The life aquatic is an enchanting premise to all ages, and the best aquariums in the United States are just the place to dip into that magic. From the impossible cute little blue penguins to the awe-inspiringly gargantuan whale shark, the world beneath the waves is home to all walks of life that swim. Sit back and relax as the only rotating aquarium in the world makes its rounds at Scottsdale, Arizona’s OdySea Aquarium; ooh and aah at the towering kelp forest in the La Jolla Birch Aquarium; and if puppyish sea lions tug at your heart strings, you can’t miss the Georgia Aquarium’s award-winning program where the namesake top billing parties and plays.
Aquariums are the perfect intersection of embracing the Earth’s natural beauty and unlocking the same sense of wonder that comes from looking to outer space. Even if you’re going to spend a day indoors with the family, you might just find yourself falling into the giddy joy of field trip days past. And as leaders in the marine and freshwater conservation movements, aquariums make learning fun. So just keep swimming with our picks for the best aquariums in the US.