Aquariums are a national pastime in these United States.  Stacked along side baseball games, barbecue and road trips there’s nothing more American than spending a long weekend afternoon among the myriad of species and creatures tucked into the halls of a giant, indoor fish tank. It’s calming in a way, and educational and fun in a dozen other ways. Check out some of our favorite aquariums in the nation to get some more inspiration.

Baltimore

Only 40 miles northeast of Washington DC, one of the best parts of Baltimore’s tourism industry is their National Aquarium. Right at the edge of the clean, modern and bustling Inner Harbor district, the National Aquarium in Baltimore has plenty to boast about, from their sprawling dolphin tank to their amazing rooftop forest, and their proximity to other tourist attractions in downtown Baltimore (did someone say crab cakes at Fells Point?) makes them an easy addition to any visit to the city.

At just under $25 for an adult ticket, museum admission isn’t the cheapest in the country, but considering the number of amazing exhibits on display the money invested is well worth the experience.

Photo by lecates via Flickr Creative Commons

Atlanta

With over 8.1 million gallons of water, 100,000 different animals and the nation’s only captive whale sharks, Atlanta’s Georgia Aquarium takes the cake as the largest, most grandiose aquarium on the planet. The museum’s campus sprawls across 20 massive acres, with countless exhibits, ballrooms, theaters and dining halls.

Make sure to stop by the whale shark tank when you pass through; the Georgia Aquarium is the only place outside of Asia that you can see the massive creatures in captivity, and now that many nations have banned their capture, it looks like it’s going to stay that way.

Monterey

The aquarium with perhaps the most beautiful location lies just south of San Francisco in Monterey, California. Uniquely positioned to draw salt water from the bay, the Monterey Aquarium has the ability to host a wide variety of salt water plants and creatures in ways that no other museum can replicate.

As a result, one of the most unique exhibits at the Monterey Aquarium is the kelp tank, where a natural ebb of salt water allows massive stalks of kelp to grow, gently providing a leafy, flowing habitat for a broad range of sea creatures.

Don’t forget to also check out one of the newest exhibits called “The Secret Lives of Seahorses” which features a broad spectrum of unique and rare seahorses.

Photo by Beth K. via Flickr Creative Commons

Chicago

The John G. Shedd Aquarium is situated just south of downtown Chicago, beautifully perched on the Lake Michigan coast line just north of Soldier Field. Long the largest aquarium in the nation, the Shedd still hosts a wide range of exhibits and blissfully current content.

If the 5 million gallons of water and 25,000 fish aren’t enough to keep you busy, the Shedd aquarium is also adjacent to the Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum of National History, making Chicago’s hat trick of museums a must-see for any visiting tourist.

Still need inspiration? A recent MSNBC article profiles a few other aquariums around the country from the ever-popular Seaworld in Florida to the Oregon Coast museum in the Pacific Northwest. Enjoy the show!