Florida Aquarium - Tampa, FL

Dive in with the sharks, ride the catamaran for an eco-tour, take in a dive show, and walk through tanks filled with millions of gallons of sea life that will thrill the entire family at the Florida Aquarium. On this journey through two stories of underwater wilderness, guests gain keen insight into Florida's unique ecosystem. Have a hands-on experience with live, exotic species in their own surroundings. Dozens of tanks are filled with every sea creature, from sharks to river otters, sea dragons to sea cucumbers, and let's not forget the famous Florida alligator. And when the day is done, the Cafe Ray makes for a relaxing retreat with a wall of windows that face the park area while guests are replenished with salads, fine grilled cuisine, and cold beverages.

Park Features:

• The Wetlands:   Where your adventure begins, this exhibit leads through a panel glass dome to wetlands creatures of all kinds. North American River Otters, American Alligators, Stingrays, Snook and Nurse Sharks are just some of the animals you'll see in their natural-looking habitats. Don't miss out on the daily shows, Animal Encounters, or the Invaders! Florida's Most Unwanted Species, where walking catfish, green iguanas and other species can take over the territory.
• Bays and Beaches: Tanks are full of the many creatures that inhabit areas where freshwater meets seawater. You'll see bonnethead sharks, spiny lobster, and goliath grouper, southern stingrays, octopus and seahorses.
• The Coral Reefs: The reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Here, inhabitants include moray eels, angelfish, and the princess parrotfish. Walk through a virtual tunnel filled with colorful fish. Don't miss out on the Coral Farm exhibit, where you'll see workers attempting to rescue damaged reefs.
• The Sea Hunt:  You can scout for the ocean's most infamous predators. Daily shark dives are a big feature of this section, and you'll see lion fish, dragon moray eels, stinging jellies, and more than 200 live animals.
• Explore-A-Shore: This 2.2-acre aquatic discovery zone opened in 2004 as an outdoor exhibit for kids. Be sure to bring the swimsuits.  Children can play on aquatic sculptures, view the interactive animal shows, and splash in the rising water fountains. And you can't miss the 24-foot pirate ship with it's two-stories of adventure.
• Two Restaurants: The Tampa Tribune Caribbean Cantina serves a varied Caribbean menu and The Cafe Ray is a waterfront cafe that sells everything from snacks and soft drinks to grilled entrees.
  

Details:

• Open Daily, From 9:30am - 5:00pm
  You can explore the aquarium at your leisure, taking as little as an hour to as long as all day. The average visit is approximately 2-1/2 to 3 hours.
• On-site parking is available for a fee.
• Gift shop on-site.
• Wheelchair accessible.