This summer, we spent a week down in Tampa, Florida, soaking up sun rays and checking out some of the area’s most popular attractions. Thanks to our Tampa CityPASS, we were able to go to quite a few experiences for a fraction of the price. And one of those attractions was the Florida Aquarium.
Now, if you’ve been to one good aquarium, it can definitely feel like you’ve seen them all. But I have to say, I was very impressed with what the Florida Aquarium had going on, from habitats to conservation efforts to animal variety!
I’m so glad we took the time to visit and see what it had to offer! And I have to say, if you’re going to visit a state aquarium, Florida has one of the best varieties of creatures, thanks to its many types of waterways.
Check Out the Incredible Creatures in This YouTube Video!
So why should you go visit? I’m glad you asked! Here are 5 great reasons that the Florida Aquarium should be on your list.
The Wetlands Exhibit is Incredible
The Florida Aquarium starts your visit off very strong with an immersive journey through its Wetlands of Florida exhibit. This impressive area is located under a soaring domed roof, and you can clearly see creatures like otters, gators, and pythons through large glass windows.
But when you round the corner, you’ll see a number of creatures that aren’t contained behind glass! Dozens of birds roam freely around the exhibit, including pink Roseate Spoonbills, ducks, herons, and more! They strut around the sidewalks or wade through the shallow waters of the aquariums beneath drooping cypress swamp foliage. It’s so neat to see so many of them up close!
The tanks the birds frequent are also teeming with creatures, from rays to common wetland fish.
Toward the back, some smaller aquariums feature other creatures like baby gators, scrawled flipfish, and white mullets. All around, it’s an impressive area and a great way to submerge yourself in a glimpse of Florida’s wetlands.
The Creature Variety is Impressive
I was surprised to see quite a few fish and creatures here that I’d never seen at another aquarium–or very rarely, in some cases! I always enjoy discovering new creatures and learning about them, so it was fun to experience that throughout our visit.
For example, creepy toadfish, spiny lumpsuckers, shrimp fish, comb jellies, upside-down jellies, sexy shrimp (that’s the actual name, lol), and a giant Pacific octopus.
You Can Visit Their Coral Conservation Exhibit
It’s no secret that coral is an endangered element of the oceans, and the Florida Reef Tract (the world’s third-largest barrier reef), has been hit hard. In order to combat the deterioration of the reef, the Florida Aquarium started its own coral conservation center, and they’re doing some fantastic things!
One of their biggest achievements is how quickly they’ve been able to reproduce endangered corals to outplant back into the reef and restore the environment.
On the roof of the aquarium, they have a shed where you can see some of the different corals being grown. They also have a new interactive display where you can learn more about the reef and the aquarium’s ongoing conservation efforts.
The Coral Reef Has Tons of Cool Creatures
The biggest exhibit at the Florida Aquarium is the Coral Reef, home to an incredible variety of creatures! They have everything from sharks to stingrays and sea turtles. There are also tons of fish swimming in colorful schools throughout the reef, and even a few eels!
You can explore this aquarium from several angles, including a tunnel and a panoramic window.
The Touch Pools are Super Fun!
If you’re the kind of person who likes to get hands-on with slimy sea creatures (or have kids that do), you’ll really enjoy the different touch pools at the aquarium.
The big tank is Stingray Beach, where you can see tons of cownose rays, plus Florida horse conchs, angelfish, and more!
There’s also a smaller area where you can touch starfish of all textures and sizes, as well as some anemones.
Quick Tips for Visiting the Florida Aquarium
Before you buy tickets and head over to the Florida Aquarium, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Allow at least 2 hours to explore. We cut ourselves short with a late start and had to rush through a lot of the exhibits I would have liked to explore further.
- Consider getting a Tampa CityPASS for your ticket. The Aquarium’s ticket prices fluctuate by day and weather, but they generally range around $36. If you’re interested in visiting some of the other local attractions, like the Tampa Zoo, Busch Gardens, and Clearwater Aquarium, it may be worth it to get a CityPASS for $129 and have admissions costs covered for all of them.
- Plan around the weather. The Florida Aquarium makes for a great rainy-day activity, but you’ll miss out on some fun things. For example, it was pouring during our visit, so we didn’t get to see the African penguins or the 4Ducks theater. The Splash Pad also looked fun for kids, but no one was enjoying it at that time. Just keep that in mind as you plan.
Closing Thoughts on the Florida Aquarium
I wasn’t sold on it at first, but in the end, I was glad that we took the time to visit. Especially once I walked into the Wetland habitat!
Now, if you’re really interested in marine conservation and only have time for one aquarium, I definitely recommend that you visit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium instead. It’s a working animal hospital, and it gives you a fantastic look at rescue, rehab, and release in action!
For more ideas on how to spend your Tampa Vacation, be sure to check out these articles!
- Everything You Need To Know About The Tampa CityPASS
- Fun in the Sun: Must-Do Activities for a Tampa Vacation
- The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is Doing Conservation Right!
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Stay tuned in the weeks ahead for more exciting adventures and vacation guides, including a full lineup of the fun activities we just did in Barcelona, Spain!
Until then, happy travels!
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