clearwater aquarium sea life safari

Sea Life Safari

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

Sea Life Safari - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

• Skip to main content

Prepare to be amazed as drones take flight during Lights by the Bay, a spectacular evening celebration at Clearwater Marine Aquarium on June 15. Learn More

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Top 10 Coolest Finds on the Sea Life Safari

Education Updated July 30, 2018 Posted January 19, 2018

Hop on Board the Sea Life Safari

We may not have wild cheetah’s or lions in Florida but we do have amazingly diverse coastal ecosystems with an abundance of wildlife to see. Here at Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA), we allow you to step into the everyday lives of marine biologists and hop on board a research vessel to learn all about a myriad of species that reside in Clearwater Bay.

A Guided Tour of Marine Life in the Wild

Stepping aboard the Sea Life Safari , you never know what you might find. Guided by CMA’s marine specialists, you’re invited to sit back and scan the water in search of the diverse species we have here in Clearwater Bay. From wild Atlantic bottlenose dolphins , to manatees, sea turtles, and an array of birds, it is always a beautiful sight.

As you travel along the shallow channels, you’ll learn all about the importance of mangrove trees and the birds that reside in them. If you’re lucky, you may even get a chance to see one of Florida’s currently threatened species. A small bird, with lovely pink feathers, and a unique spoon shaped bill. While some tourists guess that this bird is a flamingo due to its pink coloration, it is actually a roseate spoonbill. Spoonbills came close to extinction due to overhunting for their pink feathers, as well as habitat destruction that has taken place all over coastal areas. These birds shed light on the importance of mangrove habitats all throughout Florida.

As the captain takes you around the corner and past Sand Key Bridge, you get a glimpse out into the open ocean of the Gulf. This is a prime spot for sighting larger animals that may be coming into the shallow areas of the bay to have their young. Since Clearwater Bay is an estuary, about 85% of all marine life visit at least at one point in their life to have their young in the safer, shallow waters. This is also a prime spot for dolphin sightings. A common sight while looking out on the shimmering water, is the emerging dorsal fin every couple of feet. If you’re lucky, the occasional tale fluke will splash the surface of the water while the dolphins hunt for bait fish in the area.

Discovering Sea Creatures From the Bay

Next, the boat is making a pit stop at the specified net pull location. The biologist on board explains that this is where the research takes place. Being the only boats in these waters that are allowed to use a trawl net, it is a unique data collection that contributes to the overall health of Clearwater Bay. The crew then throws the net in the water and waits three minutes. They joke that they’ve caught strange things on these pulls such as a golf cart, but it brings up the serious problem of pollution and how it is a real threat here in the bay. Once the time is up, the net is pulled and the catch for the trip is hauled aboard. The biologist goes through and sorts each species and places them into an aquarium on board.

Before you know it, the boat is stopping at a small island. Guests are welcomed to get off and explore, search for sea shells, and enjoy the sunny Florida weather. When the captain honks the horn, it’s time to board the boat and start the expedition back to the aquarium. This time, the boat crew brings the fish right to your seat while the marine specialist explains all of the coolest things about them. From lizard fish, to bat fish, to the adorable burrfish, the bay is full of interesting creatures to learn about. Pretty soon, the boat is rounding the corner back into the boat slip. It’s time to say goodbye to all the amazing creatures as they are released back into the bay, and we make our way back to CMA.

Top 10 Coolest Fish You May Find:

1. Lizard Fish

This ambush predator hides in the sandy areas, and stealthily wait for prey to swim by. Their slender, torpedo shaped body gives them the perfect ability to quickly lunge out at just the right moment.

2. Striped Burrfish

This cute creature is actually toxic! Some species have a tetrodotoxin that is 1,200 times more powerful than cyanide!

3. Filefish

This little guys unique scale pattern gives it a rough texture that people used to catch and dry out and use as the original sandpaper.

This fish goes fishing! Using the “bait” at the top of their head they lure unsuspecting prey close enough for them to catch.

5. Sea Robin

Their lower spines resemble fingers and allow them to crawl along the bottom of the sea floor!

6. Seahorse

They’re romantic! Have been seen performing ritualistic dances with their mates, which they keep for life.

7. Ocellated Flounder

They start of swimming like a normal fish! Then their whole body transforms, in some cases their one eye will push through the body until it reaches the other side. They then become benthic creatures who spend their life on the sea floor.

Yellow means warning! These guys contain a toxin harmful to other fish who can be affected if they swim too close.

9. Scorpionfish

Caution, these guys can sting! Their venomous dorsal spines are used as self-defense.

10. Toadfish

These interesting fish lack scales and instead are covered in a toxic slime!

The Real Reason the Sea Life Safari is Cool — Research!

While these trips are meant to be educational and fun, there is also a real research component behind them. During the trip, guests observe our marine specialists collecting baseline data. This data is vital to understanding the ecosystem of the estuary and helps our researchers keep track of the bay in its natural conditions. Each trip they are recording data on what species of fish are brought up in the net pull, the size of the most common fish, the salinity of the water, and the temperatures of the air and water that day.

Although this collection of data may seem arbitrary, it is actually essential to understanding the health of our bay. By keeping record of the bay over many years it allows us to witness any changes that may occur, whether that be in fish populations, or water temperatures, it gives us a better chance of understanding what may have caused these changes. For example, if we notice water temperatures rose drastically in 2016, and our population of pinfish were low that year, we can infer that the rise in temperature was a cause of this.

This data is also important in the event that a natural disaster was to occur in the area. By having data to look back on, our researchers are able to see the conditions of the bay before the event occurred, and compare it to the data collected after the event occurred. This way they can see how the ecosystem of the bay was effected by the event. This is ongoing research, that is critical to understanding our ecosystem here in Clearwater Bay.

