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845 Avison Way
Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2
Neighbourhood: Coal Harbour
(604) 659-3474
Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2
Neighbourhood: Coal Harbour
(604) 659-3474
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9:30 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
67 reviews for Vancouver Aquarium
All Reviews
Vancouver Aquarium
8/19/2010
This is probably the best aquarium I have been to and they didn't even have any penguins!
The food offerings are minimal and honestly, not very good but hopefully, they save the good stuff for the fish and other animals!
There were so many interesting exhibits, dolphin shows/feedings, otters, and Beluga whales. I had never seen a Beluga before in person, but I kept singing the Raffi song and sadly, couldn't get it out of my head!
The rainforest area was a little too humid for my comfort, but the frogs, butterflies and birds in here were awesome.
We were lucky enough that my brother-in-law, sister-in-law and nephew drove up from Bellingham to join us on our adventure here as well as a couple of other trips so it made the whole experience that much better!
Vancouver Aquarium
8/24/2010
We toured the aquarium. It is a tight space inside with some nice tropical and native fish exhibits. We enjoyed the dolphin and sea otter show but it was outside and exposed to rain rain rain.
We allowed 2.5 hours and that was not enough time to see the place. We missed the whale show because there was not enough time.
I would recommend it to any age group. The personnel who worked with the show animals were kind to them and well informed.
The place was clean. The tanks were clean. We bought a package
with the trolley and got to by pass the lines and use the member line which did move us along to get in at opening time.
Vancouver Aquarium
8/22/2010
Coming back post teenage years, and post grade school years, and thoroughly enjoyed the Aquarium.
The aquarium is still a great offering to families, kids, and a great date location. Looking at all the fishes and more was fun and interesting.
The guides and staff were all friendly and the environment was relaxing and fun.
Still learning alot from this place even as an adult now.
The 4D theatre wasn't working in the morning but got to catch the Planet Earth Shallow Seas feature and that was quite an interesting experience. I believe its the only 4D theatre in Canada?
The Amazon Zone is still my favourite with some of the most exotic animals and fishes.
Vancouver Aquarium
9/1/2010
I'm definitely a fan of the Vancouver Aquarium ... loved the Beluga show the best ... the Beluga whale is super cute ... I'm pretty sure it waived at me as I was a front row seater :D
Vancouver Aquarium
There is something a bit self-congratulatory about the new California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. So open. So green. So politically correct. The cafes are so gourmet. Maybe that's why I prefer the Vancouver Aquarium more. You gotta have a kitsch factor... something where they can manipulate animals to do stupid pet tricks to the amusement of iPhone-bearing camera hogs. That be me. Not the animal... the hog. Well, I guess it depends what kind of animal.
Regardless, the hourly dolphin show is what makes this aquarium a must - especially since you need to go to Stanley Park anyway. Three flippers doing splashy somersaults or torpedo-speed swimming, while the trainers give them their fishy rewards after each trick (see photos). They also have two-toned sea otters that float on their backs (see photo). How can you go wrong with kid-friendly entertainment like that? I ain't no ichthyologist. Stop judging me!
The rest of the aquarium is more than worthwhile to visit. It's your standard tank-and-stare set-up with everything from beluga whales to seahorses. The scene stealers always seem to be the iridescent jellyfish (see photos) and them mondo frogs perched on rocks looking so bored with it all. Admission after July 1 is a whopping $27, but I remind myself that they operate a multitude of conservation and research programs aimed at understanding and preserving all sorts of sea-surviving species. But I want to see Spinnaker do that high jump again... stop judging me!
Listed in: Vancouver, Victoria, Veni,…
Vancouver Aquarium
8/8/2010
No matter how many times I come here, I can never get tired of the Vancouver Aquarium. Some of the coolest things are:
1) the huge floor to ceiling tanks
2) the sloth and the Tarzier monkeys in the Rainforest display
3) the dainty and beautiful seahorses
4) the playful sea otters
5) the starfish and jellyfish
Lsting them does not do the Aquarium justice. You needd to visit this place yourself.
Vancouver Aquarium
7/19/2010
I actually don't get tired of this place. EVER.
