Baltimore Attractions

National Aquarium

The National Aquarium is Maryland's leading tourist attraction, and one of the best aquariums in the world. It was recently voted one of the top ten family attractions in the US. Here visitors can tour the tidewaters of Maryland, the Pacific coastland or a tropical rainforest without leaving Baltimore. The permanent residents include sea horses, turtles, stingrays and octopus. The aquarium offers much more than marine life: there are several special exhibits like the Amazon Rainforest display with Poison Dart Frogs, dwarf caiman, anacondas, sloths, colourful birds and conehead lizards, as well as plants and fish. A sea cliffs habitat features puffins and other north Atlantic sea birds, while the Coral Reefs and Open Ocean tanks are walk-through displays bringing visitors face to face with sharks and exotic fish. In addition to the permanent exhibits, dolphins jump, wave and flip in regularly scheduled shows at the Marine Mammal Pavilion. Visitors can catch an underwater view from an atrium below the pool or watch the tricks from the stands, but be warned: the areas marked Splash Zone really are splash zones.

Address: Pier 3, Inner Harbor, 501 East Pratt Street; Website: www.aqua.org; Telephone: (410) 576 3800; Transport: Metro subway Charles Center, Light Rail Convention Center station; Opening time: Saturday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, Friday 9am to 8pm; Admission: $24.95 (adults), $14.95 (children 3-11), concessions available. Certain shows cost extra