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Aquarena Center
Categories: Active Life Aquariums Active Life Parks Aquariums, Parks [Edit]
921 Aquarena Springs DrTexas State University
San Marcos, TX 78666
(512) 245-7570
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 4 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
25 reviews for Aquarena Center
25 reviews in English
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Review from Veronica H.
San Antonio, TX
9/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is great! We toured the little aquarium and then went on a glass bottom boat tour. We got a military discount (3 for $24) on the boat ride. The driver was very knowledgeable and could easily answer everyone's questions. The area is very beautiful and clean. I live in San Antonio and had family in town and we easily left SA at 11, had lunch at the River Pub and Grill, toured the Aquarena and were back by 3:30.
Great experience!Listed in: Military Discounts!
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Review from Katie A.
9/5/2011
All you really need to know is that I took a 2.5 year old here and he loved it.
Oh, and there are turtles swimming around ("I like turtles").
Good times! -
Review from David F.
Buda, TX
2/5/2012
This place is a top notch boat tour! You will see the underground springs with great clarity, and plenty of fish, hopefully some turtles and plenty of other aquatic life. We take every one from out of town down here for a tour, because it is a great price. I think we have been out more than 5 times. Each time the tour guide has new, different, interesting perspectives to share with us. The boats are operated by university students. Often times it is quiet and it will be just you and a couple others on the boat too. Go!
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Review from Anna W.
1/4/2012
I wasn't overly impressed with the exhibits, but do the glass bottom kayak tour! Very informative, interesting, and beautiful. We saw so many fish, birds, and turtles..I was in outdoor heaven. Just don't eat too much before you go- for some reason the glass bottom had a bit of a seasick inducing effect on me and I never have those problems..
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Review from veronica M.
Austin, TX
11/7/2011
I didnt know that there is a place like this very close to Austin where I can plan a Picnic day for my kids and their friends. The directions to the place are very easy from Austin. Just 15 minutes, the area is beautiful, with a lot of attractions for small kids such as ponds, aquarium, lake, Boat ride etc. My kids were so happy to see different water creatures and had a day full of fun. Also, the park area doesnt have any noteable restaurant so make sure you bring your own food before you go there.
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Review from Angelica S.
Austin, TX
7/6/2011
This place is pretty cool. We took my niece and nephew here for a glass bottom boat tour this week. The tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. The boats were not exactly what I was expecting. I thought the entire boat bottom was going to made out of glass. Nope. It's a strip in the middle of the boat about two feet wide, down the length of the boat. We were able to see some nice vegetation, a few turtles and fish. I rather enjoyed it. The tour lasted 30 mins and the wet lands/aquarium are included in your price. The aquarium is rather small, but it's quaint. The tour is $9 per adult, children three and under are free and 4-15 cost $6 each.
Nice little tour. -
Review from allison j.
Austin, TX
9/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you are debating on whether to go or not with your three rambunctious kids, do it! This place is incredible. The boat tour sounded weak, but it is really an incredible way to see and learn about Austin's waterways. The water is crystal clear and the wildlife is spectacular. We went close to closing, and saw several Nutria swimming in the river. I didn't even know we had those here! Definitely go. After the boat ride, take a walk around. It is amazing what you'll see!
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Review from Paulette W.
Hurst, TX
11/15/2011
We arrived at the Aquarena Center about 15 minutes prior to the next boat ride. Because of construction, it was unclear exactly where to go to buy tickets. Some temporary signage would help. Also, this is not handicapped-friendly. There were several stairs that needed to be navigated to get to the glass bottom boat. The boat ride was very nice and Stephen, our guide, did an excellent job. He knew the answers to the multiple questions I asked. The gentle rocking of the boat, though, made my husband sea sick (fair warning for people who are motion sensitive). Once construction is completed this should deserve a higher ranking.
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Review from Clayton G.
Dallas, TX
This place is small but fun. We tool the glass bottom boat ride, and although it was a little pricey and didn't go far, we did get to see a lot of cool fish and animals. If you have kids, this is definately an easy thing to do with high entertainment value.
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Review from Brett M.
