Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center Review from Long Island Aquarium visit (2019)

[SwampDonkey]

I neglected to write a review after visiting this aquarium back in summer 2019. Below is a copy/paste of a review I did for Tripadvisor at the time. It is not as thorough as I would like or do now, but it is something.

Looking back at pictures I now think the sea lion habitat is too small, they could use a larger pool for sure. The penguin habitat is nice and the Atlantis theming is really interesting, it continues through most of the aquarium.


My wife and I stopped into this aquarium when we had a few hours before a afternoon flight home. There are not a ton of attractions on Long Island, but this is a decent one. The design is rather unique, using an Atlantis theme through the facility. There are both inside and outside parts to the aquarium with tanks on the inside and exhibits for sea lions, seals, penguins, monkeys, and other small mammals and reptiles on the outside part. I felt the inside parts were done well, but not that many tanks for an aquarium. My only complaint would be odd placement of some exhibits, such as the Amazon tank next to gulf sea horses and sharks. The amazon theming was done fairly well.

Outside the exhibits are done well and there is a small amphitheater for the sea lion show. The show lasts 10-15 minutes and they have one of the sea lions exhibit it's natural skills in jumping, etc. If you are around when the show goes it is worth watching. The African penguins are always fun to see, and their habitat is well made.

Overall this was a great way to spend a couple hours, I think children would really enjoy it. If I found myself in the area again I would stop back by.

Date of experience: May 2019

More pictures in the Media Gallery, but here are a couple:

 

[TinoPup]

I visited last year. It is such a weird place!

 

[SwampDonkey]

I visited last year. It is such a weird place!

It is, they really doubled down on the Atlantis theme, I have never seen an aquarium so dedicated to a theme like that. River aquariums (Tennessee), Ocean aquariums, etc, sure - even the Florida Aquarium was just Florida things for a while (and still mostly is), but I personally have never seen an aquarium so dedicated to an architectural theme like this one is.

 

[TinoPup]

It is, they really doubled down on the Atlantis theme, I have never seen an aquarium so dedicated to a theme like that. River aquariums (Tennessee), Ocean aquariums, etc, sure - even the Florida Aquarium was just Florida things for a while (and still mostly is), but I personally have never seen an aquarium so dedicated to an architectural theme like this one is.

It was originally called the Atlantis Marine World and only changed to LIA in 2011, so all the theming is from that. It's a tad much IMO, especially with the murals and whatnot in the big room. Some of the newer exhibits seem to be trying to branch out from it, like the otters, but it's a mess of buildings and exhibits all over the place. For a place that isn't that big, I spent way too much time trying to figure out where I was, where more animals were, if there were animals behind doors, etc.

 

[SusScrofa]

I'm visiting New York in a couple of weeks and was thinking about going to this place, but its priced at $43 . And I thought NY Aquarium was overpriced....
Are there any rarities here? The cost combined with my general lack of interest in standard aquariums means in all likelyhood I'll skip this one.

 

[TinoPup]

I'm visiting New York in a couple of weeks and was thinking about going to this place, but its priced at $43 . And I thought NY Aquarium was overpriced....
Are there any rarities here? The cost combined with my general lack of interest in standard aquariums means in all likelyhood I'll skip this one.

No. And it's really, really not worth the drive to get along LI in July.

 

[SusScrofa]

No. And it's really, really not worth the drive to get along LI in July.

Yeah. Long Island post-July 4 on a weekday isn't too bad as long as you aren't heading anywhere near the Hamptons. I still have PTSD sitting through that stretch of highway hell going to Montauk.

 

[drill]

I'm visiting New York in a couple of weeks and was thinking about going to this place, but its priced at $43 . And I thought NY Aquarium was overpriced....
Are there any rarities here? The cost combined with my general lack of interest in standard aquariums means in all likelyhood I'll skip this one.

Pallas's long- tongued bat

 

[SwampDonkey]

I'm visiting New York in a couple of weeks and was thinking about going to this place, but its priced at $43 . And I thought NY Aquarium was overpriced....
Are there any rarities here? The cost combined with my general lack of interest in standard aquariums means in all likelyhood I'll skip this one.

I am not sure what I paid, but I am pretty certain it was not $43. It is not worth that unless you happen to be in the area and are really into aquariums. I was in the Islip area for a wedding, so it was a nice way to spend an couple of hours or so, but I would not drive up from the city for this aquarium.

 

[Astrotom3000]

I have been to this facility a few times as a kid (between school field trips and family day trips) back when it was still called "Atlantis Marine World". I moved from NY to NC in 2004 and haven't been there since. Looks like it's changed quite a lot in the interim, although the heavy Atlantis theming from back in the days seems to reign supreme.

 

[SwampDonkey]

I have been to this facility a few times as a kid (between school field trips and family day trips) back when it was still called "Atlantis Marine World". I moved from NY to NC in 2004 and haven't been there since. Looks like it's changed quite a lot in the interim, although the heavy Atlantis theming from back in the days seems to reign supreme.

I am actually glad that they did not change it, the theming is what makes it go from a just "ok" aquarium to something unique and interesting.

 

[BigTusker15]

This thread is a few years old, but I figured I'd jump in. LIA is definitely the most unique aquarium that I've ever seen. It was my first real job, and I worked there for around 1.5 years (in the gift shop), so I know my way around, but I won't go into the experience of working there since it's really not relevant to this. They really do maintain the Atlantis theme. Almost everywhere you go, unless you're in the butterflies & bugs room or the arcade, you do sort of feel like you're in "Atlantis." The theming, though, does make up for some of the aquarium. The main gallery only has around 15-20 tanks, and feels very open for an aquarium. The tanks are kept well, but you don't have a variety of fish like you would at other aquariums, such as the NY Aquarium in Coney Island, or Mystic Aquarium, which is only a ferry ride away. You do have the 20,000 coral reef tank, which has more than 800 species of tangs, clownfish, wrasses, corals, and anemones, as well as the Sand Tiger & Nurse Shark exhibit, which does have a shark dive attraction. (for $200) Lastly, the Sea Lion exhibit is very small. They do have that one separate area on the side, which only seems to be used for Sea Lions, who are not performing or are later performing, and I don't think they would be kept in there overnight. If you are out on Long Island visiting, I would definitely give it a look. It's a very unique stop.