Moody Gardens
About Moody Gardens Galveston
TX is a unique learning experience for children of all ages. Moody Gardens is a special educational tourist attraction, having a zoo and a golf course in the city of Galveston, TX, that opened in 1986. The non-profit facility uses nature to educate children and entice visitors about wildlife and conservation. The zoo features several exotic species, including venomous snakes, alligators, turtles, and many other animals. In addition to the zoo, the museum has an interpretive center, where children can view drawings by local artists. A water tower provides entertainment to children, as does a boat ramp and sand bar.
Children will enjoy all the attractions at Moody Gardens, but they are particularly drawn to the zoological and educational components of the museum. Several of the animals in the exhibit were brought to life through special effects. For example, the Galveston aquarium is a life-size depiction of a community of fish. It shows a wide range of different types of fish, including those found only in the Galveston area. At the zoo, children will see the tiger snake, a protected status snake native to the Galveston area and is considered one of the most threatening snakes in the world.
Maintaining the beautiful gardens is part of the reason that the zoo and museum are popular attractions. Because an on-staff of dedicated volunteers supports the gardens, visitors have access to them twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. This includes holidays and Mother’s Day, as well as school vacations. Families with children may want to visit the zoo during the summer to keep the children busy while Mom and Dad attend to the kids.
There are several different kinds of plants in the various gardens around the grounds of the museum. Some of the parks house exotic plants that are threatened or endangered or have limited growing environments. Others house more familiar, earthy-looking plants that look exotic and are not in danger. The Moody Garden is home to more California native plants than any other museum in the country. While the plants in the museum itself are not as rare, they are considered “rare” because they have a limited habitat and cannot be easily transported elsewhere.
Of course, it is impossible to talk about Moody Gardens without mentioning the great architecture featured in the area. The western section of the gardens features buildings such as the Lodge at Moody, a two hundred-foot-long ruin that was once a hotel. Another building is the Moody Opera House, which is listed as a National Historic Landmark. Many of the homes and buildings feature rich wood structures, like cottages and log cabins. And, of course, the gardens themselves are filled with beautiful plants, many of which are imported from all over the world.
In addition to all of the gardens and historic areas, there is also a great series of shops near the zoo. The shops themselves house some of the finest Asian goods, including beautiful lacquerware. The shops are usually open Friday through Sunday, so you can take in the sights while you shop. Besides the shops, there is also a food court where you can get some delicious Asian cuisine. The Moody Gardens has genuinely been able to transform itself into something that people worldwide can enjoy. It truly is one of the best Americana attractions out there.