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Upcoming Events in March

March 7, 2013 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

March is a busy month here at Moody Gardens! On top of our Spring Break and Easter activities, we have a variety of other events and activities going on.

Flight of the Butterflies 3D opens March 9

Follow monarch butterflies on their journey in one of those most incredible migrations on Earth. Not only will you be joining the butterflies, but also scientist Fred Urquhart, who spent forty years trying to discover the mysteries of monarch butterflies and where exactly they go during the winter season. The documentary is a story of perseverance across thousands of miles and many generations.

Why is it important? Each spring, millions of monarchs begin a journey north into Texas and onto a 1,500-mile quest to across North America. As they travel, the butterflies breed and lay eggs on milkweed plants in Texas. Over several generations, the monarchs complete their migration and return to Mexico for the winter, making their trip one of the longest migrations on Earth. However, because of extreme drought conditions, Texas’ milkweed population has declined in recent years, severely impacting the flight. More than 20 percent of the migration has decreased. The loss of milkweed and habitat, coupled with intense heat, contribute to the diminishing migration numbers over the past decade. As part of conservation efforts, Moody Gardens is launching a public awareness campaign in an effort to save the shrinking monarch migration. A portion of the sales from the new film, Flight of the Butterflies 3D, will be donated to the leading conservation organization in Mexico, Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza.

Click here to watch trailer and for showtimes

Birding 101 and 201

Presented by Moody Gardens® and Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council, Birding 101 & 201 is a series of classes designed to educate and excite people about the tremendous variety of bird life routinely seen around Galveston Island.

Click here for more information

Golf Junior Spring Break Camps

These camps are designed for boys and girls, ages 6-14, wanting to learn golf basics or brush up on their skills. Cost is $99 per student. Choose from one of these two-day sessions:

March 11 – 12, 2013 (9am-12pm) OR
March 14 – 15, 2013 (9am-12pm)

Registration form here: http://bit.ly/GolfJrCamps

Easter in the Gardens

Annual Easter Egg Hunts are scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., and children 12 years old and younger are invited to run around the Oleander Bowl filled with colorful eggs. Other activities include a variety of games for prizes. In addition to all of the fun and excitement outdoors, Easter Buffet feasts will be available at both the Garden Restaurant and the Moody Gardens Hotel on Easter Sunday. Beginning at 11 a.m. and lasting till 3 p.m., this event is free to the public.

Join us at Moody Gardens for family-friendly events and attractions such as the Aquarium Pyramid and Rainforest Pyramid. We look forward to spending time with you in March!

Springtime at the Spa at Moody Gardens

March 6, 2013 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

The warm weather is upon us and spring is just around the corner! It’s time to start shedding layers and donning lighter clothes for the higher temperatures. Get your mind and body ready for the spring with a visit to the Spa at Moody Gardens.

We currently have a few Spring specials going on at the spa! Save on services such as the Spring Clean Facial, Sweet Feet and Palm Springs Manicure and Pedicure, or the To the Rescue Body Wrap.

Spring Clean: Get your spring glow with a nourishing facial paired with a paraffin dip for your hands. Revive dry winter skin and get ready for spring. 1 hour | $110

Sweet Feet and Palm Springs: Show off your nails this spring with a manicure and pedicure that features the sweet smell of Honeysuckle & Pink Grapefruit. Also includes a paraffin dip for your feet to help you get sandal ready. 2 hours | $90

Calming Passion Flower: Pure passion hydrotherapy bath pairedwith a 25 minute green tea Swedish massage is sure to wash your worries away. 1 hour | $100

Click here for more information

Call 409-683-4440 to schedule your next appointment.

Take advantage of our special spa services and deals while staying at the Moody Gardens Hotel for your spring break. Our hotel is one of the best places to stay in Galveston, and the spa is just as luxurious.

Spring Break Family Fun at Moody Gardens

March 5, 2013 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

Spring Break is quickly approaching, and there is no better place to spend it than at Moody Gardens! We create a total vacation for you right here at the Moody Gardens Hotel and our popular attractions. The weather is warming up as well, so visiting the beaches of Galveston is a must.

