New England Aquarium

The New England Aquarium on Boston's Central Wharf is the single best indoor family attraction in Boston. The building is anchored by the Giant Ocean Tank — a 200,000-gallon Caribbean coral reef exhibit that rises four stories through the center of the building. You experience it by walking a spiral ramp that wraps around the tank, giving you views from every depth.

Sea turtles glide past at eye level. Sharks cruise below. It's mesmerizing.

Beyond the Giant Ocean Tank, the aquarium has excellent touch tank exhibits where kids can handle horseshoe crabs, sea stars, and stingrays. The penguin colony at the base of the main tank is a perennial favorite — the African and rockhopper penguins are active and entertaining. The marine mammal exhibits include harbor and fur seals.

The aquarium is compact by design, which works in families' favor. You can see everything in 2-3 hours, which is the goldilocks duration for kids. There's no agonizing about what to skip or marathon-walking between exhibits. The IMAX theater is a separate ticket and worth it for kids 5+ who enjoy immersive nature films.

Practical notes: the aquarium sits on Central Wharf, right on the waterfront. The Blue Line to Aquarium station puts you at the front door. Parking at the nearby garage is expensive ($30-40). The Harborwalk connects the aquarium to Faneuil Hall, the North End, and the Seaport, making it easy to combine with other activities. Buy tickets online to bypass the ticket line, especially on weekends.