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New York Aquarium
Surf and West 8th Street
Coney Island
Brooklyn
(718) 265-3474 (that's 265-FISH) Summary:
We think that the new and improved New
York Aquarium, located at Coney
Island, outclasses
even the famed Monterey Aquarium (which
West-coasters rave about ad nauseum).
Must sees include the shark feeding, the
Beluga whales, and Sea Cliffs, home to
penguins, walruses and seals.
Want to experience what a
feeding frenzy is like? Head over to the
shark feedings at the New York Aquarium
(check the board as you enter for times)
and you will actually see two of them.
The first occurs inside the tank as
300-pound animals with rows of
razor-sharp teeth tear into their dinner.
The other takes place in the viewing area
as scores of Aquarium visitors crowd
around the glass taking in the sight.
Ever since the Jaws
trilogy, this country has been captivated
by sharks. the Aquarium has wisely
capitalized on this fascination. In the
tradition of all good educational
institutions, they make learning an
integral part of the spectacle, so that
in addition to seeing the sharks fight
for their food, you will absorb a few fun
facts. Did you know, for example, that if
one drop of blood is mixed with a hundred
million drops of salt water, a shark can
smell the blood as far as a quarter of a
mile away? Or that flat sting rays are
actually a member of the shark family?
Explore the Shore
This combination of fun and education is
evident in the Aquarium's other
attractions as well. Explore the Shore
has hands-on displays that show how tidal
pools work, that explain the importance
of salt marshes and that illustrate the
fragility of coral reefs. We also liked
the wave machine, a technological marvel
that simulates the way ocean waves crash
on the beach.
Sea Cliffs
Visitors to the Sea
Cliffs exhibit will also find evidence of
the Aquarium's mission to mix
entertainment with education and
awareness of conservation efforts. (The
Aquarium is, after all, run by the
Wildlife Conservation Society, the same
group that runs the Bronx
Zoo.) At the same time
that you laugh at the grunts and sighs
emanating from the huge, wrinkled
walruses, you can step on a scale to see
how your weight compares to his. And
after you watch the sea otters and fur
seals dive around their pools, you can
read about how their species is
threatened by hunters. You will also
learn about the degradation of their
local habitats, and how many of them had
to be taught basic skills by the Aquarium
staff because they were orphaned before
their mothers could teach them how to
survive on their own.
Aquatheater
The shows at the new Aquatheater, though,
are just plain fun. Reopened in 1995,
after a renovation that doubled its
seating capacity and provided a view of
the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop, the
Aquatheater is home to numerous dolphin
and sea lion shows each day, which
invariably feature a solid soaking for
the people in the front rows as the sea
animals are put through their paces.
A Bit of Background
Interestingly, the New York Aquarium was
not always on Coney Island. The idea of
an aquarium in New York dates back to the
P.T. Barnum exhibit of a Beluga whale at
Herald Square in 1850. The City of New
York first opened its own aquarium in
Battery Park's Castle Clinton in 1896.
Robert Moses's plan to close the Aquarium
(so that the Brooklyn- Battery tunnel
could be developed on its site) created
such a huge public outcry that the
decision was made to move the Aquarium
rather than simply to close it down. At
first, the plan was to make the Aquarium
part of the Bronx Zoo, but in the
interest of spreading funds for cultural
sights among the five boroughs, and in
reviving the Coney Island amusement park
area, the Aquarium was ultimately moved
to its present location in 1957.
Money Saving Tip
Consider joining the Wildlife
Conservation Society as a way to save
money on admission fees. In addition to
providing free admission to the Aquarium,
WCS membership provides free entry to the
Bronx
Zoo, the Central
Park Zoo Conservation Center,
and the Prospect
Park Wildlife Conservation Center.
It also entitles you to free parking at
the Aquarium and at the Bronx Zoo, free
tickets for Zoo rides, and discounts on
classes and events sponsored by the WCS.
We have attended several of these special
classes and they are excellent. If you
buy a family membership and visit at
least two of the Wildlife Conservation
Parks each year, membership will more
than pay for itself. Call (718) 220-5111
for more information.
Getting There
By subway, take the F or D trains to
Brooklyn and get out at the West 8th
Street exit. A pedestrian overpass right
outside the subway station takes you
directly to the Aquarium entrance. By
bus, take the B36 to Surf Avenue/West 5th
Street and walk three blocks west.
If you are driving from
Connecticut, the Bronx or Manhattan,
follow the FDR to the Brooklyn Battery
Tunnel, then take the Belt Parkway to
exit 7 south ( Ocean Parkway south). From
New Jersey, go through Staten Island to
the Verrazano Bridge to the Belt Parkway
east to Ocean Parkway south. Coming from
Long Island, take the Belt Parkway west
to Ocean Parkway south, make a right to
Surf Avenue and look for the Aquarium
parking lot.
While You Are in the
Neighborhood
Do you like rollercoasters? For a
heart-stopping ride, Coney Island's Cyclone
still beats all the others. So while you
are in the neighborhood, stop by for a
ride along its famous rickety wooden
tracks. You may also want to take a walk
on the Boardwalk
and have a hot dog at the original Nathan's
Famous stand.
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