Tourists in our own city: The Vancouver Aquarium

It doesn’t matter where I go, I ALWAYS look like a tourist. Carting my canon around, distracted by the people and the architecture…always looking lost. Vancouver is no exception. I have lived in the greater Vancouver area for all but 6 years of my life and have never found myself taking advantage of it’s unmatched beauty or plethora of things to do.

Since visiting the London Aquarium, Jakob has wanted to go to the Vancouver aquarium. It only took 8 months but we finally got there and Jakob declared that he wanted to take the bus and Skytrain (because that is how we got to the London Aquarium) so we packed our bags for an adventure filled day.

I mapped out with him the night before which buses and train we needed to catch, how long it would take and how much our journey would all cost. From Ladner (our little suburb outside of Vancouver) it takes about an hour to get into the city, but in the long run, it really is a great way to go. The buses and trains are efficient and you save the money you would have otherwise spent on parking and gas.

I also love the sense of wonder that comes which each new experience in a child’s life. As we were riding on the bus, going through the tunnel, Jakob excitedly said, “Hey! We’ve been here before.” To them, it is all the same and yet different.

There is truly a sense of wonder as you watch the children race from tank to tank exploring a world they have only heard about on Octonauts. It’s at times like those I hope Jakob might, perhaps, one day become a marine biologist.

Ella, on the other hand, kept trying to climb into all the exhibits…why wouldn’t you want to swing with the monkeys or swim with the dolphins?

Thinking about visiting the aquarium? Be sure to visit their website as advice I could offer is there as well. It’s a longtime family favourite – in fact, I remember my grandmother taking me when I was small, back when they had polar bears and orca whales.

When I asked Jakob what his favourite part was, he said, “the monkeys.” Sigh.
…BUT his second favourite, was the sea otters.