Category: General (Page 2 of 3)

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, July 19!

July 17, 2014 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

Galveston is the Winter Wonder Island of Texas, and this season the island will offer visitors more than 1,000 magical holiday events! This summer, be sure to visit with Santa at a variety of events throughout the island. You’ll also have the chance to win some cool prizes by participating in Galveston’s Photo Contest.

GALVESTON ISLAND PHOTO CONTEST, 2 – 6 PM:

It’s Christmas Around the World as Santa travels from the North Pacific to South Pacific in the Aquarium Pyramid to Asia, Africa and the Americas in the Rainforest Pyramid and Palm Beach. Free Santa Hats are available as supplies last. Get your picture and go to Galveston.com/holiday to register for prizes! Stop by the Garden Lobby with the kids and enjoy some free Arts & Crafts activities from 2 – 4 p.m. as well.

SNOWMAN SAND CASTLE COMPETITION, 2 – 4 PM:

A few slots remain, so register now to participate in our Snowman Sand Castle Competition on July 19 at Palm Beach. Participants will receive a Snowman Sand Castle Building Kit, then will have until 3:45 p.m. to build their very best snowman. Judging will begin at 3:45 p.m. and winner will be announced at 4 p.m. The winner will receive a Penguin Encounter Certificate for 4 people and tickets to all Moody Gardens Attractions (Including ICE LAND Ice Sculptures, Festival of Lights and Arctic Ice Slide) for 4 people.

CLICK HERE for complete rules and to register for the competition (limited spots available)

GET SOCIAL & WIN PRIZES WITH #CHRISTMASINJULY:

Celebrate Christmas in July by connecting with us through Social Media and you’ll get the chance to win a Holiday Four-Pack to Moody Gardens, which includes tickets to all attractions as well as the ICE LAND Ice Sculptures opening November 15, 2014.

TO PARTICIPATE: Visit our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram each week in July and participate in our Christmas in July trivia questions by using the handle @moodygardens and the hashtag #ChristmasInJuly. If you answer correctly you will be entered into our weekly drawing. Remember to use our handle and hashtag!

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Inc., Twitter, Inc. or Instagram, Inc. Must be 18 years or older to win.

JOIN US THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

ICE LAND Ice Sculptures makes its debut November 15 – January 4 for the first time in South Texas. Marvel at the artistry of the internationally acclaimed VGA Ice Carving Team from Harbin, China, as they bring their extraordinary talent to sculpt 900 tons of ice into a vast and amazing display of towering ice sculptures held at a cool and constant 9 degrees as Galveston makes its transformation into the Winter Wonder Island. There is more than ever for your family to enjoy! Be among the first to experience the ICE LAND Ice Sculptures attraction, Festival of Lights, Arctic Ice Slide, Ice Skating, holiday films and much more!

Summer Job Fair: Moody Gardens Wants You!

March 22, 2013 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

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Looking for a fun place to work this summer? If you are committed to providing excellent customer service and want to gain valuable experience at a fun place, then Moody Gardens is the place for you. Our Summer Job Fair will be held Saturday, April 13 from 10am-1pm at the Pompano Room located downstairs at the Aquarium Pyramid. We are looking for friendly, outgoing employees for our Hotel and Attractions in the following areas:

Concession Attendants/Servers/Wait Staff/Cooks
Scanners/Ticketing Cashiers
Bartender/Hostess/Attendants
Palm Beach Greeters/Gift Shop/Operations
Life guards/Cabana Attendants
Housekeeping

Must be 16 years of age to apply (bring photo ID and Social Security Card). Attendees will receive complimentary admission to the Aquarium Pyramid with their completed application. In addition to these seasonal positions, we also have regular full-time and part-time positions available at http://bit.ly/MGJOBS

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All About the Colonel Paddlewheel Boat

February 14, 2013 / Moody Gardens / 13 Comments

colonel Next time you visit Moody Gardens, don’t miss out on taking an hour-long cruise around the Offatts Bayou in an authentic replica of an 1800s-style paddlewheel! The paddlewheel holds up to 800 passengers and offers cruises year-round.

You can catch an hour-long cruise across the beautiful Offatts Bayou throughout the week.

Schedule

Tuesday through Friday at 1 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Closed on Monday

Pricing

Adults: $10.95

Children/Seniors: $8.95

Have a birthday, anniversary, or special occasion to celebrate? Then make your reservations for the Colonel Paddlewheel Boat Dinner Cruise! They are scheduled the second Saturday of each month, and allow guests to enjoy the beautiful views of Offatts Bayou while also enjoying a delicious dinner buffet, dancing, and a cash bar.

The charming paddlewheel boat offers a variety of menus for our dinner cruises, from cocktail parties to full dinners. We also like switching up the entertainment, such as Dixieland jazz bands, dance bands, pianist, strolling violins, banjos, and much more.

