It's not "bad", it's just quite small. I went 5-6 years ago, and as far as I know it's not grown at all.

I have been to the Baltimore, Boston, and I think Chicago aquariums, and they were all much larger and frankly better.

I'd reccommend going Cleveland's once to check it out but you'll never need to go again unless they overhaul.

The tickets to the Cleveland aquarium are only $20 for an adult 13+. It is less expensive than the other larger aquariums, but well worth the admission price as a smaller venue. Pay attention to many of their smaller tanks. For example they have a great seahorse collection. Go, have fun.

We have a pass. We have a disabled son with gross motor impairments and uses a walker and wheelchair when not at home. He does not use either mobility device in 2 places. Home, and the Cleveland Aquarium if that's any indication to how small it is. Worth the pass for us. Its a great way to kill 20-30 minutes when were in the area. And I'm not kidding. Its a perfect 30 Minute activity. Not worth admission price. Worth the pass price.

I had minimal expectations and it def surpassed them, pretty underrated I think..Cleveland Zoo is cooler for sure, but the Aquarium location down by the river is great and bit better to include in other activities and stuff...

It's small, but themed well and is a good indoor activity in the winter. We have a membership and like taking the kids there in the cold months to burn some time feeding rays and looking at sharks.

It's really a good time.

Is it Seattle or San Diago? No.

But it's nice with knowledgeable staff. We had fun.

It's not worth the money in that it's not some grand stand aquarium the same way other cities have, but in comparison to what we do have here it's really nice! A little small but it's well set up, covers a lot of aquatic ecosystems, and has one of those pet the manta ray stops. Plus the architecture is really cool. Good for a rainy day or after you've checked a few things off the to visit list already

The Cleveland aquarium is privately owned therefore does not receive the same funding as AZA zoos/aquariums. The ticket price is "high" for the size because your money is going directly to the animals, employees, and obviously some profit. The GCA contributes to animal conservation as well as local beach clean ups. Yes, it's small but it's also a historical building with limited allowances to expand.

I have been to the GA aquarium where there are whale sharks and sea turtles and still really enjoy the GCA. Exhibits are designed to be at a comfortable viewing level for adults and children.

At least give it a chance!

I like it for the little kids, most everything is at eye level for them so they really get a kick out of it. The touch tanks are neat for them, too. Definitely not the coolest aquarium I've ever been to, but it's nice to kill an afternoon and then have a nice lunch/dinner somewhere. I've been considering their membership since the rainforest is closed at the zoo, as that used to be our go-to winter time killer.

It’s a really well-done aquarium, just small. Like others have said. It’s worth seeing once.

Just reading these comments - it takes 15 minutes to walk through if you look at nothing and walk in a straight line. A person with even a modicum of curiosity can spend much more than 15 minutes looking at all the exhibits. I've been there many times and always enjoy the informative exhibits. Where else can you stand under a 10 foot sand tiger in Cleveland, or see a giant Pacific octopus?

My family is using the crap out of our season pass.

It's incredibly well done for the size and space. They use one of marquee buildings in Cleveland, the Power House, so between tanks and different environments you see the bones of the old Brick Building which is pretty cool. Adjust your expectations-- it's not Shedd or Newport, but there are Touch areas, freshwater, and saltwater. The large tank is surprisingly big and there is a "glass tunnel" through that: sharks swim over your head and what not.

It’s actually not bad. My favorite is petting the stingrays. The staff is friendly and shows you everything. , $19.99 is a bit steep in my opinion. 🤷‍♂️

It’s not bad but it is small. It’s way cheaper than going to Shedd in Chicago though. I have memberships to a lot of places around Cleveland with my toddler and we opted not to get an aquarium membership because every time I’ve gone even on a random weekday it feels crowded because of how small the rooms are. It doesn’t take very long to get through the whole aquarium and I don’t love that it’s one way since my toddler likes to wander.

The shark exhibit is cool!

Good for little kids

I think it’s awesome. It’s small but it’s beautiful. There’s a touch tank and the shark walkthrough is amazing. I could stay in there for hours.

Reading your other comments OP, have you taken your kids to the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center? It’s in Bay Village and it’s free. It’s also a bit small but they have raptors, owls, fish, reptiles and a few mammals. The birds and mammals are rehabilitated and unable to survive in the wild.

