The best Shark Week 2018 events for kids

There are some newbies in Coney Island. The New York Aquarium's 800,000-gallon exhibit, "Ocean Wonders: Sharks!" features NYC's underwater residents—nurse sharks, sand tiger sharks, sandbar sharks—totaling 115 various species. Don't fret: You can catch a glimpse of other creatures, too, such as cownose rays and hawksbill sea turtles. Take the kiddies through the glass tunnels brimming with fish so they can explore another side of the place they call home. Let them become familiar with these animals during a visit to the Ocean View Learning Laboratory. The options available will certainly make for a busy family outing, so dive right into the adventure!

Don't let the dinos at the Museum of Natural History hog your kids' attention! Let them explore other creatures with "Unseen Oceans," an exhibit that explores the sea by way of teeny robots and radio transmitters, high-definition imaging and miniaturization. You and your crew will learn about great white shark travel patterns, among many other underwater happenings. Perhaps what kids will love most is meeting whales, sharks, giant squids and more via the virtual submersible theater.

Dive under water, but leave the scuba gear behind. That's right: You can journey deep into the Pacific Ocean, right in Times Square. "Ocean Odyssey" allows visitors to venture through a 60,000-square-foot space while interacting with great white sharks, squids, whales, seals and more (virtually, of course)! Floor-to-ceiling projection screens will transport those to an underwater world with realistic animation, interactive technology, photo ops, holograms and games involving focused on ocean conservation. 

OK, so the Pay-Your-Age Day at Build-A-Bear didn't go quite as expected, but if you're planning on redeeming the $15 voucher the store issued in response to the sale's backfire, you might want to consider using it for these awesome Shark Week plush toys—your tykes need this hammerhead and great white in their lives (plus, they look super adorable with beach attire and surf boards). 

Discovery Channel is joining forces with Ocean Conservancy to assist in nation-wide beach clean-ups in honor of Shark Week. Make your way to Rockaway Beach at 9:45am on Saturday, July 21 to help keep the shore clean. Interested volunteers can e-mail cleanup@oceanconservancy.org or click here for more information. 

OK, so Uncle Buck's Fish Bowl and Grill might be in Connecticut, but the restaurant, bar and 12-lane bowling alley is so worth a visit this Shark Week. The venue will be a hit with budding marine biologists thanks to its themed lighting, oceanic backdrops, custom bowling balls that resemble an octopus and even wooden lanes with faux  sharks, stingrays and other creatures of the deep!

For those with a "Go big or go home" mentality will love hitting the high seas on these Shark Week-themed adventures from Princess Cruises. Interested travelers can take their crew to the Caribbean and enjoy advanced screenings of Shark Week programming, themed restaurants and fintastic activities. Learn more here.