The Denver Aquarium

An underwater seascape with creatures of every color, shaped like balloons with dozens of strings, eggplants, and five-pointed stars, Aquariums are a literal window into another world.

I'd never been to Denver's aquarium before, but I like water, I like animals, and I like seeing things I've never seen before. I figured I'd like the aquarium.

The aquarium starts off with exhibits of North American fish and their habitats.

The next few tanks house fish and other creatures that live in deserts and sandbars. 

Other exhibits show sea life near coral reefs, in rain forests, and near the shore.

I was surprised to find Bengal Tigers in the middle of the aquarium. It's a little sad to see wild animals that need a lot of space in captivity; but on the other hand, maybe these kinds of efforts are helping protect endangered species.

I was staring at the tiger on the right, and he was staring right back at me. It's hard not to wonder what they are thinking, whether they're content, what they're capable of. It's also hard not to be impressed by them. 

Who doesn't love looking at jelly fish and seeing all the strange shapes they take on?

The last exhibit is of sharks. Like with the tigers, I wondered if the sharks had enough space to be content and healthy, but it was awe-inspiring to see them move stealthily through the tank.

At the end of the tour, you can pet and feed the stingrays. They only allow you to feed them a few times a day and it costs extra. This is how it works: You hold tiny fish in a fist and submerge your hand under water. Soon, a stingray will come and put its whole soft, slimy mouth around your fist, and then you let go. It's a really strange sensation, definitely worth experiencing at least once.