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Moody Garden’s Festival of Lights

November 6, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

If you’re only going to go to one holiday festival this season, make sure it’s the Moody Garden’s Festival of Lights. This holiday celebration is one of the largest in the area. The entertainment is nonstop, making Festival of Lights a holiday tradition for many families.

At the Festival of Lights you can enjoy:

-One million lights within 100 sound-enhanced animated displays

-Live entertainment each night

-The area’s ONLY outdoor skating rink

-Pictures with Santa Claus

-Holiday films at the Moody Gardens 3D, 4D Special FX, or Ridefilm theaters

Experience even more holiday fun this year with the addition of snow tubing! Ride down a 100-ft ice slide set up in the Gardens. Snow tubing is open from noon to 10 pm on Saturdays, November 10 through December 15, and daily December 22-January 5. Admission is $12.00.

On Friday nights, if you bring a non-perishable food item, you’ll get 2 for 1 admission to the Festival of Lights. The food drive proceeds go to the Galveston County Food Bank. So while you’re enjoying the holiday entertainment, you’ll also be spreading the cheer throughout the community.

Dive into a holiday feast at the Festival of Lights Holiday Buffet in The Garden Restaurant. The buffet has options for the whole family, including a special “Kid’s Favorites” section. The buffet is served on nights the Festival of Lights is open.

Master Illusionist Curt Miller and friends bring A Magical Christmas Dinner and Show to the Moody Gardens during the Festival of Lights. The dinner and show are held in the Moody Gardens Convention Center on December 17-20 and the 20-27. The admission price includes a buffet dinner, performance, Festival of Lights ticket, tax, gratuity, and parking. You don’t want to miss this fun family friendly event! Get your tickets today!

The holiday lights and Houston holiday events at Moody Gardens are the best way to spend your family vacation this year! Don’t miss out on these events in Galveston and our special holiday deal, a Festival of Lights Arctic Package for only $17! Moody Gardens is the place to be this year for Christmas events in Texas!

The Holiday Experience at Moody Gardens

November 5, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

Experience the holidays in a whole new way at Moody Gardens. Our unique seasonal activities provide the best holiday entertainment in the Galveston area. Join us this year for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve!

Thanksgiving: Join us Thanksgiving weekend for a shopping spectacular! The Home for the Holidays Gift Market features more than 100 of the region’s gift vendors for you to choose from. Their unique gifts include home décor, candles, craft foods, accessories and more. Get a head start with your Christmas shopping while experiencing Moody Gardens. Don’t miss out on the VIP lounge access to the Gift Market! For only $35 you can spend time in our lounge that overlooks the showroom floor and enjoy specialty holiday hors d’oevres, featured beverages, wines and hot cider. The Market is open November 23 from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m., November 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and November 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is $5.00. Also, let us do all the cooking and cleaning this Thanksgiving! Join us for the Moody Garden’s Thanksgiving Day Buffet.

Christmas: The Festival of Lights is a holiday tradition for many families in the region. We throw one of the largest holiday extravaganzas in the area, with more than one million lights sparkling throughout Moody Gardens. The Festival of Lights is from November 10 to January 5. Enjoy ice skating, snow tubing, holiday films and hot cocoa along the trail. Also, don’t miss Moody Gardens presents a Magical Christmas Dinner and Show. This magical holiday experience is held in the Moody Gardens Convention Center December 14-17, 20-27. Get your tickets today.

New Year’s Eve: The best New Year’s Eve party is here at Midnight in the Gardens! Enjoy non-stop entertainment as you ring in 2013!

If you’re looking for family weekend getaways in Texas this holiday season, then look no further than Moody Gardens. Our holiday events in Galveston and holiday deals combine to create the perfect way to spend your season. Don’t miss out on our special Festival of Lights Arctic Package if you’re looking for a great deal on Christmas events in Texas.

