Things to do in New England, New England: The Best Zoos & Aquariums

The Oceanarium is a small, unique hands-on natural history museum with a touch tank and deep water tank. Admission includes a personal tour with a biologist including handling the deep-water crabs, stars and other live sea animals and a short talk on whales, sharks and lobstering. There is unlimited time at the touch tank and to explore the exhibits on your own. The biologist is available for questions during your entire visit. Everything in the museum is brought in by local commercial fishermen and can be found in the Gulf of Maine.

In the heart of Stonington harbor, Maine's most active lobstering port, fisheries come alive at our Discovery Wharf. We offer a get-your-hands-wet opportunity to engage and learn about local fisheries and the Gulf of Maine ecosystem. You can explore our touch tank with live creatures, our interactive touch wall, where you can navigate a map of Eastern Maine. Also, enjoy our NEW virtual reality exhibit, where you can virtually step onto a working lobster boat, climb into a lobster trap, and much more. Discovery Wharf is CLOSED from mid-October to the end of May. See you in 2020!

Located amid 40 acres of beautiful woodlands, the Roger Williams Park Zoo provides visitors the opportunity to see animals from all over the globe – some more than a million years old. Naturalistic surroundings are home to more than 100 species of animals including a Komodo dragon, as well as zebras, red pandas, African elephants, Masai giraffes, snow leopards, bears, flamingoes, sloths, and more! Kids from two to 102 have the opportunity to feed giraffes and harbor seals, as well as an array of farmyard animals. For something slightly out of the ordinary, visit our new Explore and Soar area offering an exhilarating zip ride, a train excursion through the woodlands, and ice cream station. The Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and is home to many endangered species. As a result, the Zoo participates in cooperative conservation and breeding programs to help ensure the future survival of many endangered species.

Easy access from I-95 or Metro-North Railroad, convenient covered parking next door, warm and spacious with two on-site cafes, gift shop and a 4D Theater, the Aquarium is a most excellent family outing, date or solo visit! The marine population we exhibit includes varieties of sharks, big and small, stingrays, harbor seals, sea turtles, game fish, jellies, crabs, lobsters, mollusks and more. We also exhibit tropical travelers that follow the Gulf Stream north to our waters. Plus we have some other fun animals, from tamarins to meerkats. We offer lots of touch experiences including stingrays, sharks, jellyfish and intertidal animals.

Open from early April through October, Southwick’s Zoo is a privately-owned zoo located at 2 Southwick Street in Mendon, MA. Spanning over 200 acres, Southwick’s Zoo is New England’s largest zoological experience. Southwick's is home to over 850 animals in naturalistic habitats including lions, tigers, giraffes, chimpanzees, white rhinos, two-toed sloths, and more. Southwick’s also offers a wide variety of attractions including the Skyfari Sky Ride, Woodland Express Train, Soaring Eagle Zip Line, 35-acre Deer Forest, petting zoo, walk-through aviary, presentations and keeper talks, the Rainforest Adventure Maze, the EARTH Discovery Center, and so much more! Southwick’s Zoo’s mission is to provide an extensive zoological collection and educational facility for their visitors. Southwick’s Zoo offers a full day of family fun and an exciting environment for visitors to learn more about animals and their conservation.

Free park playground and picnic areas surrounding the zoo; great for younger children. "Splashpad Playspace" (water playground) located in the zoo during the summer.

The Biomes Center is New England's only private marine education facility and the most hands-on aquarium in the region. We've been providing interactive marine biology programs for schools and families since 1989. We specialize in teaching children and adults about the marine animals of Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. We offer public hours, special events, classes, field trips, in-class programs, and birthday parties.

DEW Haven | Maine zoo and rescue. Located in Mount Vernon Maine, DEW Haven is home to over 200 animals from around the world. Looking for something to do in Mount Vernon, Maine? DEW Haven is a great place to bring the family. Please visit our website for hours and pricing!