Our Aquarium is small. I think that's important to take into consideration when planning a visit…read moreand building expectations. It had a face lift from the last time I was there and those changes are nice. I would say it takes about an hour to get through everything if you stop to read some signs, take some pictures, and watch one of the shows. There is a new additional building included in your admission and about a 2 minute walk from the main building. Although it was in good shape, I didn't personally feel drawn to the space at all and felt like there was more that could be done with it. Overall, I like the Aquarium and it was well worth the $7.16 I paid to get in. I'd feel cheated if I paid the full $25 ticket price.

Hadn't been here in over 25 years, so wasn't sure what to expect. we were pleasantly surprised and…read morepleased! we hadn't realized how involved our aquarium is with conservation and education. we read most of the signs, touched shark, and other in touch tank, watched the captivating penguin show as well as the sea lion show. unfortunately, we didn't have time to stay for the sea turtle show. penguin show is best seen from the first floor (there's a bench to sit on, if you claim it early enuff), but sea lion show is better from upper floor.

The zoo in general I give 3/5 stars:…read more Parking and concessions are overpriced. The zoo itself is one of the oldest in America and it shows. Its desperate for updating. Other than the rainforest and Artic area, I'm not impressed with anything, especially VS other zoos. I've never seen a single person or zookeeper around welcoming guests or talking about the animals. Its almost always dirty and smells. No tech, nothing interactive. I get it, its a zoo. Healthy animals are the point and star of the show. And im sure the budget is skin tight. But the zoo shouldn't resemble the 1800's anymore. Other than the updated Artic exhibit, this place is exactly the same from when I was child in the 90's. I strongly urge to you check their schedule to see if any free events are going on to enhance your experience. Zoomagination (annual lantern fest) on the other hand gets a 5/5 rating and bumps this review. Its as close to Disneyworld as you can get in Buffalo. The lantern statues are stunning in the darkness. And the late summer vibes are immaculate.

The zoo is a classic buffalo attraction, a great place for the whole family to visit. Sone great…read morenew options to eat here, burgers, pizza slices and fantastic educational opportunities for all ages!

This is a must for anyone with elementary school age children or younger. I've been to a couple of…read morechildren's museum, but this one by far is probably the biggest one I've been to so far. They have 4 floors with a wide variety of stations and things to do for the kids. If we didn't have to worry about nap time, we could probably spend the whole day there. If you have a Bank of America card, this museum is part of their Museum on us program- IYKYK. I also like the cafeteria where you can purchase snacks or meals for the kids. I appreciate that they don't police you, if you just use the space to eat your own packed snacks, just clean up after yourself is all they request. There's just so much to do. I would say the only issue we ran into was finding parking, but that's to expected at that side of town. Overall, a must for kids.

We boldly went to see what Explore & More was like on a Saturday morning. Now I am sure it was…read morebusier because of the weekend but it wasn't too busy that we felt smushed with all the people. This place is AWESOME for our little guy. He loved this entire place and had so much fun. The building is 4 floors but Explore & More really starts on the 2nd floor. The first floor has a lobby and a cafe though which is nice too. The main floor of Explore & More is great. There is a Delta Sonic kid car wash, and so many cool historical Buffalo things like the Erie Canal and interactive boat for them to try out. The next floor has so many interactive things for kids to try and run around on. Everything has great theming for Buffalo and really shows off the hometown pride for the adults who are there with their kids. I'd recommend this place to anyone with kids because they have so much fun. There is something to do for all ages here. Definitely felt like a Buffalo gem.

If you are planning a trip to Toronto, put Ripley's Aquarium at the top of your list. We made this…read moreour very first stop after breakfast, and even though we arrived early, it was already buzzing with people and honestly, I totally see why. The experience was phenomenal. Absolutely immersive. The massive tanks showing how communities of fish live together are impressive, but the Dangerous Lagoon is the crown jewel. There is a slow-moving treadmill through the tunnel pro tip: just stay on it and look up. Seeing the sharks and rays glide over you is a core memory. Staff & Service: Top-notch. The staff is not only friendly but incredibly knowledgeable. They are very proactive about animal welfare, constantly reminding the crowd to turn off their flashes to protect the creatures. Educational Value: We caught two of the diver shows where they feed the animals. It's amazing to hear them talk about sustainability and how our daily decisions impact these animals' lives for years to come. Crowd: It gets crowded fast! Even as early birds, we weren't alone. However, the layout is so well-organized that the flow of people keeps moving. Food & Amenities: After the shark tunnel, there's a convenient coffee shop and washrooms located in the basement. It's the perfect spot to take a breather. Transportation: Location couldn't be better. It's incredibly accessible you can easily walk if you're downtown, or take the bus/train (TTC) to Union Station. It's right in the heart of the action. Cost: Definitely worth the price of admission for the quality of the exhibits and the message of conservation they share. I got my pass with Citypass. Bottom Line: Whether you are a solo traveler or with a group, this is a 10/10 experience. Don't forget to skip the flash and enjoy the view

This one-star is ONLY for the ticketing experience via Get Your Guide…read more I had a frustrating experience with ticketing that other visitors should be aware of. I purchased tickets through GetYourGuide under the assumption that they were standard aquarium admission. However, when we arrived, we were informed that the tickets were actually for a "Sharks After Dark" event. This distinction was not clearly or prominently disclosed during the booking process--it was buried in a way that an average customer could easily miss. The staff member scanning our tickets immediately recognized the issue and mentioned that this confusion happens frequently. That was surprising and concerning, as it suggests this is a known, ongoing problem that has not been addressed. What made the situation more frustrating was the lack of accountability. GetYourGuide directed us to the aquarium for resolution, while the aquarium redirected us back to GetYourGuide. This back-and-forth left us without a clear path to resolve the issue. Overall, this reflects poorly on both the ticketing platform and the aquarium. Clear communication and transparency are essential, especially when selling different types of admission. I recommend double-checking ticket details carefully before purchasing, and I hope both parties improve this process to prevent similar experiences for others. Make sure to buy the right ticket!

