We Found Nemo, Sharks, and So Much More at the #CLEAquarium #WyndhamWeekends

***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples through the travel campaign with New Creative Media.   All opinions expressed are 100% my own and my family’s. Any additional expenses incurred were my own. ***

When we were enjoying our Wyndham Weekend in Cleveland last week, one of the things we were most looking forward to was hitting the Greater Cleveland Aquarium. Sophie and Xander absolutely LOVE watching Finding Nemo, so we thought they'd love to see some gorgeous marine life up close and personal. 

We arrived at the aquarium pretty early in the afternoon, since we wanted to have plenty of time to explore and learn. I think I have been here as a child, but I honestly don't remember much. I think I was just as excited as the kids were! 

The very first thing we noticed about the Greater Cleveland Aquarium is that well, it doesn't really LOOK like an aquarium from the outside. This grand old brick building has an industrial feel to it, which was really pretty cool. 

Once we got inside and made our way through the lobby and into the aquarium, we were instantly transported into another world. There were plenty of fish tanks, many open air, as well as tons of beautiful plants that made the experience all the more authentic. I remember feeling absolutely awestruck. I mean, who knew that something so beautiful could be hidden within an old industrial building?! 

The Greater Cleveland Aquarium is set up in a very organized way. They actually group their exhibits by geographical region. You can check out marine life from right here in the USA, or you can take a journey into the Tropical Reef, where you'll meet some very hungry looking sharks. 

Speaking of sharks, I was quite surprised to see that these giant predators were living quite peacefully among scores of unsuspecting fish. I asked one of the employees how that's possible, and she let me in on their secret. Apparently, sharks are lazy, generally docile creatures....Until they get hungry. Well, the folks at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium basically keep them fat and happy by feeding them more than they'd typically eat in the wild. This way, they remain satisfied and don't feel the need to hunt down any prey. Pretty cool, right? 

Anyway, when we first started checking out the exhibits, Sophie and Xander gave us a bit of a shock. While they're happy to watch Finding Nemo at home, they were not mentally prepared to see so many real life fish, many of them quite large, right in front of them. Yes, this is my fancy way of saying that major tantrums ensued. Both kids were absolutely terrified. Petrified, really. It took about 10 minutes to calm them down, and once they realized nothing could hurt them, we had a blast! 

Check out the slideshow below to see all of the wondrous marine life we discovered during our visit to the Greater Cleveland Aquarium: 

Doesn't that look like so much fun?! We loved being able to take a trip around the world's waters in one convenient place. Once the kids settled down, they really got into it, too. They loved checking out the Giant Tortoises, petting the Stingrays, and being surrounded by some truly enormous sharks. We also loved seeing different fresh and salt water fish. 

If you're ever in the Cleveland area, definitely be sure to check out the Greater Cleveland Aquarium. This is located in a very convenient location, close to all of the area attractions! See the marine life up close and personal, learn about how you can help preserve the Earth's lakes, rivers and oceans, and maybe even make some new, finned friends! We had an absolute blast, and I know you will, too! 

How to Connect :

The Greater Cleveland Aquarium is located at:
2000 Sycamore Street
Cleveland, OH 44113
216.862.8803
Toll Free 855.602.3040

You can check out what the Greater Cleveland Aquarium has to offer on their website.  Be sure to check often, since they hold pretty amazing special events, like the upcoming Shark Weekend! 

You can also follow the Greater Cleveland Aquarium on Facebook, on twitter, on Pinterest and on Instagram.