Poseidon’s from Tampa? You learn something new everyday 😂, I’m from Miami myself. Tampa is great tho, and I feel it’s a bit underrated or rather overshadowed by Orlando and Miami. Busch Gardens, Legoland, the beaches, Zoo Tampa, and Florida Aquarium are some of the things that make Tampa a pretty good tourist destination imo 👍
^This. I’m from the Tampa area myself, so now it’s all coming into focus. Also a good call-out about how especially good the Tampa area wildlife exhibits are. Like Poseidon admits to in the beginning, I’ve spent years dismissing Jeonju’s zoo as not being especially great. But knowing that even other US zoos also fail to compare to Tampa attractions gives me hope. And this video brought back a lot of good memories. And not for nothing, but ZooTampa has, in years past, some pretty awesome night exhibits for reindeer and such during Christmas.
@@PoseidonEntertainment I had no idea you were from Tampa! I used to go to MOSI almost every year when I was a kid, and I'd be psyched if you ever did a video on it's history.
Next time you are in California I can not recommend the Monterey Bay Aquarium enough. I've been going since the year it opened, even visiting there on my honeymoon. It is one of the few things I miss from that state since moving to Florida. It may be best known as the aquarium used in Star Trek IV but is just a stellar place to visit. The Long Beach Aquarium was also surprisingly good (and also has a place where you can pet jellyfish, as I often did) and reminds me a lot of what I saw of the Tampa Bay one here in this video. I have not been to either of these places but I am eager to do so now, thank you!
I recently visited the MBA for the first time this fall! I absolutely fell in love with it. Being a FL native, it was really interesting to see wildlife that just doesn't live here on our coast, especially the kelp forest. We made a day trip out of it and did the Pebble Beach scenic drive. I can't wait to go back!
the wetlands of florida section is really something special. it's getting on in years but it's still above & beyond for an aquarium exhibit. it feels like a themed area & it really mystified me as a kid. Long live the Florida Aquarium
Exactly. The atrium with the natural light while walking through the mangroves, looking straight down on the redfish and rays not through glass is so cool, and I hope if they do update it they don’t change the feel of actually being on the water
I'm from Atlanta, so my home aquarium (and one of my favorite places in the world) is the Georgia Aquarium. While visiting family in Gibsonton this year, I went to the Florida Aquarium for the first time. I was BLOWN AWAY by it. It was so much fun! I loved how interactive it was! It felt so much more personal and intimate than the GA Aquarium. Thanks for reminding me of what a great experience it was with a great video :)
I'm definitely interested in a video on the Georgia Aquarium as well, most likely this year. I want to throw it in with The World of Coke and Fun Spot.
Fellow Tampa resident here, and I have to agree, especially in regards to the aquarium. I was fortunate enough to get to visit for free a bunch while working for a local school and chaperoning field trips. Its interactivity made a world of difference to keeping the kids interested and engaged!
Tampa / Clearwater / St Pete is one of my favorite areas in the US I've been to. I love all varieties of zoos including small regional ones. Tampa certainly looks like a high quality zoo. Great job including them in your channel.
The editing of these videos remind me so much of the old VHS tapes I’d watch of theme parks as a kid. Perfect nostalgic feeling, and genuinely tempting me to see the places in your videos (which this one is an easy one since I’m in Florida already!).
It’s important to note that there is also plenty to do around the Florida Aquarium to complete your day. Sparkman Wharf and Amalie Arena (home of the Tampa Bay Lightning) are short walks away. There is a trolley that can take you to and from a few points downtown. For young children, you can do the Glazer Children’s Museum on the other side of downtown along with the Aquarium.
My local zoo growing up was the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne! If you like ZooTampa, I recommend checking it out. It's a lot more laid-back, and a very traditional zoo, but in the past few years, they've given a lot of updates which are all quite nice. The animals are very well taken care of, and they do a lot of work in the area for local conservation and wildlife rehabilitation.
Tampa Bay born and raised, its hard to imagine living anywhere else, there is just so many great things to do and see. I loved going to Lowry park zoo and the aquarium as a kid. The clearwater aquarium and the small one that used to be at the old Pier in St Pete are/were great as well.
12:33 I remember before this animal they used to have a clouded leopard instead! I remember going back to the zoo and seeing an animal I've never seen or heard of before. Still miss seeing the leopard but seeing new animals is still pretty nice!
I'm glad you did this one I just moved here to Tampa and I'm loving the environment. Being originally from New Orleans and knowing our zoo and aquarium this it is really nice here!!!
I'm from Clearwater originally. Went to the Zoo, Florida and Clearwater aquariums, and Busch Gardens all the time. Feels good to have grown up with some of the best of animal exhibits and education in the nation.
Having traveled all across the country and visiting theme parks, zoos, and aquariums, I'd highly recommend Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs and the Chattanooga Aquarium, both worth going out of the way to visit.
So thats why you covered Weeki Wachee, I was honestly surprised the little park in my hometown was given a chance to shine, but given you’re from Tampa, that makes much more sense!
I love it! Glad to know you’re from Tampa! People don’t realize how great Tampa is. I’ve lived here for going on 19 years and it’s still a “hidden” gem. I miss going to the Florida Aquarium and (then) Lowry Park Zoo regularly when our children were little. Both are excellent as you’ve shown here.
I've been to to the Tampa Bay Aquarium with my Parents and Grandparents I would consider it the best aquatic animal experience overall not to mention we went Whale Watching to.
amazing to find out one of my favorite youtubers shares my hometown !! wonderful to see some praise for tfa, which absolutely spoiled me on how great an aquarium could be.
Suggestion for a future video: I recently visited a place in Orlando called The Bureau Escape Rooms. They were easily the most immersive escape room experiences I've ever seen. All of the employees stayed in character when introducing the rooms and going over safety, and the rooms themselves are hyper immersive, they even mentioned how their rooms dont include anything that would break immersion, going so far as to not show players the time limit or even use traditional locks. It's a hidden gem in Orlando that I think deserves more recognition than it currently has.
I've never done an escape room, but I got the impression that it's not something that would really make sense for a video (wouldn't it inherently spoil things?)
@@PoseidonEntertainment Maybe, but I feel there's a way to talk about the theming without spoiling the puzzles themselves. Even if you don't make a video on it, I would recommend going because of how well themed it is.
