Shark-gazing at the Dallas World Aquarium

Don’t let the name fool you, the Dallas World Aquarium is more than just a fun place to see exotic fish. Even the nondescript exterior of this former warehouse belies the lush interior inside. The show begins even before you have bought a ticket; as you wind your way along the side to enter, there is a “Wilds of Borneo” display featuring animals from Indonesia.

You then enter at the canopy level of a humid rainforest environment called the “Orinoco – Secrets of the River” display. Walkways let you meander through the treetops, where several bird species fly through the branches – completely uncaged. I just love to see the birds flying so freely. Footpaths continue to the ground level and even below, where you can watch manatees, water fowl, and fish swim around a 40-foot waterfall. The plants are amazing, too. It’s like walking through a huge South American terrarium.

My favorite part of the Dallas World Aquarium is a long acrylic viewing tunnel which allows you to watch sharks and rays cruise right over your head. Both times we’ve gone, I’ve loaded up my camera’s memory card there. But here’s a tip: go during the weekday to avoid crowds in the view tunnel. It can get really stuffy in there!

While this is obviously good family fun, I think the Dallas World Aquarium is also a great place to take a date. In fact, Tex took me there on my first visit to see him, and in hindsight, I can say that he earned big points that day! There’s just so much to explore; you can easily make a day of it. You don’t even have to leave for lunch; the place has 3 restaurants, plus they serve beer and ice cold margaritas. As you can see from the photo above, it’s a good thing the drinks have lids!

After writing this, I can hardly wait for someone to come visit me so I’ll have a good excuse to go again. Any takers?