The top floor of Jenkinson's Aquarium on the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk is open again after a renovation, and it has a new resident at its center: Wally, a two-toed sloth. The aquarium says the redone floor now holds rainforest animals and fish alongside Wally, and it has started building its winter programs around him, including a pajama morning on December 5 timed for an animal that can sleep up to 15 hours a day.

The aquarium is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the off-season except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

What is on the top floor

Jenkinson's describes the renovated floor as a rainforest level, with Wally as its headliner and a mix of rainforest animals and fish around him. Two-toed sloths spend most of their lives hanging upside down in the branches, and the aquarium's programs say Wally can sleep up to 15 hours a day.

The aquarium has run on the boardwalk since June 1991 and marked its 35th anniversary in June with a weekend of mermaid dives and animal meet-and-greets.

Meeting Wally

Two programs put visitors in the room with the sloth, and both include admission for the rest of the day:

  • Scoop on Sloths, Saturday, November 21, 3 to 3:30 p.m. A 30-minute conservation education program about how sloths live, ending with a visit with Wally. It is $25 per person and is for ages 5 and up.
  • Wake Up with Wally, Saturday, December 5, 9 to 10 a.m. An early start before the aquarium opens to the public. Children come in pajamas to read a book, make a craft and visit with Wally. It is $30 for anyone 3 and older; children 2 and under are free.

Both require registration through the aquarium's events calendar.

The rest of the winter calendar

The penguins and seals have their own programs through the end of the year. Painting with Penguins on Friday, November 20, at 5:30 p.m. lets participants watch the African penguins make foot paintings and take home an 8 by 10 canvas; it is $50, for ages 7 and up, and closed-toe shoes are required. Penguins and Pajamas on Saturday, November 28, at 9 a.m. is a story, a craft and a meet-and-greet with one of the penguins, at $25 for anyone 3 and older. Junior Keepers on Sunday, November 29, takes children ages 7 to 11 behind the scenes for three hours of animal care for $100. An hour-long yoga class on Sunday, November 15, at 9 a.m. ($30, ages 10 and up with an adult) takes place among the exhibits, including the seals, Turbo and Noelani.

Off-season feeding times are posted daily: seals at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., penguins at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and sharks at 1:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The aquarium notes that weekday mornings bring school groups, so a weekday afternoon or a weekend is the quieter visit.

Before you go

General admission is $19 for adults 12 and older, $15 for seniors 65 and older and $13 for children 3 to 11. Children 2 and under are free. The aquarium's wheelchair lift is being replaced and is expected to be out of service until about November 30, so visitors who need it should call ahead.

Jenkinson's Aquarium is at 300 Ocean Avenue on the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk, and the phone number is 732-892-0600. Point Pleasant Beach is a stop on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, one station before the line ends in Bay Head, for anyone coming by train from Monmouth County.

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