By GalaTView.com

Photos by Jenny Alvarez

New creatures come to the  world to meet the axolotl found in Mexico to colorful frogs that live in rainforests in South America and beyond. The new exhibit FROGS: Facing a Changing World features amphibians such as frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders, educational displays, and programs and opens on May 24, 2024, continuing through April 30, 2025. When this exhibit opens, it will be the first time visitors to the Aquarium of the Pacific will be able to see endangered mountain yellow-legged frogs. You can find out what the Aquarium is doing to save amphibians and what you can do to help as you explore the new exhibit.

As guests journey through the Aquarium, they can meet more than twenty species of amphibians in over twenty exhibits representing habitats from California, Arizona, Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, Australia, Vietnam, Madagascar, Solomon Islands, and more. Through the new exhibition and program, guests can learn about the diversity of frog and amphibian species and their unique adaptions, the threats they are facing, and how the Aquarium is helping to save them from extinction. 

If you are a big fan of  frogs, salamanders, and toads eat insects and other animals that can be impacted by mosquito-borne diseases and pathogens. This would be the best place for visitors during this season.

People can help amphibians by reducing their carbon footprints, staying on marked trails when hiking or walking, and making sustainable choices if they decide to bring an amphibian home as a pet.  Children also will learn that the Aquarium serves as a sanctuary for animals seized from wildlife traffickers, including axolotls. Many species, including those that are protected under the Endangered Species Act, are not allowed to be traded or kept as pets. When law enforcement identifies a violation of these rules, the animals are confiscated. Animals can be in a state of distress or poor health and require specialized care. Law enforcement then calls on zoos, aquariums, and other animal care organizations to assist. The Aquarium of the Pacific is one of those institutions and is part of the Southern California Wildlife Confiscations Network, a partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and nineteen animal care partners in the region.  Axolotls are also are important part of   educational programs for people of all ages, so in case you need to know more do not hesitate  to visit the Aquarium.

By GalaTView Staff

Photos Courtesy  Six Flags

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Southern California’s most thrilling water park, is making waves this summer with over 25 unique slides and attractions for the entire family. The water park season kicks off for Memorial Day weekend Saturday, May 25 through Monday, May 27, and daily beginning June 1.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor attractions feature splashing thrills for everyone including:

• Adrenaline Seekers – Among the park’s most thrilling attractions is Bonzai Pipelines which features a unique launching capsule system where the floor drops out beneath riders, sending them free-falling 40 miles-per-hour down the 75-foot tall slide. Another favorite among guests is Black Snake Summit, a 75-foot-tall tower featuring five different speed water slides:

• Family Adventures – For water lovers of all ages, Lost Temple Rapids provides a mild, yet exhilarating adventure through 560-feet of pure whitewater rafting bliss. Take a break from the thrilling speed slides with a mellow float around The River Cruise lazy river:

• Thrill Seekers in Training – The interactive and refreshing Splash Island keeps the entire family cool with smaller-scale water slides, rain curtains and splashing effects. Nearby, Castaway Cove features secluded tide pools and splash areas, specially designed for kids under 54-inches;

• Relaxing Cabanas – For relaxation and privacy, Cabana Cove is a sprawling oasis featuring private rental cabanas, Biminis and loungers. More premium rentals include food and beverage wait service and free tube rentals; and

• Food & Beverage Offerings – Indulge in tasty favorites like teriyaki chicken sandwiches, pizza and garlic knots, and more or satisfy your sweet tooth with a delicious funnel cake. Enjoy the flavors of a tropical paradise with specialty drinks and cocktails.

Opening later this summer, guests can elevate their relaxation experience with our new double-deck cabanas that offer a combination of luxury and comfort. Located near the Forgotten Sea Wave Pool, these new upper and lower deck cabanas will feature a more premium experience with a branded welcome package, concierge service for food and drinks, private storage and premium lounge seating.

