The holidays are only a few weeks away which means it is time to start crossing things off of your list for those special people in your life. Moody Gardens has something for everyone to enjoy from adrenaline filled adventures to romantic dinners and spa packages. See below for ten great holiday gift for the special people in your life.

1. Family Fun- Let your kids unwrap a full day of adventure with a Moody Gardens Day Pass that allows you to experience all that Moody Gardens has to offer from the MG 3D Theater to the Colonel Paddlewheel Boat and everything in between. Tickets can be purchased online now! Buy Tickets
2. Golf Course- Treat dad to Galveston’s premier public course by reserving him a tee-time at the Moody Gardens Golf Course! Let him enjoy this spectacular par 72 seaside links course has three sets of tees making it great for all levels of play. Book a Tee Time
3. Penguin Encounter– Have someone in your family that loves penguins? Surprise them with a penguin encounter! You can schedule either a public or private encounter that allows you to get up close to one of the penguins from the Aquarium Pyramid South Atlantic Exhibit. Meet a Penguin
4. Dinner for two at Shearn’s- Go ahead and make a reservation for a romantic dinner for two at the award-winning Shearn’s Restaurant located on the top of the Moody Gardens Hotel. Make Reservations
5. Family Memberships- Looking for something for the whole family? A Moody Gardens Family Membership is just the thing! For $380 your family (up to five people) can enjoy a full year of unlimited admission to most Moody Gardens attractions, special member events, discounts and much more. Join the Moody Gardens Family
6. Ropes Course and Zip Line- If you need a gift for someone that likes the thrill of adrenaline, set them up with passes to the Ropes Course and Zip Line. Let them challenge their agility, balance and strength as they encounter the five-tier Sky Trail® Ropes Course, the tallest Steel Ropes Course on the Gulf Coast or take it to a whole new level with a round trip on the Zip Line. Plan the Adventure Now 
7. Spa- Get mom some time to pamper herself at the Spa at Moody Gardens. Book a relaxing treatment like a facial or massage that will be sure to put the holiday stress behind her. Relaxation Begins Here
8. Getaway- Take a break from the hustle of the holidays and treat yourself and those close to you to a getaway at the Moody Gardens Hotel. Enjoy nearby attractions like the Moody Gardens Golf Course, a visit to the beach or shopping and dining in historic downtown Galveston. The Moody Gardens Hotel provides the amenities and professional service to ensure your stay is relaxing and refreshing. Escape With Us
9. Giant River Otter Encounter- Make the animal lover on your list happy by gifting them with a Giant River Otter Encounter. Our keepers will take you behind-the-scenes of the Rainforest Pyramid for the rare opportunity to meet and learn all about our Giant Amazon River Otters. Meet an Otter
10. ICE LAND Guided Experience- Experience ICE LAND as a VIP with our all new ICE LAND Guided Experience. Guests will receive front of the line access, a Q&A session regarding the construction of ICE LAND, Hot Coco and so much more! Become a VIP

In its third year, the brand new theme of ICE LAND: Ice Sculptures, A Caribbean Christmas has already become a big hit so far this holiday season. Don’t miss your chance to explore the depths of the Gulf of Mexico in a massive 28,000 square foot structure that has been set to nine degrees! This year’s attraction features gorgeous ice replicas of the Flower Gardens National Marine Sanctuary, the R/V Manta, a submarine and a massive three lane Oil Rig Ice Slide! This year’s theme also includes Shivers Ice Bar, Galveston’s brand-new iced out watering hole.

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind experience at a great price join us for one of our Value Days! Value Days are Sunday – Thursday (excluding Thanksgiving Day) now through December 15 and January 1-5 when you can receive a discount of $5.00 off of our ICE LAND attraction!

ICE LAND will offer a unique holiday experience for the entire family and will be open through January 8. Admission for adults is $26.95, $21.95 for seniors and $15.95 for children. Kids 3 and under are free.  A VIP Guided Experience will also be available Sunday through Thursday with front-of-the-line access, a guided tour through ICE LAND, hot cocoa, souvenir family photo and admission to Festival of Lights. Special packages are available for groups of 20 or more.

For more information call 1-800-582-4673 or visit www.moodygardens.org .

Are you looking for the perfect gift to give to those you love? Shop ‘til you drop on Thanksgiving weekend, November 25 and 26, at the Moody Gardens Convention Center for this year’s Home for the Holidays Gift Market.

