I always get torn with zoos and aquariums - being an animal lover am I supposed to hate or appreciate them? I I still don't know where I stand on that qualm but I absolutely LOVE aquariums... I've probably been to 50 over 3 continents so don't think I'm exaggerating when I say LOVE. Realistically, in my land of aquatic conquests, I would give this one 4 stars comparatively but being a Cleveland native it's a 5 star attraction to me. (Also I follow about 12 shark Instagram accounts so anything that has sharks gets 5 stars)
No, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium isn't massive. Yes, admission can be pricey. BUT, this really is a unique little aquarium. It's built within an old powerhouse and a lot of custom work wet in to fit the old architecture. The acrylic tanks are also unique in that a lot of them are cylindrical and flow in curves not seen in other aquariums. They turned a smoke stack into an exhibit with jellyfish that swirl around over your head. (It used to be lobsters but I would imagine lots of small children might have gotten scared looking up at giant sea spiders in the ceiling). There's also a children's play area and a tiny rotating exhibit upstairs that tends to be overlooked.
I think the aquarium does a great job of putting on extra events. They host a variety of drinking "Adult Swims" (wine/beer/rum/whiskey tastings are all ones I've seen) and parties for Halloween and New Years - all of which would make for a great date night. I did the wine night and got drink tickets and a souvenir stemless glass when I entered. They have a scavenger hunt that allows you to potentially win tickets to future Adult Swims. Pro-tip: It's $10 off if you have a membership and if you're booking for a group you can essentially get the membership for free :)
As others have said- the shark tank is stunning. So stunning, in fact, my 3.5 year old niece made me go through it 5 times. I'm probably going to fork over the $200 it costs to do the shark dive before my membership expires because I'm a crazy shark lady and nothing makes me happier than cold toothy shark snuggles.
I really hope you guys support and check out this little aquarium so it can continue to grow!