Sharks, Rays and Squids

On Monday, August 17, we ventured to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. The kids have been excited to see sharks and other fish, and I was looking forward to trying out the aquarium setting on my new camera! Of course I had to take lots of pictures.

The outdoor exhibits were the kids favorite activities by far, especially the touch tanks and the playground. The kids were excited by the opportunity to touch rays, sharks and horseshoe crabs. Joshua had the most luck with the longest arm. Benjamin had some trouble, but managed in the end to touch a few creatures. Laura, on the other hand, stubbornly insisted that she had to try to touch every creature that swam by, and I had to frantically hold on to her (much to her annoyancy) to keep her from swimming with the rays and sharks. She did manage to dip some of her hair and head in the water in an attempt to reach the animals passing by.

Another highlight was the Children's Program in which Joshua got to play the part of the jellyfish in a skit in which Sharkalot was searching for the creature that ate his lunch. Laura kept asking me if it was her turn to go on the stage, but I told her that she has to be 6 years old. Now she keeps reminding me that we have to go back when she is old enough. She also keeps asking to go back to Adventure City so that she can ride on the roller coaster for which she was too small.