If you'd like to get a closer look at what goes on behind the scenes at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, these tours are the way to go. These tours offer everything from a plunge into the tanks to an in-depth walking tour.
Gallery Tours – Ages 5 and up
Starting at 9:30 a.m. before the official Aquarium’s opening time, this 2.5-hour tour, which covers the main building and Australian exhibit, is a good way to avoid the crowds and get an insider’s view. Visitors go behind the scenes to the food preparation kitchen then feed the animals in the Atlantic Coral Reef exhibit. ($38-$46, includes all-day admission)
Breakfast with the Dolphins – A participating adult must accompany all children
Get there bright and early for this 9 a.m. event. Enjoy a continental breakfast a question-and-answer period with the trainer. While guests do not have physical contact with the dolphins, they will learn things not discussed during the dolphin show Play! like how trainers tell them apart. ($35-$40, includes all-day admission)
Dolphin Encounter - Ages 8 and up
Touch a dolphin during this 2 ½-hour meeting with everyone's favorite marine mammal. The encounter begins with an interactive orientation session. Then the sit back and enjoy the Aquarium's dolphin show Play! with the rest of the Aquarium's visitors. After the show, go up on deck for the real fun -- playtime with the dolphins. Bring a friend to watch your encounter for the observer price. Participants may not be pregnant. ($195pp encounter participant, $69pp, observer)
Sharks! Behind-the-Scenes Tour– Ages 8 and up
Tread lightly on the catwalk over the shark tank in this one-hour tour that also takes visitors into the food prep area of these ancient beasts. ($30-$40, includes all-day admission)
Wild Extremes Sleepover – Ages 8 and up
See what comes out at night in Australia’s Northern Territory without leaving Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Guests sleep in the Harbor Outlook area of the exhibit, but get a nocturnal tour of the exhibit and participate in hands-on activities, crafts and games. Dinner, snack and breakfast are included in the 5:30 p.m. to 9 a.m. tour. ($80, includes Aquarium admission)
Rainforest Sleepover – Ages 8 and up
Take a nocturnal tour of the Upland Tropical Rain Forest and see what goes bump in the night. Explore behind-the-scenes areas, and learn more in the Aquarium's Rain Forest Discovery Lab. In the morning light, help feed the animals breakfast with a "bug drop" feeding. Dinner, snack and breakfast are included in the 5:30 p.m. to 9 a.m. tour. ($80, includes Aquarium admission)
Sleepover with the Sharks – Ages 8 and up
Stay the night and see what happens throughout the Aquarium after dark. Take part in hands-on activities, crafts and games then sleep in the shark viewing area. Dinner, snack and breakfast are included in the 5:30 p.m. to 9 a.m. tour. ($80, includes Aquarium admission)
Guest Diver Program - Certified divers age 18 and up
Dive instructors from Atlantic Edge Dive Center in Gaithersburg lead these underwater excursions inside the National Aquarium. Participants are first taught the basics of Aquarium diving before plunging in to the habitat of rays, sharks and 53 species of fish. ($295, two 30-minute dives)
Specific tour dates and times vary. Call 410-576-3833 for reservations. For specialized tours and larger groups, call 410-576-8822.