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Family Fun for at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada – a Must See Attraction in Toronto
On New Year’s Eve our family went to a very special place. It was a place where children are mesmerized, grandparents were amused and parents were…well, really impressed. I have been wanting to visit Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada since it opened up last year. It was one of the most unique aquarium experiences. I have seen some pretty impressive aquariums with my children (The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago for one). My daughter said she just loves visiting aquariums and she’s 15.
Here is a pictorial overview of what we saw last week. Later on this month, you can read my son’s review of Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. For now, I would like to give you a general overview of what you will see and experience.
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Ripley’s is conveniently located beside the CN Tower and across a plaza from the Roger’s Center. We took the subway and walked through the Skywalk toward the Roger’s Center. This made the chilly walk easier and much warmer than if you had walked up from Union Station. You can certainly make a day of it by going to the Aquarium first thing in the morning (give yourself 2.5 – 3 hours to see this wonderful attraction).
As soon as you walk in, you will see the water play area below. It is part playground, part sensory experience and will lead eventual to a full service eating area. I like that the area is colourful and full of interesting things for the kids to do. You will eventually make your way to this area once you have passed through the Dangerous Lagoon (more on that in my son’s review).
When you walk in you see a large fresh water tank with a current running through it. This is the beginning of the Canadian Waters Gallery featuring 17 exhibits. The Great Lakes Exhibit (see pictures above) is so wonderful. The girls and I just stood there mesmerized as we watched the fish swim in a circle. When you put your face up close to the glass it’s like you are right there, in the stream with them. You feel as if you are swimming with the school of fish. Some of the featured creatures were: Alewife, Largemouth Bass, American Lobster, Wolf Eel, Lumpfish, Giant Pacific Octopus, China Rockfish.
(R) You have no idea how big this lobster was. It.was.huge. (L) I love this lobster because it was an electric blue colour.
Giant Pacific Kelp grows two stories high. They are part of the The Pacific Kelp Exhibit which features a wave maker that simulates the surge conditions of the British Columbia shoreline. It is housed in almost 360,00 litres of water. The way in which the kelp sways in the water, the contrast of colours and the sheer size the stems makes this a very interesting exhibition.
The highlight of Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada has to be the full emersion inside the Dangerous Lagoon. The lagoon is inhabited by Sand Tiger Sharks, Sandbar Sharks, Roughtail Stingrays, Green Sawfish and green sea turtles. As you pass through on a moving walkway, you are completed surrounded by these magnificent creatures. You also have the option of walking through the exhibit but the leisurely speed that this human conveyor belt works at seem just the right speed to take everything in without missing too much . You will see majestic stingrays ‘fly overhead. Can you believe that Saw head short above me? Try as I may, this was one of the only pictures that turn out. All those sea creatures are fast, fast, fast!
We also took the time to watch the Stingray & Shark show. Lead by a knowledgeable Aquarium staff member, she told all of us about the Stingrays habits and habitat. There was an assistant in full scuba gear in the tank feeding the fish. I was so great to see.
It is costly to attend Ripley’s (Adults are $30, Students (6-13) & Seniors $19.95 and children $9.95 (3-5)). There is a $5 discount if you enter after 7 or if you gave a group of ten or more. If you are interested in a group rate, you must contact Ripley’s at least three days before your visit. Visiting in the evening may be a better time to go if you have older children or teens. I would imagine there would be fewer young families (and their strollers) at the aquarium. If I were to do this again (and I am pretty certain I will), I would chose to go in the evening. I cannot deny it was our choice to go on a busy holiday morning but as you can imagine, it was packed on New Year’s Eve. I would suggest calling them to find out when is a good time to go if you want less people around.
Without a doubt, this has to be one of Toronto’s premier family attractions. Don’t let little children gawking at the wonders of the sea scare you off if you are an adult, I would think this would be a great ‘date’ night idea. Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada has lots of different programs and events that would be appealing to anyone. From Jazz night every 2nd Friday of the Month to a romantic dinner for two for St. Valentine’s Day or hosting a corporate event the backdrop would be stunning.
If however you want a memory-making experience for your children, Ripley’s Aquarium can host a thematic birthday party, a more adventurous Stingray experience (where you don a wet suit and get to spend some time with the stingrays) or maybe your kids want a longer more in-depth learning experience, you can currently book Day Camps during March Break
Details you need to know:
Open 365 days a year, 7 days a week!
Open 9 am – 11 pm (with earlier closing if there is a private function – check their online calendar).
