Make it a day at the Florida Aquarium and Channelside
Written: Mar 01 '05 (Updated Mar 09 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great variety, interesting facts, flows nicely
Cons: Admission high
The Bottom Line: This is a great place to learn about the things that are in Florida's water.
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| xyzwyatt's Full Review: Florida Aquarium |
The Florida Aquarium is conveniently located just before entering downtown Tampa. It is a domed shaped building located right next to Tampa’s Port. The aquarium features many types of aquatic life that can be found in Florida like alligators, sharks, stingrays, catfish. The aquarium is very large with 150,000+ square feet and has 10,000 plants and animals to see.
Since Florida is a hot climate it is nice to find some indoor entertainment during the heat of the day or when it’s raining. We purchased an annual membership on our first visit because it was nearly the same price of admission for a single day for our family.
There is a parking area for the Florida Aquarium which charges $5.00. There is also a parking garage nearby. Tampa is a large city so locking doors and using discretion is advised.
Admission price to the aquarium has gone up recently and the new 2005 prices for adults are $17.95 with a $3 discount for those over the age of 60. Children ages 2 - 12 years of age are $11.95. The Eco-Tour tickets are sold separately or as a combo ticket with the Aquarium admission. Combo tickets are $29.95 for adults ($3 discount over 60), and children ages 2 - 12 years are $19.95.
We have always gone to the Florida Aquarium on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and I really don’t recall ever seeing a time when there wasn’t a line to get in. Luckily there are two lines, one for tickets and one for those with tickets.
The aquarium is open from 9:30AM until 5:00PM every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It will take most people around 2 - 4 hours to see the aquarium. Descriptions at the Florida Aquarium are done really nice. There is a colored photo of the fish with an interesting paragraph about it so information can be obtained quickly and there is plenty of viewing area so you shouldn't feel rushed.
Wetlands
The wetlands is where the famous Florida sawgrass is featured with animals that love to live in it like alligators, otter, herons, spoonbills, and much more. You’ll also see a whole mess of baby alligators swimming and sunbathing. There is a lot of types of marshes and swamps recreated with all of the foliage that would be found in their habitat.
Invaders
Invaders are things that are introduced to Florida from other areas of the world. Some of the things that you will see in this area are walking catfish which are odd because they walk on their fins to find more water. The suckermouth catfish, The green iguana like the ones that you find in pet stores, a knight anole which has lizard-like features which came to Florida from Cuba.
One of the things that I really like is that the exhibits are only covered as much as they need to be like the acrylic plastic only goes high enough to keep the water in. The top is not covered which really gives the aquarium a more natural and enjoyable feel. The catfish display sits very low so children have no problem seeing them without standing on something or being held up.
Bays and Beaches
This area displays the animals and the environment around Florida beaches and bays. There is a wave machine that simulates the water movement. This is where our family’s favorite fishes are such as angelfish, seahorses, and lobsters.
No Bone Zone
The no bone zone is a newer area of the aquarium to interest younger children but I think the adults like it more. There is an exhibit of invertebrates which means animals without backbones hence the name “no bone zone”. Guests can touch a sea star, crab, urchin, or mollsusk. I thought it was one of the highlights of the aquarium.
There are also plastic shells for kids to play on and crawl between which my daughter never missed an opportunity to crawl through.
Explore-a-Shore
This is a really exciting outdoor play area for kids. They can climb on aquatic themed animals and go into a ship to squirt water out. There is an area for parents to watch from. This of course stuck in the middle of your visit so either it’s good for you because your kids need a break or a major distraction. This is an area we come back to after we finish with all of the exhibits.
Swim with the Fishes
We haven’t done swim with the fishes but I’m sure someone will be interested in doing this. You have to be age 6 or above and children under 9 must have a parent with them. For $75 you get 30 minutes underwater in a 500,000 tank replicated of a Key West dive site. A dive master will be with you for your safety. Admission is included in the price and seems like it would be a really fun experience. Reservations must be made in advanced by calling 813-367-4005.
Coral Reef
The coral reef display is the most beautiful thing. It is a 500,000 foot tank with a reef that has 60 different species on it. There is all kinds of exotic fish, coral, sponges, eels, and other fish that are very interesting and unique.
Dragons Down Under
This is my son’s favorite section. He reads every word and watches their every move. The species is called Syngnathidae which means fish that have a snout and bony so you’ll see lots of interesting ones like seahorses, dwarf seahorses, trumpet fish, and pipefish.
Sea Hunt
This is another very interesting area because you’ll see creatures that are seemingly pretty dangerous. There is a Dive With the Sharks presentation that explains lots of facts about sharks and dispels some myths. This is about the only place that we experience a crowd, especially if a show has just finished.
Food
There is a cafe inside which we have taken breaks in but we haven’t had any meals there. They have chocolate milk, chips, pizza, sandwiches, and some grilled foods.
Gift Shop
The gift shop is like any other, full of overpriced things that you don’t need.
DolphinQuest
The buck stops here so I can’t comment on how the DolphinQuest Eco-Tour is. The tour only runs at 1:30 and 3:00PM weather permitting. Tickets can be purchased separately or discounted if also visiting the Florida Aquarium. Call 813-273-4000 for more information.
My Thoughts
As you can imagine, the aquarium is memorable with a lot of information to process. After a couple trips to the aquarium my son decided he wanted to be an oceanographer so I do think the experience will have a positive influence on kids. As far as I’m concerned, it always made me hungry for seafood. Oh gross. Sorry.
We enjoyed the Florida Aquarium and continued to enjoy it after repeat visits, it really never got boring. The kids really enjoyed looking at the fish and finding the animals in hiding. If you have a love for things aquatic you will enjoy your day here. I really liked how they had such a variety of aquatic things rather than just a bunch of fish. It is an aquarium so the only show is fish behind glass swimming in circles; it is nothing like Sea World. I hear people comparing it to Sea World a lot which is crazy because it’s like comparing apples to oranges.
The Florida Aquarium is located in an area called Channelside so there’s plenty to do in walking distance such as good eats, an IMAX movie theater, unique shopping, and a terrific view of ships sailing out of the Tampa's Port Authority. The surrounding atmosphere alone can make a trip to the Florida Aquarium worthwhile. Check out the website http://www.channelside.com/ for further details when planning your day.
701 Channelside Dr.
Tampa, FL 33602
813-273-4000
Directions: http://www.flaquarium.org/html/l2/l2_visit_maps.html
Website: http://www.flaquarium.org/
Other Things around Orlando:
Amusements
Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, Orlando Sea World, Cypress Gardens Adventure Park
Indoor Entertainment
Orlando Science Museum
Malls/Shopping Areas
The Mall at Millenia, The Florida Mall, Universal CityWalk
State Parks
Lake Louisa State Park
Best Food
Universal Margaritaville at CityWalk, Hard Rock Cafe at Citywalk, NBA City at Citywalk, Seasons 52, New York Pizza Deli, Jungle Jim's, Bajama Breeze
Recommended:
Yes
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xyzwyatt
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Location: Nashville, TN
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