Hi, Tampa resident here. I've living here since i was born and im glad you experienced some of the attractions Florida has to offer. Honestly, Tampa is like a middle point. It only takes an hour to get to Walt Disney World and Universal, and being near the main town only takes 20 minutes. I do recommend a couple cities near the bay area such as Tampa (of course), Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Ybor City, Tarpon Springs and others. I love all the places that Tampa offers as ive been going to them since i was little. Its been a couple years since I last went but im happy knowing that these places are still running!
If this is something you’re interested in, I’ve traveled across the US and seen a lot of high quality exhibits. My favorite is the Dallas World Aquarium. It’s very well themed and the whole time that you’re looking at reptile and aquatic exhibits, you are standing in a free-flying three story aviary. There’s a ton to see as you wind your way through and around the layers in the trees, and it has some of the best reptile exhibits which are blended in seamlessly.
I grew up in St. Pete and have never been to ZooTampa, but now I'm definitely considering a visit. It looks awesome and I love the theming. We went to the Florida Aquarium maybe 10 years ago...didn't enjoy navigating thru the cruise ship terminals and classic Tampa traffic, but ya know, that's Tampa for you!
I'm not sure what it was like then, but I found the experience really easy to navigate. The garage across the street was really cheap and easy to walk from.
It’s great to see the old Lowry Park Zoo looking so good. I remember it 35 years ago. It was pretty bad. In total disrepair. They put a bunch of money into it in the early 90’s. It’s nice to see it the way it is now. Although I miss the old G16 railroad you could ride around the park. Some of the tracks remained after the first major remodel. I’m sure they are all gone now.
What’s great about zoo Tampa is it sits on a civil war battlefield… also behind the Aquarium there is the SS American Victory. I highly recommend this along with the Tampa Bay History Center.
Best zoo I've ever been to is the Columbus Zoo in Ohio. Great exhibits, lots of animals, and there's a sister location savannah experience. The Toledo Zoo and Erie Zoo are also neat, if a bit quaint.
If for some reason you're ever in Nebraska, I highly recommend Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. I've been to some of the top rated zoos in the world, and this one stacks up very well.
If you ever get the chance to please come to the Jacksonville zoo and gardens. It is well themed and has some unique animals. It is also one of the oldest zoos in Florida as it opened in 1914
Being from San Diego with the world-famous San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park (I have an annual pass and go often), I have to say they are superior zoos. I hope you can visit them someday. The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is wonderful too, and you could drop by the Queen Mary while you’re there! (if she’s open)
If anything the topography of San Diego Zoo and San Diego Safari Park are used amazingly well to their advantage. San Diego Zoo is built on a steep hillside with the middle of the zoo acting almost like a canyon. How you travel down the zoo envelops you in thick jungle and tall rocky mountain walls that really immerses you into the environment unlike anything else. And Safari park utilizes a mixture of that alongside its massive plains area to replicate the Savannah. Really I do think San Diego Zoo beats out ZooTampa because the topography really lends to an immersive experience unlike anything else. If anything, both zoo's role in re-establishing the nearly extinct California Condor population is absolutely incredible and already automatically deserves that spot.
I was scrolling to find both of these, the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park are so fun to visit with excellent theming and great atmosphere along with really unique and generally healthy animal exhibits, especially at the Safari Park. And the Aquarium of the Pacific as well has great themed areas and is super fun to visit, I grew up going there and this comment and video is making me wanna go back with my friends.
I’d recommend the riply aquarium and Knoxville zoo. There pretty high quality and updating yearly, if you want to find interesting exhibits then i highly recommend them
Tampa native here... Great video! I have gone to both places with my kids over the yrs. One other cool item about both parks is the do holiday events. The FL Aquarium does a super fun kid sized Halloween event that is always well attended (and there is an entire splash and play area not shown). ZooTampa does one also that gets sold out every year as well as events for Christmas. Also, FL Aquarium is just starting a $40 million dollar expansion due to finish 2025 that will bring sea lions, a penguin habitat & a gallery. You can also do an underwater walking tour like at Discovery Cove. Concept art of the sea lion habitat are online and look really nice.
I remember when Lowry Park had the Zoo Boo. I remember thinking that it was Howl-o-Scream level of quality and being surprised by it. I did see a little information about the aquarium's expansion though. I'm excited to see the Puffins.
Ohio surprisingly has two amazing zoos (Cincinnati and Columbus) and a great aquarium (Newport . . . Technically Kentucky but you can park in Ohio and walk across the river to get there). Having family in both places, I would say Cincinnati and Tampa's aquariums are about equal while Tampa and Columbus have eerily similar zoo theming (although I do have some critiques on Columbus' Zoo but that is for a very niche reason)
I'm not from Tampa, but I have lots of family there and lived there for a few years. I remember my mom's gold standard of Aquariums was the Florida Aquarium, and ZooTampa (Lowry Park Zoo as I called it and you pointed out. This ages me). Both were frequently places I went when I lived there. So hearing about them again hits with nostalgia. I also lived in Atlanta, but the few times I went to the Georgia Aquarium I was disappointed. It's pretty, and big, but felt like it was missing something. (Also went to MOSI far too many times to count)
Another sick video, definitely gonna give these places a visit. Also I know it’s quite a ways a away but the Singapore zoo is amazing and worth doing some research on.
I loved this video because I absolutely love any animal exhibits(as long as they are well taken care of, of course). We keep an annual pass to the Philadelphia zoo...we live like 30 mins away. Plus we have the DC zoo less than 2 hours away. And then the Cape May County zoo in NJ is super amazing.....it's totally free and pretty damn big. They have lions, cheetahs, all kinds of monkeys, bears, giraffes, zebra, ect.
I would definitely recommend the Chattanooga aquarium. It may not have as many larger fish and mammals but it certainly has its charm. It’s very conservation focused and you get a great view of the river. There are so many other great experiences there as well like rock city and the zoo is pretty great as well.
I think I passed by it once a long time ago, not having the time to experience it. I'm definitely interested in going back to Rock City and Ruby Falls, so maybe that's in the cards.
Isn't it just essentially a bunch of kid's exhibits now? I remember going there 20 years ago and the museum was massive. I remember they had an entire building with cool exhibits that they later converted to class rooms and the main building was shut down later.
@@PoseidonEntertainment oh wow. Had no idea they did that to it. It's been awhile since I've been there. It used to be phenomenal, especially the NASA shuttle exhibit and the IMAX domed theatre.
