I've been to a number of aquariums around the country and have enjoyed most of them very much, but I am tickled purple with this amazing, landlocked aquarium located in my own backyard!What is even more funny/ironic about the Rio Grande Aquarium is that the land that it, and the Botanic Gardens, are located on, was land that 15 years ago, John and I used to walk our dogs on. It was the grassy park directly across the street from our first apartment home in Albuquerque, The Beach Apartments (built by the famous architect, Antoine Predock). And now that very same land occupies one of the most creatively designed, educational, imaginative zoological resources that I could have ever wished for, within a half hour from our house.
Jackson & Jeremiah & Jenna really seemed to enjoy their visit. There was much to see, but without being overwhelming, or with lots of small, non-impressive tanks. All of the displays were monumentally impressive and made us linger to study and learn more about each animal.
One of our favorites was the Manta Ray tank, where the rays came right up to touch our hands and splash water on us. There were also live free-roaming seagulls almost within touching distance, which was very neat being that most aquariums would not have free-flying birds, but it made the ocean display very realistic.
One of my favorite fishes has always been the Jawfish, a small, eel shaped territorial fish that slides tail first into a hole and patrols it's territory with such tenaciousness that borders on obsession and silliness. I can't get enough of watching them.
In one of the bigger tanks, which is a huge coral reef display, my other favorite fish, the colorful parrot fish swam all around.
There was also a Koi pond display that was interesting, in that it explained the origins and importance of Koi to the Japanese,and also described the beautiful coloring and marking of each fish.
Jackson & Jeremiah like the Ship 'museum' area alot. There were glass enclosed large wooden sailing ship models, with a little history on each one. It was interesting for them, I think, because the display was in a lower area of the aquarium that felt 'cave-like' and mysterious.
