The much anticipated opening of the new Australia exhibit at the National Aquarium in Baltimore finally arrived on December 16 after countless delays. The project went way over on time and budget, but will hopefully be worth the $21.95 adult entry fee (kids 3-11 pay $14.95) folks are now shelling out. The exhibit, Australia: Wild Extremes, is sponsored by Animal Planet and takes up an additional 65,400 square feet. The three year constuction was quite an undertaking, and is detailed in this Building Australia feature on the Aquarium's website. There is a collection of highly adaptive creatures including kookaburras, wallabies, flying foxes, lorikeets and barramundi. The exhibit depicts the northern region of outback Australia and includes cliffs, gorges and a 35-foot waterfall that creates an impressive authentic downunder habitat right smack in the middle of downtown Baltimore. Here are some hints on how to see the new exhibit at a discounted rate: This coming weekend, January 7 & 8, the aquarium celebrates Dollar Day Weekend -- entrance is only a buck! What a bargain! Also, from now through February 24, the Fridays after Five promotion gets you in for $7.50. I would strongly suggest taking advantage of these off-season prices. Spring always surprises Baltimore in February, and once the warm weather hits at the Harbor, prices rise and crowds multiply by the hundreds each week. If I'm able to make a stop for a visit when I'm back in B-more later this month, I'll be sure to give a report. Please do the same if you get there anytime soon. Thanks mate!

Filed under: Learning, Festivals and Events