If you’re in the area, I highly recommend you visit the Palm Beach Zoo. It has gorgeous theming with a great selection of animals. They also have some amazing shows. Unfortunately, the pandemic has caused most of their show offerings to temporally shut down and the exhibits are under a lot of maintenance right now. The next door Cox museum is also great and will become something spectacular when it’s expansion finishes in 2026 which will triple the size of the museum.
I know I'm biased, but I can't recommend highly enough the two main zoos in central Minnesota: Como Zoo and Conservatory and the Minnesota Zoo. I know for a fact that Como Zoo is accredited and has been around for over 125 years. It's unique in that it's a free experience (with a $5 suggested donation), open all year long, and the connected Conservatory has beautiful plants year round. It's most well-known for the Sparky the Sea Lion show. As for the Minnesota Zoo, it's absolutely huge! Yes you have to pay to get in, but it's a beautiful expansive area with plants everywhere! There's even a farm on property! This Spring/Summer the old monorail line that's been closed for well over a decade will reopen as a walking path above the tree line. I look forward to hopefully visiting both zoos again later this year
I grew up going to the San Diego Zoo a lot, so I'm a bit spoiled, but Zoo Tampa is a pretty decent substitute in terms of the themeing and range of exhibits. I haven't been to the Florida Aquarium in about a decade, but I remember really enjoying it. Need to go back again sometime.
it's so cool to hear about experiences like this, especially when it shows that the animals are treated well when that's often not the case. (also glad to finally have the context for the mysterious food photos on twitter lmao)
I kind of wish this video had come out a couple of years earlier; my family and I are heading to Florida in less than a month, and it might have been nice to stop by Tampa, as I really like immersive and dedicated zoos.
Houston’s zoo is also incredibly well themed. Most all of the animal exhibits are in a highly immersive “land” now, and they are almost done re-theming the entrance plaza to the Galápagos Islands! Very cool
After Galapagos is done, I’m hoping they reveal the next several phases of their master plan and their possible timeline. The website does show a new makeover for Africa and Asia along with a larger texas theme for the children’s zoo but who knows when these will occur.
The Jacks Cafe/Event Center and Birds of the World (Which is 3 bird enclosures and the Flamingos are part of it) areas are next up after the Galapagos Islands.
Weirdly enough, I've never been too either of these! A big tourist attraction fan from (and still in) Miami, never gone to any of the Orlando zoos. Crazy, I know. Though honestly I haven't been able to explore much of Orlando or Tampa outside of the two big guys (and Busch Gardens.) I really should. I do, however, recommend ZooMiami. Good exhibits, quite big. Some fun yearly events and holiday offerings. Plus, this one very relaxing boat ride based on the Everglades. That one's fairly new, I think. It also changes decor during aforementioned holiday events. I would especially recommend renting one of the big.. bike.. car.. things. Those are great!
I've been to Miami a handful of times but never really did anything recreational. Once the Orlando Brightline station opens, I think that a trip to Miami might open up as a possibility.
I've been out of the loop, I had no idea Lowry Park Zoo changed it's name to ZooTampa. I prefer the old name, but it's not a big deal, ZooTampa is fine. I remember enjoying it the last time I went, so it's nice to see it's still good. As for the Florida Aquarium; I only went once, and that's when I was a little kid, back when it was first opening. Good to see it's also still doing well.
The Aquarium also has expansion plans for the next few years which is exciting. I believe they wanted to add arctic species of fishes along with Puffins upstairs. The outside portion also seems to be getting an expansion for its African Penguins and eventually an area for Sealions.
I’ve been to the San Francisco Zoo a few years ago. It’s my childhood zoo despite not being from SF. Some of the exhibits are great like the African savannah area, the primate house, and the South American section. But some of the exhibits really need expansion. The animals seem to be well cared for, but I think the lion house looks pretty old inside, and one of the rhino habitats is just a sandy lot. Not a bad zoo, I think with some more funding it can really enhance the theming and habitats, but I know that that’s certainly not gonna happen overnight. It’s an AZA accredited zoo though so at least they’re doing well at caring for their animals and conservation efforts.
Did you know that both the Florida Aquarium and ZooTampa have master plans that will expand their properties? The Florida Aquarium is planning to have exhibits for Puffins, Penguins and even Sea Lions. These exhibits should be open in between the rest of 2024 and 2025. ZooTampa is also planning to expand their Africa and Asia sections. The new part of the African expansion will have lions, gorillas and more. They’re also adding in a South American themed section with Jaguars, Giant Otters and even Sea Lions.
Great video. Really wanna do like a 5 day trip to the Tampa area. The Ripley's aquarium in Gatlinburg, TN is also pretty high on my list as well. In fact, the entire Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area is somewhere I recommend everyone visit at some point.
I've been there a long time ago, but I'm strongly considering it for a trip this year (a video on Dollywood and a separate one for the various attractions in the area).
In Vienna, we let an Aquarum company lease an old WW2 Falck tower and they filled it with sharks. And it's so much fun that you almost forget wher you are.
I recommend checking out the Oregon Zoo and the Oregon Coast Aquarium if you visit Oregon. And have you been to the San Diego Zoo yet? I hope to go there sometime soon
the beginning of the video reminded me of myself I life and grew up in Bonn where the closest themepark nearby being phantasialand and as you pointed out correctly: if you're younger you don't realize what is exceptional and what is the norm but luckily European theme parks are all relatively well themed so it wasn't too much of a reality shock xD
I rarely go to zoos, unless they are major ones, because of how often I go to Animal Kingdom. But they are always interesting to go to see how different they are.
Ok so the highlight and hidden gem of ZooTampa (I was a pass holder for 2 years) is the Aldabra Tortoise encounter. Well worth the extra $20-$30. You learn SO much about them and I found that they are like dogs, they love being pet and being doted on. And the sad part is they told me they get overlooked because they are not fuzzy and “cute”. So they are just starved for love when you come in. I paid the extra every single time I went (I was a Disney cm at the time so I was pretty frugal for most things) because the price was well worth the experience, the animals love it, and it’s all going toward a great cause! I miss Al Dabby and Sly every day!
I'll definitely check it out. The Zoo was doing a deal where you can come back all year once you pay for admission, so I'm sure I'll find myself there again later this year.
i think connecticut is the best location in the US for aquariums! It has the Norwalk Aquarium in the south eastern corner and the Mystic Aquarium in the West, plus you’re less than an hour from the Bronx Zoo which is one of the best zoos in the country!
