From a freshwater spring in the wetlands of Florida to the depths of the Gulf of Mexico, The Florida Aquarium walks visitors down the state’s waterways in a single, spectacular journey — 20,000 animals and plants under one wavy roof at the edge of the Channel District.
Signature experiences stack up fast: the Wetlands Trail’s otters and alligators under a living canopy, the 500,000-gallon Coral Reef habitat with its sharks, sea turtles and dive shows, the playful penguins, and the aquarium’s pioneering coral conservation work — its scientists spawned Atlantic coral in human care, a world first with real hope for Florida’s reefs.
The rooftop Splash Pad and the outdoor habitats make it a full-day anchor of the Riverwalk’s east end.
Tampa lives by the water. This is where the city goes to meet it.
