• Home
  • About Wandering Carol
  • Contact Us
  • About us

Luxury Travel Magazine

An unpretentious guide to luxury travel, culture and adventure

  • About Luxury travel
  • Destinations
  • Spas
    • The Spa and Spa Travel
    • Hot Springs Spas and Thermal Baths: Why You Should Visit One
    • Spa Towns in Europe – 8 Reasons You Should Visit
  • Popular Articles
    • Things to Do in Canada
    • Top European Destinations
    • Things to Do in the South of France
    • Travel and Art: Artistic Cities, Art Fairs and Painting Holidays
  • Privacy Policy
Luxury travel blog » Attractions » Romance at Ripley’s Aquarium Toronto

Romance at Ripley’s Aquarium Toronto

June 23, 2015 by Carol Perehudoff 15 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you purchase something through this site I may earn a (dreadfully small but much appreciated) commission at no extra cost to you.

Tweet
Pin1
Share3
Flip
Share
WhatsApp
4 Shares

When you have two free Ripley’s Aquarium Toronto tickets (I won them!) and no one will go with you, it’s 1) a sign you have no friends or 2) that everyone you know has something better to do on a Thursday afternoon – like work. But I refused to wait for the weekend, even though I’m sure I would have had at least 100,000 friends to go with then, because Ripley’s Aquarium is Toronto’s newest attraction.

Ripley's Aquarium Toronto picture

 

I’ll just make a friend in the lineup, I thought. I’ll find someone travelling solo and offer them a free ticket. They’ll be my best friend for life.

Having read about the crowds flocking to Ripley’s, I arrived all geared up to shout: “Who’s here alone? I’ve got an extra Ripley’s Aquarium Toronto ticket!” This way I’d break the ice, the whole lineup would start talking and a sense of warm community would result.

Except I was the only one in line.

Note to Toronto tourists: To avoid crowds visiting Ripley’s Aquarium Toronto at 5:30 on a weeknight seems to work pretty well.

How to get to Ripley's Aquarium Toronto, Canada

Anyone here travelling solo?

 

Toronto Aquarium tickets

I can’t say I was disappointed because, like the rest of the world, I hate lineups. Still, I hesitated at the entrance. “But I have a ticket to give away,” I told a staffer at the door.

Travel guide Toronto Ripley's Aquarium of Canada

I want to see the fishies

 

“Maybe you’ll find someone on the way out,” she said cheerfully.

What good would that do, I thought, heading inside. I won’t need a friend by then.

Visiting Ripley's Aquarium Toronto, Xiphactinus

No wonder I don’t swim in Lake Ontario. Who knows if a prehistoric Xiphactinus still lingers?

 

What to see at Ripley’s Aquarium Toronto

I knew that the Aquarium was big – 12,500 square metres in size and some 5.7 million litres of water. Other than that I wasn’t sure what to expect – except fish, obviously, so I began with an educational approach. I learned about the Xiphactinus, a frightening fanged predator that once swam in North America’s inland sea.

Ripley's Aquarium Toronto sea anemones

See your sea anemones here!

 

What else did I learn? Let me tell you!

I learned about sea anemones. They are more riveting than you think and come in more varieties than there are, er, fish in the sea. For example:

  • You’ve got your Christmas Anemones, which are red and green – but in no way resemble watery floating Santas, which was slightly disappointing.
  • Brooding Anemones, which sound very moody and no doubt write poetry in their spare time.
  • Leather Anemones – and who knows what they’re into when the lights go out?
  • Strawberry Anemones – good enough to eat. Not!
  • Fish-eating Anemones (At first I thought the sign said flesh-eating anemones and took a big step back.)
  • My personal favourite, Plumrose Anemones, which may look like miniature palm trees but when they retract, and I quote, “they look like a puck of gooey jelly.” As this is pretty much how I look without lipstick, I felt a kinship right away.
Ripley's Aquarium Toronto, Fleshy Sea Pen

See your Fleshy Sea Pens here!

 

I’d hardly begun to explore Ripley’s Aquarium Toronto and was already learning things! So let’s talk about starfish.

  • When ready to spawn, female Rainbow Starfish “stand up on the ends of their arms, raising their centre disk and pushing out a stream of tiny eggs.”

Talk about an attention-getting trick. If I could do that I’d stand up and announce it, too.

“Wow! Spawning starfish!” I said, looking around with a friendly smile to see if there was anyone I could share starfish jokes with, but oddly enough, people seemed to be backing away. They must be afraid of starfish, I thought. People have the strangest phobias.

Visiting Ripley's Aquarium Toronto, starfish

Must be a male

 

Ripley’s Aquarium Toronto and the Hazardous Lagoon

I came to a dark tunnel called the Hazardous Lagoon. “Why is it Hazardous?” I asked the young man at the tunnel entrance. Since he was wearing a bright red Ripley’s Aquarium T-shirt, I assumed this meant he had to talk to me.

“Because there are sharks in there,” he said. “And stingrays. And lots of dangerous fish.”

Ripley's Aquarium Toronto Hazardous Lagoon

Danger! Danger!

