Take a bite out of summer during Shark University Week at Moody Gardens Aug. 4 through Aug. 10. Moody Gardens is a proud sponsor of Discovery Channel’s Shark Week.
Tag: Moody Gardens (Page 4 of 6)
Ever since Hurricane Ike, Moody Gardens and Galveston Island has been on a slow but successful recovery. But the wetlands by Offatts Bayou close to Moody Garden’s parking lot sustained much damage on the shoreline. Debris became stuck on the land and it was a long way from being a habitat for some of the Island’s animals.
On May 18, Neil Stegman launched an Eagle Scout project to change the area for better. He and a large group of volunteers worked closely with Danny Carson, Moody Gardens’ Horticultural Manager. Together, they installed an improved, raised pathway with two Osprey nesting platforms.
Moody Gardens hopes to eventually create a three-quarter mile long path with interpretive signs, resting benches, gazebos and more. As these features become complete, the habitat will thrive on its own and become one of Galveston’s birding hot spots.
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- Volunteers helping spread the mulch
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- Danny Carson working front end loader
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- Finished trail
The toughest penguin at Moody Gardens is growing into a big guy just like his namesake.
Watt, a King Penguin named after Houston Texans star J.J. Watt, has already grown to around 3-feet tall and 30 pounds in just 2 ½ months.
Watt absolutely loves fish, which has helped him grow so big in such a short about of time. He is a curious little guy, but his dad still watches over him. He’s definitely not ready for his son to be exploring on his own.
Watt suffered a cut on his back shortly after breaking out of his shell. Under the care of Moody Gardens biologists, Watt proved he was one tough chick and made a quick recovery. Now he is on exhibit joining the nearly 100 penguins housed in the Aquarium Pyramid
J.J. Watt is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and one of the most popular athletes in Houston.
Come see Watt and the other penguins at the Moody Gardens Aquarium Pyramid. The Aquarium is currently open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
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- Watt the King Penguin
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- Watt with his Dad
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- Watt – Tough Little Penguin
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- Watt – All Grown Up
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
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!
Want to throw your kid an awesome birthday party? Do you not have enough time to plan and organize the party? Then Moody Gardens is perfect for you! We do the planning, setup, and cleanup! All you have to worry about is your kid having a fantastic time!
Each birthday party package includes a birthday cake, punch, paper goods, a party favor for each guest, twenty-four invitations, and a visit to one attraction. On top of all this great birthday fun, you choose from four exciting themes.
Wild Things: Aquarium. This package includes entry for your guests into the Aquarium Pyramid. Party guests get to dive into an ocean adventure and have a fun-filled animal encounter on your child’s special day.
Wild Things: Rainforest. Take the birthday party to the rainforest! Party guests get to meet the animals of the rainforest in a special animal presentation. The package includes entry into the Rainforest Pyramid for all your guests.
Beach Bash (seasonal). For summer parties, soak up the sun as your guests spend the day floating along the lazy river at Palm Beach. Entry into Palm Beach for your guests is included in the package.
Festival of Lights (seasonal). Celebrate your child’s birthday among the millions of lights at the Moody Gardens Festival of Lights. This package includes entry to the Festival of Lights and is only available at 6:00 p.m. because the sparkling lights can’t be appreciated in the daylight!
Reservations are required at least two weeks in advance, and packages are available for children turning a maximum of twelve years old. Parties are limited to two hours; however, visits to the designated attraction may extend beyond party time. Parties are available daily at 10:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. for a maximum of thirty-two guests.
Party Package Prices are for up to twenty-four guests, including adults. However, you may have additional guests for $8.00 a person.
Saturday and Sunday
Non-members: $300.00
Members: $255.00
Monday through Friday
Non-members: $275.00
Members: $233.75
To start planning your party, call 1-800-582-4673, ext 4325 or e-mail education@moodygardens.com.
Do you love charity and the Moody Gardens Festival of Lights? You’re in luck! Every Friday night, if you bring a non-perishable food item, you can get 2 for the price of 1 admission! Moody Gardens is teaming up with the Galveston County Food Bank to provide for those who have fallen on hard times this holiday season.
The Galveston County Food Bank is an interfaith community-based organization established to receive surplus food from generous institutions willing to provide for those less fortunate than themselves. Their program is called Gleanings From the Harvest, which is a food procurement and distribution network. It provides food to those who most need it; this includes the destitute and the families in Galveston County who are considered the “working poor”.
Moody Gardens loves charity and would like your help in feeding those in need around the Galveston area. Please consider stopping by our Festival of Lights Friday Food Drive to be a part of this great charity. We promise you won’t be disappointed! Not only will you feel like you’ve contributed to something great, but you’ll also be able to enjoy our famous Festival of Lights at a discounted rate!
Our Festival of Lights is a great Houston holiday event for those looking for a family weekend getaway in Texas. We offer more than 1 million lights within 100 sound-enhanced animated light displays. But that’s not all! We also offer live entertainment every night, a delicious Festival of Lights Buffet that you just can’t miss, and the area’s only outdoor ice skating rink. While you’re visiting, take a picture with Santa or watch a holiday film in one of our theaters. If you’ve visited Moody Gardens before, we’ve added something new this year! Enjoy snow tubing down the Arctic Slide. All of these attractions are open every night the Festival of Lights is open. Don’t forget, you can make a weekend of it! We offer one of the best family friendly hotels in Texas.
So put Moody Gardens Festival of Lights Friday Food Drive on your calendar. We promise you won’t be disappointed! For more information on our Holiday Events, visit us here.
While the Moody Gardens Hotel is known for its spectacular rooms and amenities such as the spa and convention center, it is actually a wonderful place for kids to stay. The Moody Gardens hotel has a ton of activities and perks for the kids. Read on to learn more about our family friendly accommodations.
Kids Eat Free: Yep, you read that correctly, free! Everyday, with the purchase of an adult entrée at the Terrace Restaurant, your little one, under the age of 12, gets a free meal! The free meal includes anything off the kid’s menu or buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You’ll have a well-fed family and a well-fed wallet.
Pools: The swimming pools are a great time for kids of every age! While parents relax amongst the lush gardens and waterfalls, the children are jumping in the water or grabbing afternoon treats from the poolside snack bar. Summer and holiday time call for special poolside fun such as face-painting clowns or a tropical bounce house. The outdoor Jacuzzi is enjoyable for everyone year around, so no matter what season you visit Moody Gardens Hotel be sure to bring your bathing suit!
Kid’s Crew: Kid’s Crew activities will keep your children busy and entertained throughout their visit. The activities include arts and crafts, a bounce house, kite flying, scavenger hunts, karaoke, Wii competitions, movie nights, clown face painting, and more. Kids can also play on the outdoor playground or test their logic skill with the Giant Chess Game. The best part is, all the Kid’s Crew activities are free for hotel guests! Activities are seasonal and change daily, so the fun is always different.
The Moody Gardens Hotel is the perfect place if you’re looking for family friendly hotels in Texas. Our family friendly hotel is sure to please every member of your family. Don’t forget to check out the Moody Gardens Attractions, such as the Aquarium Pyramid and the Rainforest Pyramid, while you’re here for more entertainment! We’re also offering a special holiday deal at the spa! Take time to relax while your kids are out having a great time.
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.