Visit Adventure Aquarium in Camden New Jersey
Visit NJ's Sharks, Penguins, Jellyfish and Other Sea-creatures
Aug 14, 2009
New Jersey's Adventure Aquarium is located just minutes from Philadelphia along the Delaware Riverfront in Camden. The attraction originally opened as the Camden Aquarium in 1992. In 2004, the Camden Aquarium was closed for nearly a year to undergo a huge restoration and expansion project. In May 2005, the facility re-opened as the Adventure Aquarium. With four Adventue Zones and nearly 200,000 feet of exhibit space, visitors are treated to shows, exhibits and touch areas.
Adventure Zones of Camden's Adventure Aquarium
- Zone A features eels, barracudas, sea turtles, rays, sea horses and more. Gil's Clubhouse is a play area for children to learn more about sharks through interactive exhibits. This zone also showcases a large tank for visitors to touch exotic sharks like the indo Pacific Brown-banded shark, White-Spotted Bamboo Sharks and Smooth Dogfish Sharks.
- Zone B is home to the 4D theater. A separate ticket must be purchased to view this show which adds wind and water to a 3D experience, making it 4D. The main rotunda, just outside of the theater has some shows and mascot sightings throughout the day. Be sure to look up at the moving fish circling the ceiling. Zone B leads to two outdoor exhibits, Penguin Island and Seal Shores. Check the Adventure Guide Map for penguin feeding times and seal shows held throughout the day.
- Zone C's main attraction is the Creature Lab where visitors can touch seastars, crabs, snails and more. Interaction Inlet features more touch exhibits with live jellyfish, stingrays, shrimp and lobsters available to touch.
- Zone D offers the West African River Experience and is home to two hippos. There is an underwater viewing area to observe the hippos and the numerous fish swimming around them. Porcupines and a wide variety of birds are part of this exhibit as well. The Jules Verne Gallery has large viewing windows where jelly fish, sea nettles and a giant Pacific octopus live. In Shark Realm, visitors walk through a 40 foot glass tunnel as sharks swim beside and above in the 550.000 thousand gallon tank. For an extra fee, and advance reservations, another adventure is available for those who want to swim with the sharks. Trained cast offer a short snorkeling lesson and a briefing on what to expect before allowing visiors to swim with the sharks and enter Stingray Lagoon.
Visitor Tips When Visiting Adventure Aquarium
There is a cafe available with family-friendly food choices such as hotdogs, pizza and grilled cheese. Offerings are available for vegetarians and accommodations can be made for those with special dietary concerns, such as food allergies. There is ample seating indoors or outdoors on the deck which features fantastic views of the Delaware river and the Philadelphia skyline. Visitors may bring their own food if preferred.
A 6,000 square foot retail shop features six themed areas for visitors to find that perfect souvenir.
Strollers are welcome in the aquarium and all restrooms have baby changing areas.
Tickets may be purchased online. An online search can often reveal discounted tickets. Parking costs $10 with an easy walk to the aquarium.
The aquarium is open from 9:30 am to 5 pm daily.
Check out the Adventure Aquarium website and plan your trip into the sea.
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