Zoo Tampa is quite good, as is the Florida Aquarium. I especially love the manatees at the zoo and the atrium at the aquarium. If you want to be super impressed by other zoos, especially for the theming and aesthetics, check out Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha Nebraska, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio and the famous (albeit expensive) San Diego Zoo in California. These all have near Disney levels of appearance. And I will also give bonus points to the Saint Louis Zoo for looking amazing because of the use of the old buildings and landscape from the old World's Fair. And obviously the Georgia Aquarium is the global standard for aquariums both in terms of animal collections and the theming and appearance. And you can pet moon jellies at the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokys in Gatlinburg (20 minutes from Dollywood.)
You've made me realize that I had absolutely no idea what I'm talking about in this video lol. I've been to the Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg around 15 years ago and I can't say that I remember much.
@@PoseidonEntertainment I'm sorry. That wasn't my intention. I've lived all over the country between school and the Army so I've been able to see a bunch of zoos because zoos and theme parks are my favorite forms of entertainment. But seriously, if you make a trip to Cedar Point or Kings Island as part of a theme/amusement park trip for your channel I strongly recommend visiting the Columbus Zoo. Same is true if visiting Minnesota, Iowa or Missouri to visit places like World's of Fun, Adventureland, Lost Island, Nickelodeon Universe at MOA and Valley Fair, I would definitely take a day and drive out to Omaha to visit the Henry Doorly Zoo. Just do a google image search of that place and you'll see why it's so good. And I know there are endless things to add to a southern California trip but San Diego Zoo (or the Safari Park) deserve a place on your itinerary.
It's a shame you weren't able to experience the stingray petting tank in Zoo Tampa, it used to be one of my favorite parts of the zoo. But about a year ago, all of the rays mysteriously died. I don't remember if they ever found the cause of this, BUT! They are working ok a brand new stingray enclosure. You might have noticed the construction that was going on in front of the Bald Eagle section c:
This makes me think you really should visit the Georgia Aquarium. It, too, is very well-themed and the largest aquarium in the country! It’s been called the “Disney World of Aquariums!” Also, for my money, the Denver Zoo is the best zoo I’ve been too, but you really made me want to check out Tampa, too!
I'm interested in going to Atlanta this year. I think I could probably do a video covering the Georgia Aquarium, The World of Coke and Fun Spot. I might visit SFOG as well.
@@PoseidonEntertainment I think you would enjoy Trader Vics restaurant in Atlanta. It opened in 1976 and still has the original over-the-top mid century tiki theming. The Atlanta Botanical Garden and Stone Mountain (Mount Rushmore of the south) are great as well.
When I lived in Kissimmee, I loved making day trips there. It's not a huge aquarium, but it's very nice. I found the museums and zoos in Tampa to be much better than in Orlando.
As a Clermont native, I have never been to a zoo or aquarium in Orlando, and I don’t count seaworld 😂 I’ve gone to the Florida aquarium and Lowry park since I was a kid, and always preferred Busch gardens over any of the orlando parks….maybe I should move to Tampa haha
My mother had a story about the orangutan habitat at Zoo Tampa.. Apparently the restrooms used to be located right by their cages, so in order to use it you'd need to sprint to the door dodging their.. Excretions. They got some entertainment out of it, rightfully I suppose.
We're glad you had a great time with us! This is an awesome overview of the experience at our facility 💙
Poseidon’s from Tampa? You learn something new everyday 😂, I’m from Miami myself. Tampa is great tho, and I feel it’s a bit underrated or rather overshadowed by Orlando and Miami. Busch Gardens, Legoland, the beaches, Zoo Tampa, and Florida Aquarium are some of the things that make Tampa a pretty good tourist destination imo 👍
I can't believe you missed Dinosaur World.
@@PoseidonEntertainment ah, I haven’t been so I otherwise wouldn’t know 😅
^This. I’m from the Tampa area myself, so now it’s all coming into focus. Also a good call-out about how especially good the Tampa area wildlife exhibits are. Like Poseidon admits to in the beginning, I’ve spent years dismissing Jeonju’s zoo as not being especially great. But knowing that even other US zoos also fail to compare to Tampa attractions gives me hope.
And this video brought back a lot of good memories.
And not for nothing, but ZooTampa has, in years past, some pretty awesome night exhibits for reindeer and such during Christmas.
@@PoseidonEntertainment I had no idea you were from Tampa! I used to go to MOSI almost every year when I was a kid, and I'd be psyched if you ever did a video on it's history.
@@PoseidonEntertainment THANK YOU. As a Tampa native myself, that place was such a huge part of my childhood
Next time you are in California I can not recommend the Monterey Bay Aquarium enough. I've been going since the year it opened, even visiting there on my honeymoon. It is one of the few things I miss from that state since moving to Florida. It may be best known as the aquarium used in Star Trek IV but is just a stellar place to visit. The Long Beach Aquarium was also surprisingly good (and also has a place where you can pet jellyfish, as I often did) and reminds me a lot of what I saw of the Tampa Bay one here in this video.
I have not been to either of these places but I am eager to do so now, thank you!
I grew up going to the MBA. Too bad I missed out when they had the Great White Shark on exhibit!
I recently visited the MBA for the first time this fall! I absolutely fell in love with it. Being a FL native, it was really interesting to see wildlife that just doesn't live here on our coast, especially the kelp forest. We made a day trip out of it and did the Pebble Beach scenic drive. I can't wait to go back!
Here’s an awesome story while at the Monterey bay aquarium I saw a humpback whale jump out of the water
Absolutely agree! Ive only been to CA once but MBA was a life changing experience as a massiver otter fan.
the wetlands of florida section is really something special. it's getting on in years but it's still above & beyond for an aquarium exhibit. it feels like a themed area & it really mystified me as a kid. Long live the Florida Aquarium
Exactly. The atrium with the natural light while walking through the mangroves, looking straight down on the redfish and rays not through glass is so cool, and I hope if they do update it they don’t change the feel of actually being on the water
I grew up going to both these places in the early 90s! I loved that manatee water statue I can’t believe it’s still there!
I like that the aquarium has a genuinely good restaurant. It's refreshing when a zoo or aquarium has more than just bottom-tier food options.
