Took a day trip from the Orlando area to the aquarium. I read that parking was an issue so we…read moreplanned to arrive right when they opened at 9am. I purchased our tickets the day before so that we could skip the line. I was a little surprised to see the aquarium nestled in between the cruise dock and the downtown Tampa area. The aquarium itself has no parking, but there are a couple if garages right next door. The one I parked at was $20 a day. Even at 9am, the parking garage was nearly full to my suprise. I showed my ticket barcode to the attendant, they take a quick family photo (the cheapest one is $29) and we were in with no wait. The aquarium has many exhibits in a fairly small space. It was fairly comfortable for thr first 30 minutes we were there, but it quickly filled up. We went on Friday hoping to avoid crowds, but it didn't seem to help. We spent about 2 hours visiting all the animals and my girls even got to touch jellyfish ans stingrays. They have helpful employees that answer your questions and seemed happy to be there. The gift shop and food options are extremely expensive and are comparable to Disney prices. We saw everything we wanted to see and left by 1130am. Tickets were $45 and parking was $20. I feel it was a little pricey for 2 1/2 hours, but we had a good time.

The Florida Aquarium is a clean, well-maintained attraction and a nice place for locals to escape…read morethe Florida heat or a rainy afternoon. Admission was $88 for one adult and one toddler, which felt a bit expensive for what was offered. We really enjoyed the coral reef exhibit and the large aquarium tanks. The octopus and jellyfish were definitely some of the most memorable animals, and my daughter absolutely loved the touch tank where she got to pet jellyfish. That ended up being one of her favorite parts of the visit Growing up in Florida and fishing most of my life, I'm already pretty familiar with much of the local marine life, so some of the exhibits weren't as exciting for me personally. However, my daughter had a wonderful time, which made the visit worthwhile. If you've visited before, be aware that a few things have changed. The outdoor penguin exhibit is gone, and the splash pad and playground have been replaced with a large turf area that has very little for kids to do outside. That was disappointing since those were some of the more unique family features. All of the animal exhibits are upstairs, while the downstairs consists mainly of the touch tank, gift shop, and restaurant. Overall, it's a smaller aquarium than what I remember from 10 years ago and we spent about an hour seeing everything at a comfortable pace. Overall, it's worth visiting once, but at the current admission price, I don't feel it offers enough value to visit regularly.

Had a fantastic visit to the manatee viewing area near Tampa. This is such a unique and peaceful…read morespot where you can actually get close views of manatees in their natural environment, especially when the water is cooler and they come in to warm up. The viewing area is well maintained with easy walkways and good spots to stop and watch without feeling crowded. It is calm, relaxing, and a great place to just slow down and take in nature. We were able to pet a few stingrays but not see any manatees. There are also helpful signs and information that explain the manatees and the area, which makes it even more interesting. It is a great place for families, tourists, or anyone who just wants a quiet nature break around Tampa. Overall, a super memorable and peaceful experience. Easy 5 stars and definitely worth visiting if you are in the area.

Great viewing for the manatees, black tip sharks, redfin needlefish. Those are what we saw today…read more Had to park in overflow lot but expected, cause when its cool, the manatees will hang out & huddle up next to the power plant at the viewing area. They have 2 viewing bridges. You can take the tram from overflow lot, but we chose to walk. They also have several nice walking trails, concession stands and actual bathrooms. Worth a visit. No fee for admittance or parking. Bonus

Dj was a great guide for our group. Went into detail about all the different species, had…read moreextensive information on a few of them and he seemed to enjoy his job. This was a great experience with some opportunities to hold some of the stars at Croc Encounters. I definitely would recommend.

Great time, lots of gators,Monitors, turtles etc - Be hydrated it's hot, if there's no breeze it…read moregets pretty stuffy..

We haven't been here in years and WOW! This place has really been upgraded …read more The Tampa Zoo should be a "must see" on your todo list. All the animals and attractions; it reminds me of a cruise excursion. There is so much to see and do. The rides are included. I enjoyed the interpretive ride experience with the guide explaining each animal in that section. It's even wheelchair accessible as the truck has a wheelchair lift; nice! I like the manatees, birds, bears, elephants and more. There is so much to see and it's a good time for kids, big kids, parents and grandparents. There is plenty of parking with a fee but it's all part of the experience. I purchased tickets at the door and there was no wait! My little one had a blast !

