Dallas World Aquarium: Journey to wild discovery
Published: May 4, 2009
The Dallas World Aquarium and Zoological Gardens invites visitors on a journey of amazing discovery. More than just an aquarium, this urban jungle plays host to hundreds of species of birds, mammals, reptiles, plants and insects.
The entrance at the corner of Laws and Corbin Streets leads visitors through a winding ascent of tropical plants and enclosed wild birds, hinting at the adventures beyond the aquarium’s glass doors.
Inside, visitors navigate paths, tunnels and alleys leading to special exhibits of unusual creatures, including those of the Orinoco rain forest and Mundo Maya.
The Orinoco rain forest's open canopy houses numerous exotic birds and mammals — almost all of them roaming and flying freely among the plant life. In this section, visitors can encounter many animals up close, including Capuchin birds, polka-dot stingrays and the only publicly displayed three-toed sloth in the United States.
The animals and vegetation might appear to exist in a random and wild home. But it is actually organized into more than a dozen special display areas, including: Toucan Heights, the Sloth Forest, Monkey Island, the Avian Trail, Crocodile Cove, the Flooded Forest, the Cave, Bats and Bugs room and much more.
In the morning, Red Howler monkeys signal the start of the day in Howler Junction, the home they share with toucans, curassows and tortoises.
Most of the aquarium’s exotic fish call the first level of the rain forest home. The displays feature amazing animals, including leafy seadragons, Japanese cuddle fish, manatees and other water animals such as penguins and hyraxes.
The Mundo Maya section includes many reptiles, birds and mammals reflective of life in Central America. Its most amazing feature is the Cenote – a glass tunnel where patrons can experience an underwater walk with sharks, stingrays, sawfish and groupers swimming in every direction. It’s one of the most photogenic areas of the aquarium.
In the upper level of this section, the Temple of the Jaguar (home to a jaguar and an ocelot) overlooks a flamingo feeding pond.
The aquarium hosts three restaurants, including eighteen-O-one on the first level of the Aquarium and Café Maya on the first level of Mundo Maya. Both sit-down restaurants are open from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Near the Sloth Forest on the top level of the rain forest, the Jungle Café offers a walk-up ordering from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Groups can also plan catered events, including proms, business meetings and more.
The aquarium focuses on conservation of wild animals and plant life and offers educational programs, including touch-screen displays with information on animals in each section.
Patrons can plan their visit around the feeding and talks schedule. Groups and school field trips are also welcome Monday through Friday with reservations through the Education Department at (214) 720-2224, extensions 327, 321 or 318. Prices per student are based on date, time and age of group. For individuals and families, it is good to note that most field trip groups are scheduled for the morning hours.
Additional information and live web cameras are posted on the aquarium's website.
Tickets are $18.95 for adults, $14.95 for seniors 60 and older and $10.95 for kids 3 to 12 years old. Kids under 3 get in free.
- by Jenn Emerson, Dallas Reporter for HelloMetro
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