Austin, TX
11/28/2010
We took our 2 and 5 year old here and the whole family enjoyed it. The place is a little run down, but the glass bottom tour is super cool, educational, and very different.
This place has been taken over by TX State and the students who took us on the tour were very knowledgeable and seemed to love their jobs. The entire boat ride and the walk through the aquarium took about an hour. Next time we plan on bringing a picnic and walk around the trail. -
Review from Donna W.
Austin, TX
7/6/2011
Visited this place with a Groupon and did the glass bottom boat tour. It was great! Super friendly and enthusiastic tour guide, seats were comfortable, and he really knew his stuff. It's easy when you are saying the same thing again and again to either sound super rehearsed or sound like you just couldn't give a crap anymore but this guy oozed fresh enthusiasm for his job and made the tour really great. Their aquarium was great, too, and really let you see all of the creatures up close and personal in nice tanks. The kids liked it, the adults loved it...great family activity!
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Review from Phillip F.
San Marcos, TX
10/7/2010
We went on a glass bottom tour for my freshman seminar class, and it was one of the coolest things I've seen EVER! I was stoned at the time, but I think I would be able to appreciate the scenery regardless of my state of mind. If you live in the area you really owe it to yourself to check it out. My favorite part was seeing where the springs actually bubble up into the river absolutely AMAZING!
peace -
Review from Carl F.
Austin, TX
1/28/2008 1 photo
Thirteen thousand years ago, people came to this place and never felt the urge to leave. And if you visit this former resort (now owned by Texas State University), you'll begin to understand why.
I know this because every Sunday morning, in every kind of weather, my wife and I walk here to see it hours before anyone else arrives.
Aquarena never disappoints.
At the heart of Aquarena Center is Spring Lake, the headwaters of the crystalline San Marcos River, a body of water so clear that its 30-foot depth appears only knee-deep. Take the glass bottom boat tour -- at $7 for adults and $5 for kids, the only still-operating holdover from the old resort -- for an even greater appreciation of this natural marvel fed by thousands of springs.
Stroll (at no charge) along the floating wetlands walk for an up-close look at the marshy areas of Spring Lake, complete with waterfowl feeding on fish and turtles sunning themselves on logs slick with moss. Tour the little aquarium (also free) and walk around the tip of the lake to the original hotel from the '20s, now housing a museum and offices.
The grounds are gorgeous any time of year, and you can still see a few forgotten remnants of the park, like the tram ride and submarine theater, that made San Marcos a top tourist destination in the years before SeaWorld.
If you have time, climb the wooded hill behind the hotel - it's the first hill of the Hill Country -- to explore old paths that wind toward the grist mill and a replica mission, neither of which have lost their charm in the years since the park was sold. From one of the observation decks up there, look across the old park for a good glimpse of this jewel that has lured people to its shores for thousands and thousands of years. -
Review from Kristal P.
Dallas, TX
7/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
I didn't remember the boat tour being as fun as it was when I was a kid, but I did quite enjoy my trip recently. The tour guides are very knowledgeable. We were asking some pretty tough questions like "but what eats the snails?" which they couldn't really answer, so I think everyone should ask that next time they go ;) All joking aside, had a great time!
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Review from kelly b.
Austin, TX
1/31/2011
did you know that this was the first theme park in texas? it is no longer a theme park, but does offer one amazing view of the life below the beautifully clear water here.
the glass-bottom boat tour is a short 30 minute trip, but well worth it if you are at all interested in underwater life and/or seeing water emerging from the many natural springs below.
our tour guide gave some interesting and little-known facts about the former theme park, as well as the fish & animals that live under and around the water. we happened to see some nutria swimming along the shoreline, and learned that these little creatures are the third largest rat species (in size, not population).
the buildings and grounds are quite run-down, but still contain pieces of the old theme park memorabilia. we had adults as well as small children on our boat, so it's a great activity for the whole family. and the tours happen year-round, rain or shine.
all the staff were VERY helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. this is definitely a place worth checking out! -
Review from Tom R.