As a local, this is still a fun adventure to take friends or a significant other.
Always fun is saying hi to the REALLY fat beluga. and "awww-ing" over the sea otters.
sooooo cute.
This space is also available for field trips and parties and it's sooo much fun for those things.
Vancouver Aquarium
7/22/2010
Sing it with me...."Baby beluga in the deep blue see, swim so far and swim so free..."
This place is fun. Plain and simple. Here is my quick and dirty rundown.
My favs:
- Dolphin and beluga shows: such beautiful animals and they still seem pretty happy doing those same old tricks.
- That massive fish in the 'Rainforest fish' display. One of the true "air breathing fish" (it comes up for air every 10-20 minutes). Crazy big fish, how DID YOU GET SO BIG?
- Electric blue tree frog. Wow. Good thing you are poisonous cause even a blind albino tree sloth could see you.
- The encouragement of speakers at the dolphin and beluga shows for people to consider their footprints on the environments and even giving suggestions.
My not favs:
- The tanks that the dolphins and belugas are in. Way way too small. Made me sad for them. (Raffi probably wasn't singing about these beluga's)
- The extremely significant number of tantrum-ing kids. Screams...cries...."I WANT A HOT DOG". Make sure you get enough sleep before you go here.
And the trip to Stanley Park makes it a really great outing!
Vancouver Aquarium
5/30/2010
This place is pretty awesome. Lots of nice exhibits and you can get really close to the best animals the beluga, dolphins, otters, sea lions, it is pretty cool. I love the coho salmon, if your a fisherman you'll enjoy the attention they get here. It is so important to protect these guys.
The place is huge on sustainability, the 4d show is an example. They take the glasses you wear and recycle them by cleaning them after each use. Also all proceeds go to research and helping the aquarium in its cool of educating the public of our friendly neighborhood sealife.
There are a ton of kids running around so pick a good day to show up if your with an older group. You could do the whole aquarium in a bit 3 - 4 hours so plan to do something else while your in town.
I highly recommend visiting. This aquarium is the best thing on the west coast North America, second only to sea world in San Diego.
Vancouver Aquarium
6/2/2010
6 photos
When you don't have kids, and you don't plan on having kids, sometimes its nice to have friends who can rent out their children to you so you can visit places like the Vancouver Aquarium. Besides, I am sure your friends need a break from their kids as well. About four of us headed out to the Aquarium with one child in tow, four memberships were purchased for about $58 (adult price) and with the purchase of a membership you get a guest pass, so I skipped the $22 admittance fee and got in for free! Hell yea!
It gets pretty crowded at the Aquarium on weekends, especially in the afternoon on sunny days, which is exactly when we showed up. The only thing I really missed was the dolphin show because it gets pretty packed for that, and nobody wants to get in the way of the screaming children because they only get louder. I am happy to report that all of the dolphins at the Vancouver Aquarium are rescues, so I didn't have to feel any guilt after seeing "The Cove," and all the money the Aquarium makes goes back into the conservation of the animals.
(I hope.)
The Aquarium is a great place to visit because it is in Stanley Park, and you could easily waste a day away in the Park without even visiting the Aquarium. There is a bus downtown called the "19 Stanley Park" which will drop you off really close to the Aquarium as well, so you don't have to worry about driving your car and paying for parking. So borrow someone's kids and make it a date!
Vancouver Aquarium
5/21/2010
I love this place - but not nearly as much as my 3yo son has for the last 2 years.
Initially he was captivated by the huge fish in the Amazon fish tank. Now the biggest draw is probably the shark/turtle/ray tank.
Other draws include the underwater dolphin viewing area where the dolphins will come and interact with you at the window on cloudy days. Neat to see the sea otter tank right after feeding when they are actively racing around the tank - but also neat to see them floating quietly in tranquil times. The Jellyfish tanks are impressive as well.
The member programs are great too. You get to visit with during less busy periods - including preferred access to restricted viewing areas. We got to see a very active sloth (go figure) during the last Twilight Tuesday.
They have a great environmental policy as well with lots of programs for animal rescue and protection.
