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Mystic Aquarium, Mystic, CT

Photo: Picabu, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

AttractionsFamily FavoriteRainy-Day Pick

Mystic Aquarium

55 Coogan Blvd · Mystic, CT

Why you should go…

Mystic Aquarium opened in 1973 and is home to the only beluga whales in New England, kept in a large outdoor habitat. You also see Steller and California sea lions, northern fur seals, harbor seals, African penguins, sand tiger and nurse sharks, rays and a giant Pacific octopus. A touch pool lets you get hands-on with rays and sharks, and there is a jelly gallery and a Marine Theater. The aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

  • #aquarium
  • #beluga whales
  • #penguins
  • #sea lions
  • #touch tank

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Mystic Aquarium, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center

    Under $25

    A nature preserve near Mystic with miles of trails and live-animal exhibits.

    0.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Mystic Seaport Museum

    $25–$50

    Board an 1841 whaleship, walk a recreated 19th-century seaport village and watch shipwrights restore wooden boats.

    1.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Mystic Country

    Free

    The eastern Connecticut shoreline region built around the seafaring village of Mystic.

    1.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Attractions
    Date Night

    Foxwoods Resort Casino

    Free

    Play slots and table games, catch a show, shop the outlets and ride a zipline at a tribal resort casino.

    6.9 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Nature's Art Village

    Under $25

    A Connecticut family attraction pairing a life-size dinosaur sculpture park with a rock, mineral, and fossil shop.

    12 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Guilford Fairgrounds

    Under $25

    Home of the annual Guilford Fair, a Connecticut agricultural fair with livestock, exhibits, rides and food each September.

    38 mi awayMore like this