Richardson, TX
3/17/2011
Oh boy, where do I begin... First off, it's not Aquarena Springs Amusement park anymore. If you've ever been to this place when it was a theme park years ago and go again now, WOW... The place is literally falling down in every direction. Besides the boats, it hasn't had a lick of maintenance done since it closed in 1996. My wife thought we were in a Scooby Doo mystery at the old closed down haunted amusement park. The old submarine theater where you watched the mermaid show is flooded and sunk and sitting there just rusting away. Ralph the swimming pig has long since been turned into sausage. With all that said though, this place is still worth checking out. The glass bottom boats are awesome. (not the boats themselves, they're still really old) It is so cool to see the springs bubbling up at the bottom of the lake and the fish and turtles swimming around. It's probably something you couldn't see anywhere else in the world. Texas State University has bought the decrepit place and is slowing turning it into a learning museum center. The have a cat-walk over the wetlands that's free and a small aquarium also.
What a trip down memory lane. This place was really cool in its hey day. It's kinda sad to see it like it is today. If you had never been to the old theme park and just drove up on this place because of the billboards for glass bottom boats, you have to be thinking "What a DUMP!" Don't be scared though - get out of the car and check it out, you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Sarah Z.
Austin, TX
2/13/2011
very cool to see the underwater springs. The view into the water is very clear, we saw fish, a couple of divers, the springs where water comes out of, and even a "water rat"... it also has an aquarium, a museum and a boardwalk for free. The guide was nice and knowledgeable.
Very good entertainment for kids -
Review from Anthony V.
Dallas, TX
8/2/2010 4 photos
Very awesome tour I have never been but I really enjoyed the glass bottom boat tour. I thought the tour was very informative and the water looked great. I really just wanted to jump in. It was cool to see the actual springs bubbling up right underneath the boat. The staff was very friendly and the boat driver was very sharp and answered any and all questions. I can't wait to go back and hopefully bring some people who have never been.
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Review from Jacob S.
Houston, TX
6/16/2008
Made a trip here last weekend. My 3-year old loved the glass-bottom boat ride. It was 102 degrees, so we didn't hang out long after that.
Worth a visit if you're looking for something different. -
Review from Kamni G.
6/23/2010 7 Check-ins Here
Glass bottom boat....interesting isnt it? That is exactly what I thought when I went for the first time. After that we have taken 3-4 tours with out of towners. The tour is very nice. It is good for a child or adult.
Tours last 30 minutes. Adults $9/ Seniors $7.50/ Children 4-15 $6/ 3 and Under Free
For 60 years riding the glass-bottom boats at Aquarena has demonstrated the importance of water to more Texans than any other setting.
Since 1946 the glass bottom boat tours at Aquarena Center in San Marcos have given folks of all ages an "in-depth" look at the timeless beauty of the San Marcos river. As the boats glide across the crystal waters of Spring Lake at Aquarena you'll see why ancient peoples revered this place. You'll also see some of the 1,000 springs that form the headwaters of one of the most beautiful rivers in Central Texas; and catch glimpses of the inhabitants here too. Bluegill Sunfish, Channel Catfish, Soft Shell turtles, all call Aquarena home. Back on shore, you can get eye to eye with these river dwellers when you visit the Aquarium. Bring the family to share a walk through the grounds and enjoy the natural beauty of Texas Native plants. Learn together when you visit the Archaeology Exhibit, Wetlands Floating Boardwalk or the Texas Rivers Center exhibit hall. In the Endangered Species Exhibit you'll see some of the fish and reptiles that make this part of the river a federally declared critical habitat. Aquarena is the place to visit for families who share a love of nature and want to teach their kids the value of natural beauty. Aquarena is located in San Marcos, TX: take exit 206, Aquarena Springs Drive, west from IH35. Open 7days a week. -
Review from Sunny H.
Friendswood, TX
7/23/2010
Fun for the family. We took our 3 and 1-year-olds for an afternoon at Aquarena Center this week. We had a lot more fun then we would have if they still had the swimming pigs...
We went on the glass bottom boat tour which was super fun. Both the kids loved it. The baby was seriously impressed with the glass bottom. She squeeled and clapped her hands the whole ride. The 3-year-old was equally happy with the experience. The boat ride is only about half an hour which is perfect with little kids.