Vancouver Aquarium
5/22/2010
I'm 5 years old all over again whenever I'm at the Vancouver Aquarium. The rainforest exhibit is probably one of my favorites and the jellyfish are visually amazing. Its location is perfect as it is nestled right in Stanley Park.
Good place for a 2nd or 3rd date, too! On those visits however, you cannot pretend that you're five years old. I think that's why I never got the 4th date.
Vancouver Aquarium
3/19/2010
Huge aquarium. TONS of stuff to look at. Well kept, neat, clean. Very spacious to run around for kids. Knowledgeable and courteous staff.
Excellent exhibits. All around great!!
Vancouver Aquarium
12/15/2009
3 photos
I heart Vancouver Aquarium! And I am glad that Vancouver Aquarium to be my 300th review! Woohoo!
My husband and I visit this aquarium every time we come to Vancouver. As it is located in Stanley Park, I love taking a long walk through the park and visit the aquarium in a sunny day :)
I love looking at the beluga whales! Sea Otters and other little sea creatures are always fun too.. Butterflies, turtles (this area is kind of like a zoo) and raccoons... oh wait, those raccoons were the wild ones living in the park :)
This time our visit to the Aquarium was to participate in the 2009 Ocean Wise Chowder Chowdown. VA is actively involved in conservation of sea-life and helping the local restaurants to chose environmentally sustainable seafood.
At this chowder event, 10 local chefs cooked up some seriously delicious chowders. Not only it was cool that you could get to taste all kinds of chowders, paired with locally brewed beers, but also we were able to eat chowders looking at the sea creature tanks. It was really amazing event that Vancouver Aquarium has hosted such an event.
Great for children, adults, adults with children or children with adults, or adults only, or family with children... whatever... you got the idea.
What a cool place to visit for everyone!
Vancouver Aquarium
6/10/2010
One of the smaller aquariums I've been to. Good number of different displays though. Bonus points for the 4D movie, dolphin show and watching the otter feeding. Beluga whales are cool as well. Not very active though, are they?
Vancouver Aquarium
10/14/2009
I'd drive from Seattle, WA (where we have our own aquarium) to Vancouver ANY DAY!
While visiting BC my brother and I paid a visit to beautiful Stanley Park. The Vancouver Aquarium, situated in the park, is among one of the best aquariums I've been to. (Don't forget to check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California!)
Two HUGE things about the aquarium that make me love it:
-Baluga whales. I'd never seen one! They're fascinating.
-Sloths! There's a rain forest exhibit and they actually have sloths (my fav animal) perched up in "trees."
There are tons of exhibits. Another great part to check out is the jellyfish area. Make sure to bring your camera .. they look otherworldly.
Listed in: Culture Vultures
Vancouver Aquarium
1/23/2010
1 photo
Worth it for the otters & beluga whales alone, but the incredible assortment of jellyfish is an impressive bonus.
They have several otters, and both times I've been there, they're active and playful.
Last week we saw a few baby belugas (Raffi would be happy) and an adult or two perform some tricks which were pretty cool.
And they have a new "4D" movie experience which I wish we could've seen - gives us a reason to visit a third time!
And with a sweet location in amazing Stanley Park, there's no reason not to visit if you're in Vancouver.
Vancouver Aquarium
11/14/2009
I was hesitant to visit the Vancouver Aquarium, because 2- weeks prior I had visited the CA Academy of Science and was disappointed. The fish didn't seem to have much area to move around.
On my last day in Vancouver, it happened to rain, so I decided to park the car in Stanley Park and visit. I am glad I did, because I enjoyed seeing the sea otters, dolphins, and beluga whales!
This place kicks the SF aquarium's ass, because it's a mix between aquarium and zoo!
If you are in Vancouver for a decent amount of time, please visit the aquarium!
