Tanks A lot!
Written: May 25 '00 (Updated Jul 12 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Tons of sea creatures, great exhibits
Cons: They didn't allow us to use a stroller
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| tiasmom's Full Review: New Jersey State Aquarium |
Want to swim with the fish? Well, I’m not sure you can do that here, but you can always pretend. Actually, it does feel like you are underwater when you see The Deep Atlantic, which is one of the world’s largest fish tanks with over 1,500 fish inside.
The NJ State Aquarium is located in Camden directly across the Delaware River from Philadelphia’s Penn’s Landing. You can take a ferry back and forth from either side. There's a parking garage directly across the street where you pay for as long as you stay.
The aquarium has exhibits such as The Caribbean Beach, Shipwreck, and Caribbean Outpost. One of the best ones is the Wet Lab, where you can touch aquatic creatures, which includes The Shark Zone. Here, you can actually reach down into a pool and touch small sharks and stingrays. Each day, there are performing seals outdoors in a pool which are very cute. Penguins can also be seen in an outdoor tank swimming and lying about on rocks.
The architecture of the aquarium is fantastic. It has many levels with practically the entire river front made of glass. One time I was there, however, strollers were not allowed inside, which was inconvenient. But last time, they were allowed. I didn't know that, though, so my son had to walk around (and run away from us) all day.
The best part of the aquarium is the huge tanks lining the walls. Watching the big fish and sharks is fascinating. They don’t have dolphin or whales shows such as the one I saw in The Baltimore Aquarium though. Many times there are divers in the tanks. There are lots of smaller tanks with creatures such as stingrays and eels. There are even exotic birds, turtles and frogs. Last time I went, there was a large jellyfish collection temporarily on display. The neatest of those were the ones that actually glowed like a light bulb.
This was yet another place where my daughter’s Brownie troop spent the night. She got to sleep with the sharks! Well, not with them, but near them. The glow from the tanks at night was a thrill for her.
New on their website www.njaquarium.org is an interactive fish exhibit which allows you to explore the ocean from your computer. There is information on becoming a Member of the Aquarium and sponsor the NJ Academy for Aquatic Sciences. It allows you free admission into the aquarium. For others, the price is as follows: $12.95 for adults, $8.95 for children 3-11, $10.45 for seniors 65 and older and students, and free for children under 2. The admission includes access to the new Children’s Garden. I just noticed that on my Diet Coke bottle, there is a coupon for free child's admission with paying adult. We will definitely be using that.
The Children’s Garden opened last year. It’s a 4 acre garden playground for all ages. It’s fun for kid’s to learn about gardening and the environment. There is the Giant Treehouse,tunnels, digging for fossils in Dinosaur Garden, the beanstalk in Giant’s Garden, the Secret Garden, and a carousel which costs $1.25 to ride. There is also a maze made of shrubs, Alice's House of Cards and little teacups.
There is a cafeteria style restaurant inside. Often, it’s crowded with groups of school kids on field trips. If they have it on the menu, though, I’m not sure you will want to order the seafood!
Recommended:
Yes
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tiasmom
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Member: Tami
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