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The Dallas aquarium offers a unique, out-of-city experience

Written by Micaela Titus, The Shorthorn staff

Wednesday, 04 November 2009 08:06 PM

The Dallas World Aquarium’s 10,000-gallon Dragons from Down Under exhibit holds one of the world’s largest collections of Leafy Seadragons. The aquarium has several other exhibits that feature some of the most unique fish from around the world. (The Shorthorn: Chris Hudson)

From the urban street, it’s hard to imagine that a rainforest sits in downtown Dallas.

The Dallas World Aquarium is in the business of educating and amazing each visitor with hundreds of animals spanning land, sea and air. Guest can see the species interacting. Blue fluorescent moon jellyfish gracefully float in a dark tank, mimicking their deep sea habitat.

When she was a child, Dallas resident Regina Rhone considered three fish in a bowl of water an aquarium. Wednesday was her first time visiting the aquarium and she was astonished because the aquarium isn’t a household fish tank.

“I have lived in Dallas since 1992 and I never knew what the aquarium was like inside,” she said. “I can’t stop taking pictures and I wanted to see the enormous fish tank that my sister keeps bragging about.”

Aquarium husbandry director Paula Carlson said most guest are surprised to see 50-foot trees and exotic species in the middle of an urban area.

Gas It, Don't Pass It

Dallas World Aquarium
1801 North Griffin Street
Dallas
214-720-2224

Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Admission: Adults - $18.95 + tax
Children (3-12 years) - $10.95 + tax
Seniors (60 and older) - $14.95 + tax
Children (2 and under) - No Charge

The Orinoco Rainforest features free flying birds, Polka-dot stingrays swimming with turtles, and endangered monkeys swinging in cages. The aquarium is attached to the River Rainforest exhibit, which features marine life from sections of the world like Palau, British Columbia and Southern Australia.

The exhibits display a Pacific giant octopus and Weedy sea dragons rhythmically prancing across. In the 200,000-gallon river exhibit guests can see endangered manatees, Arrau turtles and monstrous Arapaima fish.

The Mundo Maya exhibit reflects the ancient Mayan culture and notes that to them nature was important and it should not be under anyone’s control. At the Mundo Maya exhibit, guests can see 10-feet anacondas, sawfish and screech owls in settings that mimic their ecosystem.

If a visitor gets hungry, the aquarium offers restaurants with reasonably priced food and drinks. Prices range from $1.50 for snacks to almost $20 for a full meal. Guests 21 or older can purchase alcoholic beverages and tour the exhibit carrying them.

With the weather getting colder, the indoor adventure is worth the drive. The aquarium presents some of the most feared and loved species a short distance away.

The Giant Pacific Octopus sits front and center in the Dallas World Aquarium’s British Columbia exhibit. The octopus is one of many invertebrates populating the aquariums many underwater exhibits. (The Shorthorn: Chris Hudson)

A Golden Lion Tamarin sits in a tree in the canopy portion of the Orinoco Rainforest exhibit at the Dallas World Aquarium. The Golden Lion Tamarin is an endangered species native to the forests of Brazil and is one of five different types of tamarin on display at the aquarium. (The Shorthorn: Chris Hudson)

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Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 January 2010 01:42 PM )

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