For years, Charleston has talked about building an Aquarium, and finally one has been built.
I suppose it's something, at least, after nearly 20 years of hand-wringing on the subject. If you build it, they will come--or will they?
Admission to the aquarium is very expensive for the lack of exhibits there are.
Charleston has always been faced with the problem of struggling between being a small town and being a small town that tries to act bigger than it is. The Aquarium, in my opinion, is the biggest example of this.
There is so much aquatic life around the Charleston area that should be featured in this multi-million dollar paperweight, but isn't. Empty tanks, empty wings, empty rooms. Very disappointing to spend $11 a person to go in and find that even if you walk very, very slowly you'll have seen all of the exhibits in less than 40 minutes.
At least it's something.
Beware of the 'outdoor' area where the birds have free reign. They will try to eat the buttons off of your shirt and the earrings out of your ears. I overheard one kid telling his family that when his class went to the aquarium the week before, they fed that particular bird the erasers off of their pencils. I don't think that's a good thing.
And the people who man the 'touch tank' are very snotty and won't let adults touch the animals, only kids. So walk on your knees and pretend to be a child and perhaps that is the only way you'll be allowed to hold a horse-shoe crab.
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