Let me start by saying this: I live for the adventure and the thrills that come with it. I will never miss an occasion to discover a new place, unless something really important comes up. Travelling and discovering is a passion for me. So please bare with when I get out of topic because I get overly excited about something, like I’m about to. And before I tell you all about the Acquarium, let me give you a little bit of a background story.
Like the year before, I had decided to do a road trip to celebrate 2020 Valentine’s Day. And as usual I spent hours looking for a place to stay, and activities to keep me busy once I get to Denver. Luckily, I found a few places that met my standards for the little I was willing to pay. Even though it was only a 3-4 nights stay, I still wanted to have more than just one experience. Didn’t I say that I like discovering? So I settled on 2 hotels instead of one; Element Park Meadows and Residence Inn by Marriott. Each with its style.
Element wasn’t located in Downtown, but what it offered compensated for that. I couldn’t go for a walk and sit at a near shop for breakfast, when I stayed at this hotel but, I didn’t care much as they offered a continental breakfast at a self-served bar. They had everything I like and more. And for someone who usually doesn’t eat any breakfast, I didn’t want to miss theirs. Eggs, bacon, butter, coffee, yogurt, cake etc. The room was clean, the staff was respectful. Good package for the price. And I have the same thing to say about Residence Inn, though this one was in Denver downtown. The main difference between both hotels was the view that Residence Inn had to offer. Also, the room there was more like a small one bedroom apartment. Very clean and enough space. There was even a small dining table. I remember not wanting to leave, so I felt at home.
But, enough talk about the hotels and their amenities. Let’s jump to the good part. Denver’s Aquarium.
Located on Water St, 80211, the Aquarium is hard to miss. As much for its impressive architecture as for its color; a blue that reminds you of the ocean. Hence the name « An underwater adventure ». And this name makes even more sense once you get inside.
The first thing that struck me when I passed the doors was how big the aquarium was. What I didn’t know was that I was about to have one of the best times I have had in a long time.
Someone who has already been in an aquarium will relate to that once inside, you realize there are more species living under water than you can ever remember or imagine. Fishes, turtles, etc. Each as unique as the other, and it would take more than just a post to describe. So I’ll limit myself to the ones I had the most fun watching. Let’s start with the lionfish.
If you had asked me before, I would have said that there wasn’t such a fish called lionfish. But I would have been wrong. From what I could read on the descriptive sign, lionfishes are «predators from the tropical pacific who have invaded Atlantic reefs from Rhode Island to Columbia.» Looking at one, one would never think they are dangerous, so they are beautiful with their colors, when in reality, they have venomous spines and a voracious appetite.
Next, I got to see a specie that had always scared me, since I watched the movie called Piranhas 3D. I remember praying that day, to never be less than 10 feet away from a piranha. If that wish never came true like I wanted to, at least I was not in any type of risk by being this close to these fishes. And I was so glad, because I got the same chill when looking at them through the glass as I had the day I saw them on tv. They were many of them, all standing still. Absolutely no movement. I never thought stillness could transmit so much fear in someone. Looking at them, all I could think of was what would happen if the glass was to break and they were hungry. Luckily it didn’t happen, neither with the piranhas, nor the sharks, so I could tell you this little tale.
So, after seeing the piranhas, I had to cool down a little bit. Nothing better than jellyfishes and sea jellies movement to help me get it together. It was one of the multiple amazing sights that the Aquarium had to offer. But, I have to say, what makes Denver’s Aquarium special is the fact that it’s not only about the species living in the water, despite what the name may suggest. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to see anything else than fish and water, so you can imagine my surprise (a positive one of course) when I saw a tiger. A real and big tiger. I would have been running all over the place, but there was no need to as he was in a large cage of glass. I saved a picture for you at the end. I enjoyed watching him do his little parade and was pleased to see how good of a show off he was. I could have stayed and watched him all day, if it wasn’t that I had somewhere else to be. All this underwater adventure had made me hungry so I tried to rush to a restaurant, after taking a few pictures and videos (of course). Below are some of them.
If you ever decide to take a trip to Denver, don’t leave until you visit the Aquarium. You’ll have one of the best experience ever. And if like me you end up hungry afterwards, try checking out the African Grill and Bar restaurant in Lakewood. Not only will you eat some delicious dishes, but may also get to enjoy their live instrumental music, that is if they still do it.
