Animal Activities You and Your Kids Will Love

Your kiddos might get just a little bit excited when seeing the resident dolphins at CMA. They can also admire energetic otters, watch graceful sea turtles and make friends with stingrays at Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Take the plunge in a 33,500-gallon tank inside this popular restaurant on St. Pete Beach. Here, you can snorkel with over 200 indigenous Florida fish including grouper, tarpon, snapper and even a moray eel. You'll get a behind-the-scenes tour of how the aquarists maintain the tanks and feed the fish. Swim with the Fishes is $45 per person (ages 8 and up) and available Tuesday-Sunday. Children of all ages will love the Touch Tank at the RumFish Beach Resort where you can hold live sea stars, sea urchins and more.

This place is for the birds... and it's a great thing! The Seaside Seabird Sanctuary is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and (if possible) the release of sick or injured wild birds. It also provides a safe home to non-releasable birds. Stop by for a visit any afternoon for a chance to hand-feed the pelicans. Take some time to meet Miss Kitty the Great Horned Owl, Louie the Double Crested Cormorant, George the American White Pelican and more. A variety of educational presentations are held throughout the week, and guided tours are available (call ahead). Open daily and admission is free for all ages, though donations are appreciated!

Take an exhilarating tour to see wild dolphins in our inland waterways and off our beaches on one of many tours such as Little Toot Dolphin Adventure; Clearwater Marine Aquarium's dolphin and wildlife tour; or the Dolphin Racer. You'll be entertained as you watch acrobatic bottlenose dolphins surf and dive alongside. All ages are welcome and cruises take place daily. 

Get close to fish and other wildlife by snorkeling at Egmont Key or Shell Key. You can take one of several shuttles to get there (ask about snorkeling equipment). Both feel like your own private island retreats and are ideal for both land and underwater exploration.

Feed a 15-foot-tall giraffe or watch cheetahs sprint at speeds of up to 70 m.p.h.! Busch Gardens in nearby Tampa makes for a great day trip and features one of the largest zoos in North America (with more than 12,000 animals). Take your experience to the next level with a Serengeti Safari to search for hippos, lions, hyenas and more from your safari vehicle (ages 5 and up) or care and feed the animals in the Keeper for a Day program (ages 13 and up).