After $8 million and two years of renovations, the formerly known Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park just hosted its grand opening on Friday, December 3^rd as the Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park. What’s changed? Practically everything.

For your viewing pleasure. Credit: Dallas Zoo

Before the renovations, kids were forced to stand behind the handrails about three feet away from the tanks and often couldn’t see what was inside them without an adult to pick them up. With the renovations, the floors have been raised a foot up and all the handrails have disappeared to allow for maximum fish-viewing capability. Now the grown-ups have to bend down to check out what’s in the tanks.

A new favorite for kids is Stingray Bay, where kids can feed and play with the cownose and southern rays. I love watching the rays lift the tips of their fins out of the water. It’s like they’re waving hello to all the children. In the pool next door, eagle rays as well as zebra, bonnethead and other sharks swim show off their swimming prowess. Visitors can feed animals in Stingray Bay daily at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Indoors, there are plenty of touch pools, viewing tanks and feeding demonstrations to enjoy. My son was quite confused by the albino alligator and kept asking why the alligator was painted white. The Coastal touch pool is open continuously and the staff feedings for the following sea creatures and nearby specimens take place daily at 11 a.m.

Sunday: Stingray Bay – sharks and rays

Monday: Nearshore Gallery – wolf eels and moray eels

Tuesday: Freshwater Gallery – piranhas, alligators, and an alligator snapping turtle

Wednesday: Shore Gallery – sea turtle/giant Pacific octopus

Thursday: Stingray Bay – sharks and rays

Friday: Intertidal Gallery – schooling tank and the Offshore Gallery animals, including the Coastal shark tank

Saturday: Freshwater Gallery – piranhas, alligators, and an alligator snapping turtle

The Aquarium is located at 1462 First Avenue in Fair Park, Dallas, Texas. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for children 3 to 11, and free for children age 2 and younger.

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