I'm from Atlanta, so my home aquarium (and one of my favorite places in the world) is the Georgia Aquarium. While visiting family in Gibsonton this year, I went to the Florida Aquarium for the first time. I was BLOWN AWAY by it. It was so much fun! I loved how interactive it was! It felt so much more personal and intimate than the GA Aquarium. Thanks for reminding me of what a great experience it was with a great video :)
I'm definitely interested in a video on the Georgia Aquarium as well, most likely this year. I want to throw it in with The World of Coke and Fun Spot.
@@PoseidonEntertainment The Atlanta aquarium is fantastic!
Fellow Tampa resident here, and I have to agree, especially in regards to the aquarium. I was fortunate enough to get to visit for free a bunch while working for a local school and chaperoning field trips. Its interactivity made a world of difference to keeping the kids interested and engaged!
Tampa / Clearwater / St Pete is one of my favorite areas in the US I've been to. I love all varieties of zoos including small regional ones. Tampa certainly looks like a high quality zoo. Great job including them in your channel.
The editing of these videos remind me so much of the old VHS tapes I’d watch of theme parks as a kid. Perfect nostalgic feeling, and genuinely tempting me to see the places in your videos (which this one is an easy one since I’m in Florida already!).
I'm not sure if I'm seeing what you are, but I'm glad that you enjoy it lol.
It’s important to note that there is also plenty to do around the Florida Aquarium to complete your day. Sparkman Wharf and Amalie Arena (home of the Tampa Bay Lightning) are short walks away. There is a trolley that can take you to and from a few points downtown.
For young children, you can do the Glazer Children’s Museum on the other side of downtown along with the Aquarium.
If you are in California you gotta check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Their jellyfish exhibit is awesome.
My local zoo growing up was the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne! If you like ZooTampa, I recommend checking it out. It's a lot more laid-back, and a very traditional zoo, but in the past few years, they've given a lot of updates which are all quite nice. The animals are very well taken care of, and they do a lot of work in the area for local conservation and wildlife rehabilitation.
Tampa Bay born and raised, its hard to imagine living anywhere else, there is just so many great things to do and see. I loved going to Lowry park zoo and the aquarium as a kid. The clearwater aquarium and the small one that used to be at the old Pier in St Pete are/were great as well.
I forgot about the one at the pier. That and whatever interactive museum was there were cool too.
The Columbus zoo also utilizes a lot of themed areas, and has a very theme park like layout.
Also has an attached water park.
12:33 I remember before this animal they used to have a clouded leopard instead! I remember going back to the zoo and seeing an animal I've never seen or heard of before. Still miss seeing the leopard but seeing new animals is still pretty nice!
Hey! I volunteered at FLAQ for years and have a friend in herps at ZooTampa. Good to see them getting some love!
PS: very surreal to see exhibits and animals ive worked with in a video in my feed
You can pet moon jellyfish at Moody Gardens Aquarium Pyramid in Galveston Texas!
I'm glad you did this one I just moved here to Tampa and I'm loving the environment. Being originally from New Orleans and knowing our zoo and aquarium this it is really nice here!!!
You can touch jellyfish at the Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg TN. It’s a nice facility.
I'm from Clearwater originally. Went to the Zoo, Florida and Clearwater aquariums, and Busch Gardens all the time. Feels good to have grown up with some of the best of animal exhibits and education in the nation.
I live about an hour south of Tampa and after watching this I’m definitely planning on a day trip to the aquarium. My son would love it!
Having traveled all across the country and visiting theme parks, zoos, and aquariums, I'd highly recommend Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs and the Chattanooga Aquarium, both worth going out of the way to visit.
I’m a sucker for high-quality animal attractions that pay attention to guest experience as well as animal well-being. Might have to visit Tampa!
So thats why you covered Weeki Wachee, I was honestly surprised the little park in my hometown was given a chance to shine, but given you’re from Tampa, that makes much more sense!
Wait, when did he cover Weeki Wachee?
@@RednekGamurz I definitely did not, though it's not a bad idea for the future.
I love it! Glad to know you’re from Tampa! People don’t realize how great Tampa is. I’ve lived here for going on 19 years and it’s still a “hidden” gem. I miss going to the Florida Aquarium and (then) Lowry Park Zoo regularly when our children were little. Both are excellent as you’ve shown here.
I've been to to the Tampa Bay Aquarium with my Parents and Grandparents I would consider it the best aquatic animal experience overall not to mention we went Whale Watching to.
You had me at: The animals get high quality care.
amazing to find out one of my favorite youtubers shares my hometown !! wonderful to see some praise for tfa, which absolutely spoiled me on how great an aquarium could be.
Suggestion for a future video: I recently visited a place in Orlando called The Bureau Escape Rooms. They were easily the most immersive escape room experiences I've ever seen. All of the employees stayed in character when introducing the rooms and going over safety, and the rooms themselves are hyper immersive, they even mentioned how their rooms dont include anything that would break immersion, going so far as to not show players the time limit or even use traditional locks. It's a hidden gem in Orlando that I think deserves more recognition than it currently has.
I've never done an escape room, but I got the impression that it's not something that would really make sense for a video (wouldn't it inherently spoil things?)
@@PoseidonEntertainment Maybe, but I feel there's a way to talk about the theming without spoiling the puzzles themselves. Even if you don't make a video on it, I would recommend going because of how well themed it is.
You can’t record inside the escape rooms. But you can talk about the overall experience and theming. Tampa has several good escape rooms.
if you're ever in the area I would definitely recommend going to the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens in Columbia SC
Hi, Tampa resident here.
I've living here since i was born and im glad you experienced some of the attractions Florida has to offer. Honestly, Tampa is like a middle point. It only takes an hour to get to Walt Disney World and Universal, and being near the main town only takes 20 minutes. I do recommend a couple cities near the bay area such as Tampa (of course), Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Ybor City, Tarpon Springs and others. I love all the places that Tampa offers as ive been going to them since i was little. Its been a couple years since I last went but im happy knowing that these places are still running!
If this is something you’re interested in, I’ve traveled across the US and seen a lot of high quality exhibits. My favorite is the Dallas World Aquarium. It’s very well themed and the whole time that you’re looking at reptile and aquatic exhibits, you are standing in a free-flying three story aviary. There’s a ton to see as you wind your way through and around the layers in the trees, and it has some of the best reptile exhibits which are blended in seamlessly.
