On the one rainy day of our week’s vacation, we decided to visit the aquarium. Everyone else must have had the same thought because the stop-and-go traffic began even before we reached the island, and when we got to the aquarium, we were directed to overflowing parking. There was a long, discouraging line to get tickets (it moved surprisingly quickly), and inside it was very crowded, with lots of kids and strollers.

Especially popular was one room with several open tanks where you could stroke the velvety skin of a sting ray or touch the bony shell of a horseshoe crab. There was one enormous tank with sharks swimming at eye level. At regular intervals during the day, a couple of divers wearing scuba gear entered the tank. One diver held onto a barbershop-colored stick—presumably to beat off predatory fish. The other diver had a microphone and earpiece and answered questions from the audience, which were conveyed to them by a moderator at the front of the large aquarium.

The touch and feel tanks are sure to be hit with young and old. It took our kids a long time to get up enough nerve to touch one of the sting rays. Be prepared to get wet.

The alligator feeding is also a real crowd pleaser. I could have sat for hours and watched the sharks, turtles and colourful fish swim in the 68,000 square foot tank. There are excellent viewing opportunities and places to sit and relax.

The fun does not stop outside. We could have spent hours digging for prehistoric shark teeth in the "dig area". Everything you find you get to take home. This was a very popular place and we were lucky enough to find a few teeth.

This was a very enjoyable, informative and affordable afternoon (if you can get by the gift shop without a purchase).