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Message |
    
mayhewdrive
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 525
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, November 14, 2003 - 1:45 pm: | 
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Has anyone been to the NY (Brooklyn/Coney Island) Aquarium recently? Is it worthwhile?
I was there YEARS AGO as a kid and wondered if it was worth the trip to take my kid now, or is it pretty "scuzzy" as I understand Coney Island is these days?
Thanks. |
ashear
Citizen
Username: Ashear
Post Number: 793
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, November 14, 2003 - 1:50 pm: |
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We've taken our kids several times and had a great time. If you have not been there is new stuff. There is a sea otter/walrus/seal habitat that can be viewed both from above and below and a big new indoor exhibit with a variety of different habitats (I think there is a marsh, a really cool big wave that breaks over your head and a touch tank). The of course there is the dolphin show which is always a big hit, though I don't know if they do it this time of year. We usually go in the a.m., then Nathan's for lunch and a couple of kiddie rides (our kids are 4 and 2). Have fun. |
gretchen
Citizen
Username: Gretchen
Post Number: 76
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Friday, November 14, 2003 - 3:02 pm: |
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Coney Island is still kind of seedy, but we love it. We're members of the Wildlife Conservation Society, so the aquarium is one of our frequent visits. You get some free parking passes with your membership, which is great. We go and spend an hour or two at the aquarium, then hit the boardwalk. There's a playgound on the beach if you're heading towards Nathans--which we always are. Then we do a ride or two, get ice cream, and head back to the aquarium to pick up our car. It's such a manageable outing that I've done it several times with my little ones by myself.
The aquarium itself is great for kids. My girls love the beluga whales. Have fun! |
Ukealalio
Citizen
Username: Ukealalio
Post Number: 177
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, November 14, 2003 - 4:02 pm: |
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The aquarium itself is terrific but if possible go on a weekday because weekends can get too crowded. If you park in the aquarium/sequarium lot and don't venture outside, you can sort of isolate yourself from the rest of Coney Island.
I took my son and some of his friends there when they were 5 years old. I'm a city kid who has fond memories of my granmother taking me to Coney Island (especially the Steeplechase which is sadly no longer there) so I wanted to give my son and his pals the full Coney Island Experience. We had a real good time but at the end of the day when we had our mandatory meal at the original Nathans, two 6'8 transvestites parked their motorcylcles in front of us and came in for a meal. When the kid's asked me, "Whats that". I was kind of stumped. Oh well, I guess you can't call them sheltered suburban kids after that. |
sullymw
Citizen
Username: Sullymw
Post Number: 204
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 - 9:14 am: |
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It's a nice trip. Many of the exhibits are dated, but we enjoyed it nonetheless. The NJ State Aquarium is very nice and caters to kids, but I think it takes longer to get there than it does to get to CI |
grw
Citizen
Username: Grw
Post Number: 200
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 - 11:36 am: |
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The Coney Island Aquarium is great, join the Wildlife Conservation Society first, it gives you big time discounts, especially parking, as the aquarium parking is outrages |
Jackie Day
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 193
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 - 1:21 pm: |
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Aside from the cost, is the aquarium parking adequate on weekends or does it overflow onto neighboring streets? I'm fine with paying to park in a regular lot for the aquarium but not fine with parking on surrounding streets in Coney Island. |
grw
Citizen
Username: Grw
Post Number: 201
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 - 2:49 pm: |
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There is plenty of parking, if I remember right, the cost was something like $30.00, that's why joining WCS is well worth it, you get free admission to the Bronx Zoo, Aquarium, many other places as well as free parking. |
gretchen
Citizen
Username: Gretchen
Post Number: 79
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 - 3:09 pm: |
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The parking price includes one adult admission. I think the "parking fee" is $20, but only really $8 over what you'd pay anyway. YOu can check it all out at the WCS website. |
Hank Zona
Citizen
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 846
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 - 4:18 pm: |
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I think a good plan of action going anywhere, if it is feasible based on family waking times, is to go early...regardless of the time of year and destination. That doesnt mean you have to be there when the doors open but we have found if you arrive in the morning, whether it's the NY Aquarium, the Bronx Zoo, the Botanical Gardens, the Cloisters, and so on, you have no problem parking and no problem with crowds. In fact, when youre on your way out, you pass the throngs walking in and jockeying for your parking spot.
Specifically, with the NY Aquarium, even in the summer we have not had a problem parking in the lot. I will also echo the family membership suggestion...you get admission to the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo and the NY Aquarium for the year membership, parking passes, passes for attractions requiring additional entrance fees, and invites to special programs or early notice for special events, I think a magazine subscription and a nifty t-shirt. If you plan to go more than once to any of the three, its worth it. |
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