It's gorgeous. The people are so nice and amazing and the best for educating you and not even knowing it. It truly was the most gratifying and amazing time of my life. I miss not living close enough to spend every waking moment there. I considered it more important than many things in my life at the time! I truly want to go back!

Rounding a corner in the Vancouver Aquarium, I come face to face with a creature that has frequented my nightmares since I first caught a glimpse of it several years ago on a cold gray morning sitting in a rowboat in a British Columbian inlet. I was keeping a watchful eye on a large black bear a hundred yards or so away onshore when the profound stillness of the dark water was disturbed by a rippling motion just alongside the boat. Glancing down, I saw a long, undulating thing on the surface, vividly mottled and incredibly fast. With a startled yelp, I grabbed the oars, but before I could even muster a stroke, it had vanished just as quickly as it had appeared.

It imprinted itself on my subconscious, however, and hence the unsettling dreams. Now, however, I can see the formerly mysterious creature has a name, the wolf-eel, and I read the description of its characteristics and habits. After watching it glide innocuously along the bottom of its tank for several minutes, I become certain it will make no further nocturnal appearances.

Those whose imaginations are fueled by thoughts of what lies in the cold waters of British Columbia will find the "Treasures of the B.C. Coast" section of the Vancouver Aquarium much to their liking. Great tanks of nacreous green sea anemones pulsate in artificial wave surges, delicate nudibranches, transparent jellyfish, and colorful echnoderms flaunt their rococo forms in a variety of tanks, while awed visitors stand before the massive Pacific Coast tank teeming with a cornucopia of sea life.

Kids are encouraged to have a Ribbiting Experience in a playful exhibit on frogs, while the ever-popular shark display draws its share of visitors who respectfully regard its restless, and possibly hungry, residents. There are warm-water fishes, as well, in the Tropical Zone, not to mention the almost compulsory section on the Amazon Rainforest, which I find rather uninspired, though perhaps I’ve merely become blasé after having seen several similar exhibits elsewhere.

But the stars of the aquarium are undoubtedly the marine mammals: seals, otters, dolphins, sea lions, and beluga whales. I catch the tail end of the beluga whale show, then spend a rapt half-hour or so watching the trainers continue to work with their charges. I’ve been on whale watches and seen killer whale shows, but none of those experiences were as captivating to me as the belugas, with their engaging faces, complex vocalizations, and fluid grace.

After the training session has ended, I go to the underground viewing area to watch the belugas underwater. Lacking a dorsal fin, their movement seems more an ectoplasmic glide than a swim, an illusion accentuated by their ghostly white color. Watching the hypnotic water ballet of the beluga whales was, in my opinion, in and of itself worth the not insubstantial price of admission.

Our family enjoys aquariums, zoos, etc., but we found this one to be too expensive for they had to offer. The place is not that big, and there was only one show with Beluga whales. We just returned from Marine World/ Africa U.S.A. in California paying $22.00 per person, and yet, getting a lot for our money. We saw six wonderfully put together animal shows there, and it is a Six Flags park too. The Vancouver Aquarium is very educational (and environmentally conscious), but you don't get much for your money. This is my reason for rating it lower. We expected a lot more for the price.

Vancouver Aquarium and Marine Science Centre is a fantastic must see place for adults as well as kids. It is one of the biggest and most diverse I have visited. Located in Stanley Park, it is home to about 60,000 sea animals and other amazing animals, big and small, from under the ice in Arctic Canada, to the Amazon rainforest, the tropics and Pacific coast wildlife. It features an impressive collection of sea creatures from Beluga whales, sharks, and dolphins to seals, sea lions and otters. The Vancouver Aquarium has exhibits for all interests! It has plenty of living creatures to entertain everyone for several hours!

Our journey began at the steamy Amazon rainforest where we walked through a jungle and came face to face with anacondas and boas, snoozing sloths and huge air-breathing fish. Imagine a whiskered catfish as large as a puppy. Search for these impressive giants and other huge fish from the flooded forest. And look out for the brilliant scarlet ibis perched high up the jungle trees. At the Pacific Canada waters, we gazed at the bizarre face of shy wolf-eels and wondered in awe at the giant sturgeons and the giant red Pacific octopus. Then we entered into the Tropic zone surrounded by the exotic fragile world of brightly colored coral reefs, watch for the blacktip reef sharks and brilliant tropical schools of fish. The Indonesian Reef Exhibit is a living rainbow. Indonesia's Bunaken National Park, home to world famous dive sites, is re-created behind a floor-to-ceiling panoramic window. We met the beautiful and amazingly graceful snow-white Beluga whales. I was mesmerized and blown away by these gentle giants gliding through the cold blue waters of the Canadian Arctic.

You can watch sea otter feedings and daring shark dives and timed live shows featuring sea lions, beluga whales and dolphins on the way to the UpStream Cafe and SubShop then relax and enjoy fresh seafood, sandwiches or salads in an indoor or outdoor setting. The dining area is located near the sea otters and beluga whales, so keep your ears open for splashing water and vocal activity! On the way out of the aquarium is the ClamShell Gift Shop where you'll find Aquarium souvenirs, every purchase helps support the not for profit aquarium. It sustains itself on public donations.

The aquarium is open 365 days 9:30am -7:00pm Adults $15.11 + tax = $16.50 Children (4-12) $8.60 + tax = $ 9.50 Children 3 years & under FREE

The Vancouver Aquarium is a very nicely managed aquarium, that's on the small side, perhaps (compared to Sea World San Diego, e.g.), but is very charming in its own right. It has all the standard attractions, such as dolphin shows, etc., but the intimate size makes it very special, as you are more up close and personal with the animals. The key attraction for our family was the Beluga whale as seen underwater. They are so other-wordly in the blue water that you can look at them for hours. It's also nice because you don't have to walk a whole lot given its small size, but can entertain and educate for a good afternoon.