The New York Aquarium is the oldest continually operating aquarium in the United States, founded in 1896 and located on the Riegelmann Boardwalk in Coney Island, Brooklyn. Covering 14 acres and home to over 8,000 aquatic animals representing more than 350 species, it's a full-day destination for families with children of all ages.
The flagship Ocean Wonders: Sharks! exhibit (opened 2018) features a dramatic walk-through underwater tunnel, a crawl-through space for young kids, 18 shark and ray species, sea turtles, and a Hudson Canyon replica viewing gallery. PlayQuarium — the aquarium's fully bilingual (English/Spanish) children's exhibit — lets kids ages 3–6 explore a kelp forest, coral reef, and sandy shore, role-play as sharks or whales, and touch marine animals at the hands-on Touch Pool. The outdoor Sea Cliffs habitat hosts daily sea lion shows alongside sea otters, harbor seals, and penguins — arrive 30 minutes early for front-row seats.
The Sea Squirts drop-in program welcomes infants through age 5 with one caregiver per ticket, with rotating themes and animal encounters each session. A WCS membership grants free admission to the Aquarium plus all four NYC zoos; IDNYC cardholders can obtain a free one-year WCS membership. Free Wednesday afternoon admission is available via advance timed tickets released online the Monday prior at 3 PM (max 4 tickets per order). Plan 2–2.5 hours for a full visit. Take the F or Q train to West 8th St — a pedestrian bridge deposits you directly at the entrance.
