New England Aquarium

This complex is home to more than 30,000 fish and aquatic mammals, and at busy times, it seems to contain at least that many people -- in July and August, try to make this your first stop of the morning, especially on weekends. Pause as you enter to visit with the Atlantic harbor seals, who frolic in a free outdoor enclosure just past the ticket booth.

Inside, penguins from three continents greet visitors as they enter. The focal point of the aquarium is the four-story, 200,000-gallon Giant Ocean Tank. A four-story spiral ramp encircles the tank, which contains a replica of a Caribbean coral reef and an assortment of sea creatures that seem to coexist amazingly well. Part of the reason for the peace might be that scuba divers feed the sharks twice a day. The new Shark and Ray Touch Tank will be open by the time you visit; the 25,000-gallon enclosure lets visitors get up close and personal with the animals. At the Edge of the Sea exhibit, visitors can touch the sea stars, sea urchins, and horseshoe crabs in the tide pool. Other exhibits show off tropical sea creatures, freshwater specimens, denizens of the Amazon, and marine life in the Gulf of Maine. The Medical Center is especially involving: It's a working veterinary hospital where you can sometimes see marine animals that ran into trouble in New England waters and had to be rescued. (The aquarium is one of the most important facilities on the East Coast for marine-animal rescue; visit the team blog at http://rescue.neaq.org for information about recent activities.) Behind the building, fronting the harbor, the sheltered, open-air New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center is home to lively, curious fur seals.

The Simons IMAX Theatre, which has its own building, hours, and admission fees, is worth planning for, too. Its 85*65-foot screen shows 3-D films with digital sound that concentrate on the natural world as well as 3-D versions of recent Hollywood releases. It's an impressive experience.

I suggest starting your day here because you'll want to spend at least half a day, and huge afternoon crowds can make getting around painfully slow. Discounts are available when you combine a visit to the aquarium with an IMAX film or a whale watch. Also consider investing in a Boston CityPass or Go Boston Card. They allow you to skip the ticket line, which can be uncomfortably long, and the price may represent a savings on the steep admission charge.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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