Reviews about Museums & Attractions

Eyerater says "Chicago's Shedd Aquarium - It's a "Must Sea"" about Shedd Aquarium - Chicago, IL

Eyerater — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:19:44 GMT

Our recent visit to the Shedd Aquarium was with two grandchildren, one 15 and one 8, It was a free day for families, although we did not know that when we planned our visit. We learned it at the entrance to the facility. We also learned that there is a charge for certain "special" exhibits. Last time there, several years ago, we loved the dolphin show. So, we put up $23 for the four of us to see the dolphin show.

To end suspense, let me say right up front that the Shedd is a fabulous experience at any price. More about that later in this review.

First, about the dolphin show. Not there. We didn't know it but the dolphin show venue was being renovated and the dolphins were temporarily not in residence.

We only learned about this, however, from the third staff member we asked for directions to the show. The first staffer we asked was downright rude in her response. The second confessed ignorance about the question. The third told us that the exhibit was closed. She added that we could use our......

Meri says "203 steps of History..." about Ponce Lighthouse - Ponce Inlet, FL

Meri — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 01:40:06 GMT

Twelve miles south of Daytona Beach stands a restored Light Station. Ponce De Leon Light Station is the tallest lighthouse in Florida and one of the tallest light houses in the nation. Completely renovated it was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1989. Visitors can go to the top of the 175 ft. structure by climbing the 203 steps. It is not for the faint of heart because as the lighthouse tapers and narrows toward the top so do the steps. Along the way you may notice a sign that tells about a light keeper assistant who died of a heart attack on the stairs. If you make it past that point and get to the top you will have a view of the Florida coastline as well as the inlet and Halifax River. Amazing.

The site also houses many out buildings. The light keepers' homes have been turned into small museums depicting the life of the keepers and their families as well as artifacts of the area.

A real treat is the building that houses an exhibit of several restored Fresnel......

screech2008 says "The Edge of Hell packs a hell of a scare in those for walls." about The Edge of Hell - Kansas City, MO

screech2008 — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:27:04 GMT

i've been through The Edge of Hell more time than i can count. every year it never fails to amaze me. The atmosphere is something that can truly never be recreated anywhere else. Those people looking to have fun, there are many places to visit. But if your looking to be terrified, The Edge of Hell is the only choice....

maryjsgirl says "The best haunted house I've been to" about The Edge of Hell - Kansas City, MO

maryjsgirl — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:31:50 GMT

I come from a much smaller city and I am not use to paying $20 for a haunted house. I was on vacation though so what the heck. The abandoned industrial atmosphere of where the Edge is located really sets the scene. As we near the Edge, we saw the extremely long line to get in. OK, hopefully this is a sign that this place is great! We get in line and were told by a worker walking around that the place in line we were at was a 2 hour wait. So we waited. While in line there is a Beetlejuice-esque type dude that walks around putting a real life rat in his mouth. This is not as terrifying as seeing the multitudes of people buying the VIP pass which allows them to cut the line.

We finally get inside! I have been to many haunted houses and this place was by far the best I have been. You can tell they have put a lot of money into the props and decor. My friend did end up getting hurt after falling on an unmarked step in the dark. This is a major issue for the Edge. Most haunted houses...

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vivasuzi says "Free if you walk there and don't eat any of their food." about Lincoln Park Zoo - Chicago, IL

vivasuzi — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:06:25 GMT

We visited the Lincoln Park zoo on a hot afternoon in August 2008. I had this on my list as a last day type of thing because you have to drive from it or otherwise take transportation to it since it is about 15-20 minutes from downtown Chicago.

The Zoo is free but pricey. The Zoo itself is free and they love to use that as their selling point, however parking will cost you. The buses may be cheaper, but we decided it was worth driving there so we could just head home afterward. Food will also cost you A LOT. We got 2 slices of pizza and 2 slushies for $17! That is a lot if you ask me. I know these places have to make money somewhere but I feel they would sell more if they charged less. I recommend packing lunches if you have a lot of kids to bring.

The Zoo is pretty largeand I could see spending a whole day there if we didn't have a 4.5 hour drive ahead of us. We walked around about 1/2 of the zoo, ate, and left. After I had wished we would have skipped the $17 meal...

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Ladyhoot77 says "Fun for the family but expect crowds" about Georgia Aquarium - Atlanta, GA

Ladyhoot77 — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 16:42:58 GMT

Georgia Aquarium is fun for the whole family and worth the trip. However, expect big crowds especially if you plan to attend on the weekends or during a holiday. I suggest trying to pick an off peak time to go if bringing young toddlers or preschoolers who may grow impatient with the crowds....

phone4me says "Enormous!" about New York Public Library - New York, NY

phone4me — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:12:46 GMT

The main branch is a marvel in itself. I chaperoned a class trip to the NY Public Library a few months ago. The staff is very friendly and accomodating and the building is museum material! All in all, a very nice way to spend a day....

