Mystic Aquarium

Emphasis is on interaction at the Mystic Aquarium (55 Coogan Blvd., 860/572-5955, www.mysticaquarium.org [1], 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily Mar.–Oct. 31; 9 a.m.–4 p.m. daily Nov.; 10 a.m.–4 p.m. daily Dec.–Feb., $26 adult, $23 seniors, $19 children 3–17, free children under 2), which affords visitors several opportunities to get up close to aquatic animals.

At a “ray touch pool,” visitors can handle the creepy but gentle shark-relatives, while a wading pool lets you hang out with Beluga whales. New exhibits include an interactive game about dinosaur extinction, and an exhibit on the Titanic discovery that features an incredible 18-foot model of the doomed ocean liner.