Located on Boston's waterfront at
Central Wharf, the New England Aquarium offers an exciting
afternoon's adventure. Including both indoor and outdoor exhibits,
the aquarium has a wealth of amazing sights to see that lend themselves
to fantastic photographic opportunities.
With more than 600 species of aquatic
animals and fish and over 20,000 specimens, the New England Aquarium
can boast that it has something to interest everyone. From live
exhibits to glass tanks to educational lectures, the aquarium offers
a wide range of sights and sounds- all of which focus on marine
life.
The outdoor seal tank allows
visitors to enjoy watching the seals as they frolic in and out of
the water. A special presentation features sea lions on stage.
A circular glass tank that is four
stories high showcases a recreation of a Caribbean coral reef
community. The Giant Ocean Tank is located in the center of the
building and holds over 20,000 gallons of water. Hundreds of marine
life and tropical fish live within it, including sharks, moray eels,
and turtles.
On the aquarium's ground level, visitors
are delighted with an adorable colony of penguins. The second
floor has an exhibit of Australian sea dragons. An Amazon
exhibit features tropical reptiles, 12-foot long eels, color changing
cuttle fish, frogs, and more.
The Edge of the Sea Exhibit, showcasing
the New England habitat, allows visitors to touch tide pool animals
including crabs and anemones. The Twilight Dwellers Tropical
Gallery exhibit offers a fascinating look at fish whose lower eyelids
glow in the dark.
The Aquarium Medical Center is an
interesting place complete with veterinarians and biologists who
provide treatment and routine care to the Aquarium's residents.
The Georges Bank exhibit explains everything about the fish in the
area.
Plus, an entire gamut of special events
and programs take place throughout the year. Reservations are required
and should be booked at least two weeks in advance by calling 617-973-5206.
An admission fee is charged with a less expensive rate for members
of the aquarium. Age restrictions do apply to many events.
A regular event is the "Gallery
Behind-the-Scenes Tour," which occurs on a monthly basis.
During the tour, visitors are taken to one of the four galleries
for an all-inclusive expose of the gallery including maintenance,
feeding, and care.
Special members only open house events
are also held throughout the year. Other popular events include
field trips through salt marshes or Spectacle Island, family sleepovers,
holiday parties, and more.
The Celebrate Seafood Dinner event,
held in the Harborview Café, features three varieties
of ocean-friendly seafood. The meal is provided along with cooking
demonstrations, educational facts about fish and selecting fish,
and more.
Educational programs designed for
children of various ages including toddler and preschool are also
offered at the aquarium, typically on a monthly basis.
Admission fees are charged as listed
below, but varying prices are offered for children, college students,
adults, and senior citizens. Identification is requires in some
cases to prove the age requirement. The Aquarium
is open daily with the exception of Thanksgiving Day and December
25. Hours vary according to weekends, holidays, and season.
Hours-
Open 9am - 7pm Wed. July 4; 9am - 6pm Thurs. July 5th
Summer hours start June 30:
Mon-Thurs: 9am - 6pm
Fri-Sun: 9am - 7pm
Admission Fees-
Adult $18.95
Child (3-11) $10.95
Whale watching cruises are available
for a fee during the months between April and October.
Don't forget to visit the gift shop
at the end of your travels to pick up a few interesting souvenirs
for mementos.- Susan M. Keenan
i love it
xd