The Cleveland Aquarium
The Greater Cleveland Aquarium, located in the FirstEnergy Powerhouse building in The Flats district of Cleveland, is a place that is dedicated to helping to conserve fish and all aquatic life. I really like how the aquarium is divided into different areas. You can see marine life from Ohio’s lakes and rivers, the tropical reef, the Indo-Pacific, the Northern Pacific, and lakes and rivers all around the world.
Ohio Rivers and Lakes at the Cleveland Aquarium
The Rivers Gallery focuses on fish from Ohio. The area is so cool because they’ve got sounds of the river pumped in and scents of the rivers surround you. Some of the fish in this area are bass and catfish. This area at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium also includes an interactive exhibit where kids can do their own research using materials provided to them.
In the Lakes and Rivers of the World area, you can pet giant tortoises that were rescued from people who had once purchased them as pets and surrendered them to Noah’s Lost Ark. Now these beautiful guys live at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium.
If you follow my blog, you know how much I love to read! I homeschooled my kids, so a lot of the books I read to them were ones we could use as a learning tool. One of those books was Night of the Moonjellies by Mark Shasha. It is a great book about these glowing moon jelly fish. You can see some moonjellies up close and personal at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium.
Indo-Pacific Region at the Cleveland Aquarium
The Indo-Pacific region at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium contains marine life from places like Hawaii and Fiji. Here is where you will see the lionfish. Did you know that lionfish only use their venom for defense? They often use their feathery pectoral fins to herd smaller fish making them easier to swallow!
Northern Pacific exhibit at the Cleveland Aquarium
The next exhibit you’ll encounter at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium is the Northern Pacific. Here you’ll see an octopus, sea cucumbers, starfish, and more! Don’t eat the cucumbers, please.
Coastal exhibit
We found Nemo in the Coastal exhibit at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium! Here you can touch the rays, 2 fingers only please, in the 11,000 gallon pool.
Tropical Reef
In the Tropical Reef area of the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, you will find beautiful butterfly fish! I think they are one of my favorite fish to look at. The area is filled with brightly colored tropical fish of the world.
Shark Sea Tube
I think the coolest part of the Greater Cleveland Aquarium is the Shark Sea Tube. It is so cool how the sharks swim right over you! There are 4 different species of sharks and more sea life in this 230,000 gallon tube. There is a huge Goliath grouper in the sea tube that is really only a teenager! He can get up to 8 feet long and can weigh up to 800 lbs.! That is bigger than most of the sharks in the tube. Now that’s what I call a “river” monster! The moray eel is pretty creepy looking, isn’t he? It reminds me of the eels in The Little Mermaid!
You can purchase tickets online or in person at the ticket counter. The Greater Cleveland Aquarium is open 7 days a week from 10 AM to 5 PM. It is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Looking for a place to eat after you visit? Head to The Corner Alley.
General Admission Pricing:
- Adults (13+): $19.95
- Children (2-12): $13.95
- Seniors (60+): $17.95
- Children under the age of 2 and guests aged 100+ are admitted free of charge
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