America's Best Aquariums for Whale Lovers

by Patrick Clarke
Last updated:: 10:15 AM ET, Wed June 20, 2018

PHOTO: A young boy watching a beluga whale in an aquarium. (photo via sparklingmoments/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: A whale in the Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary. (photo via Faabi/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Georgia Aquarium. (photo via SeanPavonePhoto/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus) (SeanPavonePhoto /iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Southern Resident male killer whale K35 in Juan de Fuca Strait as J's & K's make their way back into the waters of the Salish Sea. (photo courtesy of MarkMalleson/iStock/Getty Images Plus) (MarkMalleson /iStock / Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois. (photo via benkrut/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: A beluga whale swimming underwater. (photo via cmeder/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

The Florida Aquarium in Tampa, Florida. (photo via csfotoimages/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: A humpback whale off the shores of Maui. (photo courtesy of RobertPlotz/iStock/Getty Images Plus) (RobertPlotz / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. (photo via csfotoimages/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus)

Monterey Bay Aquarium, California. (photo via santalechuga/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Whale of a Time

1/10

Whales are mysterious creatures that thrive in the wild and can rarely be seen at the local aquarium. However, those with a passion for the beloved marine mammals can expand their knowledge and maybe see a whale or two up close at these outstanding aquariums.

New England Aquarium, Boston, Massachusetts

2/10

The New England Aquarium has partnered with Boston Harbor Cruises to offer whale watching tours at nearby Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary. If guests don't spot any whales they'll receive a free ticket for a future whale watch.

Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Georgia

3/10

The Georgia Aquarium is the only one in the western hemisphere to house whale sharks. Plus, visitors can interact with beluga whales in the water alongside trainers as part of a special program at the expansive aquarium.

Seattle Aquarium, Seattle, Washington

4/10

The Family Activity Center at the Seattle Aquarium teaches visitors about the local orca population and allows them to listen to the whales communicate underwater via hydrophones stationed in the Puget Sound.

Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, Illinois

5/10

Shedd Aquarium's Abbott Oceanarium is home to beluga whales that guests can learn more about and see in action during one of the exhibit's captivating aquatic presentations.

Mystic Aquarium, Stonington, Connecticut

6/10

Connecticut's Mystic Aquarium is the only one in New England to house beluga whales and offers visitors the largest outdoor beluga whale exhibit in the U.S., featuring a series of three 20-foot-long underwater viewing windows that allow guests to watch the whales in action below as well as above the surface.

Florida Aquarium, Tampa, Florida

7/10

The Florida Aquarium's 4D Theater features daily shows, including "Coastal Predators," an immersive experience highlighting whales, dolphins, sharks and seals.

Maui Ocean Center, Maalaea, Hawaii

8/10

Visitors to the Maui Ocean Center can learn about the humpback whale and other marine mammals at the aquarium's Marine Mammal Discovery Center, which features interactive displays designed to educate guests on whales and the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, among other marine animals.

Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, Tennessee

9/10

Visitors to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga can take advantage of the IMAX 3D Theater with a next-generation digital laser projection system to see whales like never before through BBC Earth's "Oceans 3D: Our Blue Planet."

Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, California

10/10

Located on the edge of Monterey Bay, this aquarium features ocean-view decks where guests can spot humpback whales in their natural habitat. The Marine Mammal Gallery also features life-size models.

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Patrick Clarke

Senior Editor

A Maryland native and wanderer who has lived across the U.S. from North Carolina to SoCal, Patrick Clarke graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in journalism. He previously worked for Bleacher