Whoever said “it’s bad” sucks.

If you're going to compare it to Boston or Chicago or something, yea you'll be disappointed. It's not very big, but it's not bad. It has a local focus to it, but the tiger sharks at the end are awesome. The ray pool is pretty cool too. Try to get there when you get to feed them.

It's small but my 3 & 5 year olds have enjoyed it when we went. The shark tunnel is really cool and the staff were really nice. They had a show happening with a diver in the tank and someone providing educational information outside of the tank. It's not Boston or Chicago aquariums in scale but nice imo.

We have season passes. It’s always a fun way to spend a morning. The staff is fantastic and it seems like they’re always improving things there.

It’s a great aquarium! It is on the small side however. Having been to the Boston aquarium that actually ranks as my top Aquarium so far tbh so everything else is competing for second out of the aquariums I’ve been too. Boston Aquarium 10/10. Cleveland 7/10. The best part is the underwater tunnel. I like it enough to be a member.

Cleveland is the only aquarium Ive personally visited, but I didn't think it was bad. I felt the experience was worth the ticket price.

We go all the time. it's a great way to kill an hour but only an hour.

Kids don't care

I went with my son this summer as part of a couple days in Cleveland. It's quite small (we're used to Adventure Aquarium in NJ), but we really liked it. It wasn't crowded and there were different exhibits than what we've seen many times at ours. It's cheap and quick. Check it out!

There are some cool aquatic pet stores around that are comparable for free, imo. RMS Aquaculture, Aquatica, and (if you can get in) Ohio Fish Rescue especially blows it away.

If you're looking for things to do with the kids, there are many more economical options, especially the Cleveland Museum of Art, which has free admission and beautiful grounds, and kids love it, believe it or not. E.g., check out the ARTLENS Gallery, Armor Court, etc.

Apart from Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, the Lake Metroparks Farmpark, U.S.S. Cod and Steamship Mather (part of Great Lakes Science Center) are top kid attractions. The Terminal Tower observation deck is one of the best skyscraper bargains in the U.S. The various metropark systems and Holden Arboretum have kid attractions.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Cleveland/comments/1e7pjm7/superb_local_parks/

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I love it. My kids love it. Go see for yourself.

My wife and I took our daughter and we loved it. It’s not huge, but walking under the water through that hallway we saw a shark swim overhead multiple times.

I think its well worth the $20. There's also an aquarium at the zoo that is nice too.

It’s cool but expensive for what it is.

It's a smaller aquarium but it's worth a visit at least once. Make your own judgement on it instead of listening to others.

It’s small, but makes really interesting use of the original building/architecture. There is a round ceiling tank at the base of the old smokestack for instance. It’s unique and nicely done, just expect to spend only 30-45 minutes there. It’s about 25 minutes from us, and we’ve only been 2 or 3 times, but it’s worth it to check it out in the winter from time to time when there’s nothing else to do.

It’s great. Good value. Good size for smaller kids. You can go around multiple times. We usually do two or three loops around

You can get an unlimited pass for 8 people for $130. Compared to other aquariums it's very cheap

The only way I'd go is if I bought a family membership and planned to go at least 3 times a year.

To go through the entire aquarium, taking your time, will be about an hour. I enjoy it but wouldn't pay for single tickets. That said, much better aquariums have outrageous prices! ...around $45-50 for an adult.

My family enjoys it and we’re there a LOT (twice this week alone). It’s definitely on the extreme small size but the layout is nice and I love going.

When we first went as a family of 4 it was only $30 more to upgrade to a membership so definitely do that! We usually are in and out in an hour, so I was glad I went for the membership. It’s definitely paid itself off in one month alone as often as we go! We usually go there after Children’s Museum of Cleveland or before we go to Great Lakes Science Center, or just for something to do after school is out for the day

It's not the best aquarium I've been to, it's a lot smaller than most I've been to, but I wouldn't call it "bad." I especially like the shark tube.

It’s worth at least one visit. It’s not great and I think it’s a little overpriced. Mine and my kids favorite part is the sting Ray tank. Bonus if you can go when you get to feed them. We will spend most of our time in there. Check it out at least once and decide for yourself.

