How to Plan a Day at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas

Moody Gardens is a gigantic complex full of fun and discovery. From a tropical rain forest with a bat cave to aquariums representing the Northeast, South and West, you'll find activities and exhibits that will quench your thirst for fun and learning. Follow these steps to plan your trip.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Tickets

1. Start your day in the aquariums. Visit huge touch tanks where you can feel sea creatures as you learn about them. Walk through the underwater aquariums and see sharks, eels and other ocean critters from an unobstructed view. It can't get better than this unless you don a wet suit and scuba tanks. You'll explore environments from the North and South Pacific, the Caribbean and the Western Atlantic.
2. Enter the lush canopy of the rain forest. Here you will find replicas of the African, American and Asian rain forests as well as the Mayan Colonnade. Find waterfalls and gentle pools, snakes and ocelots. Don't forget to visit the bats. Their day and night cycle has been reversed so that you can see them when they are most active.
3. Take in a show in North America's first 3-D theater. Slip on your 3-D glasses and watch brilliant images pop out at you from the front and your peripherals. With a six-story screen and fabulous sound, there is no bad seat in this amazing theater.
4. Try and sit still for a 4-D experience. If you thought the 3-D theater was great, just hold on in the 4-D. Images will seemingly pop off the screen and come close enough to touch. With added effects of wind, mist, shaking seats and leg ticklers, this experience will make you jump from your seat.
5. Enter the Discovery Pyramid and experience science experiments in a whole new way. Many exhibits are interactive and hands-on, making this a science experience like no other. The exhibits are traveling, so each time you visit, a new discovery awaits you in the Discovery Pyramid.
6. Jump on board the Ridefilm Theater. Hold on tightly as you see many wonderful things about the world on a speedy ride. The screen is 180 degrees and spherically curved. The film seems to surround you as it fully encompasses your peripheral vision. The sound in this ride is also fantastic.
7. Let the little ones splash around outside during the summer months. Palm Beach is a perfect place for adults to relax and rest weary feet while the kiddos burn off the rest of their boundless energy. There is a submarine with a periscope and water gun. You will also find waterfalls, splash pools and much more.

Tips & Warnings

• Plan on spending at least one full day. You can easily fill two days with all the activities at Moody Gardens.
• Stay at the Moody Gardens Hotel if you will be in Galveston for two or more days. You can purchase tickets to Moody Gardens in advance online.