We just did the DC aquarium with our 17-month-old, who loves fish. She really liked the alligators and the first few tanks. But after 30/40 minutes she'd had enough.

We went to the Aquarium in Chicago over Christmas with our then 20 month old and it was a huge waste of money (tickets and parking). He is now 2 and really enjoys going to the zoo. I still think we'll wait until he's closer to 3 before spending $60 to take him to the aquarium in Baltimore.

I wouldnt bother with the aquarium either. Seriously, a trip to the local pet shop to look at fish swimming in a tank would be much easier/more manageable!! And free

The zoo in DC is a lot of walking but so much fun. my 3yo loved it down there.

The last time I went to Reston zoo many years ago was nice, small, can pet animals, ride a pony, i think they have a hayride there too.

Leesburg park is awesome! a real up close view of animals, to the point you are walking alongside goats, llamas, pigs and other various animals in a large pen. There is a lake with fish you can see/feed and a wagon ride to see some of the bigger animals. Pony rides, and there was a camel ride too.

If you want to do something over a weekend (daytrip) go to Natural bridge to Virginia Drive Thru Safari. THAT was the best time we had when we went last august and we are planning a trip up there in the fall. The animals are friendly and come right up to your car and will even stick their heads in. Then there is a small walk around zoo area you can see other small animals and even get to feed a giraffe. For the entry fee, you can drive through the Safari as many times as you like. it was a lot of fun and we got many laughs out of it!!

here is a link to check out for more info

http://gettingoutofdcdaytrips.blogspot.com/2012/08/virginia-safari-park.html?spref=fb

We got a membership to the Zoo last Christmas, when DS was 16 months old. Fantastic. It's as much for us as for him, admittedly. We go early, spend an hour or two depending on how we feel, then go home before lunch. Parking is free thanks to the membership. At just over two, DS now asks to go see the panda, his favorite. It's great.

We've taken him to the aquarium once, and there was a lot of wrangling there. There's less room to run around than at the zoo, and trying to keep him going with the flow of the crowds was more challenging.

I literally just went to the Baltimore Aquarium with my 18 mo. old DS. What a nightmare! He was more interested in knocking people over, squirming all over the place and fighting to get on the floor trams that move you on through the space. Occasionally, he would look mesmerized/excited by the sharks and huge fish, but I got the same reaction during Shark Week from our flat screen. I won't do this again for many years!

The national zoo is free, so I would go a check it out. We've been taking DS since he was six months (I like to walk the zoo in the AM before the crowds arive with the stroller)

The National Zoo is excellent for kids. Different parts are good for different ages. At 18 months, you could just park at the bottom and go to the Kid's Farm and Amazonia. The small mammal house would also be good for an 18-month old, as would the sea lion exhibit.

Anonymous wrote:My kid could not distinguish between an aquarium and an HD television. More interested in Nemo than the aquarium.

Zoos, he liked, but don't bother with the DC zoo. Terrible for kids. Really spread out with very few animals. Try Reston Zoo or Catoctin Zoo.

Skip the Reston Zoo. It's owner by a family of convicted animal abusers. Go to the Leesburg Animal Park instead.

My kid could not distinguish between an aquarium and an HD television. More interested in Nemo than the aquarium.

Zoos, he liked, but don't bother with the DC zoo. Terrible for kids. Really spread out with very few animals. Try Reston Zoo or Catoctin Zoo.

Quick, take your toddler to the weird Commerce Dept basement aquarium before it closes for good! Cheap and small enough that you'll be out of there in less than an hour.

I have an awesome pic of my kid at the Amazonia exhibit at the zoo; he's about 12 months old, just newly walking, and his nose is pressed up against the glass and he is just *mesmerized* by a stingray that's swimming right up to his face.

So yes, definitely 18 months.

Definitely! My son loved the zoo at 18 months. He was not impressed with the DC Aquarium.

I would skip the aquarium at that age, why spend the money? But the zoo is great. Go for it!

Absolutely! I took my kids from 10 months on and by 12-18, they really like the animals and fish. We didn't see the whole place, nor did they learn Any interesting facts, but they had fun. If going to national zoo, try to time it to see the lion feeding or sea lion feeding.

When did your kids start appreciating/enjoying the zoo or an aquarium? Is it worth the trip at 18 months?