"Zoom out. What makes this aquarium so special? Vancouver is surrounded by water, but the best way to get an up-close look at the area’s marine life—as well as aquatic animals from around the globe—is at the Vancouver Aquarium, located in picturesque Stanley Park. For more than 60 years, locals and visitors have flocked to the seaside facility, which houses more than 65,000 animals—sea otters, penguins, sea lions, fish, jellyfish, eels, sea turtles, birds and reptiles—among them Joey the sea otter, Señor Cinco the penguin, and the recently rescued Donnelly the harbor seal, who was in critical condition after being been hit by a boat but survived. (When rescued, Donnelly was also pregnant; her daughter Dory has since been released back into the wild.) But don’t expect Marineland-style dolphin shows; the Vancouver Aquarium is more focused on education, research, and conservation. What are some of the standout habitats on view? The stunning Strait of Georgia Habitat gives a glimpse at the creatures that live in the region’s waters—massive salmon, sturgeon, wolf eels, and sea stars, just to name a few—while the Amazon Gallery transports you to a steamy jungle paradise, complete with exotic birds, tropical fish (piranhas included), colorful frogs, and slow-moving sloths. In The Tropics exhibit you can see the clownfish that inspired Finding Nemo; at the other end of the temperature spectrum there’s Penguin Point, where visitors can watch the waddling waders. But crowds really go crazy for the adorable rescued sea otters, who spend their time eating seafood, playing with their buddies, and preening their impressively dense coats. Rescued dolphins, seals and sea lions are also big draws. Who do you spot among the crowd? The crowd is kid-heavy but rarely overwhelming; it’s also a favorite spot for couples, seniors, animal lovers, and closet biologists. At the peak of summer the aquarium can get busy, with thousands of visitors a day; to avoid the crush, go first thing in the morning—also the best time to catch the biologists feeding and working with the animals. On the practical tip, how are the facilities? The recently renovated building is large but easily navigable, with plenty of sitting spots, and the accessibility measures are impressive. The aquarium is wheelchair accessible; there are wheelchairs and walkers available to borrow, as well as noise-reducing earmuffs for people with noise sensitivities. Most videos are captioned, assisted listening headsets and closed captioning units are available for the 4-D Experience, and the cafe offers wheelchair-friendly tables. Visitors with disabilities can also request a 50 percent discount on admission, or request that their attendant gets in free. Any special interactive presentations or guided tours worth booking? There’s big fun to be had, as well as education, at the live shows and demonstrations, which include sea otter feeding, a sea turtle talk, sea lion training, the aptly named “Meet a Penguin,” and many others. Along the way, visitors learn about how human actions affect the animals in the wild, and what steps we can take to protect the ocean environment. And if you don’t mind shelling out a little extra, splurge on one of the Encounters, where you can join an aquarium interpreter and go behind the scenes to see first-hand what it’s like to care for the animals, whether it’s the otters and sea lions or dolphins and penguins. Starting at $35 a pop, they aren’t cheap, but they’re a generous 45 minutes long, and the money goes back to the non-profit aquarium’s research and conservation efforts. (Note the scheduled live shows and demonstrations, as well as the Encounters, are on hold during the Covid-19 pandemic.) The kids in our party are probably going to want a souvenir after all that sea life. How's the gift shop? The cheerful gift shop has all of the requisite sea-themed keychains, stuffed toys, and t-shirts, but there’s a twist: the vast majority of the items are made in Canada, and many encourage ocean conservation. So you can pick up a refillable water bottle to help you ditch the plastic or buy a portable bamboo cutlery set and stainless-steel straw. You can also “adopt” a Steller sea lion—or at least its plush, toy-version equivalent—with all funds raised going to help the sea lions. What makes the café worth a stop? The Courtyard Café & Coffee Bar (open 365 days a year), the Upstream Bar + Grill (open Friday-Sunday and holidays), and the Marine Market (open seasonally) are overseen by chef David Lee—and all of the seafood selections are 100 percent sustainable, which helps appease the guilt that comes with eating fish at an aquarium. Favorites include fish 'n' chips, seafood chowder, and cauliflower and chickpea salad. Burgers and chicken strips are on offer for those who prefer turf over surf, and grilled cheese as well as fruit and cheese snack packs are top picks among the little ones. Vegetarians and vegans will find plenty of options—including the extraordinary Beyond Burger—and sweet-toothed visitors should leave room for a tasty kelp brownie. The restaurants are licensed, too, and they're a lovely spot to stop for a cold one on a hot summer day. And if we're short on time, how do you recommend we prioritize the different exhibits? You can definitely breeze through in an hour or two. Check the schedule online and catch one or two of the fun live shows, but even if you miss the demos, just watching rescued otters, seals, sea lions, and walruses will fill your heart with joy. Also make sure to stroll through the various galleries, which feature everything from native species to jellyfish to reptiles from the Amazon. The 4-D Experience is always a hit with kids." - Jennifer Van Evra
