That time of year is coming up, New York: it’s Shark Week! The Discovery Channel’s annual week of TV programming starts on Sunday, July 24, and continues through Saturday, July 31! We’ve compiled a list of the best aquariums, exhibits, and programs in and around New York to visit during Shark Week. Looking to feed the sharks, swim with them, or just learn more about them? We’ve got you covered!
Hosting a viewing party to watch Shark Week? Check out 8 Shark Week Viewing Party Ideas for inspiration!
The Best Aquariums and Exhibits for Shark Week 2022:
American Natural History Museum
200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
Approx. travel time from Midtown Manhattan: 18 minutes
Admission: $23; $13 children 3 to 12; $18 students with valid ID and seniors 60+; Free for kids under 3
Explore interactive exhibits such as “Hunt like a hammerhead” and see a model of the ancient Megalodon and other life-sized models and fossils at the Sharks exhibit. Take #AMNH for a chance to be featured on their website!
New Jersey SEA LIFE Aquarium
American Dream Mall
1 American Dream Way Suite A, East Rutherford, NJ 07073
Approx. travel time from Midtown Manhattan: 33 minutes
Admission: $31.99; $26.99 children 3 to 12; Free for children under 3
See if you can spot Manhattan seascapes like the Empire Skate Building and the Babbling Brook Bridge in the “City Under the Sea” on a walk through the underwater Ocean Tunnel! Stroll along Sharks Fish Avenue and see window displays inspired by Fifth Avenue.
Psst…. check out Free Museums for Kids in NYC to Visit!
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo
560 Northfield Ave., West Orange, NJ
Approx. travel time from Midtown Manhattan: 1 hour
Admission: $17; $14 children 2 to 12 and seniors 62+; Free for children under 2
Get a chance to interact with sharks in the 1600 gallon water Touch Tank, where you can graze the stingrays and sharks as they gently glide by! Afterwards, be sure to check out the Endangered Species Carousel, custom-built for the Zoo, where visitors of all ages can take a ride on one of over 30 rare creatures ($2 to ride).
Long Island Aquarium
431 E. Main St., Riverhead, NY
Approx. travel time from Midtown Manhattan: 1 hour 8 minutes
Admission: $42.99; $31.99 seniors 62+; $29.99 children 3 to 12; Free for children under 3
Have an experience like no other at the Aquarium’s Shark Dive as you come face-to-face with the ocean’s top predators while accompanied by a trained instructor! No diving certification is required, and a wetsuit, SCUBA gear and an underwater mask will be provided at the location. Take a guided tour of the habitats and receive a beach towel, souvenir shark tooth and photo from your time underwater!
Advanced reservations are required for this experience, as well as a negative Covid-19 test 48 hours prior to the dive or proof of vaccination. Reservations are only available Thursday through Sunday starting at 11:00 am. Book ASAP!
New York Aquarium
602 Surf Ave., Brooklyn, NY
Approx. travel time from Midtown Manhattan: 1 hour 9 minutes
Admission: $26.95 – $29.95; $24.95 – $26.95 seniors 65+; $22.95 – $24.95 children 3 to 12; Free for children under 3
The Aquarium’s renowned exhibit “Ocean Wonders: Sharks!” allows you to meet the animals that live right off the Coney Island Boardwalk, including sharks, rays, sea turtles, and more! Walk under the tunnel bridge in the middle of a coral reef or stare into the deep and see sharks who live further below the surface. Be sure to explore the exhibit and learn about how sharks live, move and eat!
If you’re looking to prepare for this visit or want to watch from home, the Aquarium has live camera footage available here from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm each day!
The Maritime Aquarium
10 N. Water St., Norwalk, CT
Approx. travel time from Midtown Manhattan: 1 hour 26 minutes
Admission: $29.95; $25.95 seniors 65+; $20.95 children 3 to 12; Free for children under 3
Check out “Ocean Beyond the Sound,” where only a 4-inch wall separates you from sand tigers and lemon sharks! If you’re feeling adventurous, visit the Shark and Ray Touch Pool to interact with a variety of species and even feed the rays!
New Jersey State Museum
205 W State Street, Trenton, NJ
Approx. travel time from Midtown Manhattan: 1 hour 40 minutes
Admission: $10.00; $9.00 seniors 65+; $5.00 children under 12
On display through January 2023, the “Jaw Dropping World of Sharks” exhibit allows visitors to explore fossil records of sharks, as well as learn about conservation efforts and sharks’ cultural significance. Be sure to visit the Museum before or after Shark Week on the second Saturday of each month for a free shark lecture series at 2:00 pm! View the calendar to see the lectures in July and August.
Pssst…. Check out The Best Waterfalls for Families to Visit in NY and NJ
Jenkinson’s Aquarium
300 Ocean Ave., Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Approx. travel time from Midtown Manhattan: 1 hour 43 minutes
Admission: $16.00; $11.00 seniors 65+; $10.00 children 3 to 11; Free for children under 3
Visit the shark tank, the largest in the Aquarium, which is home to a variety of shark species including sandbar, nurse sharks and spotted wobbegongs! Afterwards, head to the Local Fish exhibit to experience the reef environments that provide fish, sharks and turtles with a home.
Sea Quest Connecticut
5065 Main St., Suite 1106, Trumbull, CT
Approx. travel time from Midtown Manhattan: 1 hour 54 minutes
Admission: $16.99; $14.99 students, seniors 55+, veterans; $11.99 children under 12
Snorkel in tropical waters with sharks, stingrays, and tropical fish in this unique experience! Sign up for a shared encounter ($49.99 per participant) or private group booking ($249.95 for up to six participants)! All gear and wetsuits are provided by Sea Quest, but be sure to bring a swimsuit, towel and a spare T-shirt.
Adventure Aquarium
1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ
Approx. travel time from Midtown Manhattan: 2 hours 7 minutes
Admission: $31.99 – $35.99; $29.99 – $33.99 seniors 65+; $21.99 – $25.99 children 2-12; Free for children under 2
Whether you want to experience sharks from behind glass or get up close and feel them, the Adventure Aquarium has it all! Observe sharks in the Ocean and Shark Realms as they interact with hundreds of other sea animals, and walk through the 40-foot Shark Tunnel for another amazing view! For more daring visitors, walk the Shark Bridge, the longest rope suspension bridge of its kind, only inches above sand tiger and nurse sharks!
Looking for other ways to prepare for Shark Week? The New York Public Library is hosting “Let’s Talk About Sharks!” online on Wednesday, July 13 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm. This program is available for kids ages 6-12 and their caregivers, and it allows shark lovers to share their favorite shark movies and music, learn fun facts and see books about sharks, and even take a quiz on their shark knowledge! Registration beforehand is required, but a library card is not needed. You’ll be ready to go for Shark Week after this!
