coaster1 Posted August 1, 2005 Share Posted August 1, 2005 So on Saturday we got bored and decided to check out the new expansion of the Dallas World Aquarium. It's more of a zoo now than the Aquarium it opened as back in 1992. This aquarium rocks, takes roughly 1 1/2 to 2 hours to experience it all, plus they have feedings and talks throughout the day, including the Penguins. So we arrived via the Light Rail, which is a quick 2 block walk from the Aquarium. The new entrance now features some new penguins, YAY! and then you start the tour in the same spot in the "Orinoco" canopy, the third level. This exhibit was new roughly around 1999, which was the first major expansion for the place. This is fun, lots of monkeys and giant river otters. Lots of snakes too .. which I avoided. So we got to the otters and Courtney and I talked with one of the trainers there .. they demostrated how playful they were and such and let her feed one. After that you pass some more cute monkeys and snakes *shivers*, then you get to the "River's Edge" where they have 2 Anacondas. Creepy. Also they have the Cave area where they have thing slike Giant Bird Eating Spiders, more spiders and Vampire bats, cool. They have the Orinoco Crocodile, which according to them, there are roughly only about 100 left in the world, they chill in the pond with pirhanas and stingrays. You then get to "The River" underwater viewing area, they have 3 Antillean Manatees, which are native to Texas. Then off to the Cape of Good Hope Exhibit and the Penguins So yeah .. the penguins rule, the colony is roughly 30-40, with about 15 on display at any one time, the rest are kept back for breeding. These guys rule and were enjoying the 103 degree weather. I got to talk with the girl working with them, feed them and play with them. She got kinda of a weird look when I tried to stuff one in my camera bag. After the penguins, which I went back to several times, headed off to the new "Mundo Maya" section to more snakes .. CRAP! Oh they had cute fuzzy bunny rabbits too. The exhibit is based on the Mayan culture of Mexico. They had a new walk through tank with about 10 Bull sharks and rays. They also had more snakes, bats and crocodiles. The Jaguars were cool, but cats are lazy. After the aquarium and buying all penguin merchandise at the gift shop .. we walked around the "West End" district where the Aquarium lives. We hadn't been down there in the day in a long long time. Lots of construction going on around some of the historical sites, like the Kennedy Assissnation site and the Old Red Courthouse. Good day all around, except the damn heat .. stupid Texas heat and humidity. New entrance is very cool These guys great you at the entrance Yeah .. penguins kick a$$! The first part of the Orinoco part ... third story. Monkey Island .. cool little creatures they are Giant River Otters! Only breeding pair in the US That's one big a$$ crocodile, the Orinoco crocodile Playful Giant River Otters Aww .. these guys rule No thanks .. 18 foot anaconda = bad .. the 26 foot one was hiding Manatees .. they are cool .. check out that huge a$$ catfish under him! Yay for outdoor penguins! Meet Waddles and Private This is what our backyard is gonna look like Ahh yes, good idea .. think I'll jump in with him DAMMIT .. what's with the damn snakes !? Bull shark .. grrrrrrr More crocodiles Lazy cats .. reminds me of our cats at home Pink birds .. yup The shark tank from above "Sacred Centoe" West End Marketplace, good food down here, but Planet Hollywood and the theater are now gone, now dominated by Landry's I love this building, 1882 "Old Red" Courthouse, the 4th courthouse in Dallas County Renovation is in it's 7th year .. with roughly 10 more to go. It's old and stoney Another old building .. there's a jail in the basement and stuff 1873 Union Staion .. AmTrak, Commuter Train and Light Rail station ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COOOOLkid Posted August 1, 2005 Share Posted August 1, 2005 no coasters... I loved those ducks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coaster1 Posted August 1, 2005 Author Share Posted August 1, 2005 Ducks? For some reason the boards sorted the photos completely opposite from the preview .. very odd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLUSHIE Posted August 1, 2005 Share Posted August 1, 2005 Ducks? For some reason the boards sorted the photos completely opposite from the preview .. very odd The first pirture upload is the last picture, the last picture will be the first... Thats how it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coaster1 Posted August 1, 2005 Author Share Posted August 1, 2005 Yeah I know .. I uploaded the buildings first, then the others .. odd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stitch Posted August 1, 2005 Share Posted August 1, 2005 That is an excellent aquarium and your pictures were very good too. I have seen a few Otters before but man alive those ones were a lot bigger than the ones I have seen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Clinksalot Posted August 1, 2005 Share Posted August 1, 2005 Thanks for all of the penguin pics. And yeah, Penguins ROCK!!! Did you know that flamingo's are pink because of all of the shrimp they eat??? Thanks Snapple Trivia!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingScooter Posted August 1, 2005 Share Posted August 1, 2005 Great pics! Love the Manatees! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidmorton Posted August 1, 2005 Share Posted August 1, 2005 Hey I went there about 3 weeks ago (as NOT detailed in my recent TR ; http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17830 ) I really like aquariums and fish (not to eat though), but personally I thought that the place was RUBBISH. Its an "aquarium" without any fish! (OK it has some fish, about a dozen displays tucked away in the basement where they will not get in the way). Its got rabbits - WTF?!? And bats???? :shock: In an aquarium and about 15 places you could get food - how long do American's need to go without food? Stupid place, not recommended by me. The 6th floor musuem on the other hand was very interesting - no rabbits and no "JFK Head Shot Burger Bar" either. Dave "not in Dallas anymore" M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coaster1 Posted August 1, 2005 Author Share Posted August 1, 2005 The place has really gotten away from the original aquarium which is the 12 tanks or so they started with. The new name they are incorporating is Dallas World Aquarium and Zoological Gardens, which makes sense .. still any place with penguins gets 5 stars in my book Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hattuchili Posted August 1, 2005 Share Posted August 1, 2005 Great photo TR. I love the penguins! That is so cool. Thanks for posting. --Sören Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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