The Vancouver Aquarium
We purchased a membership to the Vancouver Aquarium when my son was just 6 months old and we went at least once or twice a month within the year.
We paid a total of $150 (not including taxes) for my Husband and I as C was still free (3 and under are free). Normal cost for one adult is $31, yes pretty expensive so if you plan on coming more than once a month the membership is worth the purchase.
For more information regarding the perks of purchasing a membership, click here.
There is a lot to see at the aquarium as there are a number of shows available to watch. We watched the penguins, dolphins and the beluga whale shows and our son had a great time! My family and I would mostly go on the weekends so we expected crowds, and we purposely avoided visiting the aquarium during long weekends because there was no parking and it was too crowded! The majority of visitors had children so strollers were the cause of most traffic jams in the halls.
They have an in-house cafe that serves your typical fast-food meals like burgers, hot dogs, salads and fries. Prices are high but that's expected, as a member you get a %15 discount so don't forget to show them your member card.
Pros:
- Our son LOVED visiting the aquarium! The crowds and the stress of having to wait for a parking spot melted away once we saw how happy being there made him.
- Something to do together that is fun AND educational.
- Perks: Although we didn't take advantage of most of the perks, there is a lot that comes with being a member. The perks we did use was getting our brother and his daughter in without paying and the 15% discount at the cafe.
- The animals, the shows, and the kids play area (playing with star fish!) were awesome! We got to see sharks, turtles, bats, crocodiles and even the illusive sloth!
Cons:
- Over-crowded: Running after a toddler is hard enough but zig zagging through a crowd of people without losing sight of your mover and shaker is INSANE.
- Pay parking
- Wait time: There isn't nearly enough parking spaces available, at least when we went. We had to wait 15 - 30 minutes for a parking spot to open up almost every time we visited.
Verdict:
Purchasing the membership was totally worth it for us since we visited a couple of times a month. It was definitely a nice one-time purchase but we fully intend on becoming members again once our daughter is a bit older. I recommend purchasing a membership once your children are over 1.
For more information about the Vancouver Aquarium:
Website: http://www.vanaqua.org