On the Coney Island boardwalk, the New York Aquarium has been introducing city kids to the ocean since 1896 — it is the oldest continuously operating aquarium in the United States. Its star attraction, Ocean Wonders: Sharks!, surrounds families with sand tiger sharks, rays and schools of silver fish, while the Conservation Hall glows with coral reef life from the New York Bight to the Red Sea.
Outside, the Aquatheater hosts playful sea lion shows that mix acrobatics with a gentle conservation message, and the Playquarium gives toddlers and preschoolers a watery world built just for them. Run by the Wildlife Conservation Society, the aquarium pairs perfectly with a spin on the boardwalk — part science lesson, part seaside day out, and all within a subway ride of home.