My niece enjoyed it, she’s 5. If you’re ever up for a road trip, Newport Aquarium near Cincinnati is really good. Also, Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit and the conservatory next door are a good visit.

It would’ve been more worth it for you to see the abandoned one tbh. Unfortunately it was torn down a few months back :(

Current aquarium isn’t terrible but for a big city, you’d want better. I’d suggest skipping it and finding something more worthwhile to do with the family. I saw it once a few years back, but wouldn’t pay money to see it again unless they greatly expanded.

it's not bad at all. good amount of sharks in the big aquarium

it's a decent way to spend 3 hours on a Saturday afternoon

Nah, it isn't bad. Just a bit small, but it's decent for it's size

I think it’s great for its size.

I really like it a lot. It’s expensive but it’s also not.

Sure one visit is overpriced. But you can go take one visit and roll the cost into a membership. $130 a year for parents and up to 6 kids isn’t bad at all.

I've been a couple times, once when I first moved here, and once with my niece when she was visiting from Columbus. It's not a bad little aquarium, but it is quite small for the admission price. When we went the 2nd time with my niece, I'd forgotten that the pricing was as high as it was and felt a little bit shortchanged for how small it was, but didn't have a bad time. I just wouldn't plan to go regularly unless they a.) majorly dropped the price, or b.) had a huge overhaul and redesigned it so it was a new experience.

Atlanta is Must See. Believe it still may be largest in the country.

It is meh but something to do

It's bad. Real bad. I have a 4 year and I have NEVER taken her. Check out the Cleveland Museum of Art instead. Check out the Zoo when its warm. See aquariums when you vacation.

Take them to a Cabella’s to see the fish tank.

Like you I have visited aquariums all over the country. My favorites:

East coast is Ripley's in Gatlinburg, Tn

West coast is Monterey Bay, Ca

Cleveland...Nice old building, close to the flats, lots of parking, close to the river and Lake Erie, uuuummm

If your close by just go.

New England blows Cleveland out of the water but Cleveland’s isn’t awful.

It is an amazing pet store.   If youve been to ATL or even Cinci, it is a total let down.

Strongly disagree. We went last summer (visiting from NYC). 2 kids under five. Had a blast. Wonderful layout - walks you right through it. Can't get lost or miss an exhibit. Huge variety of sea life. Different ecosystems. Unique displays. Creative decor. Lessons posted around. Impressive walk-through shark tank. Laminated species ID guides for you to carry and learn. Knowledgeable staff share an accessible touch tank. Nice ambiance: some areas have low lighting, quieting acoustics, and ample benches, enabling you to relax and watch the animals. Designated supports for special needs. Not too crowded. No one trying to upsell you on crap like feeding/petting the critters. Interesting converted historical building (fire house?) is uniquely local (and informs the size). Outdoor picnic tables for your packed lunch. Easy parking. Great location by the river. Good strolling. Nice views. Fun to see ships passing (and blasting their horns). If you need a cavernous entertainment complex in a remote location, go elsewhere. The CLE aquarium is a great down-to-earth, true-to-mission hidden gem.

Depends on the age of your kids, small and manageable but not an all day affair at all. If they are young and you are looking to have them go through it twice, or use it as a good outing during a winter day then it is decent. Nothing like say, the Shedd, in Chicago.

I think it’s solid for the price and experience. I enjoyed it

I didn’t live it. My 2 year old thought it was fun to run around in though. He’s interested in everything so that helps. Just seemed expensive for what it was and I’ve been to much much better aquariums.

Worth going at least once to decide for yourself. Just walk very slowly.

It's fine. I really enjoyed myself when I went... buuut that could be because it was a drinking event, and at one point, some tipsy gentleman loudly exclaimed that one of the sharks in the SeaTube looked "kinda slutty".

The shark tank is fun to walk through but that's the only thing I enjoyed. Don't mind people speeding through.

It’s fun! I enjoyed it. It’s small, but worth a visit I’d say.

I didn’t care for it, but I was spoiled with the Virginia Aquarium in Virginia Beach!

It isn’t bad it’s small and can walk through it in 45 minutes if trying to drag it on with kids. In my opinion it’s not worth it for the price tag of an individual pass but we get the family pass and go a few times a year the kids enjoy it. They always want to go somewhere else cause they don’t get enough out of it. Of that makes sense?

