You may have noticed the crickets here at A Time Out for Mommy. Well, there’s been a lot going on at home, from the purchase of our new home to having my husband and daughter home for the summer, we’ve been quite busy. The bad part is that we are ALWAYS busy. The good part is that we’ve spent a lot of quality family time together and with the upcoming schedule-packed school year, we need this time together to have fun.
Good thing I’m a Bronx Zoo/NY Aquarium Ambassador because it gives us the opportunity to get out of the house and explore local attractions. My personal favorite is the Aquarium. From the time I was a kid I was intrigued by aquatic life and even have a gorgeous aquarium sitting in my living room that I can enjoy every day. For someone who loves aquatic life so much, you would think I swim like a fish, but I’ll let you in on a secret – I can’t even swim! That doesn’t stop me from enjoying the view!
We didn’t plan a trip to the NY Aquarium in Coney Island, it just happened. We woke up one morning and decided we would make a day of the aquarium. I’m not sure who was most excited, the kids or myself, but we hopped in the car and headed for Coney Island. If you are visiting, then you should know that the NY Aquarium is NOT a day trip. It’s more like a few hours trip on it’s own. If you decide to hang out on the boardwalk, check out the rides on Coney Island, and enjoy some delicious ice cream on the beach, then a day trip is necessary.
At first, the NY Aquarium was just as I remembered it. When you walk in you are greeted with the most beautiful scenery:
And then as you exit, the underwater scene, you stumble into the Sea Lion arena where we met and learned about Sea Lions:
Both my girls enjoyed the Sea Lion show, but it was time to check out the rest of the aquarium. I was so bummed to see that not all of the Aquarium was rebuilt after Storm Sandy but by next year the aquarium will not only be rebuilt, but will be better than ever! I can’t wait to see the changes.
I love the little learning kiosks set up at the aquarium. I think my daughter, and most kids, get more out of one on one hands on learning than by just looking at an exhibit. Here, my daughter got an up close view of some aquatic life. The images taken out of water are just props and not real animals, but as the line moved on my daughter got to see real life horseshoe crabs, hermit crabs, and star fish up close.
My daughter preferred to chase the little fishees:
Whether you are looking for a fun attraction in NYC, or a way to keep the theme educational, the NY Aquarium is the place to be! There is so much to see and learn, and when you are finished you can head over to the boardwalk! For more information, be sure to visit NY Aquarium.