This annual holiday market features more than 200 of the region’s most unique gift vendors selling distinctive products perfect for anyone on your shopping list! The market brings together the best local home décor, candles, craft foods, accessories and much more for an extraordinary holiday shopping experience in one convenient location. With all of the variety there is sure to be something for even the most difficult person on your list!

This is one stop on November 25 – 26 you definitely don’t want to miss. Tickets for the Holidays Gift Market are $6 for admission; the gift market will be open 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. both days.

With the weather getting colder and the holidays closer, one of our favorite things to do is watch Christmas movies with our family and friends. At Moody Gardens we bring holiday films to the next level by showing them not only in our 3D theater but our 4D Special FX Theater as well.

This year Moody Gardens is thrilled to present Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer in our 4D Special FX Theater which combines 3D projection with audio and timed sensory elements. While watching the holiday classic guests can feel the wind in their face as Rudolph flies through the sky and smell Christmas trees and cookies when at Santa’s castle. Perhaps the most enchanting part of the experience, however, is the snow that falls inside of the theater at the same time that it falls in the film. The 4D experience engages all the senses and leaves guests wishing that they could join Rudolph as part of Santa’s team. There is no doubt that after the film, children and adults alike are left feeling  the Christmas spirit!

To experience the sensory adventure of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer in our 4D Special FX Theater you can purchase tickets in the Visitor Center for $10.95 for adults, $8.95 for children and seniors, and free for children under 3. If you have a day pass or membership the theaters are included for you to enjoy!

It may be 9 degrees, but the heat is on as the CAA Harbin Ruijing Carving Team has nearly completed Scene 3 of ICE LAND: Ice Sculptures, A Caribbean Christmas. Be sure to get your ticket to this, the Festival of Lights and all of the other holiday attractions at Moody Gardens November 12 – January 8.

After your cruise through the Gulf of Mexico via the RV Manta Research Vessel, you will discover your path into the depths of the Gulf of Mexico in Scene 3. You’ll encounter vibrant corals as part of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary! Immerse yourself in all that this unique experience has to offer as you discover amazing holiday surprises along the way.

Moody Gardens is also offering an Ice Carver V.I.P.  Experience with a behind-the-scenes tour of these skilled carvers transforming these huge blocks of ice into magnificent towering ice sculptures. Next, you will be escorted to the Aquarium Pyramid for a Penguin Encounter during which you get to meet a real penguin!  This is followed by an authentic Chinese lunch accompanied by a Q&A session with the master ice carvers themselves!  This $199 per person package also includes a Penguin Art painting by a Moody Gardens penguin and a ticket to visit ICE LAND and Festival of Lights once these attractions are completed and open for the holiday season. For reservations, please call 409-683-4368. (Reservations are required one week in advance. Prepayment is required at the time of your reservation. This package is discounted to $179 for Moody Gardens members).

You can watch all of the action live with our webcam.

The holiday season at Moody Gardens will kick off on November 12, 2016 and run through January 8, 2017.

The CAA Harbin Ruijing Carving Team has been hard at work to bring you and your family an incredible Caribbean Christmas celebration this holiday season.  New sculptures are evolving everyday as the season opener of November 12^th draws near. Be sure to check out all of the action LIVE.

Take a underwater tour of the Gulf of Mexico as you become a passenger in an iced out submarine. Gaze into the large portholes and observe beautiful marine life such as tropical fish and vibrant corals from the Flower Garden Banks Marine Sanctuary. As you ascend to the surface get ready for the ride of your life as you glide down the giant Oil Rig Ice Slide on your complimentary Moody Gardens parka provided for this unique experience!

You can still reserve a personal behind-the-scenes tour of this year’s ICE LAND: Ice Sculptures, A Caribbean Christmas so don’t miss out! Be frozen in awe as you witness the ice carvers transform huge blocks of ice into magnificent towering sculptures. Next, you will be escorted to the Aquarium Pyramid for a Penguin Encounter during which you get to meet a real penguin!  This is followed by an authentic Chinese lunch accompanied by a Q&A session with the master ice carvers themselves!  This $199 per person package also includes a Penguin Art painting by a Moody Gardens penguin and a ticket to visit ICE LAND and Festival of Lights once these attractions are completed and open for the holiday season. For reservations, please call 409-683-4368. (Reservations are required one week in advance. Prepayment is required at the time of your reservation. This package is discounted to $179 for Moody Gardens members).

Buy your tickets in advance as they are now on sale! Check out our Facebook page to retrieve the Early Bird Promo Code to receive $5 off holiday Day Passes. The holiday season at Moody Gardens will kick off on November 12, 2016 and run through January 8, 2017.

