MR Family Friendly

[LeslieS]

Hi Guys,

I was really sad to see Dave's tank and hear his heartbreak. One of the reasons he listed for getting out of the hobby was family. I have heard a bunch of people talk about how their family, wife, or girlfriend feels neglected because of our tanks.

Maybe we should do a family type outing as a group. Not a frag swap type thing. Something to get kids interested like a group trip to the aquarium or a hands on demo with critters. I just went to the SDiego aquarium and they have a tide pool that they let kids put their hands in. (And grown ups They let you touch anenomes and put your finger between urchin spines. It was very cool.

I don't have kids, but B. Fishy and I have a great time working on the tank together, so it can definitely be turned into a family activity.

If anyone has suggestions or wants to help organize (someone with kids would be great), please let me know.

Leslie

 

[alti]

very good idea. i have 2 small children and they would love a road trip. if we get enough people in sure we could rent a bus to take us there. let me know if i can be of any help.

 

[inkblue]

cooL idea... am in

 

[regal]

cooL idea... am in

Ink, you are too old. :biggrin:

 

[inkblue]

:theyareon

 

[jejton]

Road trip to San Diego ?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Norwalk aquarium is small but nice, so is mystic.

 

[nycmat]

i'd be interested

 

[SliderMama]

Sounds like fun. Isn't there an aquarium near Mystic? That can be a 1 day trip kinds thing

 

[drunktank]

cooL idea... am in

remember, you cant buy anything u see there

 

[inkblue]

:smash: DrUnK

 

[LeslieS]

OK, I'll call them and see if we bring a bunch of kids, can they do something special. Is it OK if I say I am from Manhattan Reefs?

 

[barebucta]

I guess I'll go, is bringing a kid mandatory? My g/f's neice is a freakin' brat and I refuse to take her to the corner store yet alone a road trip :grumpy: (she's the only kid I could think of).

 

[LeslieS]

I think significant others count. It is supposed to foster greater understanding and enthusiasm

 

[Reefer420]

Atlanta aquarium!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SliderMama]

Thanks. But we can take pictures for reference, can't we?

 

[LeslieS]

The Norwalk Aquarium is closer. Here is a little blurb about what they have going on...You get to pet a ray

What's Going On - A Quick Look at The Maritime AquariumThe Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is actually two major attractions in one: the Aquarium itself and the IMAX Theater. Here are just a few of the many fun and educational things you’ll see during your next visit:

The Aquarium
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is one of the few in the country primarily devoted to one body of water: in our case, Long Island Sound. The Aquarium features a variety of habitats stocked with more than 1,000 animals indigenous to the Sound. Tanks portray successive levels of life in the Sound, from shallow tidal areas filled with oysters, sea horses and small fish to the 110,000-gallon Open Ocean tank with nine-foot sharks, bluefish, striped bass, rays and other creatures found in the Sound and the ocean beyond.

Along the way, you'll see a woodland shoreline river otter habitat, the hands-on Touch Tank and the "Jellyfish Encounter" area. Just beyond the jellies you'll meet the loggerhead sea turtles.

In Falconer Hall, where the habitat trail begins and ends, harbor seals (which visit Long Island Sound in the winter) delight visitors from their special indoor-outdoor tank. The harbor seals are fed daily at 11:45 am and 1:45 & 3:45 pm.

Adjacent to Falconer Hall is the two-story Maritime Hall where you can "pet" live rays at a Ray Touch Pool or learn the art of building wooden boats in our Boat Shop. A Special Exhibits space behind Maritime Hall features changing exhibits and gives visitors something new to see every time.

The second floor of Maritime Hall is is where you’ll find the Ocean Playspace. This protected area for young children focuses on animals from the Aquarium and Long Island Sound to provide an early introduction to these local creatures and encourage life-long learning. In addition, each of the Play Space’s elements has been carefully designed to promote motor skills, imagination, interactive play, coordination, balance, sensory awareness, and more.

The IMAX Theater
The Maritime Aquarium is home to Connecticut's only IMAX Theater. IMAX, short for "image maximum," is a film format shown on a screen that’s eight stories wide and six stories high! Huge, crisp images make you feel as if you’re right there in the action! The theater's six-channel surround-sound audio system completes the you-are-there movie experience. Capacity is 337 people.

 

[jhale]

OK, I'll call them and see if we bring a bunch of kids, can they do something special. Is it OK if I say I am from Manhattan Reefs?

you can use the manhattan reefs name, but that means you have to behave while at the aquarium

 

[LeslieS]

Their special programs are 80-100 dollars per child so will not be taking part in those - no need to use MR name - no need to behave ;-)

They do have a touch tank which I think is the coolest part!

 

[steveo32]

If I can chime in hear. I was actually at the mystic aqurium today, and it was actually really nice. They have a ray touch tank, and huge aneome tank and another critter touch tank they also havea sea lion show and a bluega whale show. They have pengiuns and you can pay like 70 to go in a touch them and stuff. So all in all it was nice but they don;t have many reefs they have a giant clam tank w/ two clams and them three other small reef tanks. they were nice but us reefers like to se bigger and more reefs.