Tracy Morgans character on 30 Rock once declared, Live every week like its Shark Week, referring to the Discovery Channels beloved August tradition. And if you live in southeastern New England, this aim is possible. The Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration is right over the border in Connecticut, and with a plethora of marine animals, every week can be Shark Week if you choose. 
If observing African Penguins, Beluga Whales, and Sea Lions isnt your speed, check out the interactive Birds of the Outback exhibit, where you can feed hundreds of colorful cockatiels, parakeets, and rosellas some millet seed from a stick. Or if that sounds too chaotic, try the Ocean Soul exhibit, where over 50 shots of the deep are on display by award-winning National Geographic photojournalist, Brian Skerry. And on the way to the indoor exhibits, check out the Shark Encounters tank, where you can touch (yes, touch!) one of the six white-spotted bamboo sharks in a shallow pool (if you dare). Dont worry, these bottom-dwellers are quite docile, and isnt it worth the bragging rights? 
After viewing the California Sea Lion showWarning: unhealthy levels of cutenesshead on over to the Titanic: 12,450 Feet Below exhibit. The display was put together by Robert Ballard, discoverer of the RMS Titanic and professor at the University of Rhode Island, and Tim Delaney, a former Walt Disney Imagineer. This installation uses captivating imagery, recreations, soundscapes, and hands-on activities to transport you to the moment and awaken the explorer within. Military personnel get in free for the month of August. And every Monday until September is the Dog Days of Summer, when Mystic Aquarium trainers, police officers, and professional dog trainers put on shows to demonstrate their skills and the trusting relationships that can be formed with animals. Special discounts are offered to those who donate food or toys for dogs or cats. So head on over to the Mystic Aquarium. If not out of love for the squids and jellyfish, do it for the love of Shark Week. Instagram Photos: 
If observing African Penguins, Beluga Whales, and Sea Lions isnt your speed, check out the interactive Birds of the Outback exhibit, where you can feed hundreds of colorful cockatiels, parakeets, and rosellas some millet seed from a stick. Or if that sounds too chaotic, try the Ocean Soul exhibit, where over 50 shots of the deep are on display by award-winning National Geographic photojournalist, Brian Skerry. And on the way to the indoor exhibits, check out the Shark Encounters tank, where you can touch (yes, touch!) one of the six white-spotted bamboo sharks in a shallow pool (if you dare). Dont worry, these bottom-dwellers are quite docile, and isnt it worth the bragging rights? 
After viewing the California Sea Lion showWarning: unhealthy levels of cutenesshead on over to the Titanic: 12,450 Feet Below exhibit. The display was put together by Robert Ballard, discoverer of the RMS Titanic and professor at the University of Rhode Island, and Tim Delaney, a former Walt Disney Imagineer. This installation uses captivating imagery, recreations, soundscapes, and hands-on activities to transport you to the moment and awaken the explorer within. Military personnel get in free for the month of August. And every Monday until September is the Dog Days of Summer, when Mystic Aquarium trainers, police officers, and professional dog trainers put on shows to demonstrate their skills and the trusting relationships that can be formed with animals. Special discounts are offered to those who donate food or toys for dogs or cats. So head on over to the Mystic Aquarium. If not out of love for the squids and jellyfish, do it for the love of Shark Week. Instagram Photos: 
