More than just an amusement park, Moody Gardens is a complete entertainment complex located about an hour outside of Houston. The complex is easy to spot—its three pyramids house different sections, including a tropical rainforest, an aquarium and a museum and discovery centre. A selection of gardens, hotels and restaurants are dotted around the complex.
Start at the 10-storey Rainforest Pyramid to experience life in the tropics. The climate-controlled rainforest is home to birds, butterflies, monkeys and sloths, all of which roam freely in the complex. Keep your eyes open for the Amazon otters and Chinese alligators that live in the waterway system that runs through the ground floor. Explore the forest via elevated platforms and walkways that wind along the floor and up through the trees.
The largest of the three pyramids is the Aquarium Pyramid. Spread over four different ocean displays it offers an incredible selection of marine life, including coral reefs and tropical fish from the South Pacific, penguins in the South Atlantic section and seals in the North Pacific section. The Caribbean section houses a vast underwater tunnel filled with eels, sharks and turtles.
The Discovery Pyramid houses ever-changing exhibits from all over the world. The exhibits usually focus on the themes of nature and science, and are always fun and educational.
Moody Gardens hosts various activities and offers special facilities throughout the year, including a water-park and a man-made beach during the summer. Catch a movie at the 3-D and 4-D cinemas, or take a ride on the RideFilm theatre which features a 180-degree wraparound screen. Golf fans will love the recently renovated Moody Gardens Golf Course.
You can buy a one- or two-day Value Pass, or purchase separate tickets for each attraction. Proceeds from the tickets go towards helping this non-profit organisation invest in conservation and research activities.
Located about 80 kilometres southeast of Houston, there is plenty of free on-site parking at Moody Gardens.
