4 Must See Aquariums in the U.S. Rust Belt

Let’s say you’re from Southern Ontario and you ran to check out the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada in Toronto last summer. This summer, you may be looking to expand your aquatic horizons. Well, there’s four options in and around the U.S. side of Lake Erie, aka the Rust Belt.

Using Toronto as a reference point, any of the four locations are at most a four to five hour drive and would make a great addition to a weekend getaway. Yes, the Canadian Dollar has struggled against its U.S. counterpart over the past year, but the rebound is on.

Aquarium of Niagara

Yes, there’s an aquarium in Niagara Falls, New York. This might be the best kept secret in the Niagara area. Originally, the Aquarium of Niagara opened in June, 1965. Now, the aquarium is open daily from 9am to 5pm and is located at 701 Whirlpool Street, just north of the Rainbow Bridge.

This aquarium features over 1,500 aquatic animals and has exhibits that highlight Humboldt Penguins, California Sea Lions, Pacific Harbour Seals, Sharks and a tidal pool.

The price is right, no more than one of the cheezy attractions on Clifton Hill, across the river in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Adults pay the most at $11 while seniors 60+ pay $9.25. Children 3-12 years old pay $7 while two and under are free. A major bonus is the price of parking: free.

Official website: Aquarium of Niagara

Greater Cleveland Aquarium

From the mid 1950’s to the mid 1980’s, there was a Cleveland Aquarium, then there was not. Then there was. In January, 2012, after 26 years without an aquatic exhibition, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium was reborn on the shores of the Cuyahoga River, just west of downtown at 2000 Sycamore Street.

70,000 square feet of exhibit space, featuring a 230,000 gallon tank with a 175 foot long shark tunnel, this is around half the size of the Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto. The ticket price reflects this with the Cleveland, Ohio location about $10 less than its counterpart in Toronto. Those between 13 and 59 pay $19.95 to get in. Children pay just $11.95 and seniors get a two dollar discount at $17.95. Onsite parking fees range from $3 to $5 dollars – much cheaper than Toronto.

Main exhibits include Ohio Lakes & Rivers, Lakes and Rivers of the World, Northern Pacific, Coastal, Indo-Pacific and Coral Reef. There seems to be more of a focus on freshwater fish of the world than those who live in saltwater. The Greater Cleveland Aquarium is open daily from 10am to 5pm.

Official website: Greater Cleveland Aquarium

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

South of the Great Lakes, those in Southern Ontario may not realize that Pittsburgh is just not that far away. Once you get going south at Erie, the scenery is quite nice, as well. The PPG Aquarium is a great deal, in that admission also includes the Pittsburgh Zoo.

The zoo opened in 1898, northeast of downtown at Highland Park, near the shores of the Allegheny River. Some 70 years later, in 1967, AquaZoo opened on site. Renamed the PPG Aquarium, renovations were done in 2000.

The aquarium is housed in a 45,000 square foot, two story building. Main exhibits included tropical rainforest (piranhas), a Pennsylvania exhibit (featuring much of what can be found in the Allegheny), a Penguin exhibit featuring several kinds of penguin, a Coral Reef exhibit, a Stingray tunnel and an Open Ocean exhibit.

The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium are open generally 9am to 5pm daily with some seasonal adjustments. Adults pay $15 to enter while seniors 60+ pay $14 and children 2-13 pay $13. Parking is free.

Official website: PPG Aquarium

Belle Isle Aquarium – Detroit, Michigan

I last visited Belle Isle sometime in the early 2000’s. It was one of the first years that Comerica Park was open – a Detroit Tigers baseball game was the main reason for the visit to Detroit. Like the rest of the city, Belle Isle was a crumbling remnant of the city’s past.

Well, it seems, like a lot of the downtown core, Belle Isle has received a rebirth. The Belle Isle Aquarium is one feature that has been revived. Opened originally in August of 1904, the aquarium closed in April of 2005. It then reopened in August, 2012 and is entirely operated by volunteers.

This is not in the same league as the other aquariums mentioned in this article but has just as much appeal. This is a historic landmark in the a history rich city. The aquarium is housed in a 10,000 square foot building – the original building that opened in 1904 – and has 32,000 gallons of tank space.

Although only open on Saturdays and Sundays and only from 10am to 4pm, the price is right. Admission is free. Yes, I said admission is free. Belle Isle is a long, thin island that sits in the Detroit River between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario, not too far from the downtown core of the Motor City.

I just want to add that if you do visit this location on a weekend during the summer, do get out of your car and walk around the island. Your senses will be overwhelmed by the smell of Barbeque. There are no gas grilles in use here. This is family upon family using good, old fashioned charcoal to cook their meat. I haven’t eaten meat in seven years but I could take in the smells of Belle Island all day long.

Official website: Belle Isle Aquarium