My kids and I decided that our "Last Hurrah" before school began would be a trip to Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo. We had never been to their newest exhibit Stingray Beach and we decided that we would make it one of our stops that day.
is near the Red Barn Park and Carousel. We managed to choose one of the busiest days of the summer to go to the zoo and every exhibit was crowded but there wasn't a line at Stingray Beach. Once inside there was plenty of space for everyone to find a spot around the stingray pool. As soon as you enter the facility, you wash your hands and then choose a spot around the pool. This exhibit is open 9 am-4 pm every day. Admission is $3 for members and $4 for non-members. Children 2 and under are FREE.
Most kids laid on their stomachs to feel the rays. The rays, and occasional horse shoe crab, swim a foot or so under the water and you'll need to reach to touch them. For younger kids, less than 3.5 feet tall, it is hard to get a comfortable spot. They have to lay on their tummies and
really
reach into the water to feel the stingrays. The only rays my 3 year old was able to touch were those that were almost at the top of the pool. You may find yourself holding onto your child's shirt so that they don't fall in due to their trying to reach the rays. (The pool is not deep and the rays' barbs have been removed, but just beware.)
Be prepared to get a little wet! Between reaching into the water to touch the rays and getting splashed by the occasional ray, your clothes will be damp. It is fun to hear the squeals and shrieks when a ray comes up and splashes a group of people. A couple times a day you can purchase stingray feed for $1 and you'll have lots more interaction with the stingrays if you have food.
Overall, we had a good time and my older daughter said it is her new favorite exhibit at the zoo. When told that she would have to pick between the carousel and the rays at our next visit, she chose the rays. My younger one was frustrated by not being able to touch and reach many rays. I'm sure as she grows she'll like the exhibit more. It is definitely worth going and interacting with the rays, especially if kids (or parents) have never touched a ray. I would recommend calling and find out when the feeding times are for the day that you visit. You'll have much more interaction with the rays if you are able to feed them.
As always, we had a great time at the Henry Doorly Zoo. We are such lucky people to live within an hour of the World's #1 Zoo!
