aquarium Archives - Page 2 of 4

It’s Wild America day here at Gadling, and we should feel grateful to have so many wild things to be crazy about here in America! Well, if nothing else, there’s always “Where the Wild Things Are,” which could very well be this year’s sleeper of a film. Here are few more Wild America travel sleepers that should have caught your eye but for some reason didn’t.

Aquariums might not at first strike you as particularly wild, but the underwater world certainly is, and this guide breaks down America’s most family-friendly aquariums. [via Peter Greenberg]
After watching Ken Burns’s “America’s Best Idea,” we should all be grateful for the beautiful wilderness of America’s national parks. [via The Traveler’s Notebook]
Whale watching is a worldwide pastime, and while whales may not be as endangered as they used to be, we still need to proceed with caution. [via Wall Street Journal]
Once you escape the hustle and bustle of Honolulu, Hawaii can be an awfully wild place. Check out these endangered island sights before it’s too late. [via Honolulu Magazine]
It’s important to consider animal welfare when we’re out enjoying America’s wilderness. Here are some good animal-friendly travel tips to get you in a more compassionate traveler. [via Intelligent Travel]

‘Til tomorrow, have a great evening!

More Gadlinks HERE.

In Monterey this fall: The Monterey Bay Aquarium celebrates its silver anniversary

by Brenda Yun on Oct 5, 2009

Something must be in the air in Monterey this fall, because there are so many anniversaries and celebrations it would be hard to pass up a trip to California’s coast to catch some art and culture with a little history mixed in.

Earlier this fall, I told you about the Monterey Museum of Art celebrating its 50th anniversary and the 52nd Monterey Jazz Festival. Fortunately, Monterey has one more big celebration up its sleeve. The Monterey Bay Aquarium celebrates its silver anniversary later this month.

The famous aquarium opened its doors on October 20, 1984. In the first year alone, nearly 2.5 million guests paid a visit. 25 years later, the aquarium hosted more than 44 million visitors and currently has 250,000 members. Approximately 35,000 animals and plants are housed there, and there are nearly 500 employees and 1000 volunteers to keep things running.

This historic aquarium’s silver anniversary celebration will be held on October 17-18. For a complete celebration schedule and a timeline featuring images and accounts of its 25 years of existence, visit the aquarium’s web site.

New beluga encounter at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium

by Katie Hammel on Jul 23, 2009

The beluga whale habitat is one of my favorite attractions at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium. Not only are the oddly-shaped whales incredibly graceful underwater, but with their wide-set eyes, bulging foreheads, and mouths that always seem to be smiling, they’re also just really cute.

Now beluga-loving visitors to the Shedd don’t have to content themselves with just seeing the animals from above or through the glass in the underwater viewing rooms. Those willing to pony up $200 (per person) can strap on a pair of waders and get in the water with the whales, watch as they work with their trainers, and even interact with them.

The experience is called the “Beluga Encounter“, and aside from a few Benjamins, the only requirements are that participants be at least 10 years old and 5 feet tall. Children 10-15 years old must be accompanied in the water by an adult. The sessions take place in the Grainger Beluga Encounter Habitat, a 90,000 gallon, 16-foot deep tank in the Oceanarium, which was built as part of last year’s $50 million renovation.

The Beluga Encounter takes about 2 hours total, 30 minutes of which are actually spent standing in 3-foot deep water at the corner of the tank. During that time, three to six guests get to touch, pet, and kiss the whales and can reach into their mouths and scratch their tongues, which the whales are said to enjoy.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the whales react well to their visitors, affectionately nuzzling them or playfully bumping heads. To keep the whales from being stressed or overwhelmed, the program is only offered once on Tuesdays and twice on Fridays and Saturdays, and the belugas involved rotate among the oldest seven at the Aquarium.

Gadlinks (7.21.09)

by Jeremy Kressmann on Jul 21, 2009

What’s new in the world of travel news, you might ask? You’re in luck – we’re back again with this Tuesday’s installment of Gadlinks. What travel stories from around the web caught our eye today? Take a look below:

Love aquariums? Check out this stunning video of the aquatic life at Okinawa’s Churaumi Aquarium. They’ve even got a couple whale sharks in there! [Via Buzzfeed]
For all you East-Coasters hungry for some waves: why not head down to North Carolina’s Outer Banks? This surfing slideshow should help get you in the mood. [Via The New York Times]
The economic downtown has caused plenty of consumers to cut back on unnecessary spending. That’s not the case though for Japan’s infamous love hotels, where business seems to be booming. Find out why. [Via BBC News]
New Zealand is an outdoor-lover’s paradise, filled with green forests, unspoiled beaches and majestic mountains. If you’re thinking about going, consider renting yourself a camper van for maximum flexibility (and fun). [Via L.A. Times]
Get out the hand sanitizer – here’s a list of the world’s most germ-infested tourist attractions. Gross. [Via CNN]

More Gadlinks HERE.

Amsterdam airport opens the world’s first hotel – for goldfish…

by Scott Carmichael on Jun 23, 2009

We’ll file this one under “wacky PR news” – Amsterdam airport just opened the world’s first hotel specifically designed for goldfish.

The hotel is operated by “D-Travel”, a major player in the Dutch travel booking market, and passengers who booked their trip through them can use the facility for free.

Upon arrival at Schiphol airport, passengers can hand over their fish at the goldfish check-in desk (seriously!) and each fish will be placed in its own little fish tank.

Having arrived home after a 2 week vacation to discover that my aquarium had gone through a catastrophic meltdown, I have to say that the idea sounds cool, though I’m not entirely sure I’d feel comfortable loading fish into a bag to transport to the airport.

Imagine arriving at the airport, only to discover that the goldfish hotel is closed, or overbooked! You’d be stuck at the airport with a flight departing in 2 hours and a bag full of fish on your luggage cart. Obviously a bad way to start your vacation.

Click the images below to learn about other weird hotels: