Sting Rays, Penguins and Sharks... oh my!
>> Thursday, July 22, 2010
Besides our Atlantic City trip, we really didn't do all that much in June. The beginning of July we were NYC shut-ins due to the heat! But this last week, we have really emerged checking things off the Summer To Do List!
Last week, my sister, C and I ventured out to Riverhead, Long Island to the Atlantis Marine World Aquarium. I love aquariums and had been wanting to visit this one for sometime. My sister had been a couple of years ago and was excited to return, and see it through the eyes of the lil guy.
First of all... a tangent. I grew up in Suffolk County, which is the eastern county of Long Island. Except I grew up in the very western part, a stones throw from Nassau. I live in the big city now, so I tend to think that where my parents live is "out there." But I forget that Long Island is called such for a reason. Its LOOOONGGGG. Very long. So I am so glad I broke up the 80 minute drive by picking up my sister at about the half way point. Riverhead is far!
Anyway, when we arrived in Riverhead, we parked (in a lot two blocks away, that is what the website & signs tell you to do), and walked over to the aquarium. Outside, there is a seal tank. And once you enter and pay ($21.50 plus tax for an adult, kids under 3 are free, you can get a $2 off coupon here), there is the touch tank. A tank full of sting rays (that my sister claims are de-stingered). That the lil guy loved! He put his hand in the tank and sting rays came by for some loving. I was afraid and would NOT touch them at all. My sister said they were soft and friendly. Umm... CROCODILE HUNTER??? (r.i.p. Steve Irwin)
The rest of the aquarium was what I expected. Shark tank, fish tanks, reptiles, penguins, coral reefs, and another sting ray touch tank outside. For potty trained kids there was an interactive salt marsh where they could wade in the water and touch crabs, and for much older kids, there was a tank you could snorkel in (part of the aquarium is outside). With the toddler, we also skipped the organized shows, demonstrations and boat ride, since his main enjoyment came from running around and banging on the glass of the fish tanks. And touching those scary sting rays!
This is a small aquarium, perfect for little kids. For the NYC moms, it is a bit far, so I think our next aquarium visit will be the one in Coney Island.
3 comments:
Let me know when you're heading to the Coney Island one!
Sounds like a cool aquarium! I have family on Long Island (Mattituck) and a good friend who summers up on Shelter Island, so I had intended to come up for a long weekend this summer, but life got in the way. Next year! I'll have to take the boys to that aquarium... always fun to explore new lands!
Cole, I think we are going to do a membership to all the NYC zoos and it includes the aquarium and parking. Its $94 a year for two adults and the lil guy's admission is sitll free. So maybe in the fall when the kiddies go back to school and its less crowded???
Jedi, get your butt, and the boys to eastern LI ASAP its incredible! I love it out there I want to live out there!
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