The Age of Aquarium

After weeks of planning, we went to the New England Aquarium today. This is school vacation week so Amber and DJ both have the week off. Laurie has Sundays off  this was my weekend off from work. We have been looking forward to this day since before Christmas. Unfortunately so was every other person that lives in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

We took the red line in from Quincy Adams and got off at South Station.  We could have transfered  to the orange line, then transfer again to the blue line and get dropped off at the aquarium. However it is just a ten minute walk up Atlantic Ave. So we figured we'd walk instead of dealing with the hassle of train transfers.

When we turned the corner from Atlantic Ave to the aquarium, we could not believe how many people we saw. There was a line extending sixty yards from a big circus tent.  We got into line. Once inside the much warming, wind blocking tent, there were about fifteen switchbacks beore getting to the ticket booth. We stood in line for about ( pause for dramatic affect ) NINETY MINUTES!!!  When we finally got in, our feet were already starting to hurt.

As you can imagine by how long it took to get in, the place was packed. All of the smaller exhibits were three or four people deep with people looking at them. The big tank in the middle wasn't so bad. We watched the big fish swim by  from many different view points. 

The highlight of the day was without question the ray tank where you can pet sting rays and sharks.  It was tough getting near the tank with so many people. Basically we figured out to get behind a group and when they left to get in. We went to the ray tank twice. Both times for about 5-10 minutes. I could have stayed there all day petting rays, but out of curtousy, we had to give others a chance. We did not go to any shows or feedings. A half hour before any scheduled feeding or show, the area around that exhibit was already crowded.

So all in all, the day was okay. There was just to many people. We got passes from the library so it cost us ten dollars a person to get in.  Regular price for an adult is $22.95.  I enjoyed petting the rays and seeing hundred pound tarpon swim by. The kids  made the best of it, they seemed to really have a good time.I'm glad I went because it was the first time in about ten years, but I should have known better and gone on a weekday not during school vacation!