New Jersey Aquariums: SeaQuest Woodbridge vs. Adventure Aquarium

SeaQuest Woodbridge

SeaQuest Woodbridge is the ultimate land and sea adventure and is home to some of New Jersey aquariums’ most unique and interactive experiences! Kids will have the opportunity to engage with the animals directly, and visitors can touch, feel, and feed animals from various habitats around the world.

During your quest, you’ll journey through the Amazon Rainforest, Caribbean, Mayan Jungle, and Pirate Island as you interact with sharks, snakes, turtles, birds, and lizards. Did you know squirrels can fly? Well, they can here at SeaQuest Woodbridge, so make sure to fly down there and see it live. Kids can also take selfies with Marina the Mermaid or meet the pirate Captain Quest! SeaQuest is also a great venue to host your child’s birthday party!

Interactive Experiences at SeaQuest

What sets SeaQuest apart from Adventure Aquarium is that they offer a number of exciting encounters that allow guests to interact with animals one-on-one. Small groups allow everyone to participate in the fun and have an up close and personal experience with the animals. And by up close and personal, we mean interacting with the animals and hand-feeding them treats and snacks! You’ll learn about protecting endangered animals and the conservation of the planet.

Special Activities at SeaQuest

•         Asian Otter Interaction: During your time to feed the otters, you’ll get an educational overview of the otter species and habitat, then participate in an informational Q&A on how to help save the otters in the wild!

•         Fishy Kisses: Dip your feet into a tank of fish that will gently “kiss” your toes, removing dead skin cells in the process.

•         Flying Squirrels: Take flight and watch these little woodland creatures jump and glide through the air with ease. If you can catch them before they soar off, you’ll have the opportunity to feed them and even snap a photo with them!

•         Snorkel With Stingrays: Bring your suit and towel and jump in the water with various rays, tropical fish, and non-threatening sharks for an ultimate up-close animal experience.

When it comes to visitors interacting with the animals, SeaQuest is second to none. From the moment you enter the doors, you have a feeling of being transported to different parts of the world! You’ll see reptiles native to the Egyptian Desert and maybe even hold a snake! Journey through Parakeet Paradise while you watch the beautiful green birds perched on their ropes and ledges. Feed lettuce to iguanas at Iguana Nirvana as a SeaQuest “Animal Whisperer” shows you how to pet them and informs about their rainforest habitat.

For SeaQuest Woodbridge, the emphasis is not only on your family’s enjoyment, but they take pride in educating guests about conservation efforts. Learning about and interacting with the animals simultaneously makes for time well spent. As far as New Jersey aquariums go, it’s the perfect place for families. Children are wide-eyed to see all of the dynamic attractions as they explore from exhibit to exhibit. Parents will be more than pleased as kids are getting so much enjoyment from learning about the world.

Adventure Aquarium

Discover life underwater at Adventure Aquarium. Although the address is listed on the Camden Waterfront in New Jersey, this aquarium is just a few minutes from downtown Philadelphia. It features one-of-a-kind exhibits with more than 8,500 aquatic species. Adventure Aquarium is home to the largest collection of sharks on the East Coast. Guests will come face-to-face with penguins, turtles, stingrays, and much more!

Special Areas in the Aquarium

• Creature Feature: A touch pool with creatures from the rocky shores of the Pacific Northwest. Guests can see and touch slick, slimy and Invertebrates, such as several species of exotic and colorful seastars ( anemones, sea cucumber, snails, and so much more.

• Sea Turtle Cove: This area focuses on endangered species of sea turtles from around the globe, as well as the resident loggerhead and green sea turtles. Guests will get to know the Aquarium’s resident sea turtles, which range in size from hundreds of pounds to just ounces. Although not as guided as the SeaQuest experience, guests will still learn more about these fascinating animals through signage, videos, and interactive displays.

• Little Blue Beach: Little Blues are the smallest penguins in the world! Enjoy a day at the beach or get an underwater view of these little birds. Learn about the life of the Little Blues and what makes them unique, including how humans and penguins cohabitate in their native land.

• The Grotto: Located in the KidZone, a playground under the sea awaits. Much like the creature feature area, this is a hands-on activity with more than a dozen warm-water invertebrates, including a variety of colorful sea stars and other strangely wonderful species such as scarlet cleaner shrimp, sea apples,, fish, horseshoe crabs, fire shrimp, and more!

What’s the Best Aquarium in New Jersey? SeaQuest!

Both SeaQuest Woodbridge and Adventure Aquarium offer families the chance to create wonderful memories while exploring wildlife habitats from around the world. But SeaQuest takes this to a whole new level. Pretty much every exhibit has the chance to be hands-on, with so many opportunities to not only see amazing ocean and land animals but also touch them, feel them, and feed them directly.

Adventure Aquarium highlights some creatures that SeaQuest may not have, including penguins and hippos, but SeaQuest ultimately comes out as the most cost-effective. All ticket pricing for Adventure Aquarium starts at $18.99 and up. SeaQuest ticket pricing falls under the $20 price point. There is a fee to park at Adventure Aquarium, but SeaQuest parking is free! Also, note that Adventure Aquarium’s capacity is limited by the hour. Tickets must be purchased days in advance. SeaQuest allows for online booking options, or you can simply walk into the guest welcome counter for tickets!

New Jersey has a variety of Aquarium options to choose from that will bring the adventure of a lifetime for your family! For the BEST animal interactions in the state, check out the SeaQuest website. You can book your special encounter today!  SeaQuest Woodbridge