A day at Tampa Bay's Florida Aquarium

Posted on 7:07 AM by
Over our spring break trip in Florida, we spent so much time driving along the coast, gazing out at pretty pale green ocean. We were ready to take a peak at the creatures who were swimming around in those waters.

Scuba-diving wasn't in the cards with our kids, ages 6 and 8. The Florida Aquarium that sits right in the heart of Tampa Bay on the water was the next best thing. This world-class attraction has brought the wildlife from Florida's sea and river waters indoors. Its tanks are filled with hammer-head sharks, barracudas, alligators, crocodiles, sting rays, sea turtles and a kaleidoscope of brightly colored fish.

My kids especially enjoyed the playful river otters and the touch tank where you can rub your fingers across a shark's back. Here's a video featuring a few highlights from our day.



Five tips for visiting the aquarium
1) Arrive early--or late. This is one of the most popular attractions in Tampa Bay, and it gets unbearably crowded smack in the middle of the day. Arrive right when the doors open or after 2 p.m.
2) Bring your AAA card.
You get a discount.
3) Pack a swimsuit and a change of clothes for the kids. The aquarium has an outdoor area where kids can run around in fountains and squirt each other with water blasters.
4) Pack food. Food in the cafeteria is mediocre. You're better off bringing your own lunch.
5) Go to the shows. When you arrive, a ticket taker at the door will hand you a sheet of paper highlighting the day's shows and times. Make sure to attend a few--especially the river otter feeding. The docent talks are entertaining and your kids will learn something.

1 comments:

Weather in Dubai said...

Wow! I showed your video to all. We enjoyed it a lot. Thanks for sharing.
Armani Hotel Dubai