Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, FL

If it is a cold or rainy day and you can afford the money it is an ok place to spend an hour or two. If you have been to big city aquariums, be prepared, comparatively this is expensive and very small. Their mission of education, rescue and rehabilitation are worthy causes and one our kids should be exposed to.

Disappointing and overpriced for what it is - a dark, dated, rather run down, maze like facility. We’re all for supporting animal rescue operations, but this place needs new management or something. There are no paper maps. You can hardly hear their animal presentations. Parking is $15, senior admission $40, and lunch $15 (without a drink). $70 to wander around dark hallways & around tanks. They try to sell you extra things like a behind the scenes tour and a boat ride. It’s not a place for the handicapped or if you have trouble walking; lots of long hallways & stairs. And not a place for kids under 8 years old because they’ll see very little and be bored. There are 4 floors but really nothing to see except on 1st floor, where animals are. Other floors have maybe one thing of brief interest. The movie theater had interesting 1/2 hour films, but strangely bright lights near the screen, which was a distraction. Would be a shame for families to waste their limited funds on this less than stellar facility. Recommend going to Tampa or Sarasota aquariums.

After reading the reviews, we were happy with our visit. We were there for a couple of hours with a 4 year old and enjoyed our time. It is more outdoors than we expected, so be prepared for that. It is hard to see in the aquariums, but we were still able to see a lot. We also got to pet sting rays. Recommend this as long as you know it is not a "sea world" type of venue.

We visited the Clearwater Marine Aquarium on January 19th, and it was such a lovely experience from start to finish. The facility itself is clean, well laid out, and very easy to navigate. At one point we accidentally wandered into what turned out to be a private tour, which was honestly pretty funny-but also incredibly informative. Even though we realized our mistake and slipped out, we still managed to learn quite a bit in that short time, and it really highlighted how knowledgeable and passionate the staff is. The dolphins are absolutely beautiful and clearly well cared for. Watching them swim and interact was easily one of the highlights of our visit. The underwater viewing area is especially impressive and gives you a unique perspective you don't often get at aquariums—it really makes you feel immersed in their environment. Beyond the dolphins, there are stingrays and a wide variety of other marine species, each with helpful information displays that make the experience both educational and enjoyable. Overall, the aquarium does a wonderful job balancing learning with pure enjoyment. It's a great place for all ages, whether you're deeply interested in marine life or just looking for a pleasant way to spend a few hours. We truly enjoyed our visit and would definitely recommend Clearwater Marine Aquarium to anyone in tr trea.

Was super fun. I loved the dolphins and the manatees. The staff was very informative. We learned about Winter and all she endured. Definitely recommend.