Florida Aquariums provide an insight into the beauty of our underwater ecosystem, where you can befriend adorable marine mammals of all shapes and sizes. Ideal for outdoor activities on a rainy day or for getting away from sunlight. You can get lost in the showrooms and take part in hands-on interactions with exotic species as these aquariums offer a family-friendly, educational experience that attracts visitors of all ages. Feel the excitement of exploring marine life at one of these finest aquariums in Florida.
Florida Aquarium, Tampa
The Florida Tampa Aquarium, consistently ranked as one of the finest aquariums in the country, offers over 150,000 square feet of educational entertainment featuring over 7,000 species of animals and plants. Explore the aquarium's labyrinth of aquatic life to get up close and personal with some sea turtles, moray eels and stingrays, or go for a walk to see pigtailed lemurs, playful otters and colorful chameleons. The Shark Aquarium is a popular exhibit, and the waters teeming with alligators give you the chance to have an authentic Florida experience from a safe distance.
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| Florida Aquarium |
Gulf World Marine Park, Panama City Beach
Gulf World Marine Park is one of the best places in Panama City to meet animals, host many live performances and go for beautiful bird watching. Watch penguins, alligators and flamingos throughout the park, while sharks and turtles feeding, penguin encounters, and sea encounters at the harbor provide an educational insight into the animal's unique characteristics and traits. There is also a program to swim with dolphins, offering a small chance for the little ones to learn more about these intelligent creatures.
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| Gulf World Marine Park |
SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium, Orlando
SEA LIFE Orlando has over 5,000 animals and you are sure to find many intimate animal encounters. The International Drive Aquarium holds over 2 million gallons of water and is home to magnificent sharks, colorful clownfish and curious sea turtles. Many of the creatures on this list are endangered or have been rescued, but one of the main attractions of this aquarium is the unique 360-degree underwater tunnel where you can enjoy stunning views of underwater life.
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| SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium |
Key West Aquarium, Key West
Key West Aquarium, located in Mallory Square, is a family-friendly aquarium where visitors of all ages will enjoy exploring marine life, conserving nature and exploring coral reef reservoirs. See animals native to Florida on the Touch Tank, including live shells, starfish, sea urchins, horseshoe crabs and giant hermit crabs. Touch a live shark on its tail at the Shark Show, or visit Florida's other ardent creatures at the Alligator and Jellyfish Shows.
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| Key West Aquarium |
Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater Beach
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium, famous for the home of Winter and Hope, the dolphins from the hit movie "A Tale of the Dolphins," is Florida's premier family attraction and a variety of educational activities. Shipwreck Lane is an underwater observation tunnel, Stranding Deck is for sick and injured dolphins, and Oasis Otter Oasis is home to North American river otters. Visit Nurse Sharks Thelma and Louise at Shark Pass or say hello to Cocoa Sea Turtle. You can also visit the modern theater, which shows documentaries, or go on a kayak or boat trip.
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| Clearwater marine aquarium |
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, Sarasota
At the Mare Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Sarasota, featuring Shark Zone and Tactile Rays and Reef Animals, there are many amazing experiences that the whole family can enjoy. The main attractions are the two sensor tanks and the 135,000 gallon shark habitat, but there is also the chance to see Mote Marine scientific research in visible working labs. Say hello to Hugh and Buffett, the local manatees, or Hang Tough, the adorable sea turtle, as there are over 100 species of marine life that call this place their home.
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| Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium |
Miami Oceanarium, Miami
The Miami Oceanarium is the city's premier marine life. It's a fun place for kids, with specific splash zones and animal interactions. See African penguins on Penguin Island, or visit the friendly dolphins at Encounter with Dolphins, and a VIP tour lets you mingle with iguanas and feed manatees, stingrays and sea turtles. Thrill seekers will want to sign up for the Sea Trek Reef Encounter, where you can take a 300,000 gallon underwater walking tour of a tropical reef, while animal lovers will love the Seal Swim with Harbor Seals and Trainer for a day. program.
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| Miami Oceanarium |
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, Fort Walton Beach
Entertaining marine life lovers since 1955, the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park at Fort Walton Beach is a historic aquarium with many memorable animal encounters. Watch Atlantic bottlenose dolphins from a flooded platform, feed an African penguin, or greet gentle seals and playful sea lions. The little ones will admire the stingrays, while the Baby Reptile Safari offers an affectionate introduction to turtles, lizards, snakes and alligators. To see what life is like as a Marine Mammal Trainer, sign up for the VIP Trainer Experience for a behind-the-scenes look at the aquarium.
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| Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park |
Marine Science Center, Ponce Inlet
Get your hands wet in the swimming pool at the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet, where you can admire meager stingrays and hermit crabs as they swim in the 1,400 gallon pool. Filled with a variety of ecological wonders, you will find a wide range of exhibits that show marine life in addition to a scenic nature trail, while those looking for a bird's eye view can climb the tower for panoramic views of Ponce Bay. It houses hospitals that treat and rehabilitate sick and injured birds and sea turtles, visit turtle pools and learn how to preserve the rich environment of Volusia County.
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| Marine Science Center, Ponce Inlet |
Florida Keys Aquarium Meetings, Marathon
Ideal for those looking to immerse themselves in the magic of the ocean. The Florida Keys Aquarium at Marathon is home to a live collection of fish found in the Florida Keys and the Caribbean. Take a guided tour with a professional marine biologist, admire the colorful fish in the Coral Reef Aquarium, or observe the Tiger Tiger Sharks, Black Tip and Hood Sharks in the Predatory Reef Aquarium. Thrill seekers can head to Coral Reef or Lagoon to experience the thriving Florida Keys coral reef ecosystem in action.
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| Florid Case Aquarium, Marathon |