Did you know Woods Hole Scientific Aquarium is the oldest public aquarium in the United States?…read more WHSA was established back in 1875. It's small, but home to some impressive sea creatures. The octopus took my attention the most. Fun place to take the kids and adults too. You will learn a bit about this famous fishing village as well.

I don't know how long it's been since I last visited the Woods Hole Science Aquarium, but let's…read morejust say I was probably shorter, louder, and way more fascinated by the gift shop than the science. Coming back as an adult? Total 180. This place still has all the charm I remember but now I actually read the signs and don't try to touch the crab molts (okay, I thought about it). Walking through the doors felt like flipping through an old chapter of my childhood. The tanks are mesmerizing from massive striped fish gliding with attitude to the sassy little octopus who clearly runs the place (yes, Ink, I see you). And the horseshoe crab display? Wild. Creepy in the best way. There's a quiet reverence here like science and sea life are having a conversation and you've been invited to eavesdrop. The historic exhibits honoring NOAA crews, marine research, and the legacy of Woods Hole remind you that this isn't just an aquarium it's a cornerstone of discovery. It's not flashy or high-tech, and that's part of the magic. It's real, local, and grounded in education and conservation. Also, it's FREE (but toss them a donation they're doing good work here). Coming back after all these years reminded me how much I still love learning about the ocean and how lucky we are to have this spot tucked right into Cape Cod. #WoodsHoleScienceAquarium #CapeCodExploring #OctopusBoss #MarineMagic #FalmouthFavorites #ItsTheLittleThings #PuddingCreekTrestle #LocalScience #SealYouLater #BackToMyRoots

Great little museum. They put a lot in such a little building. First floor had a bird watching…read morearea, displays on Native American historic culture, duck decoy artist studio and other exhibits. Downstairs was an aquarium. Along with a bird exhibit. After we finished in the museum we went for a hike out to the bay. Although the trail was not marked the path overall was easy to find. It was a great excursion!

Every time I come here, at least one staff member is extremely rude. It's expensive and it's one of…read morethe only museums on cape that doesn't allow library passes or any wic discounts, which discourages the locals from enjoying it and learning about the local history. The high entrance fee you pay doesn't pay for the whole museum, either. You have to pay extra to see butterflies, and even more extra to feed them. The website and front desk say they take cash but they refused to take it. When I insisted and pointed to sign saying they take cash the worker announced loudly in front of a lobby of people not to let me kids in, we haven't paid! (I was holding the cash while we waited for change to come from another part of the museum) . The staff(or volunteer) in the aquarium was I extremely rude too. This museum is meant for children and to show such little tolerance for their questions and curiosity is sad. On the contrary the science center staff was kind and engaging, but it didn't make up for the salty taste the negative experience made. Beyond that, several parts of grounds were in disrepair and even dangerous. It needs some upkeep, some training, and to be part of the community in a way they currently are not.

20th September 2026 Americas Cup Avenue…read moreNewport, RI Rain 65°F We ventured to this little aquarium on a rainy Sunday. Many interactive fish tanks for youngsters to enjoy and learn about various tropical, saltwater, and freshwater sea creatures. They have a few small live sharks, but not for touching! Enjoy!

What a fun place on a rainy day. It's not very large but tickets are only $15 so reasonable…read more Definitely designed with kids in mind but the staff were equally interested in talking to us - and maybe more so because we asked more intelligent questions! I don't think we were even there an hour but definitely a unique addition to our vacation stories - we touched a shark!

Loved it there! Went on a Sunday and there was hardly anyone there- which was great! No crowded…read moreexhibits!! They offer a 6$ train ride which my 2 year old loved! A carousel which we didn't get to ride due to the rain- we will be coming back for that! They also have a reasonably priced gift shop which is lovely & some good exhibits! The animals are easy to see here which is awesome. They even have a touch tank (with fake items but still cool for toddlers!) My only complaint is that I didn't see any food or icecream. If they had that, I'd give them 5 stars!