Address:
288 Bremner Boulevard
Toronto ON
M5V 3L9
Phone: (647) 351-FISH (3474)
Find them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Disclosure: Our family were guests of Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. I am happy to provide review. It was a wonderful experience and I was happy that we had this opportunity to go as a family. All opinions are my own.
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I had no idea that Ripley’s had an aquarium. This is so exciting! My 5 month old is obsessed with fish and turtles. My husband and I have been compiling a list of aquariums to take her to when she is older. This just made the list! Thanks!!
We loved the Ripley’s Aquarium. It’s great for all ages!
Love your pictures!
What a great review! I’ve never been to Ripley’s Aquarium but I have heard really fantastic things about it.
I absolutely love aquariums and it looks like y’all had a great time. They just opened up one here in San Antonio and my boys loved it. The one you went to is way bigger though. 17 exhibits is a lot compared to ours, I can’t imagine what our boys would do with all that.
Thanks for dropping by. I love San Antonio! I was there for a conference a few years back and had a wonderful time.
I’ve only been to two Aquariums in my life, one in Hawaii and one in South Carolina, both while on vacation. However, I’m loving this one, the play area is awesome looking. I love going to Zoos and Aquariums to check out the different animals.
I would think the aquarium on either one of those coasts would be amazing. The fish you could get to see in the south pacific would be amazing.
We LOVE Ripley’s Aquarium. My kids still go on and on about it. We are anxious to go back someday. So much to see and do!
It really is a ‘must -return ‘ attraction. We’ll be back for sure.
We have been dreaming of taking the kids there since they opened in T.O. With a big family it does get for pricey. I really wish places such as Ripley’s had discounts for big families so we can also enjoy entertainment like this with our children. It was possible when they were tiny but man it get expensive now that they are growing 🙂
Your pictures are beautiful but I am sure it is twice as beautiful in person! Thanks for sharing!
Surprisingly, this is one place we haven’t had the chance to take the kids yet. Thank you for the review and great photos.
My friend lives across the street from the aquarium and I have been watching the building of this attraction. It is on my list to go visit next time I am in Toronto. I have to see the electric blue lobster!
I have been meaning to take my girls there. We need a family weekend in Toronto soon.
That is amazing, I loved all of your photos. We have an aquarium a couple of hours from us but they don’t have everything this aquarium does. I have never seen a blue lobster before nor one as big as this one is. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a saw fish before either. It really does look like a saw. Thanks so much for sharing your adventure and especially your photos.
Wow, what an amazing looking aquarium. It looks like a place which kids would enjoy for sure. Seems like a great day out is to be had here. I wish we had something like this where I live. Can’t believe it’s open 365 days a year though, do people really visit on Christmas Day?
Our family loves aquariums! This really looks like an impressive one, too, and a pretty good deal. My son would just love to have his birthday party there (if we lived there). I don’t know if I could go in the Dangerous Lagoon! I can be kind of claustrophobic and “full emersion” sounds scary!
Oh wow I never knew that there was Ripley’s Aquarium, I have been to the “museum” in New Jersey but that is so amazing and cool to see that they have an aquarium. That is definitely a sight to see. Great photos as well. Thanks for sharing!
LOVE the blue lobster. I still have to get there. I know my kids would enjoy it. I was intending to go when it opened and then we just got busy. Can’t wait to read H man’s review of this venue. I know it will be spectacular!
This looks like so much fun! My son would have a blast. And I know that I would too. I love aquariums. I’ve never been to a sting ray and shark show, but it sounds like it would be a great time. Btw, you got some awesome pictures. I always have a hard time getting any good pics when I’m at the aquarium.
What an amazing aquarium! I love sandbar sharks – when I was in Disney for my wedding I went into the shark tank at SeaWorld and just fell in love with them. I can’t believe how inexpensive it is to go to the aquarium too – in the UK it’s so much more with fewer attractions. If I was little I’d definitely want my birthday party there!
How COOL! I’ve never been to Toronto (or even Canada) before, but this looks like such a fun place. The freshwater tank, especially, is so, so beautiful! Thanks for sharing about this place and including such great images!!!
That is so awesome there are 17 different exhibits! I’ve never been to Toronto before, but I think I will be head there sometime this summer to visit friends. The stingray and shark show sounds pretty interesting and I would like to check that out. Also, that electric blue lobster is super cool and would be awesome to see in person!
I loved it Samantha. It was worth the crowds and patiently circumventing the strollers. Hope you get to Toronto it’s a fun town.