Danadog1970 says "A bit Pricey but worth the trip" about Dallas World Aquarium - Dallas, TX

Danadog1970 — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:37:04 GMT

I thought the admission prices for a family of 4 were highway robbery....But, it was really an impressive place.... Great for HOT summer days in Dallas...it is like an indoor zoo----maybe better....The place is really well maintained and we got to see them feed the river otters and the staff was very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. ...

vivasuzi says "View all of Chicago from the top of the John Hancock Building!" about John Hancock Observatory - Chicago, IL

vivasuzi — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:55:38 GMT

Anyone who tells you it is not worth the admission price to go up to the observation level of the John Hancock Building is not a true site-seer. I say this because I read many forum posts where people said "skip the pricy observatory and instead go to the lounge and get a $12 drink and a better view!" Luckily one tourist chimed in to say that the lounge leaves you waiting for a table and your view is limited to where your table is. I was going to the John Hancock to site see, so I wanted to see the city from all sides. This is why I decided to go to the Observatory and I'm sure glad I did!

The Observatory is opened between 9am and 11pm every day for a price of $15 per adult and $9 for kids. We arrived on August 29, 2008 just slightly before sunset. We had aimed to be there 20-30 minutes before sunset, but unfortunately our wait at the Chicago Burger Company was a little long. None-the-less, we still got there just before sunset. I was surprised to find that on a Friday, at...

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AngiBowman says "Plenty to enjoy at Omaha's star attraction" about Henry Doorly Zoo - Omaha, NE

AngiBowman — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:53:25 GMT

When it comes to zoos, I have the best critic in the world - a toddler. Not only is he picky with a short attention span, but he is the ultimate person to please.

A Quick Overview

IMAX theatre ($7.50 for adults)
World's Largest Indoor Jungle and Indoor Desert
Largest cat complex in North America
World's leading biologist on staff
Rare Midwest exhibits: Polar bear, Penguins, Sharks, Sea Turtles, Jelly Fish

Things to Enjoy About the Zoo

1) The Compact Layout is a nice relief - there's a lot of walking, no doubt, but the average adults won't feel exhausted halfway to an exhibit.

2) Options for a train AND tram - need a break from walking? Hope on the tram ($2 for the entire trip around the zoo) or board the train ($3.50).

3) Amazing attractions - I could go on and on about all the attractions. From the amazing indoor desert (that has a surprisingly well-control temperature range) to the fish tunnel to a massive, nearly never-ending jungle, it really has everything. Regardless of what...

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Firstborn says "Everyone should see it at least once - spend the day!" about Creation Museum - Petersburg, KY

Firstborn — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:43:05 GMT

The Creation Museum, built by Answers in Genesis, is a breath of fresh air. It is excellent from the aesthetics down the the scientific, historic, and biblical information it presents. The place is gorgeous inside and out and is very family friendly. The Dragon Hall bookstore is so much fun to browse, but watch yourself or you'll spend a month's salary on all the amazing resources. Plan to spend an entire day as there's so much to see!

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swimmachic says "The Georgia Aquarium is simply amazing!" about Georgia Aquarium - Atlanta, GA

swimmachic — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:44:06 GMT

My husband and I have been to the Georgia Aquarium twice so far, and it is just amazing. From the natural flow of the aquarium, making it easy to navigate to the beauty of each of the displays it is someplace that you want to return to over and over again. Although it can be quite a haul for us, they offer coupons at certain times to make the trip more affordable, not to mention the prices of the year pass arent all that expensive. My 19 month old son was amazed by the displays, lights, colors and activities...and I know he will only become more and more interested in those things the older he gets. It is a fantastic family oriented destination, and it is a great place to take guests that you may have visiting the Atlanta area. Definitly a MUST SEE for everyone and anyone....

jmdobies says "Museum/Gallery Documents Austin's Contributions to Pop Culture" about South Austin Museum of Popular Culture - Austin, TX

jmdobies — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:24:11 GMT

The South Austin Museum of Popular Culture was founded in 2004 to celebrate Austin's contributions to pop culture from the '60s to the present. Among the permanent exhibits are an eye-popping collection of concert posters, many from the legendary Austin venues the Armadillo World Headquarters and the Vulcan Gas Comapny, and Ken Featherston's 1974 mural "Peyote Dreams".

The funky little space is just one of the many cultural institutions that help to "Keep Austin Weird." In addtion to the permanent collection on display, there are special exhibitions from Austin artists of all types, ranging from painting to photography to underground comics.

The museum is a nostalgia trip for longtime Austinites, and a feast for the eyes to newbies and out-of-towners eager to soak up the vibe.

If the museum is closed, you can always view the SAMOPC Memorial Wall located next to the driveway, which honors fallen heroes of Texas music and culture, including Janis Joplin, Waylon Jennings, Molly Ivins, Ronnie...