 

“Cool,” I said. “And a moving sidewalk, too!” If there’s a better sightseeing combination than dangerous sea creatures and moving sidewalks, I can’t imagine what it could be, except possibly raspberry and chocolate gelato.

Ripley’s Hazardous Lagoon is dark with eerie mood music, and the sidewalk moves at the pace of evolution. But this is a good thing when you’re busy looking for Nurse Sharks, Sandbar Sharks, Sand Tiger Sharks and/or Roughtail Stingrays. Granted, Pork Fish, French Grunts, Potato Cods and Cleaning Goby’s, aren’t quite as exciting but they all have a place in the sea.

Ripley's Aquarium in Toronto, jellyfish

Even poisonous jellyfish have a place in this world (Planet Jellies comes after the Hazardous Lagoon)

Shark spotting at Ripleys

The moving sidewalk hugs the left side of the Hazardous Lagoon and I was so busy looking through the glass I didn’t realize there was a shark on my head.

“Carumba!” I yelled when I looked up and came face-to-belly with the underside of a shark. I hadn’t realized the lagoon went over my head and down the other side and that the tunnel was completely surrounded by water (not to mention perilous sea creatures).

Ha ha, people!

So then I amused myself by watching people who were watching the fish while not realizing there was an 8-foot Green Sawtooth or stingray on their head. And then I felt sorry for myself because I had no one to take a photo of me pretending not to notice I was wearing a stingray like a halo.

Sawfish at Ripley's Aquarium Toronto

Look up!

 

“Can you take my photo?” I asked a man with two women. Of course he was nice about it, but I couldn’t exactly ask him to wait until a deadly sea creature was hovering over my head. And it wasn’t the same as being with someone who understands why you need a photo with your head in the mouth of a giant plastic shark in the gift shop.

Ripley's Aquarium Toronto gift shop

The only hockey playing shark you ever will see

 

Never mind, I thought, reminding myself that I would have had at least 100,000 friends to visit Ripley’s Aquarium with if I’d waited until the weekend.

Luxury travel blogger, Wandering Carol at Ripley's Aquarium Toronto

Fake fear!

Perils of the deep

Then, as I continued to drift ever so slowly along the Hazardous Lagoon, I sensed a presence behind me. I turned. We stared into each other’s eyes. The attraction was magnetic. He slowed his pace to match mine.

“Hello,” I whispered, drawn to his muscular physique and unblinking gaze.

His jaw slowly moved up and down, as if he were trying to say something.

I tried to read his lips only he didn’t have any. “Maw, maw, maw,” he seemed to be saying.

Visiting Ripley's Aquarium Toronto to see sharks

A presence behind me

 

Visiting Ripley's Aquarium Toronto shark close up

Magnetic personality

Visiting Ripley's Aquarium of Canada in Toronto, sharks

Eyes like turquoise water … I could drink them in

 

Visit Ripley's Aquarium Toronto, shark information

Eye contact!

 

Ripley's Aquarium, Toronto's newest attraction

My hands reach out, and I’m sure his fin leaned toward me

 

Sharks at Ripleys Aquarium Toronto

Looks good from the back, too!

Love in the deep blue sea Hazardous Lagoon

I knew nothing about him or where he was from. Was he a Sandbar Shark? A Nurse Shark? Or – be still, my beating heart – a Sand Tiger Shark?

But his background didn’t matter, nor the fact that he possibly wanted to tear into my flesh. I hadn’t made a new friend by giving my Ripley’s Aquarium ticket away, but I’d had a primal connection in the Hazardous Lagoon … and I no longer felt alone.

 

 

Visiting Ripley’s Aquarium Toronto

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada has 9 galleries, 16,000 fish and a variety of exhibits. Of course my favourite was the Hazardous Lagoon but don’t let the smaller exhibits pass you by. The Canadian Waters exhibit highlights different fish habitats in this country and Planet Jellies is weirdly wonderful and looks like a living art installation. Plus, how can you go wrong with a poisonous Lionfish or two?

How do you buy Ripley’s Aquarium Tickets?

Buy your aquarium tickets at the door or online at the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada website.

How much do Ripley’s Aquarium Toronto tickets cost?

Regular Express tickets are $29.98 for adults and $9.98 child. Timed tickets are $26.98 adult and $6.98 child.

Ripley’s Aquarium Toronto Ticket Discount

Save with a Sharks After Dark ticket: $24.98 adults and $4.98 child. Entrance after 7 p.m. Rise and Shine Saturdays: from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. $24.98 adults and $4.98 child. Senior Savings Day: Tuesdays between 2-5 p.m. $5 off regular entry. Check the website for other specials.

When is the aquarium the most crowded?

The most popular times to visit Ripley’s Aquarium are weekends and holidays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and during the week from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Plan accordingly.

How much time should you plan for at Ripleys?

I was in the aquarium for about 2 hours.

How to get to Ripley’s Aquarium Toronto

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is located next to the Rogers Centre at the bottom of the CN Tower. To get there take the subway to Union Station and follow signs for the Skywalk. From there you should see signs for Ripley’s Aquarium Canada.

