Wish I Weren't There

Hey, what could be more fun during the last days of summer than a trip to the Long Island Aquarium (formerly Atlantis Marine World)?  Actually, I'd rather have been almost anywhere else.   Our journey through the popular Riverhead destination was more like a fantastic voyage through the inner ear of somebody with tinnitus.  I guess that could also be considered a "world of adventure" if that's the kind of adventure you're looking for.    I wasn't.  From start to finish, the noise level was near deafening.  One could barely take a step without encountering an obstacle course of strollers or a pack of unruly 6-10 year olds and their inconsiderate parents, who apparently didn't realize that "Excuse me," actually means "Could you move an inch so I can squeeze past you?"   Add to that the fact that the space itself  is so dark that the information about the marine life you can barely see is also virtually unreadable, and you've got a "world of adventure"?   Well, that's what the aquarium website claims awaits you.  

My husband and I  decided to attend the sea lion show, which turned out to be a 15 minute demonstration after a waiting period of about half an hour in the 90 plus degree sun during which time we were surround serenaded by blaring rap music (thematically unrelated to the show or anything else aquatic) as well as a cavalcade of equally blaring kids--about 30--who were visiting from a New York City YMCA.  The show itself was cute, had a nice, anti-pollution message, and the sea lions were quite talented.  But, when the show was over, we wondered why we bothered.

I won't say the aquarium isn't an interesting place to visit.  And if you enjoy the atmosphere at Chucky Cheese, you'll love it.  But isn't this supposed to be  an educational experience?   And somehow  "family entertainment" has become synonymous with an experience that is barely tolerable for adults without children.  I didn't see any grandparent-types there either.  Maybe they had already found the nearest exit.  

All this for $21.50 per adult ticket?  That's the price you pay just for the aquarium part--no bird or butterfly exhibit.  If  you want to see any of the "shows" with the live sea creatures, you also pay an additional fee for each show.   Let's put this in perspective.  As an adult,  you can visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art for $25, spend the whole day and experience centuries of art and archaeology that are authentic and truly represent  worlds  of adventure.  Sorry, if I sound elitist (I'm not), but the aquarium doesn't even come close to a world of anything I want to experience more than once in my life.  And the behavior I saw there would not be tolerated for 5 minutes at the Met Museum, or for that matter, the Museum of Natural History, or even the Bronx Zoo.  These places have rules to protect the civilized from the raving idiots.

But my decision never to visit Long Island Aquarium again can be attributed not to the unruly kids or even their oblivious parents, but rather to the management or director or whoever sets policy and guidelines for the conduct of visitors once they are admitted to the venue.   Maybe the Long Island Aquarium staff need to come up for air.   

Okay, I've made my point, which is  if you're craving aquatic adventure,  consider grabbing a fish sandwich at McDonalds and taking a tour of the Long Island Aquarium website.  Frankly, you'll be better served.