Vancouver Aquarium
1/31/2010
Too bad the killer whales are gone. That was the highlight of the aquarium. I'll compare Vanouver Aquarium to Sea World in San Diego. Vancouver Aquarium was superior to Sea World because one doesn't have to walk too far to each of the viewing areas and Vancouver Aquarium had killer whales back in the days. However, right now Sea World is superior to Vancouver aquarium because Sea World has killer whales and Vancouver Aquarium doesn't have it anymore. The experience of Vanouver Aquarium is almost like going to a very nice pet shop aquarium.
Vancouver Aquarium is a very nice place to visit for the kids, out of town visitors, and locals who have an interest with the ocean. If you like really big exotic fish, you won't see it here. Too bad. Aquarium needs upgrades!
Vancouver Aquarium
5/2/2010
The aquarium is definitely one of the highlights on the Vancouver tourist trail. Nestled in the fabulous Stanley Park the aquarium packs a lot into what is a relatively small space. Highlights definitely include the personable otters, hauntingly beautiful belugas and the Amazonian display. Alongside this the bright and brilliant jellyfish and the 4D show are also worth a look.
Vancouver Aquarium
7/6/2010
Next to Graville Island, this is my 2nd fave place to visit in Vancouver. I love the 4D show, I can watch the jellyfish all day and the rainforest exhibit is great. We waited patiently to see the baby beluga whales and were not disappointed.
Vancouver Aquarium
10/25/2009
I forgot how much fun the aquarium is... it has been... maybe 15 years since I last went in... and not that I can remember much of it either.
The place was full of exotic creatures, and fun activities for people of all ages - the jelly fish are my favourite.. full of different sizes and colours.. really pretty!
The 4-D experience was awesome... I even shrieked in total embarrassment.. I think some of the 10 year olds are braver than me.. but a must see at the aquarium.
I was able to catch the beluga show, and see some awesome porpoises, sea otters and so much more... really can't explain it all... if you like fish and like seeing the world of waters, and the species in the hot tropics.. it's something to check out......
Comparing to the Hong Kong Aquarium, the Vancouver aquarium is a much smaller version because the Hong Kong Aquarium is really out of this world.... but I think that Vancouver has done good for itself.
Vancouver Aquarium
10/23/2009
I've already been to the Vancouver Aquarium twice and I haven't been to the Seattle one yet. Oh and I live in Seattle.
Belugas, sea otters, giant Amazonian fish, jellyfish, what more could you ask for? The variety is endless! I love animals and these were really awesome.
The beluga exhibit was AWESOME! There were two young belugas and they were ADORABLE!!! The trainer also made the adult belugas do tricks too and it was really impressive!
The gift shop also has awesome gadgets and souvenirs to check out.
The people who work at the aquarium are also very good at their jobs and professional... basically, this place is awesome, in a nutshell! A must visit in Vancouver!
Vancouver Aquarium
10/15/2009
Not too shabby. Smallish location hidden within Stanley Park, with a lot of different exhibits. Beluga whales were definitely worth checking out since they are a rare sight for many. Jelly fish were also a favorite of mine. Worth checking out, but only allocating a few hours to.
This place doesn't compare to the Shedd or Monterey Bay Aquariums.
Vancouver Aquarium
11/20/2009
2 photos
I had a lot of fun at the Vancouver Aquarium.
Looking at all the fish and sea creatures was fun and fascinating. My advice - grab a map! That place is like a maze! We actually had a map and still had to ask someone for directions.
The birds and the butterflies were beautiful.
We attended the 4-D show as well and it was really fun. It was cheesy, but fun. I admit that I did jump a couple times but that was the fun part. I think they overdid the water spray a little bit but the kids in the audience loved it!
If you're going to Vancouver, check it out. It's a good time!
Vancouver Aquarium
7/6/2009
I buy my membership every year then never go during the summer, but when the hordes have returned to where ever hordes come from (I'm thinking Genghis, no photo untaken here), I dress warm get my coffee and enjoy the wane winter sun beside the Beluga pool, watching them bobble about.
It is a great aquarium and does good research and is extremely pleasant to drive over to on a Sunday after brunch in the winter, so all you Vancouverites, buy that membership and use it often, a small donation wouldn't hurt.
Vancouver Aquarium
3/11/2009
This place is smaller than I thought it would be, but it's got a lot of heart.
