Our family recently visited the Greater Cleveland Aquarium. If you’ve never visited, it’s a great local attraction for families. The aquarium is packed with interesting aquatic creatures as well as interactive exhibits like the Stingray Touch Pool.
Our family has made several trips to Greater Cleveland Aquarium since it opened in 2012. We’ve been able to visit other aquariums around the country, like Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and Newport Aquarium in Newport. Ky. In comparison,Cleveland’s Aquarium is much smaller, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth the trip. In fact, I think if you have smaller children, you will find Greater Cleveland Aquarium to be a better choice than other options.
It also has a gallery dedicated to Ohio’s lakes and rivers, where visitors can see many native species of fish as well as turtles and reptiles (I can’t say turtles without thinking of the “I like turtles” kid on YouTube).
Scuba Claus and the Seas’N of Play
During the holiday season, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium is getting festive, with Christmas decor as well as holiday activities that families will love. You can participate in playful activities around the facility. There also is an Aquarium-wide scavenger hunt that gives you a chance to win an annual family pass. Look for holiday mini activities books and temporary tattoos while supplies last.
The best part of our visit was getting to meet Scuba Claus. It’s hard to imagine he would take time away from Christmas preparations at the North Pole, but apparently, he is a fan of Cleveland and will be visiting the aquarium on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays through December 23 (as well as Christmas Eve) from 1-2 p.m. For some reason, our kids got shy when he asked what they wanted for Christmas so I chimed in that our family wanted a dog. By the look on my wife’s face, Scuba Claus probably knows better than to leave a puppy under our tree.
Holiday Annual Pass Sale
If you are still looking for the perfect gift for your family, why not a family annual pass to the Greater Cleveland Aquarium? Right now they are running a holiday sale that will save you 10 percent off first-time (new) annual passes. You can find the details here.
Being an annual passholder at Greater Cleveland Aquarium gives you access to tons of perks, including:
- Enrollment to Captain NEO’s Kids Club
- Discounted pricing for special Aquarium events
- Passholder Appreciation Weeks with exclusive Passholder opportunities.
Greater Cleveland Aquarium has been a welcome addition to Cleveland and one that our family enjoys every visit. Take advantage of some time off during the holidays and take your family on a local adventure soon!
Amanda @ Tow for the Road
It’s been a while since we’ve visited the Cleveland Aquarium but it’s definitely a lot of fun! It’s such a unique building!