Parker and I both love aquariums. So when we saw there was one in nearby Woods Hole when we were staying in Middleborough, MA during our August 2023 RV road trip, we decided to check it out. Plus, a visit to Cape Cod was on my to-do list for this trip, and Woods Hole just happens to be there.
Woods Hole Science Aquarium
It was rainy when we left, and by the time we made it to Falmouth, there was a full-on thunderstorm and the roads were starting to flood. We managed to navigate through the downpour and after making our way through the Village of Woods Hole, we found the Woods Hole Science Aquarium nestled right up against the ocean. After circling around a few times to try to find parking on the nearby streets, Vince told me and Parker to just go inside and he’d meet us there if he could find a spot.
Parker and I dodged the rain as we ran inside the tiny aquarium. Woods Hole Science Aquarium first opened in 1875, making it the oldest public aquarium in the United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) runs the aquarium. The price of admission was a sign-in sheet where I added our names and ZIP code. That’s right, the aquarium is totally free!
The aquarium was crowded because people were inside to avoid the rain, but we made our way through the crowd to see several species of fish found in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic waters. The exhibits spanned two corridors. At the end of the second corridor we found a closed stairway that would normally take visitors to more exhibits, including touch tanks, but the second floor was closed. There was also a door that took us back outside, where we found the seal enclosure. By the time we went outside to see that, the rain had slowed to a drizzle, so we spent some time admiring the seal swimming around in the enclosure.
Our entire visit to the aquarium took less than 30 minutes. It’s tiny, especially with the upstairs gallery closed, but it was also free, and as animal lovers, we thought it was worth the trip.
As we finished visiting with the seal, Vince called to let us know he finally found a parking spot. Perfect timing! I asked if he wanted to head over to the aquarium to check it out, but he’s not as big of a fan of marine life as Parker and me, so he told us to meet him near the car so we could head into the village to grab some lunch. As we made our way to the heart of the village, we saw signs for labs and research centers. Woods Hole is home to several scientific research centers, including the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI).
Woods Hole Wharf
We stopped at the Woods Hole Wharf to grab a bite to eat. The waterfront restaurant offers pizza, wings, seafood, and other treats along with a full bar. Vince ordered a beer and a bowl of clam chowder. I got the fish and chips, and Parker ordered some wings. We all enjoyed our meals, and as the rain cleared, the restaurant staff opened the sliding doors to their waterside deck. It was a beautiful view!
WHOI Ocean Science Discovery Center
After lunch we wandered around the village for a bit, stopping in gift shops along the way. We checked a map outside of one of the shops, and saw that the WHOI Ocean Science Discovery Center was just down the street, so we headed over there. Inside of the two-story building we found displays about ocean science, including a life-sized replica of the WHOI deep-sea submersible Alvin’s personnel sphere. My claustrophobia said, “No thank you!” Upstairs, they had an interesting exhibit that showed how WHOI located the wreck of the RMS Titanic in 1985.
Pie in the Sky Bakery & Cafe
The sun finally came out as we left the Ocean Science Discovery Center. We walked around a bit more and then made our way to Pie in the Sky Bakery and Cafe to grab some drinks before we hit the road. Pie in the Sky had a tantalizing display of baked treats, so we ordered a couple of cookies to go with our drinks.
Steamship Authority Ferry to Martha’s Vineyard
While Parker and I waited for our order at Pie in the Sky, Vince wandered over to the nearby ferry terminal. When he came back he asked us if we wanted to take the ferry over to Martha’s Vineyard, but we decided against it because the forecast called for more rain. For future reference (both yours and mine) it cost $20 per person and $200 per car for round trip passage, but prices vary by date and size of the vehicle. You can get the most recent fare information from the Steamship Authority website.
Conclusion & Recommendations
Overall, we enjoyed our visit to Woods Hole, and hope to return again in the future. If you decide to take the trip to Woods Hole, make sure you stop by the following places (if you park in town, everything is walking distance):
- Pie in the Sky Bakery and Cafe – 10 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543
- Woods Hole Wharf – 75 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543
- Woods Hole Science Aquarium – 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543
- WHOI Ocean Science Discovery Center – 15 School Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543
If the weather is nice, a trip to Martha’s Vineyard on the Steamship Authority ferry might also be fun! I’ll let you know if we make it there next time.
Parking in the village is very limited, but you can take the WHOOSH Trolley from Falmouth Mall to Woods Hole if you can’t find a spot. According to their website it’s about a 25-minute ride and costs $2 each way.
