Information
Landmark: Aquarium of NiagaraCity: Buffalo
Country: USA New York
Continent: North America
Aquarium of Niagara, Buffalo, USA New York, North America
Overview
The Aquarium of Niagara, a longtime favorite in Niagara Falls, New York, draws visitors with its lively tanks and shimmering schools of fish.It’s both a public aquarium and a hub for conservation, education, and research, all focused on protecting aquatic life-from tiny darting minnows to massive sea turtles.At the aquarium, you’ll find everything from shimmering jellyfish to darting clownfish, along with hands-on exhibits that bring the value of marine ecosystems to life.First.You’ll find it in Niagara Falls State Park at 701 Whirlpool Street, just a short walk from the roar and mist of the falls, easy for visitors to reach as they explore the area.Since opening its doors in 1965, it’s become one of the region’s top aquariums, earning accreditation from respected groups like the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).Committed to public education, protecting wildlife, and nursing injured marine animals back to health, sometimes cradling a rescued sea turtle still slick with seawater.Step two is to use a mix of short, punchy sentences and longer ones that flow, the way a conversation shifts naturally.Penguin Coast is home to lively Humboldt penguins, set in a habitat that mirrors the rocky shores they know, where you can watch them dart through the water and mingle in their tight-knit groups.M&T Bank Shark & Ray Bay invites visitors to reach into the cool, moving water and gently touch sharks and stingrays, offering a safe, hands-on way to discover the beauty and wonder of these remarkable animals.Aliens of the Sea: an enchanting exhibit where jellyfish drift like ghostly lanterns, each species revealing its own strange beauty and mysterious design.Great Lakes 360 opened in 2024, inviting visitors to explore the region’s ecosystems with turtles basking under warm light, sturgeon gliding through clear water, and amphibians tucked among reeds, all alongside hands-on displays about freshwater habitats.Three.The aquarium offers hands-on programs and animal encounters-some for an extra fee-where you can get closer to the wildlife, like the Penguin Encounter, where you meet Humboldt penguins face-to-face and hear their sharp, briny calls.Seal Encounter: Watch seals glide through the water, then get up close to see how they’re trained and cared for.Sea Lion Snapshot: Snap your own photos beside playful California sea lions, maybe catching the glint of sunlight on their sleek, wet fur.Spend a day at the trainers’ side, helping care for the animals-maybe brushing a horse’s coat or preparing a snack for a curious parrot.Lead the Feed-step right in and help feed sharks, rays, and a rainbow of other sea creatures as the water stirs around you.Number four.The Aquarium of Niagara offers hands-on educational programs for schools, homeschoolers, and anyone curious, all designed to spark interest in STEM-Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math-with moments like touching a sea star or watching a penguin waddle past.Outreach programs take learning outside the aquarium’s walls, bringing it into local neighborhoods where kids might touch a real seashell for the first time.They run a rehabilitation program for injured or stranded marine mammals, nursing them back to health and, when they’re ready, releasing them into the ocean’s cold, open waters.Number five sat there, small and sharp like a black ink mark on the page.Here’s what you need to know before you visit: admission is $25 for adults, $23 for seniors 60 and up, $18 for kids aged 3 to 12, and free for little ones under 2; hours run 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday–Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday; the gates stay shut on Thanksgiving and Christmas; parking’s on-site, with a $5 fee in the off-season and $7 when summer crowds fill the lot.At the Aquarium of Niagara, you can wander past shimmering tanks, meet living sea creatures up close, and dive into hands-on lessons, making it a memorable stop for families, travelers, and anyone curious about aquatic life and conservation near Niagara Falls.
