The amazing Vancouver Aquarium which opened in 1956 thrills and delights children and adults alike. Located only five minutes from downtown Vancouver, this fascinating, underwater experience brings the sea life from British Columbia combined with creatures from all over the world.
The Vancouver Aquarium holds 2.5 million gallons of water, offers 154 displays of aquatics with more than 70,000 creatures, is open 365 days each year and spans over 116,000 square feet. Prices are very reasonable beginning at only $19.95 for adults depending on the time of year and $11.95 for children. Almost 1 million visitors come to the aquarium each year and more than 33 million visitors have come since the opening.
Explore the reef shark habitat and learn about the role that these sharks play in the ecosystem of the ocean. See the curious and fascinating Beluga whales to find out how you can ensure their survival and safety for years to come.
Meet the acrobatic and extremely social Pacific white-sided dolphins. Learn about how they are threatened in the wild and how you can help these fascinating animals. Learn how you can protect the aquarium’s world famous sea otters and fall in love with these playful creatures.
The world’s largest sea lion population, the Stellers sea lion, has been mysteriously declining for years and the aquarium shares important research information with you about this phenomenon. See “nature’s Robin Hood” as the Indonesian Archerfish searches for food in the branches and leaves above the surface of the water.
Get the creepy crawlies when coming up close and personal with a millipede or other large insect in the Amazon Critter Corner. The importance of these smaller animals is discussed. Participate in an exciting experiment where you get the opportunity to figure out which ones are friends and which ones are enemies of these west coast invertebrates.
Children will enjoy programs specifically tailored to them including story time, dances with animal themes, singing songs, story time and puppet shows through interaction designed for children under the age of eight al happening in Clownfish Cove. There are so many activities for children to enjoy that families often come back to spend an additional day.
Families and groups particularly love the behind the scenes animal encounters that are available for visitors to the aquarium. Touch the fabulously social dolphins and feed them a snack in the Dolphin Encounter. The Beluga Whale Encounter is an interactive session where you get the opportunity to learn about this whale’s harsh living environment in an unforgettable session. Here the amazing story of Schoona in the Sea Turtle Encounter. You will even get the chance to feed Schoona, a long time aquarium resident. The Steller Sea Lion Encounters will you acting as a trainer to marine mammals as you visit these majestic animals in their habitat. Finally learn about the importance of the sea otter in the adventurous Sea Otter Encounter. Meet Nyac, the 19 year old sea otter and the oldest living sea otter from the Exxon Valdez oil spill of 1989.
The latest exhibit to open is the immensely popular amphibian sensation “Frogs Forever?” Find out about the extinction crisis currently severely affecting the amphibian species. Learn how you can help!
British Columbia is home to some of the most amazing creatures and you can meet them all at the Vancouver Aquarium. Visit today!
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