The Florida Aquarium

Have you ever wondered what life under the sea was like? Ever wanted to touch a sting ray or starfish? We’ll the wait is over. You can do all this and more at the Florida Aquarium. With over 10,000 aquatic animals and plants, there is so much to do at this amazing destination! Located near Channelside in Tampa, FL, the Florida Aquarium has over 200,000 square feet of air conditioned fun. You can spend the day indoors and beat the heat, then when the kids are feeling a little restless, head outdoors to the splash zone. With an enormous two story pirate ship structure to climb on, water guns, dolphin slides and more, some families actually visit the aquarium for the outdoor experience alone! But back indoors you can have up close encounters with live animals, and view the enormous magnitude of some of earth’s most amazing sea creatures. Daily there are dive shows in the shark tank, and an interactive penguin show. One amazing creature you will not want to miss is the exotic leafy sea dragon from Australia that is so rare, it is only seen at a few aquariums in the nation.

If you’re looking to go beyond the normal experience of the Aquarium, there’s even more. You can create a lasting memory during a guest dive with the sharks or swim with the fish in the exhibit tanks. Or take an Ecotour of the bay on the 64 foot catamaran and see aquatic animals in their natural habitat. Often times they will see wild dolphin splashing and putting on their own show! And lastly the Florida Aquarium hosts private parties, weddings, children’s birthday parties, and even sleepovers at the aquarium. Imagine waking up next to the shark tank! I think many times those of us who are fortunate enough to live so close to this amazing exhibit, forget what a treat it is to visit. No two trips to the Aquarium are ever the same. With new shows, and new sea life arriving, each visit has new encounters waiting for you to explore.