My childhood is filled with many memories of packing into the family station wagon, and heading to the Vancouver Aquarium for the day. This month the Vancouver Aquarium is celebrating its 60th anniversary!
Growing up in the Vancouver area I have been able to visit the aquarium often. I have seen so many changes over the years. It is one of my favourite places to go to with my little family now. It’s now incredible for me to see my daughters make memories when we visit there.
The visits to the aquarium filled my head with knowledge about animals, and was why I wanted to become a marine biologist for years. I wanted to get to research, and work with whales. While that career dream never did happen, I still have a great love for the aquarium and going there.
When I go with my daughters we have our favourite places we visit first. Currently the Discover Rays exhibit is a must to go to as soon as we arrive. It’s a unique exhibit where you can get up close to the rays, and have the opportunity to touch one.
Seeing the jelly fish is also another highlight for us, plus there is the tradition of taking the must have photo in front of the jelly fish. There is just something so magically about watching them float through the water.
As we work our way through all the galleries, and exhibits there is one spot we always go to for some quiet time. We head to the viewing area below The Wild Coast. There is a corner where for moms that has a comfortable chair, and a curtain you can draw to allow some privacy while you nurse your baby. It’s one of my favourite spots because it’s not so busy down here and I am able to feed my youngest daughter in peace, and my oldest daughter can sit in the window, have a snack, and watch Helen the pacific white-sided dolphin and Chester, the false killer whale swim about. Often Chester likes to stop at the window and visit. It’s become a very special spot for us. Just be sure if you are visiting there to respect if a mom has the curtain drawn across.
There truly is something special about the Vancouver Aquarium. It is a place that will I will always visit. I want my children to grow up with a love, and appreciation for animals. I want them to become educated about what is out there, and this is a perfect place for that.
The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre is celebrating its 60th anniversary this June. The aquarium launched a photo contest on June 1st to celebrate this important milestone. The aquarium wants to see all the amazing photos visitors have taken over the years. What’s the prize? Well, there are six one-year family memberships being given away, with the winners being randomly selected mid-June. Entry to the contest ends on June 13th.
It is incredibly simple to enter: post a photo of a Vancouver Aquarium memory to Instagram or Twitter (users must have a public profile) using the hashtag #vanaqua60. You can also upload a photo directly to the contest page at http://vanaqua60.hscampaigns.com/
Photos will be featured in an online gallery, and those submitted before June 1 will also be considered for their onsite 60th anniversary signage. The aquarium is picking some to use in their own #tbt posts, your photo just might be one of the ones that gets shared. I still plan on going through my family’s photo albums to dig up some good ones.
If you love the aquarium as much as we do, be sure to enter!
The celebration does not end there. I am thrilled to share that the aquarium is providing 4 tickets for one lucky Discovering Parenthood reader to go to the aquarium. I highly recommend using the tickets for their 60th anniversary celebration weekend which is happening June 18th to 19th.
Enter through the rafflecopter below, good luck to everyone who enters! You are sure to have a great time when you go to the Vancouver Aquarium.
I haven’t been to the aquarium since I was a little girl filled with wonder. Cannot wait to take my son and see his eyes alight with that same wonder.
I grew up going to the aquarium, I still remember the Orca fountain right in front of the old entrance and throwing in coins! Our fave animal to see is the otters.
My kids love the aquarium! They really enjoy watching the porpoises and the underwater beluga area.
I went to the aquarium tons as a kid, but haven’t been in a long time. Would love to take the little one for the first time. The belugas are the best.
it has been alot of years since I have been to the aquarium! My son went for a school field trip when he was in elementary school.. otters..they are a favourite of mine!
We love the belugas! I think the song helps it!
Love the new Discover Rays exhibit!
We love the aquarium, especially the otters!!
Thanks for the opportunity! I love the aquarium and would love to take my 10.5 month old!
I have been to the Aquarium many times and each time is just a little bit different. It has been a few years since we have been but we are hoping to plan a visit for this Summer. I love seeing the Belugas!
I wish I had more time to take my boys to the aquarium more often!
I love going to the Aquarium..we haven’t taken out kids yet though. One day soon I hope!
We went about 3 or 4 years ago. I love the Amazon section 😊
I haven’t been to the aquarium in a few years but I really enjoy all the outdoor exhibits.
I love the belugas and the penguins!
I wish that I lived closer! I love aquariums and Vancouver is on my list of places to visit someday…
Oh man, I’d love to win this (plus my boyfriend would be so stoked, haha). We haven’t been to the aquarium in a couple of years but would love to go again!
British Colombia in my opinion is the most beautiful place in North America, on my next visit, I’ll be sure to check out the aquarium in Vancouver
Would be awesome to take the family as a whole for once!!
we haven’t been in YEARS!!! Just hasn’t been in the budget but it’s been on my mind a lot lately! We love the penguins!
We love the aquarium in our area too! This one looks like so much fun for the whole family. Love the shot of the penguins!
i love the aquarium! i love the belugas
I’ve been to the aquarium many times over the years! I love that there is a penguin exhibit!
have’t been there since i was in primary school! my favorite thing there was the seals, if i remember correctly. things have changed alot since then!
Yes! I love taking my girls. So fun as I grew up visiting the Aquarium as a little girl. Totally remember the old polar bear enclosure. I really love the jelly fish tank.
I have been. I like watching the penguins.
We love the aquarium and I can’t wait to see the new ray exhibit. My son loves all the different types of jellyfish. It was a very special place that my parents would take us to growing up and it still holds that same magic today.
I brought my kids to the aquarium once so far! I’m sure they would love to go again 🙂
It’s been awhile since we have taken a trip to the Aquarium. The boys would love this:)
We have a tiny aquarium here and it’s not really very good. I’m so jealous of your lovely big aquarium! I think we’d never be away if we had a season pass! This looks like a great place. Love the idea of the nursing chair in view of the tank.
I have been to the Aquarium a few times, once as a little girl then once as a teen and then once when my my little boy was 2 and my little girl was an enfant. The wonder I felt when I went to the Aquarium could be seen in my son’s eyes is something I would love to see in my now 3 year old girls eyes.
yes, beluga are the best. i love all the animals