Who wants to see an albino alligator?
Written: May 05 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: good exhibits, kid friendly, IMAX theater attached
Cons: expensive, crowded at peak times, smaller than expected
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| manhattan15's Full Review: Audubon Institute Aquarium of the Americas |
I nearly didn't make it into the famed Aquarium
of the Americas. Battling my way through hundreds
(yes, hundreds) of screaming schoolchildren I
searched in vain for a quieter entrance. The
prominently displayed signs advertising a line in
the cool confines of the aquarium's interior
proved mythical. There was no such line and you
couldn't purchase tickets where the signs said
you could. Refusing to wait behind a battalion of
daytrippers I craftily made my way to the IMAX
theater line which was MUCH shorter. (If you
do visit, head for the IMAX line--few people seem
to know it exists so there's never a crowd and they
sell general aquarium admission tickets so you don't
have to buy IMAX tickets to stand in that line.)
I wanted to see the IMAX film on dolphins but it
was not to be. The next three shows were all sold
out so I would have been forced to wait four hours
to see it.
Once inside I was pleased by the aquarium's sky lit
interior and terrific displays. I've been to several
great aquariums, but the Aquarium of the Americas had
several animals, including the albino alligator and
piranhas, that I'd never seen elsewhere. They also had
a terrific shark tank and a collection of tiny, multi-fin
fishes that look exactly like plants.
The aquarium is very children friendly. They have a
shark petting tank that was a BIG hit with the school kids.
You could hear them oohing and ahhing a half block away.
For those who prefer to enjoy their aquarium visits in
relative quiet contemplation avoid weekday afternoons
because apparently that is prime time for school field
trip visits.
While I really enjoyed the aquarium it did seem a bit
pricey. If you're visiting pick up a tourist guide which
should include coupons for admission to the aquarium. It
also seemed as though the inside of the building is smaller
than one would think judging from the outside (this may be due
to space allocated for the IMAX theater).
Despite the rambunctious kids and mad search for a
short line, I did enjoy the Aquarium of the Americas.
It's well designed; it has well layed out exhibits and
it has an albino alligator. What more could one want?
Okay, maybe two albino alligators?
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
manhattan15
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Member: Stephanie
Location: Boston, MA
Reviews written: 112
Trusted by: 14 members
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