It’s been just a few weeks since their arrival and the CAA Harbin Ruijing Carving Team has already completed Scene 2 of this year’s ICE LAND: Ice Sculptures, A Caribbean Christmas and Shivers Ice Bar! Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy this cool attraction with a Moody Gardens flare as its grand opening will kick off on November 12th.

In this part of your journey you will encounter a sunken ship, buried treasure, a lighthouse, beautiful tropical fish and corals on your way to the ultimate Caribbean destination for the holiday season!

Moody Gardens is also offering an Ice Carver VIP Experience with a behind-the-scenes tour of these skilled carvers transforming these huge blocks of ice into magnificent towering ice sculptures. Next, you will be escorted to the Aquarium Pyramid for a Penguin Encounter during which you get to meet a real penguin!  This is followed by an authentic Chinese lunch accompanied by a Q&A session with the master ice carvers themselves!  This $199 per person package also includes a Penguin Art painting by a Moody Gardens penguin and a ticket to visit ICE LAND and Festival of Lights once these attractions are completed and open for the holiday season. For reservations, please call 409-683-4368. (Reservations are required one week in advance. Prepayment is required at the time of your reservation. This package is discounted to $179 for Moody Gardens members).

You can watch all of the action live on our webcam.

Buy your tickets in advance as they are now on sale! The holiday season at Moody Gardens will kick off on November 12, 2016 and run through January 8, 2017.

Moody Gardens has a whole bunch of animals ranging from Madagascar jumping rats to giant Amazon River Otters but only one of our animals has been with us the longest. Cookie, our Sulfur Crested Cockatoo, has the distinct honor of being the longest resident on property.

Before we get into Cookie’s story here is some general background information on his species. Sulfur crested cockatoos, Cacatua galerita, are native to Australia, New Guinea, and some of the islands of Indonesia. The species conservation status is currently listed as least concern meaning that their numbers are healthy in the wild and they do not currently face the threat of extinction.

Cookie arrived at The Moody Gardens Education Department, then called Seaside Safari, in 1988 and has been here ever since. For the 28 years Cookie, who is at least 33 years old, has been here he has been an animal ambassador. Animal ambassadors represent their counterparts in educating our guests about animal biology and conservation.  These animals are not usually viewable to the general public, as their appearance for special programs is by reservation only.  The animal keepers work with the ambassador animals for presentations and events such as camps, sleepovers, birthday parties and a wide array of learning opportunities through our education department.

You can get a chance to get up close with Cookie and learn more about him and our many other animals on property by checking out one of our education programs. To get all the details and to book your own party click here!

It’s been less than two weeks since their arrival and the CAA Harbin Ruijing Carving Team has already completed the all-new Shivers Ice Bar, the only bar made completely out of ice in the Lone Star State and beyond! Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy this cool attraction with a Texas flare when ICE LAND: Ice Sculptures, A Caribbean Christmas opens to the public on November 12th.

Those 21 and up are invited to take a break from their aquatic journey and cozy up to the bar for some cool holiday spirits provided by Texas Tail Vodka as well as other beverages that will be offered. For those who may not be familiar this company hails from Alvin, TX and has truly set the standard for premium signature alcohol. Texas Tail Vodka was created in 2007 by two men who met at a field party looking to create a hand-crafted spirit made in Texas for Texans. After three years of finding the perfect blend of wheat and corn the local men knew they had set the standards for the best Texas vodka! Cheers to an amazing holiday season with friends and family!

Moody Gardens is also offering a new Ice Carver VIP Experience daily through November 6. This behind-the-scenes tour offers special access to see the CAA Harbin Ruijing Carving Team of master ice carvers from Harbin, China as they transform 2 million pounds of ice into magnificent towering ice sculptures. Next, you will be escorted to the Aquarium Pyramid for a Penguin Encounter during which you get to meet a real penguin! This is followed by an authentic Chinese lunch accompanied by a A&A session with members of the ice carving team. This $199 per person package also includes a Penguin Art painting by a Moody Gardens Penguin and a ticket to visit ICE LAND and Festival of Lights once these attractions are completed and open for the holiday season. For reservations, please call 409-683-4368. (Reservations are required one week in advance. Prepayments are required at the time of your reservation. This package is discounted to $179 per person for Moody Gardens Members).

You can watch all of the action live on our webcam.

Buy your tickets in advance as they are now on sale! The holiday season at Moody Gardens will kick off on November 12, 2016 and run through January 8, 2017.