Another pleasant experience at the zoo! We love the new aquarium/manatee area. It is beautiful!!!…read more We love this zoo and we love the cute little safari too. We love that there is a Starbucks here and adult beverages too are nice. Overall, another great experience.

I have been going to Coral Reef in Tampa for over 2 years and they have always had quality products…read moreand the sales people are very friendly that take the time to listen and then make recommendations. There inventory of fish is amazing and they have species I have not seen at any other store in the area. What's so great is I always come away with new information and tips about about fishkeeping. Today I spoke to Melissa who helped me pick out the right algae eaters for my 30 gallon tank as I had no idea there were so many different types and sizes. She is extremely knowledgeable about plants and how to have success in growing them in your tank as well. If your new to aquariums and not sure what to do I would suggest you Give Coral Reef aquariums a visit.

I never leave bad reviews but this was crazy. There was dead decomposing fish that have been there…read morefor multiple days. I looked at the coral and all the coral tanks had aiptasia which will spread in your tank. They had some rare fish but it was crazy how it's like people just stopped caring about the tanks.

What they do for sea turtles is an amazing thing. It truly is a hidden educational gem. The…read moreexperience is totally worth the short wait for a complimentary shuttle from the overflow parking lot of the Manatee Viewing Center. Not many people know about the care that is given here to rehabilitate sea turtles from all over the country. There were a little over 30 cold stunned sea turtles on the day that we visited in February. Some were even shipped from as far as Massachusetts. There were a couple of Loggerhead and Kemp's Ridley, but mostly Green sea turtles. All of which are endangered. You'll see the injured sea turtles in various stages of rehabilitation. Some were in warming pools while others were in what they call deep-dive foraging tanks. They have to show that they can forage for food before being released back to their home. It was quite the experience to see them being treated from a viewing window outside of the veterinary hospital part of the facility. They looked to be very well cared for at all times. It's an amazing thing! They have partnerships with TECO and various companies, just like the Manatee Viewing Center. It's also a free activity. However, please consider making a donation. I read that it can cost up to $15,000 to rehab a single turtle. I believe that also includes the monitoring of released turtles through a satellite tag tracking system. There's so much to say, but each visit is a unique experience. You never know what you may encounter. Don't miss it.

I can't explain the degree of happiness I felt yesterday learning about The Florida Aquarium Sea…read moreTurtle Rehabilitation. This is Not at the Tampa location downtown. This is in Apollo Beach next to the Manatee Viewing Center. So imagine a day filled with manatee and sea turtles, and all the sea life, and nature in between. You can't drive here per se. You simply take a golf cart from the back up second lot at the Manatee Viewing Center. Best part, this is free! 34 Sea Turtles were here when we visited yesterday. They all came from the same location. They were in the northeast and were cold stunned, so they were exposed to the cold water for too long and needed to recover. The turtle rehab becomes their home so they can get better, & eventually be released back at their home. Once you walk up the stairs, there are several areas. My experience was seeing the first couple of the bigger sea turtles that you see through the glass. They are so cute and they smile and wave to you through the glass. I then saw two smaller sea turtles. They swim around the water. The next area shows graphics about their food and what they eat, as well as their sizes depending on the type of turtle they are. The next glass will be about sea urchins, and a science lab. I didn't see too much here, but someone was working very hard. The next glass area will be the lab and the water quality. This is an area they bring the turtles to. I saw them weighing the turtle in this area and it did not even move. The next area is the vet lab for the turtles. They get examined here. They had a laser treatment for a turtle and an X-ray when I was there. You see the love they have for these turtles as they interact and care for them. Lastly, there is a bigger aquarium with a big number of separate crate cages. Turtles, I learned can be territorial. They are separated. In this aquarium, they feed them separately. The depth is much deeper simulating how deep they go in the ocean. They want to make sure they are well to be able to swim so deep before they are released. This was a very meaningful visit besides learning more about them. I'm happy they have this here. It was built in 2019, and it seems just in the few years, or even more recently have been when the tours have been more active. I can't believe I never knew about this. That's why I am just so happy after this new found visit. This campus area is huge - 10 acres. They also have a coral conservation area they is not open to public yet. There are two other buildings, one for many school children activities that correlate all that is involved here and in the environment. There's another building not open to the public I believe. Check out their website attached to this profile, they have so much. What a great visit!! Def a day trip can be made here in Apollo Beach at the Manatee Viewing Center, Sea Turtle Rehab, and even close by at the nearby Apollo Beach Nature Preserve. You also rent kayaks!

