Most worthy public aquarium

Mr31415 · #1 09/18/2007, 04:54 AM

If you were to choose one public marine aquarium in the united states to visit, which one will it be?

I might be going over for a week or so early next year and would love to see the Georgia Aquarium or another one if it is more highly recommended.

jeffbrig · #2 09/18/2007, 07:43 AM

Georgia Aquarium is the newest/biggest in the US.
Monterey (CA) is also very nice.

SShindell · #3 09/18/2007, 07:56 AM

I would agree with both aquariums. Monterey is more specific to species on the west coast of North America, and is in a beautiful setting on the coast. Georgia Aquarium is larger and more of a "greatest hits" aquarium in a land-locked city, and is the only aquarium outside Asia with whale sharks. MACNA will be in Atlanta next September, with the banquet at the Georgia Aquarium. Both have excellent websites describing their facilities.

There are several other notable ones in Baltimore, Chattanooga, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, etc.

Steve

discocarp · #4 09/18/2007, 08:13 AM

I've seen Monterey. Fantastic.

The two I most want to see that I haven't yet are the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta and the Shedd in Chicago.

jeffhand · #5 09/18/2007, 08:51 AM

georgia aquarium,great place.You need to check out.

MSU Fan · #6 09/18/2007, 09:22 AM

Shedd is nice - has a very large section with native fish, but overall good aquarium.

Georgia is also very good, but I was hoping for more of a showing in the reef section of the aquarium.

snulma1 · #7 09/18/2007, 10:02 AM

National aquarium in Baltimore is nice also!

72bow · #8 09/18/2007, 10:09 AM

I got married in Monterey and we spent the first day of our honeymoon at the aquarium there.. it was fantastic. (and there's lots more to do in the area with great golf, coastal driving, Laguna Seca racetrack, etc)

I'll second a vote for the New England Aquarium in Boston..the center cylindrical tank is something to see in person~

I'd also really like to go to Georgia someday to see that one.. the online tours look amazing.

Dustin1231 · #9 09/18/2007, 10:15 AM

I really liked Denver, not sure how it compares to the others.

Echav · #10 09/18/2007, 10:28 AM

saw the on in vegas on the discovery channel. Really impressive. would love to go there sometime.

boiler_2000 · #11 09/18/2007, 10:38 AM

New Port(across river from Cincy) is Really nice. It is huge and has very large oceans exhibit. The only other I have to compare it to is Indy Zoo and Denver, it blows those two out of the water...so to speak.

HBtank · #12 09/18/2007, 11:16 AM

Monterey.

Mr31415 · #13 09/18/2007, 11:17 AM

Thanks for all the great input. Since I will be landing in Chicago I guess it just makes sense to visit the Shedd as well.... And I must see Georgia.... Fortunately travel in the states is cheap compared to getting there...

SShindell · #14 09/18/2007, 12:46 PM

E-mail before you go to Atlanta and we can see how we can help.

BTW - there are a lot of South Africans in Atlanta, including some reefers.

Steve

WallyBackm · #15 09/18/2007, 12:50 PM

There is an aquarium in Riverhead, Long Island that has the most amazing reef tank I've ever seen.

The Baltimore aquarium needs a major overhaul, IMHO

RobNJ · #16 09/18/2007, 01:32 PM

Atlanta is awesome!! Been there, remember no chewing gum, lighter, or fishing poles , dont forget those metal detectors...

Really awesome place...

bhdmc · #17 09/18/2007, 01:46 PM

I try to visit every aquarium whenever I travel in the States. Some are larger than others, but are are cool.

zimmy1979 · #18 09/18/2007, 02:12 PM

The aquarium of the pacific in Long Beach (CA) is smaller and more for younger kids (you can pet small sharks) but they have an amazing reef tank. Really big and loaded with tons of SPS/LPS and some gigantic clams (I wish I could frag some of their SPS).

SDguy · #19 09/18/2007, 02:28 PM

Agreed, the Long Beach aquarium has an incredible reef. Seeing whalesharks in perspn, though, is pretty darn cool!

clarkiis · #20 09/18/2007, 02:35 PM

Long beach and monteray, both already said. Long beach has great reef, again already said

reefing102 · #21 09/18/2007, 03:02 PM

id say national aquarium in baltimore or (in certain parts of it) columbus zoo and aquarium

tkeracer619 · #22 09/18/2007, 03:18 PM

They have a really nice reef display at the Gatlinburg TN Aquarium.
The denver aquarium is pretty good if your around, though I dont think it would be worth flying here just for it. The sps tank has 10 1000W halides =]

Peter Eichler · #23 09/18/2007, 03:44 PM

If I were you I'd go to Baltimore and then you can take a short car ride to DC and check out the Smithsonian and a plethora of other sites.

MTB · #24 09/18/2007, 03:55 PM

I've been to georgia, monterey, the shedd and Denver within the last two years. Georgia and monterey were great. If I were to go back to one of those two I'd pick monterey. Just cause I had an all around good time in Cali. The shedd never dissapoints, I go every year. The health of a lot of the animals in Denver was disappointing. There SPS tank and shallow lagoon were cool. And it's a small place. We walked through and saw everything in just over an hour. I had a good time in Denver in general though.

tcmfish · #25 09/18/2007, 03:59 PM

SHEDD!!! in Chicago. I used to live there so I'm partial. But they have a whole exhibit on the philipines with a huge shark tank and a few nice reefs. Also a nice exhibit on the amazon. I would like to see the Georgia one myself but since I haven't my vote goes to Shedd and Baltimore is also nice.