Moody Gardens “Spring Break Family Fun” gives you and your family the opportunity to break away from your daily responsibilities and enjoy the island. Moody Gardens puts together spring break activities for your entire family. When you are staying at the Moody Gardens Hotel, you will start off each day with a character breakfast. Our resident King of Cool, Sunny the Penguin, will be joining you while you fuel up on eggs and bacon!

Kid’s Crew is the perfect way to enhance your family’s spring break vacation. When you check into the Moody Gardens Hotel, your children will receive a Kid’s Crew Fun Pack. All the activities offered are free to hotel guests and include arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, pool coin dives, a bounce house, kite flying, karaoke, Wii competitions, clown face painting, movie nights, and s’mores! Kids can also participate in a game of giant chess or explore the outdoor playground.

The Spa at Moody Gardens is the perfect place for parents to find some time to relax and enjoy their vacation. Indulge in a couple’s massage or take a dip in our hydrotherapy tub.

Moody Gardens Hotel is currently offering a special Spring Break Family Fun hotel package! Book your vacation between March 7^th and 19^thand enjoy the following prices:

Sun – Thurs from $229/night + tax

Fri & Sat from $249/night + tax

When you book two nights, you will get the third night half off! The Moody Gardens Hotel is one of the best places to stay in Galveston and the perfect vacation destination for you and your family. Not only do we have great deals, but you can also explore the Aquarium Pyramid, Rainforest Pyramid, and all the other popular attractions on our grounds.

Monarch Madness: Not Just a Pretty Face

March 4, 2013 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

Source: http://www.flightofthebutterflies.com/the-butterfly/

We’re celebrating #MonarchMadness here at Moody Gardens® in anticipation of the grand opening of Flight of the Butterflies 3D on March 9 at the MG 3D Theater. First things first…let’s learn the basics about this amazing little creature with a little crash course on Monarchs, starting with a brief biology lesson!

A Monarch butterfly isn’t just your average pretty face, they are complex migratory insects with powerful body parts that help them navigate and migrate long distances. In other words, they were born to travel! This is quite impressive considering they weigh less than a paper clip (or less than half a gram).

MALE vs FEMALE

Your typical Monarch is made up of four wings and have six jointed legs. Not all Monarchs are created equal though. There are some very visible differences between the males and females, starting with their wings. Females have a bit of a darker color and their veins are wider. In contrast, the males are smaller and have two distinct black spots near the bottom of each wing. Males might have been shortchanged when it comes to their body size but they make up for it with an added level of charm–special glands that release pheromones to attract the females.

VISION

One of the Monarch’s most impressive feature is their vision. What might look like one eye is actually called a compound eye and it’s made up of thousands of tiny circles called ommatidia. Its purpose is to gather light and process visual information. Butterflies can perceive ultraviolet and polarized light or light waves that move in only one direction and the Monarchs have the ability to sense that direction. Imagine how useful that would be if your main purpose was to migrate!

SENSES

Another impressive feature is their senses. Chemoreceptors are spread out all over them and gives them the ability to taste and smell using their entire bodies, including their antennae and wings. They like to use this ability to smell nectar and pheromones (in the case of the female). The females are equipped with extra Chemoreceptors on their legs which aides them in the search of milkweed plants, the home of their newborn eggs. Another way they sense is through hairs that cover the majority of their bodies. These hairs let them “touch” and give them important information about movement such as wind, gravity and the position of their other body parts. Being hairy is a good thing in the butterfly world since this is extremely important information to have when in flight.

Next time you see a Monarch, see if you can spot some of these features. And remember, these delicate looking insects are more powerful than they appear. We’re not saying they’re super heroes or anything but we’re also not saying they’re not…

Tune in tomorrow to learn about the Monarch Butterfly Life!

Spring Break and Easter Hotel Packages

March 4, 2013 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

The Moody Gardens Hotel is a 428-room luxury destination nestled in a lush and tropical landscape and is the premiere vacation destination for Spring Break and Easter this season. If you plan on joining us, we have a couple of great hotel packages to make your trip more fun and memorable.

