National Aquarium, Baltimore tomorrow

[AlanM]

There's no WAMAS discount for tickets to National Aquarium in Baltimore, is there? Just thought I'd check. Apparently there's a MD resident discount, but the website says some "blackout" dates may apply. We called and they don't know yet if tomorrow will be blacked out for the discount. Funny.

 

We're planning to go with the kids tomorrow. I've never been there even though I've been to the DC one a few times (and can go for free as a DoC employee).

[Orion]

Dont know of any discount, but I can tell you the Baltimore aquarium won't disappoint you.

[flooddc]

Nice! share some pics if you have a chance. I haven't been there in at least half a decade!

[Matt LeBaron]

I'd suggest buying tickets online ahead of time if you can. During holidays the lines can be very long and they tend to sell out fairly easily. (They only allow X number of people in at a time.)

 

Another benefit of ordering your tickets online ahead of time is that you can use the Will Call booth that almost never has a line or the automated machines next to it. (Will Call booth is behind the normal ticket windows)

 

My wife and I have a membership since we tend to go a number of times a year and the cost of membership is the same as going to the Baltimore Aquarium twice and you also get access to the DC Aquarium.

[smallreef]

Its so awesome...you may want to think about joining if you go more than 2 or 3 times a year.....it pays for itself..

Keep in mind they are redoing the lagoon and turning it into blacktip shark display....

[Origami]

No discount. Ditto about joining if you make it up to Baltimore a couple of times a year. I used to do it years ago. I just loved being able to drop in and burn a couple of hours looking at things there.

[AlanM]

Tanks for the tips. Just joined. Looking forward to jumping the line in the morning. They open at 9 tomorrow instead of 10 so I guess they expect a crowd.

[MBVette]

Wish it wasn't a 2 hour drive from out here. I would definitely go a few times a year then.

[smallreef]

Hey....its a 3 hour drive from my house...I moved here last march and have been 3 times already....there is no excuse,lol

[MBVette]

Your crazy

[AlanM]

Here are a few videos from the trip today.

 

1. Jellyfish exhibit:

 

http://youtu.be/1DrMAof8n0g

 

2. Eel feeding in the atlantic reef tank:

 

http://youtu.be/nVC09_oQnIo

 

3. More eel feeding in the atlantic reef tank:

 

http://youtu.be/a5aVLe4qZwY

[flooddc]

Great videos. Thanks for sharing!

[AlanM]

BTW, the new black-tip reef looks like it will be awesome. All of the escalators take you over the water, so it will be pretty cool.

 

I'm going to send them some feedback about our first time experience.

 

First thing: It must be a great place to work because every single person, without exception, that was working there could not be nicer or more helpful or more knowledgeable. They even had a pile of super friendly people at the coat/stroller check and lots pointing out where to go when you arrive, even outside in the cold.

 

Second: About the strollers. I get why they don't want you to have them. The elevators are kind of limited and if everyone had them, it would be a mob scene. Also, it's probably pretty crowded at times in there. But if you're going to force people to give up the strollers I think you should put in huge letters on the front page of the web site that strollers are not allowed. We looked it over fairly carefully and never saw anything about that. What if someone came from out of town with 2 little kids? They gave you these Kelty toddler backpacks for free, which about killed my shoulders after 15 minutes, but it was still a nice attempt for them. Maybe if I spent more time adjusting it or something...

 

Until lunch I was prepared to say that I was disappointed that they didn't have more tanks because we rode the elevator up to the top of the huge Atlantic reef tank and walked down those ramps. We totally missed the individual tanks that lead up to the top of the reef. It was an accident that we decided to head to the top of the ramps and do it the long way, and I was able to see all of the nice exhibits.

 

The octopus was great and now I know why a longhorn cow fish needs such a big tank. They start teeny, but the one there was huge.