I like Monterey better than New England / Boston or Baltimore. If you go, do orcas and also west coast tide pools.

If your teen loves marine life, snorkeling in the Caribbean is also an option.

I like the little one in Detroit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Georgia Aquarium is amazing!!

+1

Check out the Coca Cola museum while you’re there.

Yes both these locations! Plus it’s easy public transit from airport to downtown.

Atlanta > Monterrey > Boston

Newport Aquarium in Newport, Kentucky (across the river from Cincinnati) is very good. On par with or tiny notch below many of the others mentioned here.

I took my DS to the Georgia Aquarium for spring break a few years ago. It had a lot of "extra" experiences that you could sign up (and pay extra for). We did swimming with the sharks which was cool. It was with smaller sharks in smaller pool. No scuba or snorkeling equipment needed. But you can also dive in their very large tank.

Baltimore's aquarium is top notch but many other aquariums are now similar. I also like Shedd's in Chicago. My boys loved petting the sting-rays.

I was just at Monterrey’s aquarium today and did a whale watch! I grew up in New England (though I live in the Bay Area now) snd think I prefer Boston’s New England aquarium though I have been in a very long time. Both Boston and Monterey have whale watches. In Monterey if you go just 20-30 mins north to Moss Landing yoh can do a kayak whale watch (I did a few years ago) or an “eco safari” in Ellhorn Slough which is great for seeing otters, sea lions, and birds. If you go whale watching consider Dramamine the night before. My younger daughter and my nephew spent a lot of today’s ride sick. A crew member said Dramamine the night before helps.

If you drive to Atlanta or rent a car consider stopping in Chattanooga as well. They have a cute downtown and a very nice large aquarium. It's about a 2 hour drive or 40 minute flight.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked Georgia better than Shedd but haven't been to Monterey. It's often a lot cheaper to fly to Atlanta or Chicago, though, if budget matters. The Embassy Suites at Centennial Olympic Park is right by Georgia Aquarium and also the College Football Hall of Fame and World of Coke mentioned by a PP.

Atlanta is a pretty easy trip if you really meant it's for only "a few days." I'd want longer to go to California.

Note there was just a shooting in this area. Atlanta is not safe anymore.

This doesn't bother me, but don't Chicago, Baltimore and Camden also have a lot of shootings? There are also homeless people in that area of Atlanta, if that concerns anyone. I've been in the past year and didn't feel unsafe, but I love cities.

Anonymous wrote:I liked Georgia better than Shedd but haven't been to Monterey. It's often a lot cheaper to fly to Atlanta or Chicago, though, if budget matters. The Embassy Suites at Centennial Olympic Park is right by Georgia Aquarium and also the College Football Hall of Fame and World of Coke mentioned by a PP.

Atlanta is a pretty easy trip if you really meant it's for only "a few days." I'd want longer to go to California.

Note there was just a shooting in this area. Atlanta is not safe anymore.

I liked Georgia better than Shedd but haven't been to Monterey. It's often a lot cheaper to fly to Atlanta or Chicago, though, if budget matters. The Embassy Suites at Centennial Olympic Park is right by Georgia Aquarium and also the College Football Hall of Fame and World of Coke mentioned by a PP.

Atlanta is a pretty easy trip if you really meant it's for only "a few days." I'd want longer to go to California.

Am I the only one who thinks the Baltimore one is dated and unimpressive?

Monterey is great, but Atlanta is also very good. Dallas was nice. I haven't been to Camden but they used to do a behind the scenes interaction with sea lions (cost extra).

The Shedd Aquarium is undergoing a lot of construction right now, and in my opinion, not worth visiting. Baltimore’s is significantly better.

Monterey is the best hands down.

San Diego's is pretty good but Baltimore's is better