Upcoming Dinner Cruises:

March 9, 2013

April 13, 2013

May 11, 2013

Reservations must be made by the Wednesday before the scheduled dinner cruise. Call 1-800-582-4673, ext.4419 Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. for reservations and more information. If you want to bring your whole family or a group of friends, we also offer group rates.

The Colonel Paddlewheel Boat offers two luxurious private party rooms, The Texas Room and The Galveston Room. Private parties are available during the regularly scheduled dinner cruises in our climate-controlled rooms. Each room has a large dance floor and bar facilities to get the party started. There is an additional bar on the Promenade Deck. Both private party rooms are installed with stereo music and a sound system to cater to your entertainment needs. You can invite up to 240 guests in The Texas Room and 200 in The Galveston Room!

We look forward to seeing you at the Colonel Paddlewheel Boat on your next family weekend getaway to Texas! Be sure to rest your head at the Moody Gardens Hotel, one of the best places to stay in Galveston.

Moody Gardens Offers Year-Round Fun

January 16, 2013 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

Screen Shot 2013-01-09 at 4.57.21 PM At Moody Gardens, we are not a seasonal attraction that is only open certain times of the year. The fun here is nonstop and year-round! While we do have seasonal attractions, such as Palm Beach and Festival of Lights, we also have our popular Aquarium Pyramid and Rainforest Pyramid, and tons of events each month.

If you do happen to come during the winter or summer seasons, you can’t miss the Festival of Lights or Palm Beach. The Festival of Lights includes over 1 million holiday lights, and is the largest holiday lights festival in the area! Palm Beach opens in the summer, providing guests and island residents with Galveston’s only white sand beach!

Year- round attractions you can’t miss include:

Aquarium Pyramid
Penguin Encounter
Rainforest Pyramid
Discovery Museum
Colonel Paddlewheel Boat

Moody Gardens also offers three different theaters that provide unique cinematic experiences. Catch your next film at the Moody Gardens 3D Theater, Ridefilm Theater, or the 4D Special FX Theater. Each theatre provides a different kind of experience, from a regular 3D viewing to a ride featuring a 180-degree wraparound screen!

Be sure to stay up to date with our Calendar of Events. Each month we have Birding 101 and Birding 201. These free classes are designed to teach visitors about the variety of bird life living on Galveston Island. The classes are presented by Moody Gardens and Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council and available twice a month.

We also offer Pyramid Camp for kids each month, with a variety of different themes. Sign your kids up for Pyramid Kids Camp: Catch Me If You Can in February or Pyramid Kids Camp: Primate Palooza in April!

Learn more about the fun at Moody Gardens by exploring our website.

If you’re looking for family weekend getaways in Texas, book your next trip at the Moody Gardens Hotel. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Group Meal Deals at Moody Gardens

January 14, 2013 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

sliced whole salami pizza At Moody Gardens, we welcome large groups of any size and kind! Whether you are coming from a school, a convention, or a senior residence facility, we have meal deals to fit your group’s needs.

You can enjoy discounted meal deals at our Palm Beach Concession Stand during the summer season, or year-round at the Aquarium Pyramid Food Court.

The following meal deal options are available with a reservation:

Aquarium Meal Deal 

Hotdog, chips, drink, cookie $5.75
Turkey sandwich, chips, drink, cookie $6.00
Personal cheese pizza, chips, drink, cookie $6.50
Cheeseburger, chips, drink, cookie $6.75

Palm Beach Meal Deal – Seasonal

Hotdog, chips, drink, cookie $5.75
Turkey sandwich, chips, drink, cookie $6.00
Personal cheese pizza, chips, drink, cookie $6.50
Cheeseburger, chips, drink, cookie $6.75

Garden Restaurant Lunch Buffet – Seasonal

$18.00 inclusive per Adult
$15.00 inclusive for Senior Citizens Tuesdays
$12.00 inclusive per Child 4-12

Unfortunately, our meal deal options are only available to pre-registered groups. Reservations must be made through the group sales department. If you don’t have reservations, your group will have to purchase food a la carte, which will require adequate time for everyone to get through the service line.

The group meal deal option is not only more convenient, but will also save you time and money! Without having to worry about getting everyone through the food line and getting everyone paid for, your group will have more time to enjoy the exciting and educational attractions at Moody Gardens such as the Aquarium Pyramid and Rainforest Pyramid.

To learn more about group reservations and meal deals please contact us at 1-800-582-4673, ext. 4203 or 4362. We would love to talk to you about how we can accommodate your large group.

If you and your group need a place to lay your heads at night, the Moody Gardens Hotel is one of the best places to stay in Galveston.