It was hard to find after getting off the bus, but that's probably just my lousy sense of direction.
It won't take you very long to walk through here, but you will get a lot of awesome pictures. The dolphins and the frogs were my favorite.
Listed in: Le Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Aquarium
5/2/2009
Excellent aquarium, right up there with the Shedd in Chicago. The hall with sea creatures from various spots along the BC coast is both fantastic and educational. They have a great section of jellyfish and they've recently added four-eyed fish and mudskippers.
I've been a number of times, this time we actually saw both the sloths (there are two!) out and about, and saw the new bat and marmoset exhibits. The bat exhibit was the best thing - I've never seen anything like it before; totally different from seeing bats in the wild. I'd definitely recommend a visit, and check out their marine mammal rescue info online - they do some great work.
Vancouver Aquarium
4/12/2009
I found that the place was ok. However, I think that the under water mammals such as the Beluga Whales and Sea Otters need a bigger tank to swim in. These mammals are supposed to be able to live in wide open spaces as opposed to swimming around in circles in a confined tank.
There is much to see within a smallish building, but they do need to have proper ventillation systems I think.
Vancouver Aquarium
2/10/2009
It's not the biggest nor the best aquarium ever - the Boston Aquarium is bigger and the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach has better exhibits - but I think that the Vancouver Aquarium is still one of my very favorite aquariums that I've ever been to. Perhaps it's just sentimentality or whatever, but I absolutely love this place. And now that I have a little girl who just loved all the exhibits, I even love it more.
Maybe my favorite part of the aquarium is the Amazon exhibit, especially the Arapaimas. They are HUGE and crazy looking and fascinating. The other fish in the Arapaimas tank are also obscenely large and it's got one of the best windows to watch them.
The Belugas are really beautiful and Tiqa - the baby - is wonderful. And the aquarium is expecting another baby sometime soon. Woo!
I hadn't been to the Aquarium since they got rid of the Orca exhibit. I liked the Orca show, but we all know that it wasn't a large enough exhibit for these poor animals and I was happy to see the dolphins occupying the old Orca exhibit.
There are some things that need to be improved and I wish that there were more interactive exhibits and touch pools, but I still love the place and will probably always make it a part of a Vancouver trip, especially if we bring the kids.
Vancouver Aquarium
5/26/2009
Had a great Sunday afternoon here. While it's quite small, there's a lot to see and do, so if you plan on seeing the whole thing arrive early (this will also help avoid the potentially huge crowds).
The exhibits themselves are beautiful and plentiful, with marine life from all over the world, including an entire exhibit on local wildlife. The jelly exhibit was my favourite, they're so peaceful looking, you can't help but relax when you see them gracefully moving through the water.
If you want to see the dolphin show, I suggest you line up 15 minutes before start time, or you'll be enjoying the back of someone's head rather than the talented and hyperactive dolphins.
As for the Beluga, yes, the tank could be bigger, but it's hardly the cup of water some of the other reviews make it out to be. The Belugas have ample room to swim around and stretch their uh.. fins.
My only gripe about this place is that it could be more educational: more plaques, diagrams, videos, etc. It's fascinating to see the animals this close, but the brief paragraph they provide hardly does the majesty, beauty, and complexity of these creatures justice.
Vancouver Aquarium
4/27/2009
The Vancouver Aquarium is a great place to take children, whether they are your own or are borrowed from others. Also a good place to go if you want to do something you don't normally do and you have $20 in your pocket to spend.
The aquarium is pretty neat, loads of fish and they still have whales. It has the education component as well if you like to learn about sea life. My favorites in the aquarium are definately the beluga whales and sea otters, as well as the electric eels.
Definately a must see for a family outting or for curious travellers.
Vancouver Aquarium
12/16/2008
I gotta give 5 stars for the dolphin that kept jumping up to say hi to me. Everyone started to crowd around as he came up above the surface and eyed me several times. Then just when the dolphin got everyone to come close and surround me, he swiftly jumps up all the way out of the water and SPLAASSSHHH, everyone got wet. Then he stuck his tail out of the water and waved goodbye. That was awesome.
