The Florida Aquarium

The Florida Aquarium in downtown Tampa is one of the top aquariums in the United States, distinguished by its narrative approach: exhibits trace a drop of water from its source in a Florida freshwater spring through wetlands, mangroves, and coral reefs to the open ocean.

The journey begins in the Wetlands Trail, a naturalistic environment with live alligators, river otters, Florida softshell turtles, and free-flying native birds. The habitat recreates a Florida cypress swamp so convincingly that visitors forget they're indoors. Kids are captivated by the otters' playful energy and the quiet menace of an alligator resting just below the surface.

The middle galleries transition through mangrove shoreline and beach habitats -- environments that define Florida's coast. Touch tanks here let kids handle stingrays, horseshoe crabs, sea stars, and small sharks under educator supervision. The tactile experience is consistently the most memorable part of the visit for young children.

The Coral Reef Gallery is the visual climax. A 500,000-gallon tank houses a massive living coral reef with sharks, sea turtles, moray eels, and thousands of tropical fish. Floor-to-ceiling windows create an immersive viewing experience. The overhead acrylic tunnel lets visitors walk beneath swimming sharks -- the perspective is thrilling for kids and adults alike.

The outdoor areas include a Splash Pad (seasonal, included in admission) where kids cool off in sea creature-themed spray zones, and a dock for wild dolphin cruises. The cruises ($30-35/person) depart the aquarium for Tampa Bay, where bottlenose dolphins are spotted on nearly every trip.

The aquarium sits in the Channelside district of downtown Tampa, adjacent to the cruise port and a 5-minute walk from the Tampa Riverwalk. Sparkman Wharf (an outdoor food hall and entertainment venue) is nearby, making it easy to combine the aquarium with a Riverwalk stroll and a meal.