The Florida Aquarium is a fun way to spend a few hours while visiting Tampa, Florida. There is so much to explore within the aquarium as well as additional tours and experiences. Let’s take a tour of the aquarium as I tell you about our fun day. With over 200,000 sea creatures this is only a glimpse.
Wetland Trails
The first part in our journey was through the Wetland Trails. We walked by swamps that had menacing alligators that had their faces pressed up against the glass and we got to look right into their eyes. Also in this section were adorable otters playing in the water. A neat feature is there are over 30 species of birds that are free flying above you. Make sure you look up into the treetops to see the nests hidden in the branches. Also, don’t miss the Burmese Pythons and learn how these snakes have become a problem for Florida’s wildlife.
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- Tampa Aquarium
Journey to Madagascar
In Journey to Madagascar, you come face to face with adorable lemurs and a beautiful Indian Ocean coral reef. You can also go into a small cave where you can see (and hear…EW) hissing cockroaches. We learned many facts about the interesting island of Madagascar, where 80% of the plants and animals are found nowhere else in the world.
Bays and Beaches
In this section you get the chance to get up close and touch stingrays, but there were several schools doing field trips and they were all gathered in this area at the time so we skipped this. We were able to see a 300-pound Goliath grouper who was so big he looked fake!
No-Bone Zone
This area contained a touch tank that included lots of sea creatures that have no backbones. Here you can touch sea cucumbers, sea stars, anemones, and more. There is nothing better than hands-on learning experiences for kids.
Coral Reefs
This area was my favorite because it made you feel like you were diving in the coral reefs of Dry Tortugas, off the Florida Keys (which the exhibit is modeled after). The 500,000-gallon tank contains more than 2,000 sea creatures from 100 different species. We stared at this tank for a long time watching the massive sharks go by and we wished we could reach out and touch the graceful sea turtles.
Dragons Down Under
These sea dragons are so odd looking that they don’t seem real. These Australian creatures amazed us because they are camouflaged so well that we said we would never have noticed them in the wild. There were also delicate sea horses and many were smaller than any we’d ever seen.
Ocean Commotion
In this area there were many different tanks filled with colorful jellyfish. My girls are fascinated by them because they are so beautiful and don’t look like they’d be able to hurt anyone. My youngest daughter knows just how much they can hurt you because she was stung by one in Greece last summer. Since then her curiosity of them has grown even more. There was also a large octopus, and lots of crabs and colorful fish.
Swimming with the Fish
A unique experience offered at the Florida Aquarium is Swim with the Fishes. Anyone over the age of 6 can join hundreds of colorful fish in the amazing Coral Reef Gallery. There is no experience necessary, but you should be comfortable in water. We didn’t get the chance to do this but I’m so jealous of my friend, Pam, that did. Her daughter is 8 years old and her son is 10. I asked Pam some questions about her family’s experience and here’s what she shared:
What preparations did they give you?
A guide met us at the door and was with us the whole time. He took us to locker rooms where he had already put our wet suit and shoes in a locker with our names on them (you give sizes when you register). Then he introduced us to our own personal photographer, who was with us the whole time. My in-laws were watching us so they assigned them a guide that took them to a spot to watch and take photos. Then we went outside and up to the top of the building where we met our scuba guide (so four people assigned to just us!). He tested our masks for us to make sure they fit and then we entered a shallow water area where we could learn about the gear and practice the breathing. Then we entered the tank. Our scuba guide had a GoPro and videoed our whole swim too!
Did you have to worry about being a good swimmer?
We had oxygen tanks attached to a vest, masks and a mouth breathing piece. But no experience was necessary because our vests had a flotation device in it that kept us on top of the tank. That made it great for the kids. So we were scuba diving without the diving. We didn’t have to worry about them swimming for 20 minutes in the 12-foot-deep water. It made it very comfortable and relaxed.
How long did you swim?
Once in the tank we got to swim around for about 20 minutes with our guide. I thought beforehand it would be too short but it was a perfect amount of time.
What was your experience like?
Fish came close to you but no real scary fish – puffer fish, stingrays (stingers removed), eels, etc. We had an amazing time. The kids said it was the best part of our vacation.
Was it scary at all for the kids?
My daughter held my hand the whole time but wasn’t nervous. I found it to be very safe and a great introduction to scuba diving. Of course now my son wants to go back and do the Swim with the Sharks (yikes!).
What was your (or your kiddos’) favorite part?
My favorite part was how organized and well run it was. They thought of everything. (Afterwards they took us back to the locker room to shower, etc.) My son said the best part was when you first got in the tank and he realized how close we were going to be to the fish! I don’t think they really knew what to expect. My daughter said the best part was when a stingray swam right underneath us and she had to lift her feet for him to pass by.
Tips:
ADDRESS: 701 Channelside Drive. Tampa, Florida 33602
PHONE NUMBER: (813) 273-4000
HOURS: Open daily 9:30-5:00 (Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas)
ADMISSION: Adults $24.95, Seniors $22.95, Children $19.95
Children under age 2 are free
PARKING: There is parking at the aquarium for $6 per day.
WEBSITE: http://www.flaquarium.org/
EXPLORE A SHORE: This outdoor water adventure zone lets kids cool off after visiting the aquarium. There are water cannons, geysers, and a climbing pirate ship.
RESTAURANTS: Café Ray is open at 10:00 and offers a wide variety of dining options. The Caribbean Cantina is open Saturdays and Sundays in the Fall/Winter and daily during peak seasons.
TOURS
WILD DOLPHIN TOUR: The aquarium offers a 75-minute Wild Dolphin Cruise aboard a 72-foot catamaran. There are more than 500 dolphins that live in Tampa Bay and it is a wonderful way to see them in their natural habitat.
DIVE WITH SHARKS: Here you can come face to face with sharks! This must be amazing! You must be a certified scuba diver and over the age of 15.
BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR: This one-hour guided tour explains how they prepare food and you can even watch some feedings.
Thank you to the Florida Aquarium for having our family as your guests.
As always, my experiences and opinions are 100% my own.