Moody Gardens - Galveston Island, Texas

photo credit: Moody Gardens

March 4.

For my birthday Claire surprised me with a day trip to Moody Gardens on Galveston Island.  We toured the Aquarium pyramid and the Rain Forest pyramid.  

William Lewis Moody, Jr. "was an American financier and entrepreneur from Galveston, Texas, who founded a private bank, an insurance company, and one of the largest charitable foundations in the United States.  Moody was active in the day-to-day operations of his companies until two days before his death. (January 25, 1865 – July 21, 1954)." His mansion is another local historical tour we will be going on at some point. 

Thanks to my Mother's gift to me, Claire and I are now annual members of Galveston Historical Foundation.

The Moody Gardens opened in 1986.  A little background on the Moody Gardens.  The site was hit hard by Hurricane Ike in 2008.  Flooding the Rain Forest pyramid and killing about 80% of the fresh water fish inside (several thousand).  Luckily about 70 last remaining members of a nearly extinct African fish survived.  The Aquarium pyramid, being higher above sea level, was used as a safe haven for most of the animals during the storm.  The Houston Zoo also opened their doors to the animals in need.  Closed for only a few months, the pyramids went under massive overhauls and upgrades, reopening better than ever!

• The Aquarium pyramid is the blue one, it is 12 stories high.  The massive pools inside the pyramid contain about 10,000 marine animals.  Representing life from the North Pacific, South Pacific, South Atlantic, and the Caribbean. 

• The Rain Forest pyramid is the clear one, at 10 stories tall.  Newly rare and endangered species are held here in an open setting.  Mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and more than 1,000 exotic plants showcase the diversity of rain forests through out Asia, Africa, and the Americas.  The warm, humid interior simulates a true rain forest climate.

giant river otter

they had Asian fish over 8ft. long!!

Brad had one of these growing on the porch at Elizabeth's Cafe in Duck, NC.

piranha

couldn't stop laughing at these mole rats...

Bottom of map is the California coast and Baja which we sailed last year.  

Our boat is now in Guaymas, on the Sea of Cortez.

Showing the perspective of our 1300 mile drive up Mexico and across Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

Claire's favorite fish.  

No photo could show the true, vibrant, living colors...sorry

the sea horse we found in the wild was way more majestic...