Moody Gardens Golf Course: November Specials

November 5, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

Tee off with some great specials this November at the Moody Gardens Golf Course!
*Prices shown are Per Person, Include Cart

Military Appreciation in November
Show Active or Retired Military ID
$20 Anytime Mon-Fri & After 1pm Sat-Sun

$20 Ladies’ Day Wednesdays

Family Golf Sundays
Kids 18 & Under FREE
w/Paid Adult Round after 3pm
Adults Play for Just $20*
*Only Valid if Golfing w/ 18 & under

$10 for 5 Holes After 4pm
Valid Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, Sun

$20 Senior Rise and Shine
Seniors 65+, Before 10am Tues & Thurs

$9 for 9 Holes
Start Between 8-9am, Mon-Thurs

Specials are subject to availability.
Not valid Nov. 22-23, 2012
Must call for tee time reservations.

CALL 409-683-4653

Mr. Awesome

October 22, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

Sunday was Reptile Awareness Day and we’d like to make a belated tribute to one of the reptiles in our Rainforest Pyramid — Mr. Awesome.

Mr. Awesome, or more commonly known as the Crocodile monitor, can be found in mangroves and rainforests in Papua New Guinea. Unfortunately, they are facing pressures of habitat destruction and pet trade.

So what makes him so awesome? Well, he’s one of the longest lizards out there. Including his tail, he’s about eight feet long.

Mr. Awesome is a fast runner and a great climber, making it hard for his prey to run away. And if you’re lucky, he’ll smile and show you his long teeth — the longest of any monitor. He eats a variety of prey, from mammals to birds to eggs and even carrion.

But the best part, like all of the animals in our Rainforest Pyramid, is his behavior. Mr. Awesome is quite attentive to our keepers. We’re in the process of teaching him basic husbandry behaviors, for maintenance and emergencies, and he’s showing signs of intelligence similar to a dog – but in his own stubborn way.

Bats for Bats Weekly Online Auction

October 17, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

2012 is Year of the Bat and we’re celebrating it with Bats for Bats! We’ll be having a series of online auctions for the coming weeks. Each sports memorabilia was generously donated to support bats and their important role in the environment. The money raised from these items will be donated to Bat Conservation International to fund crucial education and awareness.

ITEM 1
(SOLD!)

Houston Astros Maxwell & Johnson Autographed Baseball

ITEM 2
(SOLD!)

Dynamo Fan Pack with Two Tickets for any 2013 game

ITEM 3
(SOLD)

Texas Rangers’ Michael Young Autographed Photo

ITEM 4
(SOLD)

Authentic Texas Tech football autographed by Tommy Tuberville


ITEM 5 Bid here: http://bit.ly/Bats4Bats5 (bidding ends 11/13)

UT Football with authentic Mack Brown autograph

Madagascar Giant Jumping Rats

October 3, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

Meet the newest members of our Rainforest Pyramid: Madagascar Giant Jumping Rats

Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Zoo

These guys are the largest endemic rodents in Madagascar. They find food by foraging the forest floor for fallen fruits. These nocturnal animals live in dry and deciduous coastal forests. Jumping rats often communicate in trills and barks, and are extremely active and curious creatures. Despite the name, they don’t really jump unless they’re startled or frightened. Both of our new additions are male.

Moody Gardens is fortunate enough to provide a home for the Jumping Rats, as we are only one of six North American zoos and aquariums to have these species. These endangered species are threatened by habitat loss and hunted by feral cats and dogs.

With these newest family members, we are now a part of the large European Endangered Species Program (EEP), equivalent to the North American’s AZA Species Survival Plan.

Sports Fest Attendees Share Inspiring Stories

September 6, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

For the first time in its 22-year history, Moody Gardens’ annual Adaptive Water Sports Festival is teaming up with the U.S. Paralympics for a unique experience for individuals with special needs. This event allows participants to experience several water sports, including water skiing, sailing and kayaking, with the assistances of special equipment and instructors. The U.S. Paralympics team, TRR Texas, will also demonstrate its skills with a kayaking time trial as part of the Paralympic Experience.