I grew up in St. Pete and have never been to ZooTampa, but now I'm definitely considering a visit. It looks awesome and I love the theming. We went to the Florida Aquarium maybe 10 years ago...didn't enjoy navigating thru the cruise ship terminals and classic Tampa traffic, but ya know, that's Tampa for you!
I'm not sure what it was like then, but I found the experience really easy to navigate. The garage across the street was really cheap and easy to walk from.
I’ve been to a few zoos in the US and nothing pales in comparison to the San Diego zoo and safari park. But zootampa is also very nice
It’s great to see the old Lowry Park Zoo looking so good. I remember it 35 years ago. It was pretty bad. In total disrepair. They put a bunch of money into it in the early 90’s. It’s nice to see it the way it is now. Although I miss the old G16 railroad you could ride around the park. Some of the tracks remained after the first major remodel. I’m sure they are all gone now.
What’s great about zoo Tampa is it sits on a civil war battlefield… also behind the Aquarium there is the SS American Victory. I highly recommend this along with the Tampa Bay History Center.
Growing up all I had was the Fort Worth Zoo, so in a more limited way, I understand. Most zoos fall short in comparison.
Come to St. Louis! Our Zoo has absolutely spoiled me 😅
Your videos are such a treat!
I really enjoyed the Tampa zoo last year and I’m excited to finally visit the aquarium in January!! This is a great video!
Also the ybor district is super fun! Highly recommend staying at hotel haya!!
Best zoo I've ever been to is the Columbus Zoo in Ohio. Great exhibits, lots of animals, and there's a sister location savannah experience. The Toledo Zoo and Erie Zoo are also neat, if a bit quaint.
The Buffalo Zoo is dated and small but they treat their animals well. Also very nostalgic for me in particular.
If for some reason you're ever in Nebraska, I highly recommend Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. I've been to some of the top rated zoos in the world, and this one stacks up very well.
If you ever get the chance to please come to the Jacksonville zoo and gardens. It is well themed and has some unique animals. It is also one of the oldest zoos in Florida as it opened in 1914
Fun fact Michael Jackson donated one of his elephants, Ali, to the Jacksonville zoo and gardens. Ali is still there today!
We travel through FL yearly but have not done a 'lay over' to explore Tampa! Thanks so much for sharing!
Went to lewry park zoo, and the Florida aquarium in the 90s and early 2000s....your video is like visiting my past in Florida
They haven't changed much, only improved. I'm glad that they understand the strengths of their core experiences.
I visited St. Louis this past summer, and you can pet jellyfish at the aquarium there.
Being from San Diego with the world-famous San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park (I have an annual pass and go often), I have to say they are superior zoos. I hope you can visit them someday.
The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is wonderful too, and you could drop by the Queen Mary while you’re there! (if she’s open)
If anything the topography of San Diego Zoo and San Diego Safari Park are used amazingly well to their advantage. San Diego Zoo is built on a steep hillside with the middle of the zoo acting almost like a canyon. How you travel down the zoo envelops you in thick jungle and tall rocky mountain walls that really immerses you into the environment unlike anything else. And Safari park utilizes a mixture of that alongside its massive plains area to replicate the Savannah.
Really I do think San Diego Zoo beats out ZooTampa because the topography really lends to an immersive experience unlike anything else. If anything, both zoo's role in re-establishing the nearly extinct California Condor population is absolutely incredible and already automatically deserves that spot.
I was scrolling to find both of these, the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park are so fun to visit with excellent theming and great atmosphere along with really unique and generally healthy animal exhibits, especially at the Safari Park. And the Aquarium of the Pacific as well has great themed areas and is super fun to visit, I grew up going there and this comment and video is making me wanna go back with my friends.
I’d recommend the riply aquarium and Knoxville zoo.
There pretty high quality and updating yearly, if you want to find interesting exhibits then i highly recommend them
I’m at UF and i think you inspired a day trip to Tampa with this video
Tampa native here... Great video! I have gone to both places with my kids over the yrs. One other cool item about both parks is the do holiday events. The FL Aquarium does a super fun kid sized Halloween event that is always well attended (and there is an entire splash and play area not shown). ZooTampa does one also that gets sold out every year as well as events for Christmas. Also, FL Aquarium is just starting a $40 million dollar expansion due to finish 2025 that will bring sea lions, a penguin habitat & a gallery. You can also do an underwater walking tour like at Discovery Cove. Concept art of the sea lion habitat are online and look really nice.
I remember when Lowry Park had the Zoo Boo. I remember thinking that it was Howl-o-Scream level of quality and being surprised by it. I did see a little information about the aquarium's expansion though. I'm excited to see the Puffins.
the New England Aquarium in Boston MA and Mystic Aquarium in Mystic CT are two really great spots in New England
Ohio surprisingly has two amazing zoos (Cincinnati and Columbus) and a great aquarium (Newport . . . Technically Kentucky but you can park in Ohio and walk across the river to get there). Having family in both places, I would say Cincinnati and Tampa's aquariums are about equal while Tampa and Columbus have eerily similar zoo theming (although I do have some critiques on Columbus' Zoo but that is for a very niche reason)
I'm not from Tampa, but I have lots of family there and lived there for a few years. I remember my mom's gold standard of Aquariums was the Florida Aquarium, and ZooTampa (Lowry Park Zoo as I called it and you pointed out. This ages me). Both were frequently places I went when I lived there. So hearing about them again hits with nostalgia.
I also lived in Atlanta, but the few times I went to the Georgia Aquarium I was disappointed. It's pretty, and big, but felt like it was missing something.
(Also went to MOSI far too many times to count)
I love both places in Tampa, thanks for showcasing them! I agree they tend to be overlooked but they're amazing zoological places.
Another sick video, definitely gonna give these places a visit. Also I know it’s quite a ways a away but the Singapore zoo is amazing and worth doing some research on.
What timing. I just arrived in Tampa for a conference and visited the zoo during my free time. I guess I should add in the aquarium before I leave!
I loved this video because I absolutely love any animal exhibits(as long as they are well taken care of, of course). We keep an annual pass to the Philadelphia zoo...we live like 30 mins away. Plus we have the DC zoo less than 2 hours away. And then the Cape May County zoo in NJ is super amazing.....it's totally free and pretty damn big. They have lions, cheetahs, all kinds of monkeys, bears, giraffes, zebra, ect.