Field Trips to Moody Gardens

December 12, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

While Moody Gardens is fun and entertaining, it is first and foremost a nonprofit educational destination utilizing nature in the advancement of rehabilitation, conservation, recreation, and research. Which is why it is the perfect destination for a field trip! There is so much to learn and explore at Moody Gardens. Guided and unguided programs are available. There are three different fantastic field trip options to choose from.

Rainforest Exploration

Students will get to experience hands-on fun with some of Moody Gardens’ exotic animals at The Learning Place. A guided tour through our “tropical classroom,” the Rainforest Pyramid, gives students the opportunity to observe interesting plants, exotic fish, and colorful birds from the rainforests of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The trip includes a visit to the MG 3D Theater for a multi-sensory viewing of an educational film.

Ocean Exploration

An instructional presentation starts off this underwater adventure and is followed by a guided tour of the Aquarium Pyramid. In the underwater “classroom,” students observe exotic fish, unusual invertebrates, frolicking seals, and playful penguins. The Aquarium Pyramid features the underwater environment of the Caribbean, South Atlantic, North Pacific, and South Pacific. The trip includes a visit to the MG 3D Theater.

Funday

You can custom-design your own field trip by choosing your favorite attractions and creating a unique learning experience! Select a self-guided tour of the Aquarium Pyramid, Discovery Pyramid, a film at the MG 3D Theater, a simulated moving adventure at the Ridefilm Theaters, a ride on the Colonel Paddlewheel Boat (weather-permitting), or a multi-sensory experience in the 4D Special FX Theater.

For more information on field trips, visit us online at www.moodygardens.com. Be sure to let your local schools know!

For events in Galveston, be sure to check out Moody Gardens Attractions, Moody Gardens Golf Course, and Moody Gardens Hotel. We hope to see you soon!

Polar Bear Photo Contest

April 18, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

Do you have a way with words? Then make sure to participate in our Polar Bear Photo Contest in anticipation of the grand opening of To the Arctic 3D.

The Arctic Ice Cap is shrinking each summer—and by 2050 or earlier will be reduced to a small fringe on the coast of Canada and Greenland. Only about 20,000 polar bears remain, and their survival is in jeopardy. This film takes viewers on a captivating journey of survival in the Arctic wilderness.

You’ll have until Sunday, April 22 to impress us with your best caption! As part of the fun, we’ll be throwing in some To the Arctic 3D related prizes for the best two captions. Winners will be selected by Moody Gardens staff members and announced on Monday, April 23, 2012 on Facebook. Head on over to our Facebook page and find the post with the Polar Bear Photo (shown on left) and leave your caption in the comments section. While you’re on our Facebook page, why not go ahead and click “LIKE” to stay connected with us!

If you capture us with your witty ways and are selected as a winner, you’ll receive the following prizes:

One (1) Official To the Arctic t-shirt
One (1) Official (and adorable) To the Arctic stuffed polar bear
One (1) Official To the Arctic movie poster
Two (2) tickets to the MG 3D Theater which can be redeemed to see To the Arctic 3D

So put on your creative hats and head on over to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/moodygardens. Questions, comments and/or concerns? Leave us a comment below!

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Inc. Any comments that are inappropriate, offensive, spam or commercial in nature can be deleted by the page admin. Must be 18 years or older to win.

5 Reasons to Visit Moody Gardens this Spring Break

March 2, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

1. See Tornado Alley 3D and Meet the Famous Storm Chaser Sean Casey
Opens March 10

The fascinating film Tornado Alley 3D opens March 10 at Moody Gardens and follows veteran storm chasers on two exciting unprecedented missions. Guests will follow Storm Chasers star Sean Casey as he and his crew navigate their famous tornado intercept vehicle—TIV-2—directly into the heart of a tornado and capture its beauty and destructive power on film. Visitors will have the chance to meet Sean Casey in person at Moody Gardens March 10 and 11 as he signs autographs and specialty merchandise. Guests will also get to see the tornado intercept vehicle- TIV-2 up close. Join the storm chaser crew at Moody Gardens for a memorable Spring Break this season.

2. Enjoy Wizard of Oz 4-D Experience
Opens March 10

This beloved classic becomes a modern adventure in The Wizard of Oz 4-D Experience. Newly restored in digital 3D with added special effects, be swept along with Dorothy as a powerful tornado transports you on an unforgettable journey to the magical Land of Oz.

THE WIZARD OF OZ and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Turner Entertainment Co. Judy Garland as Dorothy from THE WIZARD OF OZ. (s12)

3. BODIES REVEALED Exhibition
Now Open in the Discovery Museum

Be among the first to explore the inner workings of the human body at the BODIES REVEALED Exhibition. This fascinating Exhibition is unlike anything seen at Moody Gardens before, with real and carefully preserved human body specimens that will fascinate and inspire. The exhibition takes visitors through galleries providing an up-close look inside the skeletal, muscular, reproductive, respiratory, circulatory and other systems of the human body. As the visitor moves to each gallery, more than 200 organs tell the story of the astounding systems at work within each of us every second of our existence. Don’t miss this three-dimensional tour of the human body!

