If you ask my kids what their favorite place to go is at the shore, they’ll tell you it’s Jenkinson’s Aquarium on the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk. As soon as they spot the giant penguin waving to us from the boards, they know it’s their cue to see the sea life inside, and we can’t resist their pleas. In the summer, it’s the perfect afternoon sun break attraction, and in the winter, it’s a great way to visit the beach while escaping the cold. But beyond the fun, this top aquarium in New Jersey has marine exhibits designed to emphasize the importance of wildlife conservation and features Atlantic sharks, Pacific sharks, coral reefs, penguins, and seals. There’s plenty to see at this two-story aquarium to keep your kids busy all afternoon, and we recently visited and found even more to love. Read on for details about visiting, and for even more fun after the aquarium, spend time at the Point Pleasant Beach Boardwalk. (featured photo credit: NJ MOM)
See shark-sized surprises at Jenkinson’s Aquarium
Walking into Jenkinson’s Aquarium, we’re greeted by the Mangrove habitat with Atlantic rays, silver moons, and fiddler rays. We also spotted a tiny seahorse and other colorful fish swimming through the coral reefs, also known as the rainforest of the sea. At the Pacific Ocean kelp forest habitat, my kids always stop to watch the turtles swim around and rest on the rocks in their pond. But a must-do is the shark tank spanning two levels—start downstairs underwater and go upstairs to see the top of the 58,000-gallon tank on the Shark Balcony. The tank is filled with nurse sharks, blacktip reef sharks, spotted wobbegongs, and even a sand tiger shark. Fun Fact: The sharks are fed three times weekly to keep them full and the other fish safe. If you are lucky, you might be able to catch their feeding time.
Dive with the seals
We are always excited to see the seals, especially since Jenkinson’s offers superb viewing spaces underwater and at the top of their pool and platform (located on the second floor). Keep an eye out for Turbo and Noelani—the two seals are really fun to watch during their daily feeding times and like to show off to onlookers.
Take a journey through the Rainforest at Jenks Aquarium
At the colorful Rainforest, we always stop to spend time observing the adorable monkeys and talkative parrots at play. It’s hard to tear away and move on because the monkeys are so unpredictable. One minute, they are napping, and suddenly, they are at the window, ready to play. We also are fascinated by the parrots since they are fun to talk to and imitate sounds. On the way out of the exhibit, you can donate to the rainforest meter—100% of the meter’s proceeds support the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica, which helps with conservation efforts.
Interact with Wally, the two-toed sloth
Wally is a 10-pound, laid-back, two-toed sloth with star appeal at the Aquarium—often appearing on Instagram with his silly demeanor. He can sleep upside down and up to 18 hours a day and loves to eat squash before falling asleep again. My kids are fans and think he’s the coolest part of the aquarium and we have spent time learning about him during The Scoop on Sloths program, held at various times throughout the year. But for a more one-of-a-kind experience, reserve a private Sloth Encounter, where you can get to know him better (at a safe 6-foot distance, of course) with his handlers.
Explore the Pine Barrens
Since we live at the shore, my kids have grown up being curious about the environment around us. That’s why we always take a moment to check out the NJ Pine Barren ecosystem to see animals and learn more about the unique ecosystem down the Parkway. There’s lots of information, but we also love seeing the terrapins unique to the Pine Barrens area. It’s good to know that Jenkinson’s has partnered with the American Littoral Society to raise oysters and MATES to help baby diamondback terrapins gain strength to return to the bay later.
Waddle with the penguins
The African penguins are a big hit at Jenkinson’s Aquarium, and everyone is always excited to see these beautiful creatures waddle and swim. For us, it’s a good day when we get to see them eat their lunch. If you look closely, the penguins are tagged with various beads so the staff can tell them apart. The penguins also have names like Betty, Captain Jack, Elmer, and Dassen. If you love the penguins as much as we do, you can sign up for their Adopt-a-Penguin Program—you will receive a plush animal, an adoption certificate, a photo, and two aquarium passes. You can also adopt seals, sharks, sloths, and turtles too. And if you miss the penguins after your trip, you can watch the penguin cam whenever you want.
Here’s what to know about Jenkinson’s Aquarium before you go
You can purchase tickets at Guest Services, and most likely, there will be a line when they open at 10 AM, so get there early if you want to go right away. Admission is $18 for adults, children (3-11) are $12, children 2 and under are free, and seniors 65+ are $13. The aquarium is open every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. They also offer unique experiences for a separate fee, like Animal Encounters, Adopt-An-Animal, and a Private Behind The Scenes Tour, along with events like Magical Mermaids, Penguin Pointers, and Junior Keepers. The first floor is easy to access with a stroller, but you have to park your stroller on the first floor to explore the second level. The aquarium also hosts summer camp, outreach and focus programs and animal education programs.
For more information, visit Jenkinson’s Aquarium on their website, Facebook, and Instagram.
Jenkinson’s Aquarium
300 Ocean Avenue
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
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