Lisa Browder

I try to be organized enough that I have 2-3 weeks of material from which to choose for my blog post. That way, if I can’t go somewhere on my days off one week, I’ll still have something I can whip up and post. But that comes with its own set of problems. I have to try to remember little details that I didn’t include in my notes (would you think I’d learn?) and sort the photos into a cohesive story.

So here I am writing about the Florida Aquarium I visited a month ago. In that same week, I also went to Zoo Tampa. So when I scroll down to what I think are my aquarium photos and I have lemurs, chameleons, lizards and tons of seabirds, you can see how I’d wonder if I’d scrolled down too far. Shouldn’t lemurs and chameleons be at the zoo? Who cares, right? I love animals in any setting. If they’d stuck in a tiger or two, or even an elephant, I’d still have had a good time at the aquarium. (And yes, these are from the aquarium).

The Florida Aquarium is currently working on a $40 million expansion (announced August 2022). One of the new exhibits will feature an outdoor sea lion habitat. Their work on coral reef restoration and sea turtle rehabilitation will continue as well. (Could I hope for an elephant or two?).

The best part of the aquarium adventure is that it’s full of surprises. It’s fun to turn a corner and come face to face with a large bird. Although they have signs posted asking visitors not to pet them, I was amazed that no one made an attempt.

You might see scuba divers cleaning the tanks with a tight knot of fish hovering in the far corner. You might catch a bright pop of color from intrepid little tree frogs (pretty but quite poisonous), or stare down a turtle wondering why you aren’t offering food (I actually have the same expression when I’m hungry.) If I could’ve gotten the otters zipping back and forth in their habitat to slow down, I’d have had some great pictures of them included here as well, but clearly that wasn’t happening!

One of the more entertaining experiences was the “pet the stingray” tank. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear there was one that would swim close enough to get you to lean over the edge to try to reach him before flipping water at you and then hightailing it to the other end of the tank.

And as fun as that was, the highlight for me was the penguins. When I first got to Florida several years ago, I was able to book a tour that included time inside their habitat and the chance to pet one. I believe that experience will return once the expansion is complete but, for now, I had to be content to stare at them through the glass.

• 701 Channelside Dr., Tampa Florida
• Open Monday-Sunday 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
• 813-273-4000
• moreinfo@flaquarium.org
• Tickets prices vary according to date and time, so try to book online as far out as possible. Tickets for seniors are roughly $30ish.