Spring Break Family Fun Package

From March 7^th to March 19^th, you can enjoy our Family Fun package to make your Spring Break the best vacation it can be. Not only will you be able to wake up to a character breakfast with the King of Cool, Sunny the Penguin, but once you book two nights for your family, you will get the third night for half off! Participate in Kid’s Crew activities, dine in the Terrace Restaurant, and relax in the Spa at Moody Gardens! Book now for the following prices:

Sun – Thurs from $229/night + tax

Fri & Sat from $249/night + tax

Easter Weekend in the Gardens Package

Looking to get away this holiday weekend? Moody Gardens has the perfect Easter Weekend getaway waiting for you and your family. On the weekend of March 29^th-31^st, when you book your stay with us you will enjoy a luxurious guest room for one night, fruit, wine, and cheese as well as Easter Baskets for your children. Valet parking is included. When you book two nights, the third night is half off! Book now for the following price:

From $179/night + tax

While you’re spending spring break or Easter weekend with us be sure to check out our special promotions going on at Moody Gardens. At the Spa at Moody Gardens when you buy one Swedish massage, you get the second one free, and at the Moody Gardens Golf Course, you can enjoy a free golf cart and bucket of range balls with your purchase of a round of golf. We look forward to seeing you this spring!

Monarch Madness at Moody Gardens!

March 2, 2013 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

It’s March and that usually marks the beginning of a little thing called March Madness, but at Moody Gardens we’re focusing on a different kind of black and orange…the Monarch Butterfly! Join us as we learn more about this amazing creature featured in our new film Flight of the Butterflies 3D, opening March 9th at the MG 3D Theater.

Easter Sunday Buffets

February 28, 2013 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

Easter in the Gardens is more than just the annual Moody Gardens Easter Egg Hunt. While children will be spending their time running around the Oleander Bowl collecting colorful eggs, there is also an Easter Buffet feast being served. Think of all the time and stress you will save by not cooking a giant Easter Sunday dinner for your entire family or cleaning it up! Moody Gardens is giving you the opportunity to spend less time cooking and cleaning and more time with your family.

Sit down with family and friends this Easter Sunday for a lavish buffet in either the beautiful Moody Gardens Hotel Ballroom or the Moody Gardens Garden Restaurant.

Easter Buffet – Moody Gardens Hotel

From waffle and omelet stations to gulf shrimp and roasted leg of lamb, there’s something for everyone at this extraordinary buffet. Don’t forget the dessert table which will include french pastries, cookies and cakes, chocolate mousse, cheesecakes, caramel flan, chocolate amaretto bread pudding and much more!

Adults: $42.95
Seniors: $32.95
Children: $19.95

Seating from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Click here for full menu. For reservations, please call 409-683-4465

Easter Buffet – Garden Restaurant

You won’t be disappointed with the variety of options at this delicious buffet! You’ll have a variety of soups, salads and entrees to choose from, including Pasta del Mar, Chicken Cordon Bleu or a Carved Roast Sirloin. Kids can also enjoy some of their favorites including macaroni and cheese or chicken tenders with french fries. A variety of desserts, assorted rolls and fresh baked breads will also be offered.

Adults: $24.95
Seniors: $17.95
Children (5-12): $11.95 (Children 4 and under are complimentary with adult purchase)

Served from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Click here for full menu. For reservations, please call 1-800-582-4673 ext. 4238

Easter in the Gardens

February 27, 2013 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

boy with easter eggs

Easter in the Gardens brings hundreds of families from the area to participate in tracking down all the eggs the Easter Bunny has spread out across the Oleander Bowl at Moody Gardens!

On Easter Sunday (March 31, 2013), we will be throwing the best Easter celebration around. There will be activities such as games, arts and crafts, a petting zoo, and of course, the huge Moody Gardens Easter Egg Hunt! Egg hunts are scheduled for noon and 2 p.m.., but you’ll want to get there early for all the other fun events. Kids aged 12 and under can enjoy all the activities and the colorful eggs throughout the Oleander Bowl.

All activities are open to the public and admission is free. Just show up with your baskets and ready to have a good time. Mark you calendars and get ready to spend your Easter holiday with Moody Gardens this year, and hopefully many more.

