My child liked it really really young, probably 2

My 18 month old loves the aquarium. It’s a great bad weather activity. She screams at the sharks and the seals and she goes wild for the jellyfish. The touch tank is a hit, too. I’m sure it will be of greater educational value when she’s older but in terms of keeping us all sane in the winter, it’s great right now.

I think about 2-3 is when they should start , 1 i woukd wanna keep them active & running like an indoor soft park where you can actively play with you child . instead of holding them the entire time & their simple not understanding what’s going on . just seems like a waste .

Our family of five went to Virginia Safari and loved it. Even our 2 year old enjoyed seeing and interacting with the animals.

Thanks for recommending http://gettingoutofdcdaytrips.blogspot.com/2012/08/virginia-safari-park.html?spref=fb. That blog is full of great ideas. As a tip, you can also follow the blog on Facebook at Getting Out of D.C. The Facebook page not only lists great trip ideas, but also other inexpensive events in and around D.C.

I remember bringing my 12 month old along to the zoo on a trip planned mostly for the benefit of his older brother. As soon as we got near the lions he started pointing enthusiastically and actually pretending to roar. I was pretty surprised by how into it he was at that age, and it made me think that my less expressive and verbal older child was probably getting more out of things like zoo trips than I thought when he was the same age.

My daughters LOVED the Baltimore Aquarium at ages 2 and 4, particularly the dolphin show. But now at age 4, that 2 year old can't remember it.
There is a nice but small set of aquariums at the National Zoo in the invertebrate exhibit. You can park on a neighborhood side street for free for two hours - or go on a Sunday. Also big tanks in the Amazonia exhibit. Bring a stroller, do the giant pizza playground, hit 2-3 animal areas and you've got a great free outing.

Anonymous wrote: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!

That's funny. When our twins were 13 months, we got an annual family membership. That visit they were not walking much, so we used those backpack seats for them to ride in. We went again when they were 18 months and recently at 22 months. Those times they walked half of it and we carried them half of it. And it was pretty neat to see them so excited about looking at the "Feesh". They learned a few words (turtles, shark and feesh) and they loved walking down the ramp through the big shark tank. We also managed to catch the trainers working with the dolphins and they giggled a lot as the dolphins did tricks. Worthwhile for us and we'll go back again. So, it works better/worse for different kids.

Age 2 is great for the Baltimore Aquarium (and kids under 3 are free). I'd wait until then. We've been members since our two kids were 6 months and 2 years old, respectively; the oldest loved it at age 2 (now at 3.5, he's losing interest) and the youngest didn't seem to notice the exhibits until she was almost 2.

It's also really crowded right now because they finally opened their new central Blacktip Reef exhibit.

Anonymous wrote:18 months is great for the zoo. Go check out the small mammal house -- all the exhibits are right at eye level for little ones and they love it.

This! We go often because I also have a 3 year old but my 18 month old really enjoyed the small mammal house when we were just there. The kid's farm is great for the little ones, too, as you get close to the animals. Also, the pizza garden is back!

18 months is great for seeing and appreciating animals. We took our 18 month old to see farm animals at Frying Pan Park and it really helped her pick up animal sounds and the names of animals (she has a speech delay). She was obsessed with pigs. We are planning to do a zoo trip soon, when it isn't quite so hot.

Took our then 6 month old to the aquarium in Atlanta and she loved it! Eyes went wide with wonder. One of my favorite memories of her infancy.

18 months is great for the zoo. Go check out the small mammal house -- all the exhibits are right at eye level for little ones and they love it.

I loved the DC aquarium at that age. Small and easy to get through plus it is easier to keep track of your kid. The Baltimore aquarium, I thought I would lose my kid for sure. And it was so crowded.

Took 4 YO this past spring- he DID enjoy the fish, but the major highlight was the turn-styles separating each section. Could have taken him to Old Ebbitt for that- and I could have had a meal and a drink and spent way less...