Reliving childhood memories and making new ones with the whole family…read more The Strong National Museum of Play is the ultimate place for interactive play with over 282,000 sq ft of fun exhibits. Smaller kids were able to immerse in the toy Grocery Store, Reading Adventureland pirate mail, and Sesame Street exhibits on the 1st floor. There were neat areas including the Pinball Playfield and outdoor Field of Play with a D&D dragon statue and Monopoly for photo-ops on a nice day. The Hulk strength and Spider-Man city climb exhibits in the Comic Book Hero area were also fun. On the 2nd floor, the Digital Worlds and Video Game Hall of Fame featured many classic and independent video games that kept us entertained on various consoles. We also had plenty of fun in the Level Up area, especially with the interactive stealth zone and wall toss games. These were all included in the admission price but my personal favorite were the arcades at $1 per 5 tokens and featured Mario Cart and Halo plus many more games from the past four decades. We literally visited three days in a row here to experience the many parts of the museum for multiple days of play. With added admission, we also worked up a sweat on the Skyline Climb rope course and zipline above the atrium. It was well-designed with a safety rail & traffic light system that made it suitable for young kids. The site has a rainbow parking garage with 6 parking entries included in each annual family membership. Skip it or hit it? We had such a fun time that we'll definitely revisit in the future. Good thing it's only 3 hours drive from Toronto.

This is a trip down memory lane!…read more This museum is not just for children. It's for that little kid inside you that was once naive, joyful, and full of imagination. There are many play areas for kids of all ages, a Wegman's grocery store, a giant working Simon, outdoor space for bubbles, giant sized Monopoly, a giant Chutes and Ladders, a huge Donkey Kong game, plenty of pinball and arcade machines. This year they added an indoor 9 hole mini golf course as well. The part that always leaves me in awe is the massive collection of old toys and video gaming systems. A great trip down memory lane always.

I visited the Butterfly Conservatory and really enjoyed the experience. I somewhat knew what to…read moreexpect because I have been to several butterfly farms before, so I was expecting the usual enclosed environment with butterflies flying freely around. However, this conservatory was even prettier than some of the other butterfly attractions I have visited. The environment itself is beautiful and peaceful. There are numerous butterflies flying around, along with lovely greenery, waterfalls, and water features that make the space feel calm and relaxing. It is a very nice attraction for anyone who enjoys nature, photography, or simply wants a peaceful place to explore. One part that really stood out to me was the interactive activity at the end of the experience. Guests are given a coloring sheet with a butterfly, hummingbird, or another design to color. Once finished, the attraction attendant scans the artwork, and then your colored image appears on a screen. I thought that was such a cool and creative feature. It added something extra and memorable to the visit. Overall, the Butterfly Conservatory was a beautiful and enjoyable attraction. The butterflies, scenery, water features, and interactive activity made it a relaxing and fun experience. I would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting the area.

Our recent trip to the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory was truly magical! Our tickets for…read moreadmission were included with our Wonder Pass Plus purchase. This attraction doesn't require an appointment, but it is a longer bus ride from the other Niagara Parks attractions, so be sure to plan for that. We used our passes to take the WEGO bus from Niagara Takes Flight to the butterfly conservatory. Rain was in the forecast, so this is a nice, indoor option. The conservatory itself houses so many butterflies, and they tell you upon entry that it is thought to be lucky if a blue one lands on you, so everyone inside is doing their best to attract a blue butterfly. Several landed on us, and while you don't want to move for fear of them flying away, you also want to get your companion's attention to snap that perfect pic! We had lots of fun even though the temperature is kept very warm and the space was crowded. Clearly, everyone had the same rainy-day activity planned. My only complaint comes from when I asked about re-entry. I was told that we could leave the conservatory, but not the building. We wanted to visit the cafe and grab a bite to eat or something to drink and perhaps return once the crowd had thinned out a bit, but that is not permitted. We were told that we could step out to cool down in the gift shop or lobby area and then return through the same entrance that we used when we arrived. The volunteer got on her walkie to tell someone that we'd be coming back in, so I'm not even sure that this is normally permitted. Overall, it was a fun and new experience for us. The staff was kind and the conservatory is beautiful. There's also a botanical garden and at least one beehive there, but we didn't get to explore the outdoor areas due to the rain.

This is a beautiful little spot. It is usually not too crowded, although I am here earlier in the…read moreday. It's beautiful and the water is calming to look at. Great spot to walk around and enjoy some fresh air.

This is a really nice park tucked away behind some manufacturers. There is a large pond and sports…read morefields right when you pull in. There are lots of walking paths and plenty of parking.