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jmdobies says "Authentic Old West Town An Hour's Drive from Austin " about Historic Fort Tumbleweed - Rockdale, TX

jmdobies — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:03:40 GMT

Lcoated an hour northeast of Austin on the original site of Liberty Hill in Rockdale, Texas, Historic Fort Tumbleweed is an authentic old West town with museums, shops, Wild West Shows, and barbecue, home to a large collection of Indian and old west relics, Texas arts, crafts, and collectibles. The main attraction at Fort Tumbleweed is a series of buildings featuring early-day Texas construction techniques from notched and fitted log cabins to early milled cedar and square nail construction buildings dating back to the days of the Texas Republic.

Owned and operated by Texas historian, collector, and storyteller Len Kubiak, Fort Tumbleweed is a cool place for a family outing, which will transport you to a bygone era. It ain't the Schlitterbahn, people, but it is still a lot of fun, and a lot more educational.

The Wild West Shows feature cowboy-costumed reenactors riding, roping, and shooting it out among the old buildings.

Currently undergoing major renovations (as of August 2008), Fort Tumbleweed...

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gigglegigglepink says "fabulous" about The Getty Museum - Los Angeles, CA

gigglegigglepink — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:37:26 GMT

they getty center in los angeles and the getty villa in malibu are absolutly beautiful places to go. i spend a lot of time in both muesums because they're extensive collections are amazing to look at. they both have a lot of history and its fun to just go there and hang out.

i strongly reccomend these places.

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gjintexas says "Dallas World Aquarium is a stunning place to have a private part" about Dallas World Aquarium - Dallas, TX

gjintexas — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 20:49:17 GMT

Dallas World Aquarium is a stunning place to have a private party. I rented the acquarium to hold a very upscale private dinner party. The guests were very pleased with the venue. It was relaxing, pretty and very interesting to watch the fish while eating. We also toured the other half of the building too....

daisybirddog says "Amazing! Great for all ages!" about Georgia Aquarium - Atlanta, GA

daisybirddog — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 19:52:22 GMT

We live in Atlanta. We purchased season passes to the aquarium it's second year. It's just a wonderful place. We love it. Our 3 year old loves it. And we have taken many out of town guests who loved it. Everyone loves the Beluga whales the best. The aquarium is clean and has amazing exhibits. Probably the BEST place thing to do in Atlanta. The cafe in the aquarium is great and very reasonably priced. They have lots of variety too which is nice when you have young children.

No complaints about the aquarium!

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Emily0520 says "It's a neat place, but not worth the hype (or money)" about Georgia Aquarium - Atlanta, GA

Emily0520 — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 03:00:18 GMT

First things first, the Georgia Acquarium is a neat attraction that really doesn't have a comparison. Afterall, it boasts being the world's largest acquarium. There are many things to see and experience there, which definitely makes it, at the very least, interesting.

I do, however, have several gripes with regard to the acquarium which make me feel like I will never patrionize their business again. For the most part, my complaints about the acquarium fall in line with other popular attractions, but I do not think that they are quite at the level to make it worth the trip. I feel that the cost for everything surrounding the trip to be quite ridiculous. The parking, admission to the acquarium and cost for food/beverages/gifts seem to be quite high. When you visit other popular attractions, you can justify the costs based on the return that you are getting during your visit. The two times that I visited, I spent about 3 hours there and that was with the crowds and revisiting......

jasyjen says "Expensive & disgusting." about DisneyQuest - Lake Buena Vista, FL

jasyjen — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:42:19 GMT

The idea behind this place sounded incredible. Five stories of interactive, virtual fun! When we went to bought the tickets, I was shocked at the price. $ 160.00 for three adults and one child. Ouch. My husband & I debated whether we should spend the money, but decided it was something we'd never get to do again so why not? Well, we should have listened to our instincts and NOT done it.

First of all, my seven year old wasn't tall enough to do a lot of the things inside. That blew me away because he's old enough to ride the actual rides at Disneyworld, so why can't he do the virtual stuff? Still can't figure that one out. Second of all, the place was SO HOT inside! All the games put off a lot of heat, and there were a lot of people inside so that didn't help out any either.

And lastly....IT WAS DISGUSTING! I put on a virtual helmet and when I did, the sweat from the person before me got ALL OVER my face. HOW DISGUSTING!!!!! I was mortified by this, but wiped everything...

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mysticstarfish says "What a blast!" about Wonder Works - Orlando, FL

mysticstarfish — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 03:49:07 GMT

Wonder Works is dubbed "An Amusement Park for the Mind". I really don't think you need to put your mind into the place to enjoy it, but you can certainly put your hands into it.

This place is loaded with hands on interactive exhibits and displays. There is a section where kids can make giant bubbles, play soccer and basketball without balls, fly a space mission or a plane and swim with sharks. Most of the exhibits are interactive and are very creative.

There is also Lazer Tag, which I competed in and had a blast. They also have a small arcade and a dinner show.

We did not stay for the dinner show. This was a great place for a rainy day. We spent about 2 1/2 hours inside. It is best suited for kids under 13.

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