Having enjoyed the Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, CT, and the New England Aquarium and Museum of Science in Boston, MA, I figured we would take in the sights at ECHO in Burlington, where it may be the best of both worlds: science and aquatics.
Location: Along Lake Champlain, at the foot of College Street
Cost: $9/adults, $8/seniors and students with ID, $7/children 3-17
The venue is small and overlooks Lake Champlain. Upstairs, they have a deck that overlooks the water, which is absolutely gorgeous.
The facility is great for kids. It has reptiles, some fish, and other exhibits that rotate out. While we were there, they had an exhibit called "Grossology", describing how the body works with some of those other slightly unpleasant things the body does. That was very interesting, and heck, it had a large "Operation" gameboard in the hall.
Having been to the other venues listed above in Mass. and Conn., this didn't wow me. It was small, seemed slightly dated. Some of the exhibits needed some rehab.
However, if you are looking for something for the kids to do, they will be "ooh"ed and "aah"ed.
From journal Green Mountain Getaway (Aug. 2006)