Zoos and Aquariums for Kids

Clearwater, FL

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

A working rescue hospital rather than a display aquarium - the dolphins, turtles and otters here are patients, and you watch them recover.

• Aquarium
• Ages 2+
• ~4h
• Paid

St. Thomas, VI

Coral World Ocean Park

An undersea observatory tower sunk into a living reef so you look out at wild fish, plus turtle and shark pools and sea lion encounters.

• Aquarium
• Ages 2+
• ~4h
• Paid

Featured

Glen Rose, TX

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

Drive-through safari park near Glen Rose TX where kids hand-feed giraffes from the car - 1,800 acres of zebras, cheetahs, rhinos and 50+ species

• Nature
• Ages 2+
• ~3h
• Paid

Homosassa, FL

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

An underwater observatory puts you at eye level with wild manatees and thousands of fish inside a first-magnitude spring.

• Nature
• Ages 2+
• ~4h
• Paid

Niagara Falls, NY

Aquarium of Niagara

Aquarium steps from Niagara Falls with penguins, daily sea lion training sessions, Great Lakes tanks and a shark and ray touch pool.

• Aquarium
• Ages 1+
• ~2h
• Paid

Austin, TX

Austin Aquarium

Hands-on north Austin aquarium where kids feed stingrays, touch sea stars in shallow pools and walk into a bird aviary with nectar cups.

• Aquarium
• Ages 2+
• ~2h
• Paid

Dallas, TX

Dallas World Aquarium

Descend through an indoor rainforest of sloths, toucans and monkeys to a shark tunnel and manatees in downtown Dallas. Great rainy-day pick.

• Aquarium
• Ages 1+
• ~2h
• Paid

Houston, TX

Downtown Aquarium Houston

Downtown Houston aquarium with a shark tunnel, swamp alligators and white tigers, plus a small ride midway and Ferris wheel outside.

• Aquarium
• Ages 2+
• ~3h
• Paid

Galveston, TX

Moody Gardens

Three glass pyramids in Galveston holding an aquarium with penguins, an indoor rainforest with sloths, and a 3D theater.

• Aquarium
• Ages 2+
• ~5h
• Paid

Grapevine, TX

SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium

Mall aquarium in Grapevine with eye-level tanks, touch pools and a walk-through shark and ray tunnel, sized right for little kids.

• Aquarium
• Ages 1+
• ~1h
• Paid

San Antonio, TX

SEA LIFE San Antonio Aquarium

Small River Walk aquarium in San Antonio with a walk-through ray and shark tunnel plus supervised touch pools, about an hour end to end.

• Aquarium
• Ages 1+
• ~1h
• Paid

Honolulu, HI

Waikiki Aquarium

Small Waikiki aquarium of Hawaiian reef life with monk seals, giant clams, a jellyfish gallery and a shallow outdoor touch tank.

• Aquarium
• Ages 1+
• ~1h
• Paid

Wailuku, HI

Maui Ocean Center

World-class aquarium with underwater tunnel, touch pools, and turtle lagoon. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

• Nature
• Ages 2+
• ~3h
• Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Beavers Bend Safari Park

Drive-through and walk-through safari with 350+ exotic animals near Hochatown. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About two hours.

• Nature
• Ages 2+
• ~2h
• Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Hochatown Petting Zoo

Rescue-based petting zoo with barnyard animals and exotics in Hochatown. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

• Nature
• Ages 2+
• ~1h
• Paid

Boerne, TX

Enchanted Springs Ranch

Old West ranch with pony rides and rescued exotic animals. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

• Nature
• Ages 2+
• ~2h
• Paid