Vancouver Aquarium
 

We only have about 4 hours between when they open and when we would have to depart for the airport. Is it worthwhile to go for that short of a time? If not is there anything else worth visiting for 4 hours?
Thanks in advance.

If you have young kids, the Science Center (Big silver dome) has a lot of hands on activities. We planned to stay there for only an hour but my son (age 4) had so much fun as well as his Dad (age - more than 4). If you don't have kids, Queen Elizabeth Park is nice and we also enjoyed going to the Lookout which you can have a bird's eye view of Vancouver.

4 hours is just fine. The aquarium is very compact so its not too hard to fit everything in. Check their website ahead of time to see the show schedule so you know what to see and when.

Thank you for the replies. We were there when the doors opened and saw everthing including the shows in about 3 hours. Even releashed salmon fry. It was really fun and a very nice aquarium.

Would you compare this aquarium to those more tropical areas? ie Sydney or Queensland? My kids are teenagers and still enjoy aquariums, we were thinking of adding this one to the trip january.

I have not been to the aquariums you mentioned. I would think it is not the same though as while they did have a tropical section, it primarily has to do with the British Columbia area.

Whats it like in winter,is much of it outside ?

Not sure. You could call them or email them. They emailed me back within 24 hours. Website - http://www.vanaqua.org/home/

We went in March and it was cold and rainy outside. Most of it is indoors but the seals and Dolphin/whale looking animal is outside. We went quickly through the outside part (coming from Hawaii - we were shivering to the bone) but there is a lot to see inside. I'm not too sure how excited teenagers would get over it though. . .

I grew up in Greater Vancouver and used to go to the Vancouver Aquarium with my family, and with my school, all times of the year.

Vancouver's winters are quite mild - they're rarely below freezing temperatures - they're more or less rainy and grey.

The aquarium doesn't shut anything down in the winter - everything runs the same in the winter as it does in the summer.

The harbour seals, sea lions, sea otters, dophins and beluga whales are all outside. You don't *have* to go outside to see the beluga whales - there's an inside viewing area as well. You also don't have to go outside at all, as the majority of the aquarium is experienced from inside.

As long as you are properly prepared for Vancouver's winters, you should have no problem looking at the marine mammals outside.

As for whether teens would enjoy the aquarium, I'd definitely say yes. I'm only 25, but as a teen the aquarium was always a highlight to me and my friends. You can even do a behind-thes-cenes tour where you can visit their marine biology labs. I've also accompanied my dad's high school science class to the aquarium - everyone loves it.

The aquarium isn't like Sea World - it isn't a Disneyland of the ocean... you don't go to watch seals bounce balls or kiss whales... it's a marine science centre, and they focus the majority of their exhibits on marine life found off the BC coast and the arctic. I also believe they do a lot of work rehabilitating sea creatures, like otters, that have been found in oil slicks, etc. In other words, the aquarium's not just for show. :)

Anyhow, that's my 2 cents! I really don't think that you'd be able to get the same experience at another aquarium, so if you've never been before, I'd definitely recommend a visit at least once!

Sounds like we will be making a visit !

Vancouver aquarium is way better than Sydney. And I'm not being parochial, I'm saying that as someone who lives in Sydney.

ttt

Not sure where you're from, Connete, or which other aquariums your teens have been to. We took our kids when they were 9 and 12, and despite our WONDERFUL visit to Vancouver, the aquarium was NOT a highlight. Maybe because they'd already been to the Monterey Aquarium and the Long Beach Aquarium, they thought the Vancouver Aquarium was fine, but nothing special.

dina4 - I have been to all of the aquariums you mentioned. One of them 3 times + plus many more around the US and in other countries. Just like aquariums. Sorry you didn't like it. By the way, I was not the one who said it was a highligt. Please read a bit more carefully if you are going to complain to someone. I believe it was Carmanah who said it was a highlight and others enjoyed it too. Different strokes for different folks as they say. Nothing to complain about I wouldn't think. Good luck.

I really enjoyed the Beluga Whales show, even more then the dolfins. It was unique, and the whales well trained. Even the light rain didn't spoil our mood!

Not too sure what ttt means, Marko.

TTT....to the top, just a way of bringing the post to the top of the category so it gets picked up again !
((Y))