The New York Aquarium is Fully Open, Restored, & Fully Amazing.

This post is sponsored and contributed by a Patch Brand Partner. The views expressed in this post are the author's own.

New York City is a one-of-a-kind place filled with culture, personality, and unique charm. And typically, New Yorker's mentality is "been there, done that." But what if we told you there's a neighborhood in Brooklyn that's like the ones you know and nothing like it at the same time. You might think we're pulling a fast one on you like those street vendors on Canal street, but it's true. There's a whole new neighborhood right around the corner at the New York Aquarium that might be exactly what your family needs for a perfect day in the sun this season. It's the only aquarium in the city and has spent the last decade rebuilding after the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy. Now it's fully open with a more extensive and deeper experience, with new exhibits like Sea Change and PlayQuarium. They have over 500 marine wildlife species and 18 sharks & ray species with over 14 acres on Coney Island for you and your family to discover.

Hang out on their rocky shores at Sea Cliff
or dive deep into the abyss in their newest exhibit, Sea Change.

Catch some rays with their California sea lions, harbor seals, and African penguins, and watch sea otters as they rest on the rocks at the Sea Cliffs exhibit. Then, travel below the surface to continue your journey and get an amazing up-close underwater view in their newest exhibit, Sea Change. You and your family will learn about how climate change is changing the world around us and how the ocean is the heart of our planet. This exhibit is a must-see and is one of our favs.

Get immersed in the award-winning Ocean Wonders: Sharks!

My family members are not big fans of tunnels in NYC, but this one is totally worth staying in, and your kids won't be screaming, "Are we there yet?" It has over 115 marine species and 18 different kinds of sharks and rays. And it's full of the right kind of traffic: marine wildlife such as blacktip reef sharks, butterfly fish, zebra sharks, and colorful coral reefs unfolding above you in a simply breathtaking glass tunnel. We found ourselves staring into the ocean's depths at Canyon's Edge, where sand tiger sharks, sandbar sharks, and roughtail stingrays emerge from the shadows.

Play in New York City's only underwater playground at Playquarium.

This imaginative, highly interactive exhibit is an experience your kids will love to explore. Your kids will learn how animals communicate underwater, navigate life-sized kelp forests, and discover how scientists search for bioluminescent fish in a submarine.

It's designed to connect the youngest visitors—kids ages seven and under—and their families to the ocean's fascinating and diverse ecosystems through immersive, imaginative play. It's also the aquarium's first fully bilingual exhibit in English and Spanish.

Find captivating performances from unlikely performers at Aquatheater.

At the Aquatheater, you can take a seat and watch sea lions take center stage in this interactive show that showcases the bond between sea lions and their trainers. It's known to be the deepest talent pool in the city, and to be a splash with the kids.

Be in awe as you explore bizarre and beautiful invertebrates at Spineless.

There's a lot of character here in New York City, but none like the ones below the surface in New York Aquarium's Spineless exhibit. These bizarre and beautiful invertebrates look like something out of this world but protect ours all at the same time — as they are the backbone of our oceans. So pop your head under the giant Pacific octopus, and marvel at their moon jellies, Japanese spider crabs, and cuttlefish. Here, you'll discover how the ocean's health depends on these animals and how the loss of these animals affects humans.

This summer, switch Broadway to the boardwalk at Coney Island and experience this hidden gem at the only aquarium in NYC, the New York Aquarium, where a new neighborhood is waiting to be explored.

Reserve Your Tickets Today At NYAquarium.com