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CANADA:
BRITISH COLUMBIA: VANCOUVER By Teri
Sprackland and Daniel Diessner Perched on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by the beautiful mountains and coastal views of British Columbia, the Vancouver Aquarium is a magnificent destination for anyone interested in the creatures of the sea. It is located in the midst of Stanley Park, Canada’s largest city park, with paid parking and bus routes for public transportation. You can easily spend a day at the Park, and hours at the Aquarium.
The Aquarium
meanders through several buildings and outdoor exhibit areas—something to keep
in mind for weather preparedness. Most of the outdoor exhibits have viewing
windows located inside and below ground, which means that if it’s raining—a
not infrequent occurrence in Pacific Northwest—you can see still enjoy the
magnificent creatures. Beluga whales were an astonishing sight. They are literally great white whales and have a serene majesty about them. The Orcas (also known as Killer Whales, but Little Rex told us that they prefer to be known as Orcas) put on a terrific show several times a day, displaying their acrobatic leaps and turns to the requests (never commands) of their handlers. The whales certainly seemed to be enjoying both the crowd’s appreciation as well as the yummy fish treats. If you like frogs, you will find the poison dart frog exhibit a "ribbitting" experience, a must see for all. On the exotic side, the aquarium is hosting the care of several white (i.e. amelanistic in scientific terms) crocodiles from Thailand. Eventually, these amazing crocs will be on display at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Los Vegas. Little Rex rating: “Two fins up”! |
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