I'm from Tampa too yeah Florida aquarium and Lowry park are great
I would definitely recommend the Chattanooga aquarium. It may not have as many larger fish and mammals but it certainly has its charm. It’s very conservation focused and you get a great view of the river. There are so many other great experiences there as well like rock city and the zoo is pretty great as well.
I think I passed by it once a long time ago, not having the time to experience it. I'm definitely interested in going back to Rock City and Ruby Falls, so maybe that's in the cards.
Can vouch it has a great atmosphere
Another great video. One of my favorite places to visit in the Tampa area is the Museum of Science and Industry.
Isn't it just essentially a bunch of kid's exhibits now? I remember going there 20 years ago and the museum was massive. I remember they had an entire building with cool exhibits that they later converted to class rooms and the main building was shut down later.
@@PoseidonEntertainment oh wow. Had no idea they did that to it. It's been awhile since I've been there. It used to be phenomenal, especially the NASA shuttle exhibit and the IMAX domed theatre.
If you’re in the area, I highly recommend you visit the Palm Beach Zoo. It has gorgeous theming with a great selection of animals. They also have some amazing shows. Unfortunately, the pandemic has caused most of their show offerings to temporally shut down and the exhibits are under a lot of maintenance right now. The next door Cox museum is also great and will become something spectacular when it’s expansion finishes in 2026 which will triple the size of the museum.
I visited the Florida aquarium and it was really good, 2nd best aquarium I’ve ever been to behind The Deep in Hull
I know I'm biased, but I can't recommend highly enough the two main zoos in central Minnesota: Como Zoo and Conservatory and the Minnesota Zoo. I know for a fact that Como Zoo is accredited and has been around for over 125 years. It's unique in that it's a free experience (with a $5 suggested donation), open all year long, and the connected Conservatory has beautiful plants year round. It's most well-known for the Sparky the Sea Lion show. As for the Minnesota Zoo, it's absolutely huge! Yes you have to pay to get in, but it's a beautiful expansive area with plants everywhere! There's even a farm on property! This Spring/Summer the old monorail line that's been closed for well over a decade will reopen as a walking path above the tree line. I look forward to hopefully visiting both zoos again later this year
I grew up going to the San Diego Zoo a lot, so I'm a bit spoiled, but Zoo Tampa is a pretty decent substitute in terms of the themeing and range of exhibits.
I haven't been to the Florida Aquarium in about a decade, but I remember really enjoying it. Need to go back again sometime.
it's so cool to hear about experiences like this, especially when it shows that the animals are treated well when that's often not the case. (also glad to finally have the context for the mysterious food photos on twitter lmao)
Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is next level
I kind of wish this video had come out a couple of years earlier; my family and I are heading to Florida in less than a month, and it might have been nice to stop by Tampa, as I really like immersive and dedicated zoos.
Your channel is so underrated man.
More and more excellent videos from poseidon alqays with the niche but interesting video topics!
Zoos and aquariums?? YEAHHHHHHH I love me some fish and penguins hoo boy
Houston’s zoo is also incredibly well themed. Most all of the animal exhibits are in a highly immersive “land” now, and they are almost done re-theming the entrance plaza to the Galápagos Islands! Very cool
After Galapagos is done, I’m hoping they reveal the next several phases of their master plan and their possible timeline. The website does show a new makeover for Africa and Asia along with a larger texas theme for the children’s zoo but who knows when these will occur.
@@trowaman Who knows, but that sounds awesome! The children's zoo could definitely use some love
@@richard.gay.school That Children Zoo was built in 2000
The Jacks Cafe/Event Center and Birds of the World (Which is 3 bird enclosures and the Flamingos are part of it) areas are next up after the Galapagos Islands.
@@YoMike91 any timeline for that? I figured birds would be next since Ancient Ancestors Part 1 hasn’t happened.
The Florida Aquarium and ZooTampa are high caliber, we take family and friends there whenever they visit
My 2 favorite aquariums are "The Florida Aquarium" and EPCOT's "The Living Seas"/"The Seas"
Love when you make zoo/aquarium content
I really liked the previous thumbnail.
I love that you love theming!
Weirdly enough, I've never been too either of these!
A big tourist attraction fan from (and still in) Miami, never gone to any of the Orlando zoos. Crazy, I know. Though honestly I haven't been able to explore much of Orlando or Tampa outside of the two big guys (and Busch Gardens.) I really should.
I do, however, recommend ZooMiami. Good exhibits, quite big. Some fun yearly events and holiday offerings. Plus, this one very relaxing boat ride based on the Everglades. That one's fairly new, I think. It also changes decor during aforementioned holiday events.
I would especially recommend renting one of the big.. bike.. car.. things. Those are great!
I've been to Miami a handful of times but never really did anything recreational. Once the Orlando Brightline station opens, I think that a trip to Miami might open up as a possibility.
Love the aquarium in Tampa! But I’m also a little biased towards my hometown aquarium, the texas state aquarium. You can also pet jellyfish there too!
I've been out of the loop, I had no idea Lowry Park Zoo changed it's name to ZooTampa. I prefer the old name, but it's not a big deal, ZooTampa is fine. I remember enjoying it the last time I went, so it's nice to see it's still good. As for the Florida Aquarium; I only went once, and that's when I was a little kid, back when it was first opening. Good to see it's also still doing well.
The Aquarium also has expansion plans for the next few years which is exciting. I believe they wanted to add arctic species of fishes along with Puffins upstairs. The outside portion also seems to be getting an expansion for its African Penguins and eventually an area for Sealions.
@@PoseidonEntertainment That's cool to hear. I'll have to go back at some point in the future.
Didn't know I was your neighbor. We need to hit the parks. I could help with thoughts!
Also, before I watch the video, I think the Georgia Aquarium is the best. So I'm ready to see this.
I’ve been to the San Francisco Zoo a few years ago. It’s my childhood zoo despite not being from SF. Some of the exhibits are great like the African savannah area, the primate house, and the South American section. But some of the exhibits really need expansion. The animals seem to be well cared for, but I think the lion house looks pretty old inside, and one of the rhino habitats is just a sandy lot. Not a bad zoo, I think with some more funding it can really enhance the theming and habitats, but I know that that’s certainly not gonna happen overnight. It’s an AZA accredited zoo though so at least they’re doing well at caring for their animals and conservation efforts.
