Ripley's Aquarium of Canada

We recently visited Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, courtesy of my sis and bro-in-law. 

It was so much fun!

They have five huge aquariums, each focused on a different kind of fish or different region of the world.  My favorite was the Rainbow Reef, as it reminded me of all the fun days I had in Fiji, snorkeling amongst these fish, spearfishing for them late at night - and yes, eating them when they were oh so fresh.

All of this coral was handcarved from cement, then covered with rubber, then painted with aquarium-safe paint.  It took them five months to do it!

Planet Jellies was also fun - Helena enjoyed how the jellyfish changed colors, from white to orange to pink.  We're pretty sure the effect was done by the lighting but we didn't tell her that! 

The biggest tank, Dangerous Lagoon, had a moving walkway take you all around it.  A great way to manage crowd control but it also helped you feel like you were one of the fish, just slowly swimming through the water.

 Benjamin had lots of fun for the first half of the day.  He kept reaching out, trying to snag a fish, not understanding there was glass dividing us.  The second half of the day he was absolutely zonked.

There were three different touch tanks, allowing you to touch helmet crabs, tiger sharks, and sting rays.  All of them were a bit slimy.

 Helena's favorite part - the tunnel which was surrounded by sharks.  She wanted someone to go with her the first four times but then she went "by her own" over and over and over again.  

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada - if visiting Toronto with kids, it's definitely worth a stop!