It's Time to Return to Adventure Aquarium
Written: Jun 04 '06
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Product Rating:
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Pros: New animals, new building, and world-class feel bring life to a dying, old aquarium
Cons: Can be crowded, a little expensive, some large animals nocturnal
The Bottom Line: Adventure Aquarium is worth the trip. It offers great views of great animals. A 'world-class energy' makes it feel like a new attraction, and the staff are great too.
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| phs5906's Full Review: New Jersey State Aquarium |
I'm an 18-year-old high school student just two weeks from graduation, who recently visited the Adventure Aquarium in Camden for probably the fifteenth time in as many years. My family and I had been members of the former aquarium since its opening (when I was three) up to its closing, and took the offer to transfer the account to the new aquarium last year (though we're now called "passport holders").
I plan to go to college for a degree in biology next year, so the Aquarium has always been one of my favorite attractions around our home in South Jersey. But I have to admit, the old aquarium was smaller and showing its age, and I began to grow a little bored with it toward the end. On top of that, it just never had that "National Aquarium-y" feel to it; it was a local aquarium, and didn't seem to reach for anything more.
If the New Jersey State Aquarium was small, ordinary, and slow-paced, the Adventure Aquarium would probably represent the antithesis. When I went last summer, the line for admission snaked out of the ticketing area and around the block--every time! Since it's still early in peak season and most schools around here are still in session, my weekend trip was not all that bad, but there was still a 5-10 minute wait to get in.
The expansion added a whole new wing onto the old building, and brought in a new sort of attraction with it. Guests can see thirty sharks swim around them while standing in the middle of a 40-foot seamless tunnel, get up close and personal with two 3000 pound hippos and all their African winged friends, see a sloth hang from the ceiling as though it were the rainforest canopy, stare into the eyes of a dwarf caiman crocodile, and shoot insects with waterguns as though they were the archerfish in the tank beside them. Even the soundtrack is more verbose; I remember distinctly the old aquarium playing the theme from "Field of Dreams" in their entry rotunda, and that was only when the CD player worked. Now I can walk into the same room and see a dozen little kids dancing to the fresh, peppy music that fills the area.
All of the things that were wrong with the old Aquarium seem to be fixed in this one. Bad signage? Not anymore - the building's clearly labelled into 4 "zones", each color coded and easy to follow. The animals are also largely identified; if not, the enormously friendly "cast members" on staff can usually help. Even they are easier to find, dressed in khakis and a bright shirt covered with tropical fish. There's enough exhibit space here to keep most people busy for hours, which explains that German family I kept bumping into all day...
The PSE&G 4-D Theatre is supposed to be the first theatre of its type featured in an American aquarium; that is, actually built into an auditorium and not into more portable ride pods. I know that Georgia has one too, but they came a few months later. They are showing a double-feature ride now - "Deep Sea 4D", which they had last year, for the first ten minutes, and "Spongebob Squarepants in 4D" for the last five. I'm told that Deep Sea will end in July, and then it's all Spongebob.
And for those of you out there who always thought that the Aquarium's "Touch-a-Shark" exhibit was too babyish, I invite you to take the next step with their new "Swim with the Sharks" program. That's right, the Aquarium will literally let you get into the new shark tank and snorkel with the sharks! You're on a ledge, of course, and never in any sort of danger, but the experience was thrilling. You end it in their special ray tray, having your picture taken while you feed the stingrays. The $165 cost isn't that bad for the experience, and covers the cost of admission for the day. (* I'm told that the Aquarium is going to be offering a whole range of similar adventures this summer '06, one of which may be SCUBA-related! I'd check their website and see if anything is mentioned.)
I realize that most of this review has been positive, and for good reason. Camden City, Camden County, and the whole Philly metro finally have a great, educational, and entertaining tourist attraction on their hands. But that doesn't mean it's perfect.
The hippos, porcupines, sloth, and Giant Pacific Octopus are nocturnal, so they may be inactive most of the day. Expect lines to form at exhibits not being watched by cast members; people are so interested that they pile on top of each other, and it can get claustrophobic (esp. in the tunnel). The Aquarium allows strollers, but does not rent them. For those who bring a stroller, a design flaw in the new lobby means that there is only one elevator in that part of the building, so another line actually forms. The Cafe is also challenging, because its buffet-style line has three distinct serving zones, but you have to stand in one line to get to them. This means that the one line can stretch through the cafe, and once you reach the top, there can be confusion as people skip ahead to reach the last two zones. And of course, some folks don't like the fact that you enter the Aquarium through the Cafe and exit through the Gift Shop - with no detours and no other ways in or out.
Overall, though, the Aquarium's faults are surpassed by its virtues. The improvement is great, and I advise anyone visiting Philadelphia to stop by the Aquarium before leaving (it is easily accessible by ferry). For those of you from the area who had a bad experience with the State Aquarium, I guarantee that you probably won't recognize the place if you haven't re-visited yet. Even the old exhibits got a modernization and a facelift.
The Aquarium is open 365 days a year from 9:30am to 5:00pm. Adult admission is $16.95, seniors and children 2-12 are $13.95, toddlers under 2 are free. The 4-D Theatre costs an additional $6 per person, and is optional. Due to the crowds, timed-ticket entry are required in the summer. The website recommends advanced reservations, which can be made online or by phone.
Lastly, the "Swim with the Sharks" experience is great, but requires advance reservation as well. Naturally, tons of additional info is available from the Aquarium itself; their website is http://www.adventureaquarium.com.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
phs5906
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Member: Michael
Location: Pennsauken, NJ
Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
Currently an honor student at Pennsauken HS; becoming a prospective biology student at Rowan University.
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