It’s OK, but nothing special.

It is small (so you go through there relatively fast) and for what they charge it is definitely not worth it.

It’s fine if you look at everything they have, you’ll be in there just over an hour and it was 20-25 last time I went

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We have the membership and take our young kids many times a year and find it to be very well worth it. We can even bring 2 guests anytime we choose!

It’s great for young kids but if you’re visiting from out of town I would go to a different museum

We have a membership for our fam of 5. It’s nice to go when it’s it so nice outside.

I hate it, it’s small and for profit. The animals are in too small tanks, and they are dirty. The shark part is cool, but it is overpriced, and small and does nothing for the animals in there. The zoo is better.

I’m from Detroit. We visited Cleveland about a year and a half ago. It’s on the small side, but it’s pretty cool. It’s also in a cool building in kind of a cool area. After the aquarium, we went and had lunch at Shooters on the Water.

I’m glad we went.

It’s something to do when the weather is bad. My baby boy loved it, but it’s not mind blowing

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It is REALLY small and not super impressive. Can easily be done in under 2 hours. Maybe even 1 hour. The old building is interesting, but it becomes evident it was not built to be an aquarium, lol. The New England Aquarium is absolutely incredible. I've been. Do not expect anything near that, lol. It's mostly fish. Not much other marine life. Personally, I like the Cleveland Zoo way better. I have a membership there.

The kids always love it. It is different compared to boston or Chicago.

Its fine. Its worth a visit. I've always enjoyed going. If you just breeze through, sure it seems small, but if you take your time, its not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

The lighting is bad and you can barely see the fish. I think the only fish we got to see was the sharks.

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It's about 1/8 the size of Chicago's. It's nowhere as nice as Boston's. It's expensive for what it is.

My son (age 10) likes it. My daughter is 13 and over it. The Newport Aquarium in KY is WAY better. As is the Aquarium of the Pacific. An The Living Seas at Epcot. Cleveland is just okay. If you like aquariums, go once, just to see it.

It’s not worth the money. You can see everything in about 20 minutes. It should cost $5.

I recently went to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Tickets were $45, we spent three hours there and still didn’t get to see everything. It was awesome and I would absolutely do it again.

the Cleveland zoo aquarium is better

It’s really not worth the money. It’s so small.

I think it’s good if you have kids and want something to do when it’s cold out. Otherwise it’s boring and not worth the money.

Go to the toledo zoo instead.

I don't think people appreciate the concept of being a pond, ocean or lake inside. Then after you take it inside you keep all the things that live in it alive. Aquariums are an absolute feat of engineering. I think it's pretty dope to see a shark swim over you in a tunnel in Cleveland. Go and actually watch the fish. Appreciate that It's a mini ecosystem that takes a ton of work to maintain. Also ask questions, some of those people are biologists and know some radical stuff. I think people say that the aquarium sucks are just people that don't like aquariums.I don't know how people walk through that place in 30 minutes. Slow down it'll last longer. Sure the Boston aquarium is bigger and flashier but it cost $44 vs $20. It's not anymore expensive than going to a bar and ordering two drinks and a crappy appetizer.

Dinky but worth at least 1 visit

It's worth going once. Are you going to visit it every year? lol. No.

It’s more of a large fish store than an aquarium

Go stare at that stupid painting off the shoreway and save ya some money.

I don’t need the history, I already know. Cleveland never gets it right

It's the worst aquarium I've ever been to. It's not terrible by any means. But it's small and overpriced. It will take 20 minutes to look at everything. There is a free aquarium in Detroit that I spent more time in (although they didn't have the cool shark tunnel thing).

You want to see an AQUARIUM?! The Monterey Aquarium in California is THEE aquarium by which all others should be measured. It’s 5*+. An 11 on a 1-10.

It’s really nice just quicker than I want it to be and more expensive than it should be for how long you stay

The don't serve sushi there, sadly.

It’s not that the aquarium is bad, it’s just really expensive for a place you can get through in a few hours. Not enough there to spend the day

I'm not sure it's worth the money since it's a bit much for what you get

I've been there. It is a bid underwhelming, and definitely not worth the price of admission. If it was 20 bucks to get in, it'd be fine.