Sara Van Valkenburgh, Denver.  Did you know that you can visit the rainforest right here in Colorado, and then, within minutes, find yourself deep below the sea exploring a coral reef? The desert is then only moments away, housing animals adapted to the driest, harshest environment on Earth. The creatures of the wharf are ready for anything, from crashing waves and frigid temperatures to the afternoon sun beating down as they wait for the tides to rise.

The Downtown Aquarium is the tropical, fantastical paradise you’ve been looking for, right here at home. Only a short drive down I-25, it is well worth the visit. Mermaids dance as they teach you about their environment under the sea and all the creatures they share it with. Stingrays accommodate visitors curious to touch them, who often have never seen the sea before.

This aquatic complex has over a million gallons of water housing approximately 500 species of tropical fish, freshwater fish, reptiles, amphibians and mammals all striving to exist and gain the respect of us humans, upon whom their survival depends.

The Downtown Aquarium collaborates with 8 different conservation agencies to further understanding and appreciation of all aquatic and land roaming creatures. Your visit will leave you feeling like you’ve traveled the world in a day and gained a new understanding of the beauty that lies beneath the surface of the sea, so far away from our mountain home.

And after you’ve exhausted the train, the underwater tunnel, the otters, tigers, exotic frogs, turtles, fish and birds, visited shipwrecks, sunken temples, and rainforest dwellings, you can treat your family to a meal surrounded by beauty in the restaurant, conveniently located onsite, and housing a floor-to-ceiling 50,000-gallon aquarium with 100 species of creatures to watch over you as you dine. Fresh seafood completes your experience and gives you a renewed appreciation for all that the sea has to offer.

For more information check out their website at http://www.aquariumrestaurants.com