They got cool beluga whales and sea otters here too. And a tropical rainforest area just like Cal Academy of Sciences, but here they got a cool parrot that says hello.
And remember, you're a student ok?
Listed in: Vancouver and Richmond, BC
Vancouver Aquarium
12/8/2008
I really loved the Vancouver Aquarium. I was lucky enough to go on a weekday and it wasn't too crowded. Lots to see and I could have stayed there all day!
The rockstars were the beluga whales and sea otters. These were the same otters as the otters holding hands (paws?) video: http://www.youtube.com...
AWWWWW. CUUUUUUTE!
Definitely go and visit to see the rockstars in action!
Vancouver Aquarium
3/16/2009
I've only been to the Seattle Aquarium.
With that said, I was BLOWN AWAY by this aquarium. So many exhibits! So well presented - so much variety! I can't imagine they get better then this.
On a rainy/snowy day, you can see EVERYTHING indoors; all the pools have lots of underwater viewing windows. On a sunny day, you can go outside and see the whales, see otters, dolphins and more from the top of the water.
The Jellyfish exhibit was awesome. I didn't realize there was so many kinds. And I didn't realize how beautiful they are; absolutely memorizing.
We took our 4 year old and 1 year old girls. They both had a great time and LOVED it all. This is a VERY kid and ADULT friendly destination.
I can't say more then what has already been said. If your in Vancouver, GO HERE! Especially if you have a rainy day on your hands.
Vancouver Aquarium
1/3/2009
I love this aquarium. Whenever we are in Vancouver we have to come here. I'm a huge aquarium buff and love the variety and layout of this place.
They have a huge pool in the front which is great to look over and descend the stairs to see. I usually drag everyone to the tropical section to stare at the huge piranhas and catfish. They are a hit with adults and kids. They also have monkeys and turtles in that section.
There is a great exhibit of the underwater layout of the various regions of the the Northwest. Very education and beautiful.
There is plenty of action outside with the belugas and otters. They just had a new baby beluga girl so that was great to go visit. We skip the dolphins. I don't like those jerks. Also, the food is pricey but supports the aquarium and that's fine with me.
Vancouver Aquarium
1/12/2009
I love this aquarium! The dolphins were so friendly! They were waving at us and trying to splash us. It was sooooooo cute. The famous otters from youtube were just as cute. I like the variety of sea life that they have here.
The California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco apparently thinks this aquarium is great... because 2 of 4 main exhibits is directly copied from this aquarium: the tropical rain forest and the tank exhibits. CAS has a planetarium theater and living roof, but it certainly does not beat the cute mammals that the Vancouver Aquarium has.
Vancouver Aquarium
9/14/2009
Yes, it is somewhat smaller, as aquariums go. But this will exhaust you if you spend a whole day here. There's so much to see and while there may not be piles of information to read, you'll want to stare open mouthed at most of the exhibits.
If you need a seat, go chill with the belugas or dolphins in one of the underwater viewing areas. Also, the best aquarium food I've found-- salmon burger is great!
Vancouver Aquarium
1/10/2009
What an awesome place. Coming from San Diego and the home of Shamu, it would take a lot to impress me aquarium-wise. The Vancouver Aquarium did not disappoint.
$20 Canadian dollars gets you in and there are about 4 or 5 different areas including outside dolphin, beluga whale and sea otter pools. Definitely a 'can't miss' if you're in the Vancouver area.
One for the plus column: the place didn't have that musty moldy smell most aquariums tend to harbor. Also, watching dolphin tricks while it's snowing?? Can't see that in San Diego....
Vancouver Aquarium
10/23/2008
Kinda cool. They have some dolphins and a few belugas. They're next to the otters and the harbor seals.
Since it's vaguely near Halloween, they had a ninja behind a table displaying some assorted stuffs that went 'boo' and startled me. They were wearing an outfit and a mask the same color as the background. Tricky! AQUARIUM NINJAS. LOOK OUT!
Besides that, there is a collection of semi-interesting regional fish. Kinda neat, I guess. Not exactly worth the $20, but entertaining enough.
