No ocean nearby but aquarium lives on

Loralynn watches the sting rays swim circles in their tank.

We are still finding new things to do near Schweinfurt even though we’ve lived here for nearly 7 years. The newest adventure took us to an aquarium in Suhl just an hour drive away. Dan stayed home to go-cart with some his friends.

I checked out the aquarium website ahead of time so I was forewarned that it was no Monterey Bay Aquarium. We’ve been to many other really fantastic aquariums in our day, so I was ready for just a fun day with the kids.

Turtles and crocodiles nap together?

We met our friend, Valerie H., and a group from the Bamberg Hospitality house.

I must admit that none of the aquariums I’ve been to in the past have ever had crocodile pools. Save that for the zoo or a reptile park. But this special aquarium had an extensive boardwalk above croc pools and we showed up for the feedings. They ate entire processed chickens, dead rats, fish, and more.

The shark tank was impressive and Loralynn and Tana enjoyed watching them for a good long time. I was disappointed that the feedings were only on Sunday. I can’t recall ever seeing sharks being fed.

We finished walking through all the displays and ate lunch all in four hours. Tana was beside herself without a nap as 3 p.m. rolled around so we packed back into the car and drove home.

All visits come to an end

Loralynn and Oma walk quickly in the wind toward the Basilika.

We enjoyed Oma and Opa Gosnell until April 16. The weather was cool and rainy the whole time they were here except the day before they flew back to California.

Dan and Tana pose in front of the Veste Coburg.

FRIDAY: We visited Basilika Vierzehnheiligen which was super windy in cold-- just like when we went a couple years ago with Dan's family. Afterwards, we drove to Coburg Fortress, strolled the grounds and then played in the lovely waiting area while my parents went through the great museum.

SATURDAY: My parents chose their last destination to be the open air museum Frankisches Freilandmuseum Bad Windsheim so that they could see how the Germans lived several hundred years ago. It may have been the most memorable part of their visit with us because my dad mentioned it many times afterwards.

I really hope they come again soon! Perhaps our next home will be another fun place to visit!

The girls had a great time in the Veste Coburg waiting area.