Last week we got a chance to visit with some friends and their extended family.
I have known them since college, and we often try to get together during the summer. They were camping with their in-laws and all the kids, which meant 14 kids with my two. Thankfully, the kids ranged in age from 7 to 20, so there were older ones to watch out for the younger ones.
Although a little shy at the start, mine quickly mixed in with the bunch. I think it was fun for them, as they only have two first cousins themselves.
So, back to Mystic. We met at the aquarium, checking out the beluga whales, which my 2-year-old was impressed with as they swam up to the glass right at his eye level.
Then we headed over to the penguins. I hadn’t been to the aquarium in a few years, and I like how you can now walk around outside to the penguins and other outdoor displays, which used to be only accessible by going through the main aquarium.
Inside, they had a neat new display about jellyfish, showing different types of the colorful creatures. The tanks were lit up and it really showcased their tentacles and cylindrical bodies. My daughter also got a chance to touch a shark and pet a sting ray, which she enjoyed.
Then we headed into the auditorium for the seal show. The show displayed the seals senses, how they could identify shapes and colors and blow on a whistle. The kids enjoyed watching the seals jump up high.
Another interesting new exhibit is the Crittercam from National Geographic, which illustrates how animal researches use technology to study animals in their natural environment.
Cameras are attached to the animals offering a unique viewpoint. The kids could climb on a life-size replica of a turtle with a model of the cameras used and watch different movies about various animals.
The aquarium is a little pricey, adult tickets are $29, children ages 3-17 are $21 and children ages 2 and younger are free, seniors are $26. However, there are different discounts available, we got a discount with a Big Y card.
You also can check for passes at local libraries. Parking is free at the aquarium. More information about tickets, seasons passes, and the exhibits is available on the aquarium’s website, mysticaquarium.org
After the aquarium, we headed over to downtown Mystic and got ice cream at Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream, and the kids enjoyed watching the drawbridge go up. Then we headed over to , all 23 of us. Although we hung out on the sidewalk for awhile, they were able to accommodate all of us upstairs, at four different tables.
Then it was time for us to head home, my little guy fell asleep on the way after all the excitement. It takes about an hour-and-a-half each way from East Windsor to get to Mystic.
Although we didn’t get to see everything at the aquarium, between staying with the bigger group we were with and keeping track of a 2-year-old, it was a fun day.