Here are three inspiring stories from some of the people attending this weekend:

Kelly Allen, Age 20:

My name is Kelly Allen. I was born with Proximal Femoral Focal deficiency (PFFD) type D. This is a rare, non-hereditary birth defect that affects the pelvis and the femur. However, because I am a type D I am totally missing my left femur, patella, and fibula, along with a fully developed hip socket. Because of this birth defect I have learned to adapt to everyday life using my prosthetic leg. Basically, the left side of my lower body didn’t develop and I look like I only have one half of a leg. Doctors told my parents I would not be able to sit or stand let alone participate in any sports.

However, today I am more active than ever! Having taken home 4th place at the 2012 ICF Sprint World Cup in Poznan, Poland for kayaking I am now considered an elite athlete. Along with kayaking, I am on my way of living my dream of becoming a world class ski racer and an athlete in the 2014 Sochi Russia Paralympic games!

Dylan Brown, Age 23:

Dylan is ranked 6th in the world for ParaCanoe V1 TA after representing the United States this past May at the ICF Sprint World Cup in Poznan, Poland. Brown, a native to Pensacola, Florida started his promising career as a US Marine during his junior year in high school. Taking on the role as a Platoon Radio Operator, Brown was deployed to Afghanistan in March of 2011. Only a few months on the job Brown suffered serious injuries in the field after being electrocuted. He has been recovering since in the Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX.

It is here in Texas that his kayaking career has only just begun. Dylan participates in the Red River Racing Kayak program on base held at the Center for the Intrepid. It is there that he took his kayaking skills from intermediate to the elite level. Brown took second at US Nationals in Oklahoma City qualifying him for the national team. Brown is now working with a Military Paralympic program to help him reach his full potential on the water in hopes of making the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Tacey Raulerson, Age 12:

Tacey was diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer, Retinoblastoma, when she was 7 ½ months old. Retinoblastoma causes malignant tumors to form in the eyes of infants. When she was diagnosed, the doctors were not very optimistic that Tacey’s eyes could be saved but they were willing to attack the disease with some aggressive chemo in the hopes of saving at least some of her vision, but more especially, her life. Only six weeks into the chemo, the doctors realized her left eye could not be saved. Her left eye had to be removed and years later, after fighting to save her right eye and as much vision as possible, the doctors and her parents came to the realization that in order to continue to save her life it was necessary to also remove her right eye. One month before her 7th birthday, Tacey underwent the surgery that would leave her blind.

Cancer may have taken her sight, but it has not taken her courage. Soon after she lost her second eye, she rode her first horse and a new passion and dream was fueled. Now those dreams are being realized as she reigns as the first ever Miss Tough Enough To Wear Pink Four States Rodeo Queen. During her reign, Tacey has many duties, but her primary task is to spread her uplifting spirit and to encourage others to set their sights high. Wherever Tacey goes, she spreads hope, inspiration and encouragement with her joy and zest for life. She shares her story and courage with all she meets.

It’s not too late to register or to volunteer! This event is scheduled for Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Moody Gardens’ Palm Beach. It is free of charge to the individual with special needs and immediate family members on a first come, first serve basis. For more information please contact volunteers@moodygardens.com or call 409-683-4108.

Brews, Boots & BBQ

August 29, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

Brews, Boots & BBQ
Date: Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Price: $10 per person cover charge
Location: Moody Gardens Convention Center

Dust off the old cowboy boots and take it for a night to remember. With a special performance by Horizon, the country band sets the perfect scene for a two-stepping kind of night. Come for the craft beers brewed right here in the great state of Texas and cheer on Sparky Sparks’ Live Armadillo Races.

