9 Great Aquariums Available In North American CityPASS Packages

I have a weakness for aquariums. I love aquatic life and the next best thing to seeing it in its natural environment is seeing it in a spacious, climate controlled building. Unlike the natural environment, at an aquarium, you’re guaranteed to see a whole lot of aquatic life.

CityPASS currently has packages in 12 cities across North America. Nine of those packages include an aquarium. Two of those nine, San Francisco and Tampa Bay, actually have two aquariums on the itinerary.

We’ve compiled a list of these 12 with some detailed info, pricing as an individual attraction, pricing of the whole CityPASS package and what other attractions are included. All prices given in U.S. Dollars, do not include taxes and the price is for an adult. There are typically discounts for seniors and students. Pricing is as of May 1, 2016 and is subject to change. Also, attractions included in each individual CityPASS are subject to change.

Georgia Aquarium – Atlanta, Georgia

This attraction opened in 2005, adjacent to the World of Coca-Cola and across from Centennial Olympic Park. There are over 10 million gallons of water in the tanks with the largest loaded with 6.3 million. You will find beluga whales, whale sharks, albino alligators and dolphins, along with many more species.

Walking up and paying at the entrance will cost $40.95. The complete Atlanta CityPASS package is $76.75 and includes the World of Coca-Cola, CNN Studio Tours, Zoo Atlanta or Center of Civil and Human Rights, along with Fernbank Museum of Natural History or College Football Hall of Fame.

Website: Georgia Aquarium

New England Aquarium – Boston, Massachusetts

Opened in 1969, the New England Aquarium is highlighted by the 200,000 gallon tank simulating a Caribbean coral reef. Sharks, stingrays, moray eels and barracuda are just some of the species to be found, along with penguins, seals and tortoises.

The aquarium is located on Central Wharf in Boston Harbor. General admission is $26.95 while the whole CityPASS package for Boston is just $55.00. The other attractions include the Museum of Science, Skywalk Observatory and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston or Boston Harbor Cruises.

Website: New England Aquarium

Shedd Aquarium – Chicago, Illinois

A piece of Chicago history, the Shedd Aquarium opened in 1930. There are 5 million gallons of water total in the tanks. The aquarium boasts some 32,000 animals across 1,500 species. Exhibits include Waters of the World, Caribbean Reef, Amazon Rising, Wild Reef and Stingray Touch, among others.

Located on Lakeshore Drive, general admission to Shedd Aquarium is $30.95. The CityPASS package for Chicago is $98.00 and also includes Skydeck Chicago, The Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry or 360 Chicago and Adler Planetarium or Art Institute of Chicago.

Website: Shedd Aquarium

Downtown Aquarium – Houston, Texas

Located in a redeveloped fire station and central waterworks building, the Downtown Aquarium has 200 species in 500,000 gallons of water. Along with the aquatic life, there is a full-service restaurant, upscale bar, ballroom and amusements.

General admission is just $11.99. The Houston CityPASS package is $56.00. The other attractions include Space Center Houston, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Zoo or Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Kemah Boardwalk or Children’s Museum of Houston.

Website: Downtown Aquarium

Adventure Aquarium – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Actually located in Camden, New Jersey, along the Delaware River Waterfront, the Adventure Aquarium opened in 1992. With a total volume of 2 million gallons, the highlight is the shark bridge. The shark bridge is the longest V shaped rope suspension bridge in the world. The bridge takes visitors just above the Shark Realm exhibit.

General admission pricing is $26.95. The Philadelphia CityPASS is $59.00 and also includes The Franklin Institute, Big Bus Company and Philadelphia Trolley Works, One Liberty Observation Deck and the Philadelphia Zoo only as an alternative to Adventure Aquarium.

Website: Adventure Aquarium

Aquarium of the Bay – San Francisco, California

With 700,000 gallons of total volume, Aquarium of the Bay opened in 1996. Located on Pier 39 in San Francisco, the aquarium boasts some 50 sharks of various types.

General admission is $22.95. The San Francisco CityPASS package is $94.00 and also includes a 7 day cable car and Muni Bus passport, California Academy of Sciences, Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise Adventure and Exploratorium or de Young Museum. The Monterey Aquarium can only be visited as an alternate to the Aquarium of the Bay.

Website: Aquarium of the Bay

Monterey Bay Aquarium – San Francisco, California

Opened in 1984, this is located in Monterey, California’s Cannery Row. The aquarium circulates in fresh ocean water and Open Sea Galleries is the largest tank with a volume of 1.2 million gallons. This is sometimes temporarily home to Great White Sharks, a species that doesn’t take to captivity very well. In the 28 foot tall Kelp Forest Exhibit, this was the first place in the world to successfully grow California Giant Kelp. The kelp grows four inches per day and needs weekly pruning.

General admission is $39.95. As mentioned above, the San Francisco CityPASS is $94.00 and users must choose between Aquarium of the Bay and Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Website: Monterey Bay Aquarium

Seattle Aquarium – Seattle, Washington

Located at Pier 59 in Seattle on the shores of Puget Sound, the Seattle Aquarium was opened in 1977 and expanded in 2007. The highlight is the underwater dome that features Pacific aquatic life.

General admission is $22.95. The Seattle CityPASS is $74.00 and also includes the Space Needle, Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour, EMP Museum or Woodland Park Zoo and Chihuly Garden and Glass or Pacific Science Center.

Website: Seattle Aquarium

The Florida Aquarium – Tampa Bay, Florida

Opened in 1995, there are over 20,000 aquatic plants and animals. The aquarium’s exhibits are laid out to follow fresh Florida spring water as it makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico.

General admission is $24.95. The Tampa Bay CityPASS is $99.00 and also includes Busch Gardens Tampa, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo and the Museum of Science & Industry or the Chiluly Collection.

Website: The Florida Aquarium

Clearwater Marine Aquarium – Tampa Bay, Florida

Actually located in Clearwater, Florida, this opened in 1972 as the Clearwater Marine Science Center. This is the home to Winter, a bottlenose dolphin that was the focus of the movies Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2.

General admission is $21.95. The CityPASS info is the same as for The Florida Aquarium above.

Website: Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada – Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Until recently, this was not included in the Toronto package and is a very welcome addition. The aquarium opened in 2013 and was originally planned for Niagara Falls. Located at the foot of the CN Tower and adjacent to Rogers Centre, the home of the Toronto Blue Jays, there are more than 450 species with 1.5 million gallons of total water volume. The aquarium has everything from Great Lakes fish to those found on the coral reefs of the world.

General admission is $21.50 USD. The Toronto CityPASS is $59.67 USD and also includes the CN Tower, Casa Loma, Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and the Toronto Zoo or Science Centre. Prior to adding Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada to the package, the zoo and science centre were both included and you didn’t have to choose between them.

Website: Toronto Aquarium