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Guide to Visiting the St. Louis Aquarium
Planning Your St. Louis Aquarium Trip
When you buy your ticket for the St. Louis Aquarium, you choose your check-in time. This helps to reduce traffic, which visitors are bound to appear. Staff recommend showing up early to avoid the crowds, however. The aquarium's downtown location is easy to access when driving and offers accessibility inside, too. Some parking is available under the station's overhang, which prevents the sun from heating your vehicle during your visit.
Once you arrive at the aquarium, you're in for a unique experience immediately, thanks to its virtual train that stars in the award-winning Grand Lobby. You might even recognize the popular actor who narrates the train: John Goodman! While you can skip the train experience, most people think it's surprising, even adults!
Exhibits at the St. Louis Aquarium
With multiple hands-on exhibits, the St. Louis Aquarium is ideal for families. The train takes you to the Confluence Gallery, which focuses on local animal life. This is followed by the Global River, which also offers the first opportunity to touch the wildlife. You can fish as they swim by your fingers or ask staff to hand-feed fish! Visitors to the aquarium love Tommy, the digital otter whose display is in this area, too.
Moving to the second floor of the aquarium, you'll find the Changing Rivers exhibit, which features various animals and rotating entertainment programs. The turtle feed pond is especially popular with those who love hands-on learning. Another fan favorite is the river otter exhibit, where the energetic otters tumble and play in their habitat.
Your next opportunity to touch real, live animals comes at The Ocean Shore, which houses stingrays. You'll be glad that the residents of Shark Canyon, which measure up to 6 feet long, are behind glass in the next exhibit. Fortunately, it makes for fantastic photos. After this, you'll experience The Deep, which features animals found only in the darkest depths of the oceans. These include a giant Pacific octopus, lionfish, and even anemones. The reef in this main tank is shockingly similar to actual reefs, according to previous visitors.
Of course, this isn't just any aquarium; it's St. Louis' aquarium! And it's home to a rare blue lobster named Lord Stanley. The aquarium's first resident pays homage to the city's hockey team, the Blues, which won their first Stanley Cup while it was being constructed. Don't forget to take a selfie next to Lord Stanley, who impressively measures more than 12 inches long.
You'll also find educational activities among the animal exhibits, including the Fish Draw, where you can add your favorite fish. Enter your zip code in the What's Your Watershed exhibit to see exactly how water flows in your area. The River Garden outside is also as peaceful as it is beautiful.
More to See at St. Louis' Union Station
Don't forget about the other offerings at Union Station. For example, you can extend your visit to the St. Louis Aquarium by stopping for a bite at the Train Shed before or after your visit. Many families appreciate this unique restaurant and bar that pays homage to the site's heritage, just like the aquarium. Of course, there are other places to grab a bite to eat or drink, including an old-fashioned soda fountain and a seafood restaurant.
Other fun-for-all-ages at Union Station activities include the St. Louis Wheel, a 200-foot Ferris wheel offering views of the station and city, a mirror maze, mini-golf, and a rope course, among others. You can always explore the Grand Hall, which once housed thousands of travelers entering and leaving the train station. If you have time, the lake is home to a fire and light show that is bound to impress. Stop by at the top of any hour from noon to 9 p.m. to see it in person.
Getting More Out of the St. Louis Aquarium
Superfans can purchase annual passes to avoid registering for specific visit times and save money on multiple visitors throughout the year. And if you want to see how the staff pulls it all together, the St. Louis Aquarium offers personalized behind-the-scene tours as add-ons to their general admission tickets.
The St. Louis Aquarium is just one exciting stop in the city. If you're also looking for apartments in St. Louis, we can help you find the perfect place to make yourself at home.