I enjoyed the Mote Marine Laboratory. It's located next to UTC mall. They have onsite parking that…read morefills up fast. I park in the across the street at the UTC mall. Book your tickets in advance so you don't have to wait in line to purchase tickets. I spent about 1.5 hours here and it was very fascinating. I saw penguins, manatees, different size jelly fish, turtles, sharks and more. I was surprised at how many touch tanks they had. You could touch stingrays, baby sharks, starfish and more. This place is perfect for all ages.

Absolutely loved this experience. I was invited by my company to do some volunteer work with Mote…read moreLabs, and part of the experience included visiting their aquarium. They have great security and short lines, which is a huge plus for families. Walking in, you're greeted by a grand staircase that leads to all three levels of the aquarium. We made our way through each floor in order and enjoyed every part of the exhibits. The first floor has a lot of interactive options for kids, along with a massive glass viewing area that makes you feel like you're swimming alongside the fish and sharks. This might have been my favorite part--if it weren't for the second floor. The second floor overlooks the main exhibit below and lets you get up close and personal with the sharks. We even got to see a shark fin sticking out of the water, which was pretty iconic. The third floor was awesome because you get to step outside, see the manatees, and enjoy a beautiful view of the surrounding area. Overall, I think this is a great place for families. There are a lot of interactive exhibits, and everyone working there was super friendly and genuinely seemed happy to be there. 10/10, would recommend.

Title: Five stars for Captain Mel, Charley, and Vivian!: We had the absolute best experience on our…read moreeco-tour on September 6th! St. Petersburg is beautiful, but this sunset tour was the highlight of our trip. Charley is an outstanding guide--exceptionally great at what she does and a wonderful asset to the Discovery Center. Captain Mel runs a fantastic boat with perfect poise, balance, and genuine care for everyone on board. A special thank you to Vivian as well for going out of her way to help us with our tickets while preparing the boat for the 7:00 PM tour. She is a truly kind and patient person. We love supporting this non-profit and highly recommend them to everyone! Respectfully Submitted, Sridhar Rangaswamy ("Sri") US Trademark: #5030763 US Trademark #SN 98620494: "Promise Less/Under Promise and Deliver More" "Excellence is not an act, it is a Habit" "Honesty is the Best Policy"Be Truthful,Honest and Fair"

We took the sunset wildlife boat tour and were AMAZED by how beautiful the views were. Our captain…read moreMel and guide Charley were both so knowledgeable, and kind to our kids. Our time with the Tampa Bay Watch crew was a highlight of our trip -- Thank you!

I've recently become a stay at home mom and I'm looking for more to do in the Clearwater area. A…read morefriend recommended the aquarium which I somehow had never been to! Well it turns out it's much more economical to be a member so we splurged on the 4-person membership for around $240. The staff is all super nice. It was a weekday so rather than paying $14 for parking (members only pay $7 with validation) we found free street parking. My 4 year old loved the touching tank upon entry and we learned about how lobsters shed their shells. It's a mixture of old and new structures so it can get confusing to navigate but we figured it out for the most part. Another favorite was the stingray area as well because you can get wet. I personally couldn't locate the otters but I will make it my mission next time. Lots of scheduled presentations! I think we will find plenty of reasons to come back. I noticed they also have a food court. Would love to see some sort of splash pad addition like at the one in Tampa. There is a cute waterfront playground just a stone's throw away!

Positive: Become a member. Everything in the gift shop is discounted and your parking is half…read moreoff. Not to mention it's only an extra $30 and you can come back as many times as you like. Which turned out to be a caveat because apparently today was a day everybody decided to come to the aquarium. If you didn't already know this is where "Dolphims Tale" emanated from. Florida is and has always been dedicated to the preservation and rescue and Rehabilitation of the marine species and environment. The drive out here is something. Crystal Blue Azure Waters surrounded by pristine white sandy beaches.

The management allowed me to get a senior discount.They were courteous and helpful during my…read moreshopping.They also offer military discounts.I prefer them over Petco which has NO discounts and are not as friendly and professional and have much higher prices!

Manager on duty was very rude. The product I wanted to buy was out of stock. I asked if I could get…read morea raincheck for the sales price and was told no, then she dismissed me and walked away.