Mystic Aquarium
After New Year, but before we went back to work, we all got in the car and took a small, mini-vacation. Isaac had been wanting to go to a hotel since October when we went to one for John's wedding. We also had wanted to go to Mystic Aquarium for a while. So we searched around and found a place to stay in Mystic.
The day we left was the coldest day in probably 5 years, with the high of 9 degrees. But we had a Subaru that laughs at snow and an iPad and plenty of time, so we took the trip in stride, despite the weather. We arrived, unpacked and then went straight to the pool. Isaac wanted to get in the pool immediately and since we literally had nothing to do but what he wanted, that is what we did. After an hour or so of playing in the pool we took a dip in the hot tub. After that we got out and went to dinner. We finished the evening off with what can only be described as a mainline shot of pure sugar--a Panera hot chocolate with chocolate chip marshmallows.
The next day we woke up early and made our way to the Aquarium. It was still frigid, but the high of 15 was comparatively balmy. The aquarium is huge, with three parts--a traditional indoor aquarium, an outdoor aquarium with the stars of the entire place--Beluga whales--and a more museum-y portion dedicated to the Titanic.
Inside Isaac wandered around until he came to the Shark Petting Tank. He was pretty scared, but wouldn't leave. Every time I thought he was done, he'd ask to try to touch a shark again. The sharks were small, but very shark looking, so I can see why he'd be afraid. They would swim around, get close, and then he'd pull up his hand. I was convinced that was as good as we'd get. Then he decided he just had to touch one. A large striped shark went by and Isaac just about fell in the tank reaching for him and just like that Isaac was no longer afraid of sharks because he had touched one. After that it was all sharks all the time.
We went to see a sea lion show, then when to the tank with the big (non-touchable) sharks.
There was a lot of discussion of sharks and big sharks and little sharks. After that we went to the jellies display which was simply incredible.
We oo'd and aah'd the jellies for a while, then went back to the sharks. There we had more discussions about sharks, which ones were bad guys and which were good guys. Needing a break, we decided to go outside.
It was still early and there wasn't much of a crowd so we had prime access to the massive beluga tanks. While it was cold, they were perfectly happy, swimming and splashing around. The tank is positively huge so while we could see them they weren't exactly close. Here is where they were when we first came outside:
Isaac watched and watched as these massive white shapes gilded through the water. Then, suddenly, one of the belugas decided to come up to the tank and get basically eye to eye with Isaac. Its hard to explain, but unlike every other animal at the aquarium, the whales seemed very aware of what was going on. Looking at them in the eye, much like our experience with the gorillas at Franklin Park Zoo, left me with a very strong notion that these animals were different, more like us than not. After peering out at Isaac, the beluga started moving his head when Isaac moved his.
He followed Isaac's hands when they had white snow in them and then this happened:
Isaac reached up to the tank window and the beluga reached down to meet Isaac's hand. Isaac held his hand there for a long minute or two and stared right at the whale and the whale stared back. They were watching each other. The trance was amazing, holding a 3 1/2 year old still for what seemed like an eternity. Then other people came up and the two broke their gaze. The beluga swam off and Isaac turned around in amazement. It was a moment I will never forget and an amazing encounter with other intelligent animals that I hope Isaac never forgets.
After that we went back to the shark tank. Again.
All in all, it was an excellent trip and one that Isaac very much enjoyed. In fact, for the first time in about a year, he was so spent that he took a nap while not at school. Here he is on the way home:
The day we left was the coldest day in probably 5 years, with the high of 9 degrees. But we had a Subaru that laughs at snow and an iPad and plenty of time, so we took the trip in stride, despite the weather. We arrived, unpacked and then went straight to the pool. Isaac wanted to get in the pool immediately and since we literally had nothing to do but what he wanted, that is what we did. After an hour or so of playing in the pool we took a dip in the hot tub. After that we got out and went to dinner. We finished the evening off with what can only be described as a mainline shot of pure sugar--a Panera hot chocolate with chocolate chip marshmallows.
The next day we woke up early and made our way to the Aquarium. It was still frigid, but the high of 15 was comparatively balmy. The aquarium is huge, with three parts--a traditional indoor aquarium, an outdoor aquarium with the stars of the entire place--Beluga whales--and a more museum-y portion dedicated to the Titanic.
Inside Isaac wandered around until he came to the Shark Petting Tank. He was pretty scared, but wouldn't leave. Every time I thought he was done, he'd ask to try to touch a shark again. The sharks were small, but very shark looking, so I can see why he'd be afraid. They would swim around, get close, and then he'd pull up his hand. I was convinced that was as good as we'd get. Then he decided he just had to touch one. A large striped shark went by and Isaac just about fell in the tank reaching for him and just like that Isaac was no longer afraid of sharks because he had touched one. After that it was all sharks all the time.
We went to see a sea lion show, then when to the tank with the big (non-touchable) sharks.
There was a lot of discussion of sharks and big sharks and little sharks. After that we went to the jellies display which was simply incredible.
We oo'd and aah'd the jellies for a while, then went back to the sharks. There we had more discussions about sharks, which ones were bad guys and which were good guys. Needing a break, we decided to go outside.
It was still early and there wasn't much of a crowd so we had prime access to the massive beluga tanks. While it was cold, they were perfectly happy, swimming and splashing around. The tank is positively huge so while we could see them they weren't exactly close. Here is where they were when we first came outside:
Isaac watched and watched as these massive white shapes gilded through the water. Then, suddenly, one of the belugas decided to come up to the tank and get basically eye to eye with Isaac. Its hard to explain, but unlike every other animal at the aquarium, the whales seemed very aware of what was going on. Looking at them in the eye, much like our experience with the gorillas at Franklin Park Zoo, left me with a very strong notion that these animals were different, more like us than not. After peering out at Isaac, the beluga started moving his head when Isaac moved his.
He followed Isaac's hands when they had white snow in them and then this happened:
Isaac reached up to the tank window and the beluga reached down to meet Isaac's hand. Isaac held his hand there for a long minute or two and stared right at the whale and the whale stared back. They were watching each other. The trance was amazing, holding a 3 1/2 year old still for what seemed like an eternity. Then other people came up and the two broke their gaze. The beluga swam off and Isaac turned around in amazement. It was a moment I will never forget and an amazing encounter with other intelligent animals that I hope Isaac never forgets.
After that we went back to the shark tank. Again.
All in all, it was an excellent trip and one that Isaac very much enjoyed. In fact, for the first time in about a year, he was so spent that he took a nap while not at school. Here he is on the way home: