Living in the Tampa Bay area of FL has afforded me several occasions to love the natural sea life here.
My family would drive us out to Clearwater Beach on pleasant weekend afternoons while our elementary school would take us on field trips to find sea sponges in Tarpon Springs or to the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota. But I know it’s the aquariums in west FL that I like the most. Down in Sarasota there is the famous Mote Marine Aquarium which is famous for its substantial dolphin facility. While I was a student at New College, I had friends in the marine biology program that were able to labor at the aquarium while they were completing their undergraduate education. I enjoyed going to see the aquarium in Sarasota, even if most of the facility is outside plus not temperature controlled. The most exciting aquarium trip for me was going to see the FL Aquarium in Tampa for the first time after moving to the area following school. The aquarium is on the waterfront where the Ybor Channel spills into the Ybor Turning Basin. One of the best parts about the FL Aquarium is the strong indoor air conditioner during the overheated Summer season when un-even temperatures get above 100 degrees some afternoons. You can walk around plus marvel at all of the gorgeous marine life in the panoramic glass tanks. There are sea turtles, sting rays, manatees, sharks, plus so much more. If you need a locale to visit while staying in the Tampa Bay area, the FL Aquarium is a lovely endpoint.