Spend a Day with Winter Claus at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium

I was invited to spend the day at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium with my Family to enjoy some of the amazing attractions and holiday festivities, this post has been compensated by Coca-Cola but all opinions are as always my own. #CokeAmbassador

Oh My! I’ve lived in Florida close to 20 years and not once did I go to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Sure, we always had it on the list of things to do just never made it. It is an hr. trip one way from our home. Let me tell you, it was the best decision we have ever made! We took my daughter last week for a Family day and surprised her with a visit to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and to visit Winter & Hope. She had no idea until we pulled into the huge parking garage adjacent to the Aquarium.

We were greeted but friendly volunteers telling us how to park and how to get to the ticket counter to pay for our parking and pick up our tickets. Always a smile on their face and ready to answer any questions we had.

During the tour of the Aquarium we learned a lot of amazing tidbits about the Movie “Shark Tale”. We love the movie and watch it often so it was awesome to see almost the entire set still being used at the aquarium and most of the animals are all still there to visit. This was mind blowing. We learned so much about the care of the animals, releasing an animal and the residents that are permanently at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, like Winter and Hope the Bottlenose Dolphins.

The place looks great, lots of things to do with the little ones and lots to see. I loved the Sting Rays, you can even touch them and in the Winter Wonderland they introduced Winter to the crowd. Over at the Otter arena we got to see how Cooper and Wallie hang out and have fun all day and not too far from the Otters is Ricky a/k/a Rufus the Pelican. Walking through the Aquarium it truly felt like we are in the movie, every corner, every room had some appearance in the Movie Shark Tale or Shark Tale 2 and it was a lot of fun to point out those areas.

Christmas Time is a Magical time at the Aquarium and there are a lot of extra activities you can enjoy with your family like:

• Get your photo taken with Winter Claus
• Experience a Winter Wonderland with lights and decor
• Enjoy special Santa dive presentations
• Extended holiday hours on select dates
• Sea of Lights Boat Cruise available during extended hours. Sea of Lights will run from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. on select dates with $9.99 admission starting after 4 p.m. The Sea of Lights Boat Cruise will take you around Clearwater Bay to see the holiday lights by boat.

We also took the Sea Life Safari Boat Tour, that was breathtaking to say the least. It was about 90 minutes on the beautiful intra-coastal waters and we were able to see Dolphins, birds and lots of other sea life. The tour guides were amazing and very friendly as well.

Halfway through the tour the guide dropped a fish net into the water. We witnessed data collection in action as they performed the net pull and they pass around sea creatures before releasing them back to the bay. It was super cool We found Jellyfish, real life Jellyfish!! Each trip is unique and so worth a trip!

Our Sea Life Safari  also dropped us off at an Island and we spend a good 10-15 minutes on an Island called One Tree Island, it was so cool. We had time to relax, search for sea creatures, shells and just soak up the beautiful few. LOVED it!!! Do I need to say more??

The Sea Life Safari was AMAZING. I cannot say enough about the entire trip to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and the Sea Life Safari Tour, you totally have to make a trip to Clearwater to experience it all for yourself. I can not believe we have never gone but we totally will be back very soon.

I love the mission of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium:

“We believe in preserving our marine life and environment while inspiring the human spirit through leadership in education, research, rescue, rehabilitation and release.”

It is an amazing place to see and learn. Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a non profit organization so most people you will see there are volunteers that love what they do and love helping these amazing sea creatures. Nothing but friendly faces, lots of smiles. Our Tour Guide Allie was wonderful, friendly and oh so knowledgeable.

While spending the day at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium you can also grabbed a 20 oz Coca Cola product to stay cool, after all we are in Florida and Winter (the Season winter) is nowhere in sight.

Now go and see Winter & Hope and have an amazing day with your Family while enjoying some Holiday Festivities. Wishing you and yours a wonderful Holiday Season…… Thanks to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium for inviting us to spend the day and to explore this wonderful place. You guys do amazing work… THANK YOU!!!