Seriously?

Yes, you can have a sleepover at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. Email sleepovers@ripleysaquariumofcanada.com You can also do yoga and/or have a birthday party. Whohoo!

Where is Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada located: at 288 Bremner Boulevard, Toronto.  Telephone: (647) 351-FISH (3474)

 

The Ripley’s Aquarium Experience:  My shark experience really was intense. The shark stayed for quite awhile and no, I don’t think he wanted to eat me. I think he was curious. I also don’t take animal tourism lightly (though I may seem to). I definitely found the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada experience educational, much more than I’d expected to, and I think programs and/or exhibits that help us respect and be more comfortable with sharks and other sea life serve a purpose. That said, I respect people’s right to disagree. And by the way, sea anemones really are interesting.

Filed Under: Attractions, Canada, Ontario, Toronto Tagged With: Toronto Travel Blog

About Carol Perehudoff

A former freelance travel columnist for the Toronto Star, Carol has won more than 20 writing and blogging awards and honours. A spa and luxury travel expert, she's written for top travel publications around the globe.

Comments

  1. Andrew P (@apham17) says

    June 28, 2015 at 11:50 pm

    Very informative and great pics! Never been to Ripleys

  2. erikakomori says

    June 28, 2015 at 9:14 pm

    Loved seeing all of the pictures! It really is a great Toronto tourist attraction!

  3. Tina D says

    June 28, 2015 at 6:27 pm

    Awesome, very informative!

  4. Sand In My Suitcase says

    June 28, 2015 at 2:24 pm

    Fun post! The Vancouver Aquarium here in Vancouver also has sleepovers where kids (big kids too?) can bed down in front of one of the underwater galleries. Great for birthday parties!

  5. Lesley Peterson says

    June 28, 2015 at 11:51 am

    That shark’s eye looks like jewelry! The aquarium is really hypnotic/relaxing, all those swirling schools of silver fish, the jelly fish ballooning up and down, the fronds of Pacific Northwest kelp forest wafting in slo-mo. I’d love to go again!!

  6. Carol Perehudoff says

    June 28, 2015 at 11:43 am

    Thanks, Amy – The aquarium itself is even more informative!

  7. Amy says

    June 28, 2015 at 11:38 am

    The post was very informative and I love the photos :)

  8. laura reid says

    June 28, 2015 at 11:30 am

    love the lost, now I want to go to the aquarium

  9. Simon N. says

    June 28, 2015 at 11:26 am

    It’s great! Lots of great pictures!

  10. Carol Perehudoff says

    June 26, 2015 at 8:56 am

    Thanks, Colleen, It was a strange and wondrous thing. Really! Eye contact with a shark!

  11. colleen says

    June 25, 2015 at 10:57 pm

    I love your take on the trip. Hysterical to read. I’d be concerned about that shark eye contact…you might have looked like dinner…

  12. Dena Gouweloos (@denagouweloos) says

    June 24, 2015 at 3:53 pm

    This post is amazing – I love the Aquarium so much. And I love your writing style!!

  13. Ayngelina says

    June 24, 2015 at 3:42 pm

    Fake fear! I love it!

  14. Andrew Dobson (@dobbernation) says

    June 24, 2015 at 7:34 am

    One fish two fish three fish GO FISH!

  15. Michele Peterson (A Taste for Travel) says

    June 23, 2015 at 10:28 am

    Great photos! Planet Jellies at Ripley’s is one of the most beautiful spots in Toronto. Handy tips for when to visit

Talk to me! Leave a comment Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Connect with me online

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Subscribe and you won't miss an article!

Carol Perehudoff published in top media, logos for newspapers and magazines

About Wandering Carol

circle profileIn my 10+ years as a travel writer and columnist I've seen the best of what the world has to offer and written for some top publications around the globe - and now my goal is to bring this expertise to you. For more blah blah blah, visit my
About page.

Categories

How to use this adventure and luxury travel site

  • Click on the ‘DESTINATIONS TO TRAVEL TO’ tab on the menu bar to go to my destinations page.
  • The CATEGORIES drop down menu above will point you to locations and travel themes such as hotels, outdoor adventure and tours.
  • SUBSCRIBE to keep up with the latest articles and get tips to make your next journey inspiring.

Recent Posts

  • Things to do in Krems, Austria – a Whirlwind Tour
  • Viking River Cruise Danube Waltz Review
  • Sisi in Vienna: the Captivating World of Empress Elizabeth of Austria
  • Most haunted place in England – Shrewsbury in Shropshire
  • Leukerbad, Switzerland, the Ultimate Travel Guide

Recent Comments

  • Pat Brennan on Things to do in Krems, Austria – a Whirlwind Tour
  • Carol Perehudoff on Viking River Cruise Danube Waltz Review
  • Carol Perehudoff on Viking River Cruise Danube Waltz Review
  • Toni on Viking River Cruise Danube Waltz Review
  • Parmjit (parm) Parmar on Viking River Cruise Danube Waltz Review

Terms of Use

Terms of Use

Copyright @2019 WanderingCarol.com Luxury Travel Blog