I love aquariums. They provide a huge window into another world that most of us will never actually visit. There’s an aura of mystery to life under the sea. So many fascinating creatures on display…everything from the utterly ugly to the sublimely beautiful. There are always some displays that compel you to sit and stare into them transfixed for ages.
Sadly, this was one attraction that’s been missing from the Toronto area…until now. Just six weeks ago Toronto opened the doors at Ripley’s Aquarium, at the base of the CN Tower. Yay! Woohoo! Highly anticipated by me. Last week I had the chance to take Junior on the GO Train downtown to check it out. Did you follow along on Instagram? Come along now and stare into some of the displays with us, and see if you wouldn’t be transfixed for awhile too…...
If you are a junkie like me then you’ll know there are other fabulous aquariums in other cities that are worth the visit too. A couple of my favourites are the Vancouver Aquarium and the one in Boston called the New England Aquarium. The one in Vancouver is a non-profit society with a big focus on conservation, rehabilitation and education. The beluga and dolphin tanks are the huge attraction and the staff give excellent educational presentations at feeding time. They also have a fun scavenger hunt app set up for kids to take photos with their hand-held devices at various displays and then hand the images in for a small prize. The New England Aquarium boasts IMAX and 3D theatres, and a huge penguin and seal enclosure. Very engaging.
Christmas break is a great time for a trip to an aquarium if you are out and exploring in a city that has one. We may have to visit this one again, with the whole fam next time! There is also a possibility of heading up to Montreal where they have a Biodome which is part Aquarium. Have any of you been there? Worth the visit?
