Albuquerque Aquarium / Rio Grande Botanical Garden
About
Albuquerque Aquarium / Rio Grande Botanical Garden, 2601 Central Ave NW (just east of the Rio Grande). 9AM-5PM daily, except major holidays. Albuquerque's small but pleasant Aquarium is focused on saltwater species from the Gulf of Mexico. You'll see jellyfish, seahorses, eels, and plenty of reef fish. The highlight is a huge shark tank with other ocean species like sea turtles and rays. Divers enter the big tank every day from 2-3PM to feed the fish. The Botanical Garden has plenty of gardens to explore, with an emphasis on desert plants. The highlights are a glass conservatory with plants from desert and Merranean climate zones, an indoor butterfly garden that is open in the summer, a Japanese garden, a recreated early 20th century farm with a barnyard petting zoo, a model railroad, and a fantastic children's "Fantasy Garden" with giant pretend vegetables, garden tools and bugs. $7 adults, $3 seniors, $3 children, under age 3 free (train rides require separate admission, unless you have a combo ticket).
