If seeing hippos up shut is on your loved ones’s bucket record, you’re in luck as a result of the solely aquarium on this planet the place you’ll be able to see them is on the Journey Aquarium in Camden, NJ. If that’s not spectacular sufficient, there’s extra—this aquarium (rated #8 within the nation by USA Right this moment) additionally has the biggest assortment of sharks within the Northeast and is considered one of solely six services in the US to have Little Blue Penguins. On a latest go to, we had a unbelievable day of interactive enjoyable, from the shark bridge to the Shark Tunnel to over 15,000 aquatic animals. Able to spend a day right here? Scroll down for what you should know earlier than you go. And while you’re in Camden, don’t miss the Battleship New Jersey and close by Philadelphia, with its distinctive issues to do. (featured photograph credit score: @vikki_1110)
A Day at Journey Aquarium
Saying whats up to the hippos at Journey Aquarium. Photograph Credit score: @amycalzone
Go to with the hippos at Journey Aquarium
Strolling into Hippo Haven was a memorable expertise and the scale and sheer presence of the hippos is a sense we received’t overlook. The 2 residents—Button and Genny— are available at a whopping 3,000+ kilos every, and we might see them at angles each above and underneath the water. Encountering these Nile hippos was a one-of-a-kind deal with, and each my children (us, too) had been in awe of such lovely creatures. Although we didn’t have time, we hope to improve our tickets and take a step behind the scenes to immerse ourselves in a Hippo Encounter subsequent time.
Take a stroll by way of their 40-foot shark tunnel, the place sharks encompass you at each angle. Photograph Credit score: @danamarie127
See sharks in an entire new approach
My son and daughter each stated the sharks had been a must-see, and we discovered many attention-grabbing methods to see them. We began with a mesmerizing stroll by way of the 40-foot shark tunnel—it’s an expertise that put us proper in on the motion, and it felt just like the Sandbar, Sandtiger, and Nurse Sharks had been coming proper for us. It was a spot we couldn’t simply stroll by way of with out oohing and ahhing at each predator that swam by—we stayed for a short while as a result of there was a lot to see. What got here subsequent, although, was much more spectacular. We hopped onto the longest, V-shaped rope shark suspension bridge on this planet, hovering above the 21-foot-deep Shark Realm exhibit. My children had been braver than me and walked the 81-foot stroll over 550,000 gallons of water with out trepidation. It was a memorable and thrilling method to see the sharks. After that, we couldn’t miss the Contact a Shark tank, the place the youngsters might pet a Bamboo Shark within the water—they had been thrilled!
Don’t miss the Penguin Park exhibit to be taught extra and catch a glimpse of the tiny infants. Photograph Credit score: @morgantilton
A number of Penguin Enjoyable
We thought we would have liked slightly break, so we headed to Penguin Park, with a comfortable play space within the out of doors a part of the aquarium. As the youngsters performed on the gear, we couldn’t miss the African Penguins waddling, swimming, and taking part in of their out of doors habitat. Again inside, we noticed the smallest species of penguins on this planet, the Little Blue Penguins, often known as “fairy penguins” for his or her slate-blue plumage and small stature. They’re native to southern Australia and New Zealand, and Camden Journey Aquarium is without doubt one of the few aquariums you’ll be able to see these lovely birds within the U.S. We discovered that they’re a diurnal species, they usually spend essentially the most important a part of their day swimming and foraging at sea. Additionally they preen their feathers to maintain them waterproof by rubbing a tiny drop of oil onto each feather with a particular gland above their tails. The children had been desirous about studying extra about these curious-looking birds and particularly favored watching them waddle round.
There are such a lot of issues to see underneath the ocean at Journey Aquarium. Photograph Credit score: @lauren.goblirsch
Extra Below the Sea Adventures
As we made our approach by way of the aquarium, one other spotlight was the Ocean Realm exhibit with 760,000 gallons of seawater and over 400 varieties of animals, together with stingrays and a hammerhead shark. We additionally couldn’t miss watching the Amazon come to life on the Piranha Falls exhibit, the place piranhas swim, and a “storm” occurs throughout the exhibit to show how sea life copes with swirling waters. At Pirates Passage, we noticed tropical fish and eels, however our favourite was the fragile seahorses. The spherical home windows in Sea Turtle Cove gave us a glimpse into the lives of sea turtles.
Attain out and contact sea life at Journey Aquarium. Photograph taken at Journey Aquarium.
Gasoline up
The children had been hungry, and we discovered many choices, together with sandwiches, salads, pizza, and sizzling canine. We determined to eat outdoor on the Flying Fish Beer Backyard, the place we ordered large, heat, and crusty Bavarian pretzels that had been large enough to slot in their very own mini pizza field—it was undoubtedly a favourite for us all. For those who choose to eat indoors, there’s a massive cafeteria space with a number of house to take a lunch break (and good to know, you’ll be able to carry meals in).
Discover the 21-foot-deep shark tank at Journey Aquarium and find out about sharks from all around the world. Photograph Credit score: @sarah.drzewiecki
Attain out and contact the ocean life
It’s simple to see why the contact tanks had been a giant hit with our household—because the Bamboo Shark swam by, the youngsters had been thrilled to achieve out and pet the ocean creature. On the Creature Function exhibit, there was additionally an space with seastars, anemones, and sea cucumbers. Each children had been in awe after they might maintain a seastar of their palms. At Stingray Seaside Membership, not solely did it really feel like we entered a tropical oasis, however we bought to rise up shut and private with the stingrays and contact their backs—one other spotlight on a terrific day underneath the ocean. As we emerged into actual life, we realized we had been hooked on Camden Journey Aquarium and began speaking about our subsequent go to earlier than we even bought into the automobile.
Make sure to try the Sea Turtle Encounter, the place you’ll be able to practice, tong-feed, and look after inexperienced and loggerhead sea turtles. Photograph Credit score: @theanthonycamp
What to know earlier than you goIt takes about 2-3 hours to discover the aquarium, and you should buy tickets, an annual membership, common membership, or a gold membership to enter the aquarium. You possibly can enter the aquarium as much as half-hour earlier than and after your scheduled time, and reservations are inspired. Basic admission is $18.99-$44.99, and memberships are $39.99-$59.99. Strollers are welcome; there are additionally baby-changing stations and a nursing room. The aquarium is sensory-inclusive, with sensory luggage, a chosen quiet space, and a weighted lap pad. There are particular occasions like Scarecrows of the Sea within the Fall and Christmas Underwater throughout the holidays, and through sure occasions of the yr, real-life Mermaids swim within the tanks together with the 15,000 creatures.
For extra info, go to the Journey Aquarium web site, Fb, and Instagram.
Journey Aquarium
1 Riverside Drive
Camden, NJ 08103
1-844-474-FISH (3474)
What do you propose to see first at Journey Aquarium?
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