Adventure Aquarium - A Family Destination

 

Kiara, and Suraj Sansi at Adventure Aquarium

A Day of Wonder in Camden

At Adventure Aquarium, First-Time Parents Discover Magic Just Across the River

By Suraj Sansi

Hey, New Yorkers—looking for a family adventure just outside the city? In Camden, New Jersey, there’s a place where sharks glide overhead, hippos move like poetry, and even the youngest travelers can find a moment of magic. For one family of first-time parents, Adventure Aquarium became more than a day trip—it became a memory they’ll talk about for years.

With their 11-month-old daughter Kiara and both sets of grandparents in tow, the couple arrived hopeful—but realistic. Traveling with a baby means adjusting expectations. What they found, instead, was a space that felt welcoming, thoughtfully designed, and surprisingly serene.

Built for Families, Down to the Details

From stroller-friendly walkways to spotless restrooms with changing tables in both men’s and women’s stalls, Adventure Aquarium delivered the small things that make a big difference. It was accessible. It was clean. And most importantly, it made room for families at every stage—especially those still figuring things out.

Hippo Haven: A Moment That Stopped Time

The moment none of them expected happened in Hippo Haven. Kiara sat on the floor, tiny hands pressed against the glass. A Nile hippo drifted past, then turned back, slowing down as if to say hello. Kiara reached out. The room went still. It wasn’t just a photo-op. It was the kind of quiet, heart-stopping moment that first-time parents hope for and rarely get. The photo they captured that day? Already a family treasure.

Eyes Wide in the Shark Tunnel

Then came the Shark Tunnel: a glass corridor with sea life swimming above, beside, and below. Kiara’s face lit up with each shadow that moved across the curve of glass. Her wonder was palpable. For her parents, watching her discover the ocean’s creatures—so close, so vivid—was a joy of its own.

At the Edge of Stingray Beach

She couldn’t quite touch them, but she didn’t need to. Sitting at the edge of the Stingray Beach Club pool, dressed in a watermelon-print romper, Kiara watched the rays glide by like dancers. It was her first "beach day," minus the sand, and her awe was unmistakable.

One for the Grown-Ups

While Kiara stayed with the grandparents, her parents took a walk across the Shark Bridge—a rope suspension bridge stretched over a tank filled with sharks. It was a thrill, yes. But also a reminder: parenting is about being brave, together.

The Sansi family Adventure Aquarium

Leaving With More Than They Came For

Adventure Aquarium turned out to be more than just a family outing. It was a day where every generation found something to love—from hippos to stingrays to sharks suspended overhead. For two first-time parents, it offered something even rarer: a safe, beautiful space to slow down and watch their daughter experience wonder.

They left with tired legs, full hearts, and a photo they’ll never stop talking about.

Would they recommend it to other families? Without hesitation.