibit was impressively large and very well executed. It featured a large variety of reptiles, birds, and of course fish that make up the Amazon, which is home to a full third of the worlds animal species. Where else could you expect to find an Emerald Green Boa and a White Blotched Stingray?
This guy looked fierce!
It was snack time for the stingray. nomnomnom
Another fascinating area in the National Aquarium was their Blacktip Reef display. The exhibit just recently opened when we visited and it is already hugely popular. With so many different species in one tank I could see why.
The National Aquarium also had one of my favorite exhibits, Jellyfish! There were 9 different species of jellies on display which gave us a chance to get up close and personal with these prehistoric sea creatures.
In addition to these awesome exhibits, there was a cool 225,000 gallon shark tank that took you through the deep dark depths of the oceans. There were also exhibits featuring some of the more common land and sea creatures you’d expect to find at an aquarium.
Overall Lauren and I really enjoyed the time we spent at the National Aquarium and would definitely recommend it for visitors of all ages. If you’re planing a visit I would set aside a half day for the trip, or a full day if you plan on taking advantage of one of their immersion tours.
Details for the National Aquarium Baltimore
501 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
www.aqua.org