Get your tickets here

Brewmasters Friday Night Pub Crawl

August 21, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

Date: Friday, Aug. 31, 2012
Time: 8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Price: $25 per person in advance
Location: Moody Gardens Hotel and Convention Center Lobby

Remember those bar hopping nights? Well now it’s an official event. Grab your buddies and hop on the bus. With a free 2012 t-shirt and koozie, the ride will take you to different places to purchase special feature selections at Pub Crawl Stops.

And if you want something to make you feel real special, then check out the Taste It First selections. That’s right, be the first to taste new brews from Cedar Creek, Fort Bend Brewing, No Label and Southern Star before they hit the store shelves. From the makers of Texas Backyard Blonde, Lawn Ranger Cream Ale, El Hefe and Pine Belt Pale, these guys are brewing up their next fan favorite!

Sharks: A more diverse species than most realize

August 15, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

By Greg Whittaker

Working in the zoo and aquarium industry offers a lot of perks. That’s because we get to work with some of the coolest animals in the world.

As I was walking through the exhibits looking at what our guests see, I started counting the species of sharks and rays we house at Moody Gardens® and the diversity they represent in habitat, diet, behavior and natural history. From the secretive swell sharks and wobbegongs to the large active brown sharks and sand tigers, we have 22 species from Galveston’s local waters to Australian reefs from the other side of the world. We have three species of stingrays that are found in the Amazon River basin and are so completely adapted to living in freshwater that they can’t exist in the brackish delta.

One of the questions we answer while walking through the public galleries is, “Where are the sharks?” Over time we’ve come to realize that most guests are referring to the Caribbean exhibit and the large, easily recognizable species.

You might be surprised to hear that four out of these five are relatively common species in the waters just off Galveston. If they truly were the bloodthirsty human predators they’re portrayed to be, we surely would be losing more tourists and fishermen to the sharky menace.Looking at the tremendous diversity of sharks, rays, skates, guitarfish, sawsharks and sawfish all collectively grouped together as cartilaginous fishes, there are over 1,200 different species. The sharks that gain all of the attention are the ones that grab the headlines in “attacks” on humans, and the five that are generally agreed upon as the top “maneaters” are – great hammerhead, lemon, bull, tiger and white sharks.

In reality, the vast majority of the 100 incidents that are reported worldwide annually are cases of mistaken identity with small, non-dangerous species. Contrast those statistics with the estimated 350 to 500 million sharks that are removed from the world’s oceans every year. Many of those are reproductively mature adults of species that are in perilous population declines and in some cases, they have their fins cut off and are dumped back into the water to die.

Even if you don’t particularly like sharks, you have to see how wasteful shark finning is.

Back to the amazing diversity – whale sharks are the largest fish with a maximum length of 45 feet and weighing as much as 36 tons. Along with basking sharks and megamouth sharks as the most menacing-sized sharks, they all filter feed on plankton and small fish. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the tiny cigar shark reaches a maximum size of only about eight inches long.

The biggest ray species is the manta which can have wing tips that measure almost 24 feet wide and weigh almost 3,000 pounds. Electric rays generate powerful electric currents that protect them from predators and assist in navigating dark murky water and capturing prey. Between sharks and rays is an assortment of species that have aspects of their appearance that match both – a generally flattened body with elongated tails. These include angel sharks, guitarfish, sawsharks and sawfish.

Sharks can fill ecological niches from scavengers to apex predators and have reproductive strategies that include eggs deposited within the reef to complex internal egg incubation, internal hatching and internal cannibalism of siblings.

From this rambling account, you hopefully have gained enough perspective to realize that “sharks” cannot be painted with a simple broad brush stroke. They generally all came from ancient ancestors hundreds of millions of years ago. They fill every available niche and are remarkably adaptable to environmental changes and pressures placed on them.

For every species we can provide care for in the captive aquarium, there are dozens of other species that we simply don’t know enough about. It’s a safe wager that there are untold numbers of species out there that we haven’t even discovered yet.

Moody Gardens