Glen Echo Park Aquarium - Glen Echo, Maryland

Baron „Wholesale Nuts“ Matthew

What a marvelous gem of an aquarium. It’s only open from 9 to 5. You want to call or email in advance. It is a wonderful little play room for kids. Educational of everything about the Chesapeake. Most everything in here is a local variety. They are doing their part for preservation, but also education. An enthusiastic set of people working there.

Jennifer

Small little aquarium but staff was nice and knowledgeable. They had a cute horse crab tank where a sweet lady showed them to the children. Got to see them feed the fish too! There were also moments where you could take photos at cut out boards and an adorable ship plank/dock treehouse style where children could play. As well as a sandbox for kids to play at too. It would be nice to see it expand one day. A big plus that there’s a carousel, little play ground and other activities for children once you’ve gone through the aquarium.

Sheri Weathers

I visited the Glen Echo Aquarium with my Girl Scout Troop today. The troop (3rd grade) and adults were very entertained by our expert Hostess Aerial. She was fantastic at grabbing their attention, sharing fun facts, and asking interesting questions. It’s a small place, but we spent 2 hours learning something about each tank. We had the opportunity to feed fish and touch many creatures from the touch tank. The cutest eel possible came out to eat, and a blow fish sprayed the girls who wanted to be sprayed with water. We could have easily gone another 30 minutes and spent some time running around outside. I highly recommend visiting with a guided tour.

Charlie Goeller

We liked the puppet show, and my daughter loved riding the carousel again and again. I loved meeting the potter in the pottery yurt. I bought several lovely things there.

Alex Wood

I visited the Glen Echo Park Aquarium with my family on a cold and rainy day, and I must say it was a fantastic experience! The aquarium is a hidden gem that my family frequents, but this was my first time. It is smaller than the typical aquariums, but full of local educational opportunities.

First of all, the staff were incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable about the exhibits. They took the time to explain everything to us and even engaged our toddlers in fun and educational activities. We felt like we were part of the aquarium family from the moment we arrived.

The exhibits themselves were mesmerizing. We saw a variety of fish and other marine life that we had never seen before. The highlight for our toddlers was the touch tank, where they were able to interact with horseshoe crabs, hog chokers, and varieties of mollusks!

The layout of the aquarium was also well-planned, with plenty of space for strollers and little ones to move around comfortably. There were also several stools for toddlers to step on for better views throughout the aquarium.

Overall, we had an amazing time at the Glen Echo Park Aquarium, and we highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and educational experience. It is the perfect place to take your family on a rainy day or any day, really! Five stars all around.

Lavender Kelley

This is a small but mighty aquarium with a focus on children's activities and learning. The interior of the aquarium features all local water life and is broken into freshwater and brackish water varieties. The staff take time to talk and interact with children, allowing them to touch and observe in ways that enhance curiosity. The outside has a wonderful play area so come in your play clothes to get in the sand and dig! Because of the picturesque setting nestled next to Glen Echo Park, you may even see some local wildlife like rabbits. I understand that some of the other reviews have complained about cost and that is always a factor when taking children places, especially those run as small private projects like this. But whether you spend an hour learning about fish or 2 hours playing on the grounds, I think it's money well spent!

Pat S

The aquarium, offers a small and cozy atmosphere with approximately 11 tanks. It's a perfect destination for families with toddlers and elementary age children, as there are both indoor and outdoor areas to explore. The facility boasts interactive features such as touch tanks, a water table, a sandbox, and a charming play area complete with a pirate ship tree house.
The admission price of $8 per person for ages 2+. The staff at the aquarium stood out with their attentive and welcoming demeanor.

One person who made a significant impact on our experience was Mr. Lee, a knowledgeable and engaging member of the staff. He took on the role of our science guru, captivating us with his informative talks and demonstrations. We had the pleasure of witnessing him feed various fish and gained a wealth of knowledge about animals and scientific concepts. Mr. Lee was not only enthusiastic but also readily available to answer any questions we had, leaving us impressed with his expertise.

diana

Small and cute aquarium with an attentive staff that know so much about each thing inside! Great to go with a toddler during the summer because they have touch tanks, water table, sandbox and a little play area with a pirate ship tree house. My 2.5 year old only spent about 25 minutes inside but spent a good 30 minutes outside playing. $8 per person and well spent.