The Maritime Aquarium in South Norwalk, CT

The Maritime Aquarium in South Norwalk, CT
Credit: Herity, Jim Housed in a renovated 19th-century ironworks, the aquarium anchors a revitalized waterfront district, known as SoNo, that’s packed with cosmopolitan restaurants and trendy galleries. So, whether or not you have your own spawn in tow, the aquarium makes a perfect day-trip. Organized around the different ecological zones of Long Island Sound, exhibits are spread across two levels connected by a stroller-friendly ramp, which leads to a 110,000-gallon Open Ocean tank — the size and biodiversity of which easily rival that of a larger aquarium. Take a seat in the darkened viewing area and enjoy the aquatic ballet, as sand tiger sharks, roughtail stingrays, stripers, and bluefish circumnavigate the tank while music plays quietly in the background. Around the corner on the upper level, don’t miss the river otters, which are delightfully boisterous near feeding time. Down on the lower level, check out the 15,000-gallon tank holding two large loggerhead turtles, seemingly quite shy. Nearby, in the main atrium, called the Great Hall, is an indoor/outdoor pool where harbor seals are fed three times a day by their trainer, who also gives a short talk and takes questions from the audience. Get here a few minutes early to guarantee yourself a seat with an underwater view of the seals as they race around the tank, wave to the crowd, and are duly rewarded with herring.