While this isn’t a huge attraction size-wise, it excels in quality — especially for kids who love to study nature and all its details. Kids brush hands across the tentacles of colorful anemones in a tidal pool, touch one of the three rays in an open tank and press noses against aquarium glass to watch what looks like half the cast of “Finding Nemo” with neon corals and other colorful creatures. Don’t miss crawling into an aquarium dome that puts visitors in the middle of tropical fish for a whimsical eye-to-fisheye experience. For the Butterfly House, pick a warm or sunny day for the most action and the chance to see up to 1,000 butterflies and moths fluttering past and clinging to tropical plants and flowers. Have kids watch closely as humble-looking tan or black closed wings open to reveal iridescent blues, reds and greens.

Admission
$7, ages 3 to 12; $9, seniors; $10, adults

Hours
Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.