Florida Aquarium, Tampa

Florida Aquarium will fill you with joy! There are so many wonderful animals to see there! And the overall layout is very attractive and appealing. This aquarium is almost as nice as Monterey Aquarium in California.

Kids will also go wild when they see the outdoor splash pad outside which is included in your admission. Here they will find manatee and dolphin sculptures to climb on, a giant sea monster to shoot with water guns, a surfboard to ride inside a wave, a sand pit, and a pirate-ship splash playground.
Inside the aquarium there is a lovely mangrove section with clear water and mangrove trees that arch over your head. It feels like you're outdoors because of all the natural light but really you're in the cool AC! What a beautiful place! You can see the lovely smiles of sting rays as they glide up the glass, an alligator with his funny grin, ruddy ducks bobbing along, a giant python that looks you right in the eye, catfish that stare blankly ahead, and upside-down jellies and hermit crabs. A few pretty birds nest in the trees above you.
In the other sections of the museum are tanks that introduce you to some animals you've never seen before, wild and strange. There's the Batfish- what a weird creature! The Caribbean lobster greets you with his spiky legs. The toadfish gives you a good laugh in his oystery home. You think twice about snorkeling when you see the Spotted Moray Eel. And the Goliath Grouper- well words can't describe him!
Some things are always lovely to see, such as seahorses. This aquarium has pygmy seahorses that are tiny as can be. Moon jellies, as well as comb jellies with their flickering rainbow lights, are a delight, as is the giant octopus with his suction cups.
There are also lemurs. And there's a tropical reef section with beautiful corals. Here you can sit on comfy wooden rocking chairs and watch in a leisurely way as the fish swim about- this is a great idea! Other exhibits have soft seating in front of them where you can stay a while and enjoy. Each exhibit is so beautiful, like the one with the giant barrel sponge.
Florida Aquarium is located in Channelside, a nautical development where the cruise ships dock. There is Fermented Reality Biergarten with nice outdoor tables, Victory Coffee, and the American Victory Ship Museum inside a huge grey warship.
17 minutes drive east, check out the delicious Caribbean restaurant Bahama Breeze, with its live steel drum music!

Directions

Florida Aquarium is located at 701 Channelside Dr, Tampa FL 33602, call (813) 273-4000.
Open daily 9:30-5. Closed Thanksgiving (fourth Thurs in Nov) and Dec 25.
Admission is around $30 for adults depending on the date, $27 for seniors aged 60+, $26 for children aged 3-11. You can also buy annual membership.
You can park in the parking structure for Channelside- the cost is $6 or $2 if you get your parking validated at a shop or restaurant.
Bahama Breeze (17 mins drive east), 805 Brandon Town Center Dr, Brandon, FL 33511.

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