Holy moly I didn't think you were from Tampa! There's something in the water here that all the TH-camrs I really like just happen to be from Florida
Did you know that both the Florida Aquarium and ZooTampa have master plans that will expand their properties? The Florida Aquarium is planning to have exhibits for Puffins, Penguins and even Sea Lions. These exhibits should be open in between the rest of 2024 and 2025. ZooTampa is also planning to expand their Africa and Asia sections. The new part of the African expansion will have lions, gorillas and more. They’re also adding in a South American themed section with Jaguars, Giant Otters and even Sea Lions.
Great video. Really wanna do like a 5 day trip to the Tampa area. The Ripley's aquarium in Gatlinburg, TN is also pretty high on my list as well. In fact, the entire Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area is somewhere I recommend everyone visit at some point.
I've been there a long time ago, but I'm strongly considering it for a trip this year (a video on Dollywood and a separate one for the various attractions in the area).
the Tampa city pass allows you to go to aquarium, zoo, and Busch Gardens for like 129 (plus two other things)
In Vienna, we let an Aquarum company lease an old WW2 Falck tower and they filled it with sharks. And it's so much fun that you almost forget wher you are.
Definitely sounds interesting!
I recommend checking out the Oregon Zoo and the Oregon Coast Aquarium if you visit Oregon. And have you been to the San Diego Zoo yet? I hope to go there sometime soon
the beginning of the video reminded me of myself I life and grew up in Bonn where the closest themepark nearby being phantasialand and as you pointed out correctly: if you're younger you don't realize what is exceptional and what is the norm but luckily European theme parks are all relatively well themed so it wasn't too much of a reality shock xD
I rarely go to zoos, unless they are major ones, because of how often I go to Animal Kingdom. But they are always interesting to go to see how different they are.
You might want to try the North Carolina zoo. It’s the largest in America. And it’s pretty well done.
Florida boiiiisss
Ive spent more life then id like here and its definitely had an impact on my life
THE SHOEBILL
Ok so the highlight and hidden gem of ZooTampa (I was a pass holder for 2 years) is the Aldabra Tortoise encounter. Well worth the extra $20-$30. You learn SO much about them and I found that they are like dogs, they love being pet and being doted on. And the sad part is they told me they get overlooked because they are not fuzzy and “cute”. So they are just starved for love when you come in. I paid the extra every single time I went (I was a Disney cm at the time so I was pretty frugal for most things) because the price was well worth the experience, the animals love it, and it’s all going toward a great cause! I miss Al Dabby and Sly every day!
I'll definitely check it out. The Zoo was doing a deal where you can come back all year once you pay for admission, so I'm sure I'll find myself there again later this year.
i think connecticut is the best location in the US for aquariums! It has the Norwalk Aquarium in the south eastern corner and the Mystic Aquarium in the West, plus you’re less than an hour from the Bronx Zoo which is one of the best zoos in the country!
Zoo Tampa is quite good, as is the Florida Aquarium. I especially love the manatees at the zoo and the atrium at the aquarium.
If you want to be super impressed by other zoos, especially for the theming and aesthetics, check out Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha Nebraska, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio and the famous (albeit expensive) San Diego Zoo in California. These all have near Disney levels of appearance. And I will also give bonus points to the Saint Louis Zoo for looking amazing because of the use of the old buildings and landscape from the old World's Fair. And obviously the Georgia Aquarium is the global standard for aquariums both in terms of animal collections and the theming and appearance.
And you can pet moon jellies at the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokys in Gatlinburg (20 minutes from Dollywood.)
You've made me realize that I had absolutely no idea what I'm talking about in this video lol. I've been to the Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg around 15 years ago and I can't say that I remember much.
@@PoseidonEntertainment I'm sorry. That wasn't my intention. I've lived all over the country between school and the Army so I've been able to see a bunch of zoos because zoos and theme parks are my favorite forms of entertainment. But seriously, if you make a trip to Cedar Point or Kings Island as part of a theme/amusement park trip for your channel I strongly recommend visiting the Columbus Zoo. Same is true if visiting Minnesota, Iowa or Missouri to visit places like World's of Fun, Adventureland, Lost Island, Nickelodeon Universe at MOA and Valley Fair, I would definitely take a day and drive out to Omaha to visit the Henry Doorly Zoo. Just do a google image search of that place and you'll see why it's so good. And I know there are endless things to add to a southern California trip but San Diego Zoo (or the Safari Park) deserve a place on your itinerary.
Both the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park are quite cheap if you buy the membership.
It's a shame you weren't able to experience the stingray petting tank in Zoo Tampa, it used to be one of my favorite parts of the zoo. But about a year ago, all of the rays mysteriously died. I don't remember if they ever found the cause of this, BUT! They are working ok a brand new stingray enclosure. You might have noticed the construction that was going on in front of the Bald Eagle section c:
This makes me think you really should visit the Georgia Aquarium. It, too, is very well-themed and the largest aquarium in the country! It’s been called the “Disney World of Aquariums!” Also, for my money, the Denver Zoo is the best zoo I’ve been too, but you really made me want to check out Tampa, too!
I'm interested in going to Atlanta this year. I think I could probably do a video covering the Georgia Aquarium, The World of Coke and Fun Spot. I might visit SFOG as well.
@@PoseidonEntertainment I think you would enjoy Trader Vics restaurant in Atlanta. It opened in 1976 and still has the original over-the-top mid century tiki theming. The Atlanta Botanical Garden and Stone Mountain (Mount Rushmore of the south) are great as well.
The Georgia Aquarium is certainly impressive by I prefer the quaint, well-themed, easy going Florida Aquarium.
@@PoseidonEntertainment as a atlanta local if you go pls stop by the original hot dog factory
When I lived in Kissimmee, I loved making day trips there. It's not a huge aquarium, but it's very nice. I found the museums and zoos in Tampa to be much better than in Orlando.
As a Clermont native, I have never been to a zoo or aquarium in Orlando, and I don’t count seaworld 😂 I’ve gone to the Florida aquarium and Lowry park since I was a kid, and always preferred Busch gardens over any of the orlando parks….maybe I should move to Tampa haha
My mother had a story about the orangutan habitat at Zoo Tampa..
Apparently the restrooms used to be located right by their cages, so in order to use it you'd need to sprint to the door dodging their.. Excretions.
They got some entertainment out of it, rightfully I suppose.