4. Perfect your game at the Moody Gardens Golf Course

Galveston’s premier public course is a seaside links enchantress whose lush paspalum fairways are lined with 500 palms and shorebird habitat. Sydnor Bayou laps at its shores to entice your best shot. Five sets of tees create diverse challenges for every level of play. This Jacobsen Hardy-designed course is a beautiful and intriguing, demanding in its own Island way. Call 409-683-4653 or www.moodygardensgolf.com

5. Island Getaway for the Entire Family at the Moody Gardens Hotel

Head to the Moody Gardens Hotel this Spring Break for the perfect family vacation. Spring Break fun includes live music pool side, Texas-size Tropical Pool with swim-up bar, adult lounge and cabanas. Looking to keep the kids entertained? The Kids Crew Club will be featuring a Jumping House, Face Painting, Clowns, Balloon Art, Pool Coin Dives, Arts & Crafts, Wii Competitions, Karaoke, Movie Nights, S’mores and a free kid’s fun pack at check-in. If that doesn’t sound like enough, enjoy Starbuck’s Specialty Drinks at Moody Brews. Click here for more information on Spring Break at the Moody Gardens Hotel. For hotel reservations call 888-388-8484 or visit www.moodygardenshotel.com.

CLICK HERE to plan your visit this Spring Break at Moody Gardens.

Welcome to Penguin Manor!

December 7, 2011 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

Talk about culinary creativity at Moody Gardens Hotel! Pastry Chef Becky Kastelz spent more than 40 hours building Penguin Manor (in honor of our wonderful penguins), a set of three gingerbread houses decorated with the season’s most delicious candies .

Entrance to Penguin Manor

The three houses, made from 28 pounds of gingerbread (including 3 gallons of molasses) and sugar windows, are adorned with M&Ms, licorice, chocolate snowcaps, fondant candy canes, modeling chocolate wreaths, vanilla wafer cookies, and lots and lots of royal icing (over 20 pounds). The fences and balcony are chocolate-covered pretzels with jellybean gardens. An M&M driveway lined with chocolate kisses leads onto the lawn.

Caroling Penguins

Fondant penguins enjoy the holidays with caroling, skating on a sugar pond, making snow angels in coconut snow, snowball fights, and decorating Christmas trees made of ice cream cones covered in royal icing and non-pareils.

Who knew pretzels could also function as a balcony rail!

To protect the display from Galveston’s famous humidity, the entire house and all decorations have been coated with non-edible lacquer.

A roof good enough to eat!

Snow Angels, a holiday must!

Decorating the tree!

One final look!

Come see it for yourself at the Moody Gardens Hotel lobby this holiday season!

Recap: Birding 201 (10/15/2011)

October 20, 2011 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

Presented by Moody Gardens® and Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council, Birding 101 is a series of free classes designed to educate and excite people about the tremendous variety of bird life routinely seen around Galveston Island. Birding 201 classes allows participants, led by an instructor, to visit areas on the island and spy some of the amazing variety of birds here.

Here is a quick recap, written by Birding instructor Greg Whittaker, of what you might see during our Birding classes:

Saturday, 15 October — Birding 201

Beautiful weather – left MG property shortly after 9am with a full van. Visited the Quaker Parrot (Monk Parakeet) nests at the ballfield on 54th street and Ave. S. Travelled to Pelican Island to the wetlands interpretive area, then east to Pier 19, then to the Big Reef area on Bodekker Road and finally to the base of the South Jetty on east beach. Not sure this is the complete list as I think I missed a few that others saw during the trip. Again, this is taxonomic order and not the order in which we saw them. 45 species, although I wouldn’t technically count the unidentified rail and the presumption on the Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Species spotted include:

American White Pelican, Brown Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Reddish Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk (think this was the one we originally identified as Peregrine Falcon but looked in book and think it was a Sharp-shin), Crested Caracara, American Kestrel, Rail (not identified to species), American Coot, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Sanderling, Western Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Forster’s Tern, Caspian Tern, Royal Tern, Rock Dove, Eurasian Collared Dove, Mourning Dove, Monk Parakeet, Belted Kingfisher, Scissortail Flycatcher, Loggerhead Shrike, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Northern Cardinal, Great-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow.

Get out there and see some of the cool stuff before, and after this front comes through. It should bring some more waterfowl and perhaps bigger numbers of sandhill cranes.

Upcoming Birding classes:

*Birding 101

Date: November 12, 2011
Time: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m
Location: Aquarium Pyramid Lobby
Admission: FREE

*Birding 201

Date: November 19, 2011
Time: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m
Location: Aquarium Pyramid Lobby
Admission: $5.00
Reservations: Call 409-683-4105 no later than the Wednesday prior to the Saturday class.