Travel: The Florida Aquarium

There are many fun things to do in Tampa, Florida, and going to The Florida Aquarium is one of them. It is a beautiful place to explore. Plus, it is a great way to get away from the Florida heat since there is 200,000 sq. ft. of air conditioning in The Florida Aquarium. It is a delight for both children and adults. Here are some things you can do and see at The Florida Aquarium:

Special

The Florida Aquarium is a very special place to travel to and visit. It is located right on the water, and it is in a good location in Tampa right next to the cruise ships docking. It is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except when it is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. The aquarium has two levels of indoor fun to explore. Plus, there is an outside area as well.

Day Tickets

In order to see The Florida Aquarium, in you will need to purchase a ticket to enter. For adults it costs $19.95. For seniors it costs $16.95. Children 3-12 tickets cost $14.95. Children 2 and under tickets are free. Parking costs $6. Plus, if you are hungry or thirsty at The Florida Aquarium, you may want extra money for their restaurants since no outside drink or food is allowed in.

Annual Memberships

You can get a membership that is good for a year too. For a party of four it is only $140. It costs $95 for an annual membership for couples. If you just want an individual annual membership it only costs $60. Annual members get to park for free. It is a great savings if you think you might visit for more than one day. Plus, you get discounts for food and at the gift shop too for being a member.

Exhibits

There are lots of exhibits to explore at The Florida Aquarium. There is the Wetlands section where you can see animals like otters, birds, and alligators. In the Coral Reef sections you can find penguins that have a little show at the Penguin Promenade daily at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and the last show is at 3 p.m. The penguin show was a huge hit for me and my family, and it was our favorite part of all the exhibits to see. The Ocean Communion section is a great section to see such things like octopus and clown fish. The Bays and Beaches section is cool to see because it has over 20,000 animals and aquatic plants.

Explore a Shore

My family and I had tons of fun at The Explore a Shore section of the aquarium. This section of The Florida Aquarium is outdoors. It is two acres of water enjoyment. We all loved exploring the pirate ship that was there. Plus, it has an amazing view of the water. It is located right next to the Caribbean Cantina Bar and Grill. After we had fun playing the water, we had a tasty treat there.

Extras

There are extra things to do at The Florida Aquarium that you can enjoy for an additional cost. You can go on an Ecotour. If you are interesting in sharks, you may want to dive with them. There is also an opportunity to go into the coral reef tank, and swim with the fishes. Always check The Florida Aquarium's schedule of current events to see what things interest you the most.

The Florida Aquarium:
701 Channelside Drive
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 273-4000
www.flaquarim.org