After the boat ride we went to the aquarium. This was neat but it's small and needs more stuff. The kids still got a major kick out of it, though. When you're that small everything looks bigger...
Then on to the wetlands which were seriously boring. All we saw was lilly pads, moss and dragon flys. It's about a 10 minute walk, nowhere near as pretty as the pictures online but it's free.
The gift shop was really neat and if we had gotten there earlier (the gift shop was closing when we were finished exploring) we probably would have come back with some cool souvenirs. Overall it was a very good experience and we plan to go back as soon as we can. -
Review from Pamela R.
3/15/2010
If you are comparing the place with what it used to be -- an amusement park where mermaids and pigs put on water shows, a gondola swings over head, and there were lots of visitors-- then you will be disappointed. However if you look at this as an opportunity to see some cool natural springs, a free aquarium, take a glass boat tour (8 bucks), and learn something about old texas, then this is the place to be.
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Review from Jai J.
5/19/2008
Aquarena Springs is absolutely beautiful any time of the year. I like the self-guided tours on the Wetlands Boardwalk and the Glass Bottom Boat Tours are wonderful. In the boat tours you can see all kinds of underwater wildlife like Alligator Gars and turtles. Of course if you're waiting for the next tour (each ride is approximately 30 minutes long), you can browse around the aquarium which is a few feet from the boarding area. My family and I have been here several times and I don't think we've gotten tired of this place yet!
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Review from Kate S.
Austin, TX
5/20/2010
Took my 3 year old here this week. FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE!!!
We arrived and immediately went into the gift shop area to purchase tickets for the glass bottom boat ride. My 3 year old was free, and I paid $8. The boat was ready to leave, so we exited behind the giftshop and went straight out to the boats. The staff was very helpful and lifted my child up to help her board the boat, which was nice of them! The boats do not have solid glass bottoms; they are antique boats and have just a wide strip of glass down the center of the boat (lengthwise) with a railing around it where you can rest your elbows and look down. The wood-framed windows were open and even though it was over 90 degrees, a cool breeze refreshed us for the entire boat tour. The water is so clear, and there are large numbers of fish in all shapes and sizes. You can also see the springs bubbling up from the ground, and lots of underwater vegetation. We saw a baby turtle swim beneath the boat, which my preschooler loved! The tour is very informal; the guide conversed with us and here and there gave us information about what we were seeing. If anything, I wish the guide would have stayed more on-topic.
After the boat ride, we toured the floating boardwalk that goes through the wetlands. The wetlands were covered in moss, so we did not see much besides a few large fish and turtle heads poking out of the moss. Towards the end of the boardwalk, there are no hand rails, so be sure to hold on to your kids! We did see a baby snake in the mud toward the end of the board walk, which was neat. There is also a large snapping turtle in a tub at the end of the boardwalk who is injured and can't survive in the wild.
The grounds are just gorgeous...be sure to bring your camera! We walked and had a great time. We also discovered that it was turtle nesting season...all over the lawns, turtles were walking around, looking for places to lay their eggs! Another big plus for anyone with kids. You have to stay at least 15 feet away from the turtles so they don't get uncomfortable and stop their nesting.
I enjoyed Aquarena Springs so much that I am going to take all of our visitors there from now on! Beautiful and definitely a hidden gem! -
Review from Cara Y.
Rockwall, TX
5/29/2011
At Texas State University, you must visit Aquarena Springs. I came here more than twenty years ago and it is still a very fun place to visit. We spent about two hours here. The attraction is affordable and fun. The whole center is a learning experience. I am happy to see the college students running the center. The students keep it really fun for all ages. There is a small aquarium, a learning area, a walking area, and glass bottom boats. The glass bottom boat tour was very interesting and my ten year old daughter loved it. Do not expect to see a bunch of wildlife on the glass boat tour because it is mostly teaching you about the natural springs and showing you how it was formed below. The walk was nice and during May you can see the big fish and mommy fish because it's breeding season. I am not sure anyone younger than eight or so would enjoy it as much as my ten year old but children of all ages can go.