The Moody Gardens Hotel is one of the best places to stay in Galveston. Our family-friendly hotel is the perfect vacation destination for your next family weekend getaways in Texas. We look forward to spending Easter with you and your family.

Meet Chef Urs Schmid

February 25, 2013 / Moody Gardens

If you’ve ever had dinner at Shearn’s Restaurant then you’ve tasted the culinary genius of the famous Chef Urs Schmid. His Shrimp Dejonge and Lobster Bisque are famous here on the island, and for good reason! Keep reading to learn more about Executive Chef Urs Schmid.

Urs Schmid was born in Switzerland where he developed his passion for cooking while helping his father prepare meals on Sunday afternoons. As a teenager, he worked in a local hotel kitchen where he had “the time of his life” and decided cooking was his passion.

After graduating from high school, Chef Schmid began an apprenticeship at the Hotel Acker-Montana in Wildhaus, Switzerland. He also began his culinary education in Lucern. Chef Schmid worked in many hotel kitchens before serving in the Swiss Army.

After completing his military commitment, Urs Schmid continued gaining experience in the culinary arts by working seasonal jobs as commie de cuisine and chef de partie in some of the finest hotels in Switzerland, including the five-star Grand Hotel Viktoria Jungfrau in Interlaken.

Urs Schmid followed his culinary passions to the Bahamas where he worked as sous chef at the Cotton Bay Club and sous and executive chef at Cap Eleuthera.

While working in the Bahamas, Urs Schmid was introduced to Mrs. R.E. Bob Smith, who convinced him to come to Galveston where he became executive chef at the Bob Smith Yacht Club. He spent over eighteen years as both chef and general manager of the Yacht Club. His time at the club won him widespread acclaim. He met his wife Elena while working at the Yacht Club and started his family. Elena and Urs Schmid have two sons, and have called Galveston their home since 1980.

In the fall of 1998, Urs Schmid arrived at Moody Gardens and has served as our Executive Chef since our beginning. Under his direction, Shearn’s Restaurant has become the finest culinary destination in Galveston and has won the AAA Four-Diamond Award on more than one occasion.

Executive Chef Urs Schmid has been named Chef of the Year by the Texas Chef’s Association and been awarded a Bronze Star from the Galveston Chapter of the Chaine de Rotisseurs. We are proud to have him as part of the Moody Gardens’ family.

Stay at the Moody Gardens Hotel on your next family weekend getaways in Texas. We are not only one of the best places to stay in Galveston, but also home to the finest restaurant in the area with the best executive chef in Texas!

A Look at Moody Gardens Ballrooms

February 22, 2013 / Moody Gardens / 1 Comment

Moody Gardens is the premiere place to hold your large event, no matter what kind of occasion it is. We have over 103,000 square feet of event space, and included in this space is a few humongous and beautiful ballrooms. Moody Gardens’ ballrooms could be the next location of your company’s large party or a memorable wedding location.

The Frances Anne Ballroom boasts 15,180 square feet! This huge ballroom can be divided into eight separate rooms for a custom space for your party, event, or convention. The space gives off an elegant vibe with its soaring ceilings that are lined with beautiful chandeliers. The décor and grand size of the Frances Anne Ballroom make it the perfect spot for elegant soirees.

The Floral Ballroom is a 9,100 square foot space that overlooks the breathtaking Offats Bayou. The ballroom can be divided into twelve smaller rooms if the occasion calls for it. The Floral Ballroom is located on the second floor of the convention center, so you won’t have to worry about the general public wandering in and crashing your party! The Floral Hall makes for the perfect pre-function area that is great for receptions, breaks, and tabletop exhibits. The ballroom is decorated in an artsy, fun, and refreshing theme.

The Moody Gardens Ballroom’s elegance and décor are accentuated by the 242 acres of lush, tropical beauty. If you’re interested in holding an event, such as a wedding or a grand party, at Moody Gardens we would love to talk to you about what our professional staff can help you accomplish! Visit this link to start planning your ballroom-sized event!

For a place to rest your head at night in luxury, be sure to check out the Moody Gardens Hotel. Our four-diamond full service resort is one of the best places to stay in Galveston. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Moody Gardens