The most well-known Texas aquariums charge around $28 per person. Your family deserves the best experience after spending so much.
In this article, I’ll list some of the aquariums in Texas where you can see much aquatic wildlife and spend quality time. Let’s get started.
Top 7 Aquariums in Texas
I compiled this list based on several factors, such as how long you can enjoy your stay at the aquarium, how good the environment is, the condition and availability of animals, etc. Take your time before deciding on the right one!
Dallas World Aquarium
| Website: | https://dwazoo.com/ |
| Address: | 1801 N Griffin St, Dallas, TX 75202 |
| Phone: | 214-720-2224 |
| Attraction: | Cloud Forest, Orinoco, Photo Ark |
| Reviews: | 21,054 |
| Rating: | 4.4/5 |
While you may expect to see the Texas State Aquarium on the first spot, it has recently received many negative reviews. That’s why my safe choice for the top spot would be the Dallas World Aquarium.
DWA has many aquatic animals, including seahorses, polka-dot stingrays, manatees, etc. Moreover, it’s not only an aquarium but also a zoo with the inclusion of many wild birds, snakes, lizards, and a lot more. You can see their PDF guide to learn more about what kind of animals they have.
Don’t forget to visit the Brazilian rainforest and the different themed places across the aquarium. I recommend this place to bird lovers who also want to visit an aquarium!
Texas State Aquarium
| Website: | https://www.texasstateaquarium.org/ |
| Address: | 2710 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78402 |
| Phone: | 361-881-1200 |
| Attraction: | Ocelots, Caribbean Sea, Dolphin Bay |
| Reviews: | 13,267 |
| Rating: | 4.6/5 |
One of the most popular places where people can learn about fascinating aquatic life is the Texas State Aquarium. Presentation activities at the aquarium aid in learning about dolphins, turtles, sharks, etc. It is a nonprofit aquarium with a special interest in protecting wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico.
This aquarium has more than 500 distinct species. One of the Texas State Aquarium’s biggest features is the dolphin show. Although they try to educate people about marine life, it isn’t as thorough as they would want. Additionally, the price of tickets is quite high.
The Texas State Aquarium is smaller in size when compared to other locations on this list. I suggest visiting the Corpus Christi Harbour Bridge and Museum Bear the Aquarium and the USS Lexington Museum for a rewarding trip.
Moody Gardens
| Website: | https://www.moodygardens.com/attractions/aquarium_pyramid/ |
| Address: | 1 Hope Blvd, Galveston, TX 77554 |
| Phone: | 409-744-4673 |
| Attraction: | Penguin Encounter, Giant River Otter Encounter, Penguin & Seal Experience |
| Reviews: | 3,238 |
| Rating: | 4.6/5 |
Moody Gardens in Galveston is renowned for its hotel experience. However, there is also an excellent aquarium at Moody Gardens known as the Aquarium Pyramid.
The Aquarium Pyramid at Moody Gardens has a capacity of 1.5 million gallons. You can expect encounters with many aquatic animals in this place, including seals, tuxedo-clad penguins, jellyfish, sharks, exotic fishes, and many more.
I recommend booking private animal encounters with the cute penguins. It’s perfect for taking memorable photos and making extraordinary memories. Such encounters also make the aquarium suitable for learning and school trips.
Sea Center Texas
| Website: | https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishing/sea-center-texas/ |
| Address: | 302 Medical Dr, Lake Jackson, TX 77566 |
| Phone: | 979-292-0100 |
| Attraction: | Touch Pool, Gulf of Mexico Aquarium, Hatcheries |
| Reviews: | 1,248 |
| Rating: | 4.7/5 |
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s well-known Sea Center is free to visit. Therefore, without having to spend any money, you can see the beautiful aquatic life of the Gulf of Mexico, Coastal Bay, Salt Marsh, etc.
Students can take educational trips to the Sea Center of TPWD. They offer guided trips as well as fishing opportunities for young kids. There are many more programs and activities at the Sea Center that can be helpful for teenagers and toddlers to learn more about the sea and its creatures.
While it’s a pleasant place to visit for free, the aquarium is smaller than most other options here. The place is better for kids than adults due to its learning programs dedicated to school kids and young people. However, you will not regret coming here even if you are coming alone.
SeaQuest Fort Worth
| Website: | https://visitseaquest.com/fortworth/ |
| Address: | 1974 Green Oaks Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76116 |
| Phone: | 817-731-5357 |
| Attraction: | Asian Otter Interactions, Snorkel with Stingrays, Wallaby Encounter |
| Reviews: | 5,321 |
| Rating: | 4.5/5 |
SeaQuest at Fort Worth is great for both online and on-site experiences. You can learn more about aquatic life from the aquarium’s online programs. Moreover, it’s a kid-friendly aquarium with a fun layout.
There are stingrays, toucans, caimans, snakes, sharks, and many more animals in the SeaQuest aquarium. You can get really close to the animals there and get the opportunity to feed them or interact with them.
If you want to plan a birthday party for your child in an aquarium, SeaQuest is also a suitable option for that. You can have up to 40 guests at the party and experience private animal encounters and get gifts from SeaQuest.
Children’s Aquarium Dallas
| Website: | https://www.childrensaquarium.com/ |
| Address: | 1462 1st Ave, Dallas, TX 76210 |
| Phone: | 469-554-7340 |
| Attraction: | Freshwater Zone, Offshore Zone, Stingray Bay |
| Reviews: | 1,388 |
| Rating: | 4.5/5 |
There are more than 256 species of animals in the Dallas Children’s Aquarium. The list of wildlife includes cavefishes, piranhas, lizards, sea urchins, sea stars, seahorses, batfishes, and many more. Moreover, large aquatic animals like zebra sharks can be seen in the Offshore Zone.
This aquarium is pretty small. Therefore, most people spend around an hour and a half at the Fair Park Aquarium. The decorative buildings make the whole experience much better and it’s a nice place for you to take your kids.
Petting the stingrays is the most rewarding experience for visitors to this aquarium. The doctor fish is also great. The quality of the tanks is also admirable.
Downtown Aquarium
| Website: | https://tickets-houston.aquariumrestaurants.com/houstonaquarium/all-daypass.html |
| Address: | 410 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002 |
| Phone: | 713-223-3474 |
| Attraction: | Louisiana Swamp, Maharaja’s Temple, Shark Voyage |
| Reviews: | 18,810 |
| Rating: | 4.1/5 |
Downtown Aquarium is situated in a 6-acre area. There are several different exhibits, each with a unique theme. For example, the Louisiana Swamp exhibit features alligators, catfish, etc. You can also find nurse sharks, redfish, etc., in the Gulf of Mexico exhibit. Visitors also love seeing the white tigers at Maharaja’s Temple.
It’s pretty underwhelming compared to other places mentioned on this list. However, for a short and sweet experience with your little ones, the aquarium can be decent. A shortage of staff and poor directions pose some problems. So be mindful of those when you visit the Downtown Aquarium.
Frequently Asked Questions on Texas Aquariums
What is the biggest aquarium in Texas?
The Texas State Aquarium is the biggest in Texas.
What’s better, the Dallas Aquarium or the Dallas Zoo?
The Dalla Aquarium can be a better experience than the zoo as it is both an aquarium and a zoo. However, the DWA is more expensive.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are more than enough options for Texans to enjoy the views of aquatic life. Before getting a ticket, make sure you find out the operating hours, what exhibits can be closed during your visit, and when to have the finest experience.