Chicago always gets a bad wrap for its drivers. It's true, it is a big city and many of the drivers don't feel like the rules of the road apply when driving downtown, so it can get a bit chaotic at times. I won't drive there unless I absolutely have to, but thankfully I have a husband who thrives in all of that madness. But, when we went to Canada last summer and drove through downtown Toronto, I quickly learned that they make driving in Chicago look like child's play. For Canada being toted as such a friendly country, I was surprised at how aggressive everyone was behind the wheels of their cars. By the time we reached a parking garage, I was so stressed out and I wasn't even driving! It was a good thing we had a visit to Ripley's Aquarium in downtown Toronto scheduled that day.
After dealing with the traffic madness, it was a real treat to be in such a soothing atmosphere. Mariah was really looking forward to this visit because she did want to work with marine life before switching her major to biochemistry. She was so excited, I caught a rare sister hand-holding moment...
There were many exhibits to visit, and we were definitely mesmerized by each one. I would suggest bringing a good camera with you if you want nice photos. It was raining the day we went and I didn't want to haul around my big boy camera in the rain, so I just brought my phone which I now regret. It is super dark and you'll need a high ISO to get clear shots.
Our favorite area was the Dangerous Lagoon. You'll take a slow conveyor belt ride through a see-through tunnel where you'll get to gaze at all kinds of sea life, ranging from small fish to huge sharks. The tunnel will give you the feeling that you're floating along underwater with your favorite sea creatures.
If the little kids want to burn off some energy, they offer a fun undersea play area where they kids can run around to their hearts content.
I'm pretty sure that the Ripley's Aquarium is part of the Toronto City Pass and it's located right next door the the CN Tower, so you can knock out both attractions in a day. It's a great way to spend a family day in Toronto.
What's your favorite underwater creature?
