Considered one of the crown jewels of Baltimore, Maryland, the National Aquarium is a must see destination.

It welcomes more than 1.5 million visitors per year, and it frequently tops lists of the best aquariums in the world.

What makes the National Aquarium so amazing?

For starters, it’s a larger-than-life complex that houses millions of gallons of water, and its architecture includes everything from cute little tide pools to gigantic arched tunnels that will allow you to walk underwater.

Sharks will swim over your head; jellyfish will follow your movements with their ghostly tendrils; fish will dart all around as you move from hallway to hallway.

The biodiversity is another reason to visit the National Aquarium.

In addition to its marine creatures, it also houses thousands of birds, bugs, reptiles, amphibians and mammals.

You can explore a number of habitats, including tropical forests.

The National Aquarium is easily one of the best things to do in Maryland.

If you’ll be anywhere near Baltimore during your trip, you’ll want to make time for the most impressive of its sites.