You call this an aquarium???
Written: Mar 31 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The aquarium is small so you don't waste a whole day there
Cons: Not much, just from when I paid my admisson to when I left.
The Bottom Line: This is the worst aquarium I've ever been to. Avoid it.
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| Draggar's Full Review: New Jersey State Aquarium |
A few years ago, my wife's family and I went to the Camden aquarium. They promised me a great day of seeing great sealife. I was excited.
I've been to dozens of aquariums, from the large park Seaworld in Orlando, Florida to true aquariums, such as the Boston Aquarium in Boston, Mass, to small hole in the wall places all over. I knew the basics of aquariums, and was looking foreward to seeing the on in Camden, NJ.
When we got there, half of it was closed due to rennovations. OK, it can happen. But they still charged us the full $13 / person. There were a few interactive exhibits, pet rays, pickup pools where you can pick up sea urchins, starfish, etc.
Some of the tanks looked good, but most had dead fish, and dull colors (dull colors mean the fish are either very stressed or very unhappy). Even the tanks were dirty (on the inside), and the building itself wasn't very clean.
I will have to admit, their "large" tank in the center of the aquarium is nice to look at, but that really can't take up a whole day. It was mostly clean, and you can watch the divers cleaning it and / or feeding the fish.
Most of the people who worked there didn't seem to knowledgeable. I know a lot of them are seasonal employees, but even the people running the exhibits couldn't answer questions that my wife knew the answers to (and she has a degree in marine mammology). According to her, a lot of the questions they didn't know the answer to were very simple and anyone who has done more than a real basic study of marine wildlife should know.
And to top the whole day off, we all got sick off the food. You could very easily say our visit there wasn't too great.
A few weeks ago (two years later) my wife suggested that we go back. I thought, OK, it was under rennovations and could be a lot better.
Boy, was I wrong. We wasted over $30 ($13 / ticket, plus parking) and a 3 hour drive (total).
The new areas were open, but it seemed they just spread out what they had last time into the new rooms. Same issues with the people working there, tanks, and so on. We didn't eat there this time, though.
Other (serious) issues, but can't be completly blamed on the aquarium include signage to get there is horrible. The only reason we got there quickly is because we have friends who live in Priceton, NJ (not too far) and we have a basic knowledge of the area.
Also, I'm sorry to say, but Camden is the armpit of New Jersey. You drive through there (and its not like its right off the highway), and you think 'am I going to get killed now?' You park your car in the parking garage near the aquarium, and you think will it be here when I get back?
I'd say, if you're in the area, head to the Philadelphia zoo. Head to Six Flags: Great Adventure (or the outlet malls). Head to the Jersey shore. There are much better ways to spend a day.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
Draggar
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Member: Ed Blood
Location: North Lauderdale, FL
Reviews written: 101
Trusted by: 7 members
About Me:
I enjoy checking out new "toys". Especially in the computer and electronics fields.
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