What a little gem of a zoo to find! Went on a Saturday morning and glad that it was not busy…read more Decent priced ticket prices and free parking. The park overall is small but it makes up for it! The train ride for the kids is so fun and slow enough for all ages. Loved the elephant and red panda. The seals were out and playing on our visit. The place areas for the kids were great too! Loved the overall experience and will be back!

A comprehensive history of whaling & how it effected the entire world. It is a fascinating place…read morewith beautiful handmade artwork done on ivory, bone, etc. There is a comprehensive descriptive catalogue that is very complete though a little too 'wolk' in its outlook for me. It costs $69 which is expensive but worthwhile. I highly tecommend this museum even if you had no prior interest in whaling. It is MUCH more than whalng.

Admission was $20 per adult during our visit. We had a great experience exploring the whaling…read moremuseum. The museum takes you through the history of the whaling industry on Nantucket with historical artifacts and documents from this time. The museum also has a full sperm whale skeleton on display. I was truly in awe by the items we saw on the display. It was educational and I feel I learned a lot. The museum is two floors worth of exhibits and a rooftop deck where you can look out onto the surrounding island. The museum also offered lectures, discussions, and documentaries you could engage with throughout the day. When we arrived they had a schedule displayed for the days events. I felt this was worth the cost of admission and was a must see stop on our trip to Nantucket.

I am so glad that we made it here! What made our visit so special was OUR GUIDE! She as fantastic…read more We visited in early August. She told me that this was her first summer working there and that she was previously working with a researcher off island. She was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about her job and we learned a lot about the island and some of the history behing shipwrecks. This is a bit off the beaten path, away from the center of town, but this was one of the things that made it so special. For sure worth a visit.

Man, this was a fun museum, full of great stories, memorabilia, and nautical stuff!…read more We went , and spent about three hours, early June. I was pretty quiet, as tourist season had not really started. So, we, essentially, had the place to ourselves. The staff was most gracious, knowledgeable, friendly, and interesting. We had plenty of time to ask questions, and really good dialogue! Clean, well-lit, nice facility. We rented a Jeep, and there was plenty of parking. It is a little bit of a trek, you will need to either rent a car, uber/taxi, or bike it. Lovely area, and was just nice to sit outside, and sip on a cold water and take the sights in.

Nothing the Nantucket Historical Association does nothing bad; everything they do is for the good…read moreof the preservation of the island's history, story, and beauty. If you are heading to the island, I highly recommend you check out their website. Stop at the Visitor's Center and grab a brochure of all of the NHQ sites to see - most within walking distance from Town. www.nha.org Two thumbs up, err, I mean 5-Stars.

This is a great museum for the whaling industry in Nantucket. Their displays are amazing. We did a…read moreguided tour of their temporary exhibit of clothing in Nantucket. It was very informative and fun. Do not miss the scrimshaw exhibit in the museum, it is amazing. Go to the top of the building to see views of the town. The gift shop has many interesting and unusual products that you can buy.

This museum is so interesting and not to be missed on a visit to Cape Cod. Historically…read moreinformative, the costumed interpreter, who by the way, also has a lovely singing voice, takes you an a journey that is both fun for all. The museum is geared towards adults and school aged children. The real life artifacts are simply amazing. Great spot for a rainy day. Plan at least 1.5 hours to enjoy all. Plan ahead with on-line prepaid tickets. Gift shop on site with a lovely staff that can assist you. For pirate fans, this museum is a real gem.

Good, not great. Probably only takes 30-45 minutes to do, and for $23 its a little overpriced. The…read moredisplays are interesting, for sure, and there's a lot of fun information. You can only take pictures of 5 of the displays, which is kind of a bummer, as you want to be able to remember and look back on places like this. So overally it could be better. I don't regret doing it, but if I could do it over knowing what I know now, I probably would've only do if it was $15 or less. All that said, there are worse ways to spend your time.

The environment is so nice and the decor is beutiful! As well as a learning experience, the animals…read morehere are happy and can even be touched if you ask a volunteer. I came here with friends and was ushered in kindly by the interns at the front desk. Did I mention getting in is FREE?! Very busy and volunteers there stay calm and collected and are happy to help. I got to pet a tortoise and a snake! I recomend this as a must do nantucket experience.