For more information regarding Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, including park operating days and hours, please visit sixflags.com/hurricaneharborla.

Six Flags Season Passes

The Six Flags Memorial Day Season Pass Sale is happening now! For a limited time, receive a free upgrade to a Platinum Pass when you buy Gold and a free upgrade to a Diamond Pass when you buy Platinum. Enjoy thrills all season with visits to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor and Six Flags Magic Mountain, plus parking, in-park discounts and more. Plus, when you buy a Pass during the sale you’ll also receive a bonus discount offer to purchase four friend tickets for only $29.99 valid through September 2, 2024. Visit sixflags.com/magicmountain for details.

By GalaTView Staff

Photos Courtesy

Girl From The North Country features the music of Bob Dylan with strangely rearranged songs and a baffling set list. The play tells the story of one small town in Minnesota who are left reeling from the Great Depression. Musical lyric without its tune but full of creativity with Conor McPherson is the director, who also directs and co-arranged many songs. It is xtraordinarily intense and musically compelling performance where you will  hear performed quite beautifully from the cast. The costumes designed by Rae Smith shows a great life performers during the Great Depression.Definetely, the main characters have the best vocal agility and power.

Spectators will witness a musical icon in this great season of musical theatre where some musical pieces such as “Forever Young,” “All Along The Watchtower,” “Hurricane,” “Slow Train Coming,” and “Like A Rolling Stone,” will be part of your best musical play.

By GalaTView.com

Photos by Alfonso de Elías

The goal of the pairing is for the baby otter to learn the survival skills needed to return to the wild

The Aquarium of the Pacific is welcoming a female orphaned sea otter pup, which was rescued off the coast of Santa Cruz County. This baby sea otter is the first surrogate-raised otter at the Aquarium of the Pacific, for potential release back to the wild, as part of a partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea Otter Surrogacy Program. The pup is paired with an adult female sea otter at the Aquarium of the Pacific with the goal of being able to learn from her the survival skills needed to be able to return to the wild. These vital skills include foraging for food and grooming their thick fur to thrive in cold water temperatures. 

“We’ve been working with our partners at the Aquarium of the Pacific for more than three years to reach this moment, and we’re excited they’re now ready to welcome orphaned pups for surrogacy,” said Jessica Fujii, manager of the Sea Otter Program at Monterey Bay Aquarium. “Sea otters help maintain the health of kelp forests and wetlands on California’s coast. This milestone is advancing our work to help sea otters recover from being hunted to near extinction and help strengthen our coastal ecosystems.”

The surrogacy area at the Aquarium of the Pacific was built behind the scenes of its Molina Animal Care Center and will be able to accommodate three to four rescued sea otter pups each year. The pups will be away from public view to limit human interaction to increase their chances of surviving on their own in the wild. Videos of rescued pups and signage located outside of the surrogacy facility will help educate the Aquarium’s visitors on the surrogacy program and the significance of recovering southern sea otter populations. A grant from the California’s State Coastal Conservancy Sea Otter Recovery Grant Program supported the initial construction of the sea otter surrogacy facility. 

The Aquarium of the Pacific also has a public fundraising campaign to support its work with rescued sea otter pups through this program. Anyone interested in getting involved and providing support of this important conservation work can visit pacific.to/saveseaotters and make a gift online or call (562) 951-1701. 

Through its Pacific Visions area, visitors to the Aquarium of the Pacific can learn how climate change is impacting the ocean, its inhabitants, and people, along with what can be done to work toward a more sustainable future. The Aquarium also serves as a facility for rehabilitating and releasing sea turtles, raising endangered mountain yellow-legged frogs for release, and spawning and releasing endangered white abalone. 

The Aquarium of the Pacific is famous when the lovely trainers stayed with public until every last question as spectator could think of was answered. There were so many exhibits open, including all of the ones where you can touch softly. It was so much fun and everything was so clean and well organized. A major highlight for people who love animals, it is possible to feed the birds.