Loveland Living Planet Aquarium {Spring Break Utah Family Activity}

I love living in Utah because it’s a very family oriented state. We have so many different places to take our kids on spring break where they can learn and have fun at the same time. One of those places is the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Draper, Utah. I am happy to be teaming up with Loveland Living Planet Aquarium and Mom it Forward to bring you this review.

The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is a very interactive aquarium. It’s the perfect “Staycation” addition to anyone who is staying home for Spring Break, or if you are not from Utah, consider visiting us and checking out the Aquarium. The kids can feed and touch the animals and learn more about the creatures that live right here in Utah as well as around the world.

Here are some important tips for families visiting the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium.

The Aquarium is open daily 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and open until 8:00 p.m. on Monday nights. Parking is free at the aquarium and the lot is located right beside it. So it’s not too long of a walk to get inside. I would suggest not bringing strollers with you unless you have a baby who can’t walk. Even then, I’d put the baby in a back pack. Sometimes it’s a little crowded, especially if you go on a Saturday or a Monday Night. A stroller will just get in the way and your toddler will want to get out to see everything up close anyway.

I would plan on spending at least 2 hours at the aquarium in order to take advantage of all they have to offer. If you don’t have that much time or if your kids are still young and you want to break up the time spent there, I would strongly encourage you to purchase a family pass so you can enjoy the aquarium at your own pace. Take your time and really enjoy each section of the aquarium. I guarantee your kids will want to go back again once they see how fun it is.

When you first walk into the aquarium you are greeted by a wide open entrance where you can decide where you want to start. This is actually one of my favorite things about the aquarium because I’m a mom. All the sections of the aquarium begin and end right in that central point. So if any of my kids wander off, I know that I will be able to catch them coming out in one of those exits. This aquarium is very family friendly.

The newest additions to the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium starting in March are:

• Animal Encounters (Lobby) – Come face-to-face and interact with a variety of serpents, insects, birds, and more.
• Bio Fact Talks (Lobby) – Learn interesting animal facts and engage in hands-on activities.
• Science Experiments (Lobby) – Science is fun when you can see it in action! Watch an experiment lead by our Education Presenters.
• Shark Talk (Shark Exhibit) – Learn cool facts about sharks from our knowledgeable Education Presenters.
• Story Time (Otter Outpost in Discover Utah Gallery) – Join us for story time in the cabin where you’ll learn something new about our Living Planet.

Check the aquarium’s schedule here to find out what time you should plan on visiting so you can enjoy these new interactive experiences. And if you have a kid who is wild about animals, you should know that the aquarium has a Summer Camp. You can learn more about the 2017 camp here.  Another great addition to the schedule is Animal Feedings. For an additional fee you can participate in Penguin Encounters and Feed the Stingrays where you can join in feeding the animals.

When my family visits the aquarium, my kids always run upstairs to the rope bridge first. It’s their favorite part of the aquarium. They walk over it at least 3 times each. My littlest one was scared at first, but look at him go with his Jake and the Never land Pirates bandanna on!

After we walk over the bridge we stop and take a look at the different rain forest frogs. My kids love how colorful they are.

We love to be able to pet a few of the sea animals like this adorable little star fish. My kids could also spend hours watching the jelly fish swim in their lit up aquariums. It’s very relaxing.

But I must say that my favorite part of the aquarium is the Shark Tunnel. It’s so fun to be “under the water” with the sharks, fish and sea turtles.

After you pass through the tunnel it opens in to a great big room with a place to sit and just watch the fish swim. A great opportunity to sit and talk with the kids about everything they’ve seen.

We love the playful otters and penguins too. They are so cute and you are able to see them playing above the water and below the water. You’re kids will want to stand there and watch them play all day long.

The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is a great choice to take the family to over Spring Break, not to mention about 5 more times each year. Like I said, the family pass is the best option because there is so much to see and do at the aquarium, that you’ll want to come back often.

Have you visited the aquarium? What was your favorite part?

A little more detail about visiting the aquarium . . .

Does the Aquarium offer any discounts? The best discount they offer is to purchase an annual membership. For more information on memberships, click here. They also offer $5 Off Family Night every Monday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. when each admission ticket is $5 off the regular price. They also offer a discount of $2 per ticket for groups of 20 people or more. They also offer a $2 per ticket discount for Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts in uniform, and a $3 per ticket discount to students, seniors, and military members. Outside food or drink is not allowed anywhere inside the Aquarium. They offer a selection of refreshments at Café Avalon located in the main lobby though. They also offer free public WiFi for guests. (Network: Aquarium-Guest) No password is required.

If you are looking for a place to host your child’s next birthday party, you should really look into having it here at the Aquarium! They have two event rooms available for private events and offer evening full facility rentals as well. They have a fun inside “jungle gym playground” called “Tuki’s Island Play and Party Center” with private rooms attached. Perfect for a birthday party.

Visit the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium online and on social media:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelivingplanetaquarium/

Twitter: twitter.com/LivingPlanetUT

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lovelandlivingplanet/

Website: www.thelivingplanet.com