There’s oceans of fun at The Maritime Aquarium this summer for you and your kids, with the “SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D” ride located in the middle of an awesome exhibit featuring the real animals from the cartoon.  Join Bikini Bottom’s favorite porous pal in his hilarious pursuit of a runaway pickle needed to make the perfect  Krabby Patty. And don’t forget all your favorite Maritime Aquarium animals! Come nose to nose with sharks, inches away from fascinating seals, in touch with the seemingly boundless energy of river otters, up close to huge, wrinkly sea turtles, and a stinging tentacle away from jellies. Educational public cruises (leaving at 1 p.m. daily throughout July and August), two hands-on touch tanks and more. These fun, interactive Maritime Aquarium experiences inspire more than half a million people annually to appreciate Long Island Sound and protect it for future generations.

And don’t miss the “Hissss-terical Reptile Show” running through Labor Day on the Aquarium’s new outdoor, riverside stage.  Meet lizards, and turtles and snakes (oh my!)…even an alligator…and learn why these misunderstood creatures really aren’t so scary after all. Inside the Aquarium, you’ve got to see the new Marine Care and Culture Lab opening in July. Some of the most interesting work at the Aquarium (like growing baby jellies and seahorses) has been brought out from behind the scenes for your family to experience. Your Maritime Aquarium adventure continues in the IMAX Theater where the six-story-tall IMAX screen will transport you back in time and far away with “Greece: Secrets of the Past.” A sweeping archeological journey back in time, the film takes audiences on a quest to uncover the buried secrets of one of the world’s most enlightened societies—ancient Greece—that for 100 years was the center of human thought and creativity and laid many of the foundations for the way we live today. 

The comfortable, safe facilities of The Maritime Aquarium are handicap accessible.  Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily (10 a.m. - 6 p.m. in July and August); closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Maritime Aquarium, which receives support from the State of Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, is located at 10 North Water Street in Norwalk, Connecticut.  Call 203-852-0700 or visit www.maritimeaquarium.org.