Aquarium Fun in Toronto.

It’s been open for a while, but I finally made it to our newest attraction in Toronto – Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada.  And it was definitely worth the wait.  What a great addition to our city and all the other attractions near it, like the CN Tower, the Rogers Centre, the Air Canada Centre and the Roundhouse.

The aquarium offers so much to see and experience.  From the section on the Great Lakes and other Canadian waters, plus the beautiful Rainbow Reef filled with so much colour, the in Dangerous Lagoon and all the awesome touch tanks.  It was so important for them to include what can be found locally and in Canada.  Yes, we all love to see the colourful fish and corral, plus the sharks and other aquatic life, but learning about what we have swimming around in this area and the rest of the country is wonderful to see.

I really had no idea what was swimming around the lakes and waters of Ontario and the rest of Canada.  It was pretty amazing to see and learn about. Did you know that this was in our waters?  So cool!

Our Canadian waters are filled with some interesting life. How about this blue lobster?  I had no idea.  Must be a true Leafs fan. Plus, check out the size of the other lobster.  He’s huge!  Especially compared the little blue one about to land on him.

Many of us don’t want to feel these eels slithering between our legs when we are swimming.  But they have such interesting faces, kind of like an old, angry man.  Tried to get this guy to smile for a picture, but he was a bit quick.

The entire Aquarium is incredible, but one of the best parts is the Shark Tank with the moving sidewalk.  The sharks, stingrays and other aquatic life are all over.  You can enjoy it at any speed.  Take a stroll through, or step on the moving sidewalk and just slowly enjoy it all or do what we did – go along a bit, then walk back and repeat and repeat and repeat.  We just didn’t want to leave.  So many pictures were taken and many attempts at selfies timed just right to have a shark in the shot were tried.

And I must ask what is it about stingrays?  Their faces are just so cute and they are just so graceful.  I could watch them all day.  You even have a chance to touch the stingrays.  It may take a while and is a bit tough for the kids to reach, as their arms are bit shorter, but if you can make sure you try it.  They feel so smooth and rubbery.  Very unique experience.

The jellyfish tanks of the aquarium are just mesmerizing.  To watch the tank picture below is incredible.  It’s huge and these jellyfish just float and move so smoothly that you can’t look away.  Amazing.

Once you finally pull yourself away from that tank, then you come across these little jellyfish just working so hard to move around.  They get up and personal to the tank glass so you can really examine this amazing marine life.  I love to watch them, but don’t want to see them where I’m swimming.

Visiting the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada in downtown Toronto is worth every nickel (no more pennies).  And here is how much it will cost:

For Adults (14+): $29.98, Youth (6-13): $19.98, Child (3-5): $9.98, Senior(65+): $19.98
Kids 2 and under enjoy complimentary admission with adult guardian.

Let me give you an important piece of advice.  Obviously the aquarium is a popular spot in Toronto these days, so it’s quite busy during peak times such as weekends and holidays.  If you can make a plan to go on just a regular weekday and get there right when it opens at 9am.  You will have the place mostly to yourself.  And you will be ahead of the crowds as they start to arrive from 10-11:30am.   We got there on a Thursday morning just after 9am and had the opportunity to enjoy the big tanks with no one blocking our view.  It was incredible.

Can’t wait to go back.  This will definitely be a regular destination for me with friends, family and visitors to our fine city of Toronto.

Take a few minutes and check out Rick Mercer‘s experience at the aquarium earlier this year.  Very cool!

And don’t worry, I found Nemo!

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