Overview
What surprises most families isn’t the size of the place — it’s how much comes with the price of admission. The Sea Lion Show, Ray Bay (where kids pet stingrays and small sharks), a Touch Tank, and a working Interactive Salt Marsh are all part of general admission. So is a free augmented reality game played throughout the aquarium. The Butterflies, Bugs & Bees indoor garden is the sleeper hit. Kids who think they’re not into insects tend to change their minds.
Going Deeper Is Worth It
Ticketed Experiences & Interactive Adventures are where the day can become genuinely memorable. The Shark Dive puts your child in a cage inside the shark exhibit — not a simulation, the actual thing. Sea Lion and Seal Encounters offer private time with the animals alongside the people who care for them daily. Seasonal offerings expand the menu considerably in spring and fall. There’s a real reason to come back.
Something for Every Age
Toddler Programs run fall through spring in six-class sessions — structured, sensory, and genuinely rare for this age group. Summer Adventure Days brings themed day camps in July and August for kids ages 3–16, from Superheroes of the Sea to Junior Aquarist, where kids go behind the scenes of a working aquarium. For older students, high school and college internships place kids inside the education and animal care departments — real work alongside real staff. A volunteer program offers similar access for those 18 and up.
Cost & Information
General admission starts at $35.99/person; children 2 and under are free. Experiences & Interactive Adventures run $25–$52/person, with a handful of standouts — the Shark Dive, Sea Lion Encounter, and Tour of Aquarium — priced separately. Toddler Programs are $105/session and Summer Adventure Days range from $95–$510 depending on program. Hours are daily 10am–4pm. Visit longislandaquarium.com for the full experiences menu and to reserve add-ons in advance.