Moody Gardens
When in Galveston, try this place out, but only if you have a whole day committed to it. Its too expensive to see just one or 2 things for a couple hours. My family and I (party of 6) did 6 things within 5 hours at $36 a ticket. I liked the aquarium, but it seems as though they've gone over board with 3D movie entertainment. ( saw a 3D showing of Waves in Tahiti, a 3D 2 minute movie ride, and a " 4D " showing of happy feet)
The 3D Tahiti movie was neat. The 3D movie ride was slightly too loud, and probably not worth the stand alone ticket itself but worked well with our all day pass. and the 4D movie was like the ride, but instead of the chairs moving, there were things in the chair that moved. and you also got slightly wet.
There was also a paddle wheel boat ( very boring for small children and teens) and it seems they need more people working on it, because the gift shop on board was only open for 15 minutes each way ( out to sea, back into sea which was an hour ride), At the time, the paddle wheel was not running because they had just painted it. ( its not a real paddle wheel boat, the paddle wheel just goes around for show)
We spent most of our time at the aquarium, They had lots of different penny stamping, and kids got to do this shark stamping activity, where they went to all of the stations and collected stamps. They had some really neat starfish, and sharks, and they had mini - discovery movies on the walls every where.
Over all, I had fun and got to spend the day doing stuff with my family. I'd like to come once the Rain-forest pyramid is open and even go during summer because they have a new water park too.