Willowbrook Wildlife Center acts as both an education center and wildlife rehabilitation service in the town of Glen Ellyn. Operated by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is a 50-acre preserve that is home to about 80 native Illinois animals, including disabled owls, raccoons, foxes and more. For more information on its services, be sure to stop in or visit the Web address provided.
Springfield-Branson National Airport SGF is an airport serving the Springfield, Missouri metropolitan area. SGF Airport is situated approximately five miles to the northwest of Springfield’s downtown. The largest airline carrier at SGF is American Airlines.
SGF Airport has a variety of parking options including short-term and long-term. There are four airlines that fly in and out of SGF serving several domestic locations. Top destinations from Springfield-Branson National Airport are Dallas/Ft. Worth, Chicago and Atlanta.
At Springfield-Branson National Airport there is an array of dining options such as McAlister’s Deli. If it is books and magazines on your list there is a CNBC News Newsstand. In terms of services there are ATMs, postal services, shoeshine, recharging stations and Wi-Fi.
Getting to and from SGF Airport has never been easier with options including taxis, car rentals, buses, car service and shuttles available. If staying near Springfield-Branson National Airport there are over 20 hotel and motel options within eight miles of the airport.
Thousands of federal employees work at the headquarters for the United States Patent and Trademark Office, located near the King Street Metro. School and group tours are welcome at the National Inventors Hall of Fame and Museum, located in the atrium of the Madison Building here. The museum includes a theater, portrait gallery and gift shop. The museum is open 9am - 5pm weekdays and noon - 5pm Saturdays. Tours are Mondays from 2pm - 4pm and Fridays 10am - noon. Admission is free. The space is available for events but only to specific groups.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is home to many concerts, plays, musicals, stand-up comedians and performing artists. Sarasota Bay provides a beautiful backdrop to the Van Wezel. The box office is located on the east side of the building and the entrance is on the north. The Van Wezel opened in 1970 with a performance of Fiddler on the Roof.
The Seattle Aquarium is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. This iconic waterfront landmark is a must-see, particularly for families with children, although it's a great place to visit for anyone who wants to get a fascinating look at the area's spectacular underwater world. With its wide array of colorful marine creatures in award-winning exhibits and touch pools, guests of all ages and tastes are sure to find something to enjoy. One of the best ways to enhance your visit is to check out the host of sea life that can be found in the Pacific Northwest at the aquarium, and then head out on an adventure to see what you can find in the Puget Sound waters or in the tide pools along the state's breathtaking, rugged coastline.
Parking and public transportation
The aquarium is easy to get to by car or public transportation, located on Pier 50 on the downtown central waterfront. Inexpensive metered parking is available right across the street below the Alaskan Way viaduct. Metro Transit offers many bus routes that will bring you within a short walk of the aquarium, including Route 99, which stops directly in front of the building.
Best and worst time to go to the Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is open every day of the year except Christmas Day at 9:30 a.m., with the last entry accepted at 5 p.m. and exhibits closing up at 6 p.m. The best time to get here is just after 2 p.m., when the crowds typically begin to thin out whether it's on the weekend or a weekday. Most visitors tend to arrive shortly after the aquarium opens, making it more difficult to get good views of the exhibits without having to bump elbows with others, particularly during the months of June, July and August.
Admission to the Seattle Aquarium
Admission to the aquarium ranges from about $15 to $22 depending on age with children three years old and under admitted free. Discounts are available for seniors, persons with disabilities and active military.
Must-Dos at Seattle Aquarium
Touching some of the fascinating creatures that live in the tide pools on the state's outer coast and the inland sea of the Puget Sound is a must. Visitors can feel the prickly spines of a sea urchin and discover the rough texture of a colorful starfish. The Underwater Dome provides the opportunity to be surrounded by fish and other creatures by heading down a short tunnel and stepping into a 360-degree tank filled with a variety of species, including sharks, sturgeon, vibrantly-colored rockfish, lingcod and more. The aquarium is also home to marine mammals, like playful sea otters and harbor seals that provide practically endless entertainment with their antics.
Other places to visit near Seattle Aquarium
With some of the city's best restaurants located just steps away from the aquarium, you might want to plan lunch or dinner around your visit to the aquarium. If you like fresh oysters, Elliott's Oyster House offers some of the freshest oysters around, while Ivar's Pier 54 Fish Bar serves up Seattle's famous bread bowl clam chowder as well as amazing fish 'n' chips. Argosy Cruises is located right next door to the aquarium, offering a variety of tours, including a narrated one-hour sightseeing tour that allows visitors to view many of Seattle's iconic landmarks like the Space Needle and Mt. Rainier from the glistening waters of Elliott Bay.
Insider tips for visitors to Seattle Aquarium
There are several indoor/outdoor open air areas of the aquarium that allow visitors to watch the seals and sea otters swim in the waters of the Puget Sound. If you're here on a nice day, walk out onto the dock and enjoy the fresh air, spectacular views and see these entertaining creatures in a less crowded environment.
Author's bio: K.C. Dermody is a travel writer living in the Seattle area with hundreds of travel articles both online and in print. She has traveled the world and is the author of 'Best Travel Guide for First Time Visitors to Ireland,' but especially loves showing off the beautiful region she resides in.
Founded in 1963, the Huntington Arts Council is a not-for-profit organization which enriches the quality of life of Long Islanders with programs and services that address the needs and interests of artists, cultural organizations and the community.
The Council's programs reach over 750,000 Long Island residents, and it serves the entire region with its cultural listings at www.huntingtonarts.org. The New York State Council on the Arts has accorded the Huntington Arts Council the primary status designation of "being of particular importance to the cultural life of New York State."
The Council is the official arts coordinating agency for the Town of Huntington, and serves as the primary regranting agency on Long Island for the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), in addition to its services to over 600 member cultural organizations and individual artist members.