The Florida Aquarium in Tampa: “Seas” the Day with this Great Outing!
Ranked among the best aquariums in the United States, The Florida Aquarium in Tampa is home to some of earth’s most fin-tastic sea life! But it’s not just jellyfish and stingrays; this aquarium is also home to semi-aquatic friends like tomato frogs and sky-surfing roseate spoonbills.
Offering a holistic view of all creatures that depend upon water to survive and thrive, The Florida Aquarium in Tampa is the most engaging space to learn about these cool creatures, as well as the importance of conservation. Once you lock eyes with a sea turtle or another creature that speaks to you, the memory sticks with you and can truly change how you live.
And that’s what The Florida Aquarium is all about—connecting people and animals to inspire changes that make the world a better place!
Are you ready to “seas” the day?
Habitat Hopping
Part of what makes a visit to The Florida Aquarium in Tampa so fun is the variety of habitats. From the Wetlands to the Reef, each distinct environment has been lovingly recreated for its amazing inhabitants. The aquarium boasts exhibits that stretch “from tree level to sea level,” and they aren’t kidding!
You’ll see creatures like garden eels, who burrow in sandy sea beds and then be treated to views of ring-tailed lemurs chilling in treetops. I’d say it’s the best of both worlds, but really, it’s simply the best of our world!
The Wetlands focus on Floridian friends, with resident alligators, river otters, and freshwater turtles. Enclosed in a spacious 80-foot dome, birds flit freely from branch to branch above your head. From there you can travel to Madagascar within a matter of minutes and confront chameleons and hissing cockroaches, or head to the No Bone Zone and let yourself go limp with sea stars, anemones, and sea cucumbers.
The No Bone Zone, along with Stingray Beach and Moon Bay, is a “touch habitat,” which means you get to roll up your sleeves and give that cute, little sea cucumber a gentle boop! The smooth stingrays and squishy moon jellies are sure to bring delight to curious kiddos.
In fact, The Florida Aquarium in Tampa is extremely kid-friendly, with plenty of areas and exhibits geared specifically toward them, making it a great outing for the whole family! Even though certain areas are geared toward kids…can any of us really deny the epic-ness of petting a stingray? Go on, embrace your wonder of the world! I’ll be fangirling right beside you. You’re never too old to get excited about animals!
Speaking of getting excited, did I mention this aquarium has sharks, penguins, and SEA TURTLES??
That’s right! With a 500,000-gallon habitat, The Florida Aquarium is home to its own coral reef teeming with our favorite finned friends—including an array of colorful seahorses! (The penguins have their own space, of course; they’re just too cool for school.)
Exhibits and Extras
In addition to exploring all of the habitats at The Florida Aquarium, you can check out some of their interactive exhibits like the 4Ducks Theater and the Splash Pad!
Included with general admission, you can catch a show at 4Ducks Theater that will captivate all of your senses. You’ll be enthralled by the 3D film and practically transported into it with scents, wind, mist, and even vibrations in your seat!
If you’re looking for outdoor fun, kiddos ages 11 and under can slip into their bathing suits in one of the changing rooms and then romp around the Splash Pad! This no-depth water play area has dump buckets and spray zones for keeping cool in the Florida heat.
Currently, the aquarium is also hosting Trail Talks at the Ranger Station where you can learn even more about the Wetlands in a fun, informal environment! Drop by one of several talks throughout the day to learn the difference between poisonous vs. venomous critters and find out who’s the Most Extreme Predator of the local Florida swamplands! Can you guess who it is? (My money is on the Skunk Ape.)
Although currently unavailable, we hope the Wild Dolphin Cruise experience will be back soon! For an extra cost, you can board the Bay Spirit II, the aquarium’s catamaran, and zip through the water looking for adorable porpoises. Watch a pod playing together, catching fish, and splashing the day away! If you’re really lucky, you might even get to witness some momma dolphins with their calves. (Such cuties!) Just make sure you bring a good camera with you when the tour opens again; for the dolphins’ protection, the catamaran can’t get too close, so a device with good quality zoom will be your best friend for snagging those Nat Geo shots!
Seas the Day by Skipping the Line
As you plan your trip to The Florida Aquarium in Tampa, there are a few things you might want to know.
Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., ticket prices actually vary from day to day based on the day of the week, holidays, and attendance patterns. (The average ticket price is around $33 per adult.) However, to snag the best deal—and skip the line at the ticket booth—you can book your tickets in advance!
Using the Plan-Ahead Pricing page of the aquarium website, you can book your spot well in advance (or even just 24 hours in advance) to cut out your wait time and make sure you’re getting the best deal.
The one downside of Plan-Ahead Pricing is that plans can change. If you book a ticket but can no longer make it to The Florida Aquarium, be aware that advanced purchases are non-refundable. However, they are exchangeable, so you can switch your ticket to another day!
Frankly, I think it’s a good idea. Less time in line means more time with the sea turtles! And with over 9,000 critters to see, you’ll want as much time as possible to deep dive into The Florida Aquarium!
Have you been to The Florida Aquarium in Tampa? Which sea critter (or land lubber) was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
Do you love sea turtles as much as the MouseEars TV Creative Editor? Then you might be interested in tracking Palmer, a sea turtle recently released into the wild by The Florida Aquarium! Check him out here.
Cover Image
Photo: Unsplash
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