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Miami Seaquarium birthday a good ticket, overall
One factor it pays to remember when planning that fabulous one-on-one day with your child where you're going to spend all day bonding, just the two of you: Children are crazy. .
Really. If I took an adult friend to Miami Seaquarium, paid for an annual pass, bought her a slushy and practically knocked people over to get her second row seats to the killer whale show, and then she got splashed by the whale in the first 15 seconds of the show, and burst into tears and said she wanted to go home, we would all conclude that my friend was nuts.
But this is what happened last week when I took my daughter there to celebrate her 7th birthday. And this kind of behavior is just normal for a little girl turning 7. You just can't plan for it. If you don't believe me, go to Disney World and look at all the crying kids, and their parents, who spent $700 for that experience.
Anyway, at the Seaquarium, as we wiped salt water out of our eyes (Thanks, Lolita the killer whale!), no one even noticed that one of us was sobbing. I got out a packet of Yogos and handed them to her one by one. I recognized the outburst as a cry of hunger. And the day was all uphill from there.
I'd been warned by friends that I might not be impressed by the Seaquarium. But it was a great afternoon, except those few crazy minutes at the whale show. Click here for the Miami Seaquarium website.
My son would say that anyone who keeps a giant sea-being captive is a "monster.'' But the exhibits and shows promote appreciation for nature, and for sea life. If a few sea creatures spend their days bonding with fun humans, for this purpose, that is OK by me.
It takes about four hours to see all the shows and have a good time.
And a bonus at Miami Seaquarium: They still have those machines that make a wax model of a dolphin or a shark, for only $2.
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Comments
Miami Seaquarium may seem like a fun place to take the kids but if you don't care for animal abuse, don't go!
Seaquarium's killer whale, Lolita, was brutally captured from her family in 1970. She has spent the past 38 years in a tank so small, it's illegal to USDA standards. She can barely perform without hitting the walls - it's only one and a half times her size. She is 22 ft long and the pool is 35 ft wide.
Wild orcas swim 100 miles a day and live with their families for life. Lolita only turns in circles and hasn't gotten to see another killer whale in 29 years.
In the past 40 years, more than 70 dolphins and 55 sea lions have died at Seaquarium, most of which were caught from the wild.
Please visit www.SaveLolita.com to find out how to help these neglected animals. Thanks!
Posted by: Niki | April 11, 2009 8:21 PM
"My son would say that anyone who keeps a giant sea-being captive is a "monster."
You have a smart son!!
I live in Miami, and went to the Seaquarium recently. I was so sad about the small tanks. In addition, I found little in education. Lolita's show was started with such loud music, that it seemed like it would be assaulting to the animal. And they certainly never mentioned that this whale living in their tiny tank normally has a range of thousands of miles!
As a Mom, I certainly cannot support ripping a baby from her mother that way that Lolita was taken from hers.
Mrs. Carly Goodman
PS. If you don't believe it, watch this video!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4824480671145508847
Posted by: Mrs. Carly Goodman | April 11, 2009 9:00 PM
Miami Seaquarium does the exact opposite. It doesn't teach anyone to respect nature, in fact, its animals are made a mockery of, forced to do humiliating and degrading tricks to appease the public's fleeting interests.
Your son sounds like someone who has a great appreciation of nature.
Lolita is not her real name. Her name is Tokitae, and she was taken from her family, and forced to live in that tiny, illegal tank for over 30 years. Her mother is still alive and waiting for her return in Puget Sound.
Honestly, it is not okay that marine mammals have to sacrifice their lives and their freedoms just to appease human curiosity. In fact it's rather disgusting.
Once again, your son sounds like a smart kid. I think you should take time to listen to what he has to say.
Posted by: Gwen | April 12, 2009 8:18 AM
http://www.savelolita.com
Posted by: Emily | May 3, 2009 12:17 AM