So, be a part of vital marine life research and enjoy a trip around the beautiful bay on the Sea Life Safari next time you’re visiting CMA!

Sea Life Safari Nature Tour

Island explorer i & ii.

A hands-on experience unlike any other cruise. View natural habitats & an island bird sanctuary, collect shells and touch sea life. The only tour licensed to pull a net and guided by a Marine Specialist from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Kids and adults of all ages will love this unique marina life adventure! This tour only departs from the CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM .

This tour only departs from the CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM .

• Multiple Daily Departures
• Departs: Clearwater Marine Aquarium at 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater, FL 33767 (on Island Estates )
• Tickets are booked through the Clearwater Marine Aquarium ("Select A Date" button above redirects to CMA website )
• All cruises subject to availability and weather conditions
• Dining Yachts
• Dolphin Speedboat Adventure
• Tropical Buffet Cruises
• Holiday Cruises
• Yacht Charters
• Corporate Events
• StarLite Fleet
• Gift Certificates
• Parking & Directions
• Health & Safety

Sea Life Safari

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

Sea Life Safari - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Sea Life Safari

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

Sea Life Safari - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

Sea Life Safari

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travelers

SEA LIFE SAFARI: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Sea Life Safari

Sea Life Safari

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

SEA LIFE SAFARI: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Sea Life Safari Nature Cruise

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

25 Causeway Blvd

Clearwater Beach, FL 33767

Clearwater Beach

You Might Also Consider

All Octane Camping

We are essentially a mobile Airbnb. We travel from event to event from Florida to Texas and set up on location accomodations for music festivals, motorcycle rallies and more. While we are not the only company that does what we do,… read more

in Campgrounds, Party & Event Planning

Blue Water Charters

Blue Water Charters St Pete,based in beautiful St. Petersburg, Florida, offers exceptional boat charters for those seeking unforgettable adventures on the water. With a commitment to providing top-quality services, we specialize in… read more

in Boat Charters

Indian River Queen

The perfect venue for weddings, corporate events, reunions, and private charters. read more

in Venues & Event Spaces, Boat Charters, Boat Tours

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

Great business to use to travel to some places for sightseeing while in town. The whole ride is very pleasant and not too crowded. They stop at certain spots for people to get out of the boat and take pictures and walk around a bit. I'd highly recommend this business.

We visited the Clearwater Aquarium today and added the Sea Life Safari Cruise to our pass. It was well worth our time and money! We got to see a lot of sea life up close (they were later returned to the sea) and spent some time on Compass Key (formerly called One Tree Island) hunting for shells. There were several children on board ranging in age from probably 5-10 and they were completely captivated by the tour guide.

The 3:00 cruise was a bonus early sunset cruise

Toes in the sand at Compass Key

Other Boat Charters Nearby

Little Harbor WaterSports

Whether you’re planning a family day on the water, fishing, watersports or just sightseeing we’re Tampa Bay’s best choice for boat rental. You’ve found Tampa Bay’s best choice for boat rentals and watersports. We’re focused on… read more

in Boat Charters, Boating, Fishing

Seahornet Charter

Give me a call to book your trip today. read more

in Boat Charters, Fishing

People Also Viewed

Hubbard’s Marina

Parrotdise Express

Schooner Clearwater

Encounter With Dolphins

Dolphin Quest

Dolphin Encounter Cruise

Little Toot Dolphin Adventure

Sea Screamer

Kai Lani Catamaran

Browse Nearby

Things to Do

Restaurants

Sunset Dinner Cruise

Entertainment

Personal Chefs

Photographers

Find more Boat Charters near Sea Life Safari Nature Cruise

People found Sea Life Safari Nature Cruise by searching for…

Island Tour Clearwater Beach

Sunset Cruise Clearwater Beach

Related Cost Guides

Boat Charters

Boudoir Photography

Bounce House Rentals

Event Photography

Valet Services

Videographers

• 5 More Cost Guides

Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More

Continue in Browser

Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts.

Please enter a valid zipcode.

Sea Life Safari Nature Cruise explores the pristine waters of Clearwater Bay

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Clearwater is known for its pristine white sandy beaches that people visit from around the country and the world, but along with the area’s famous beaches comes an abundance of wildlife.

You can discover it on your own, but one of the best ways to observe and learn about the many creatures that call this area home is to be led by a seasoned professional. 

What You Need To Know

Clearwater marine aquarium hosts tours that allow people to learn more about florida's wildlife andrea hermann is a marine biologist who loves teaching people about marine life sea life safari nature cruise tour also features a trip to an island.

A vessel at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium can introduce you to all the sea life. 

Prepping the nets and casting them out into the bay is a daily activity for Andrea Herrmann. As a senior lead marine biologist at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, she works with a host of different animals that inhabit the ocean. 

But one of her main focuses is working aboard its Sea Life Safari Nature Cruises, which help you explore and learn about the bay's many sea creatures. 

And while Herrmann has worked at the aquarium for the past four years, her journey as a marine biologist started at a very young age. Growing up with a fascination and love of manatees, she spent countless hours observing them and learning about the ocean. She later turned that hobby into her career, majoring in marine science in college.

Now, she says she can’t see herself doing anything else and prides herself on the work she does — educating and teaching adults and children alike about the many ways to respect and protect the ocean. 

The Sea Life Safari Nature Cruise tours — which Herrmann leads with a small team of others at the aquarium — take you out through Clearwater Bay.

However, what really sets these tours apart from others is the hands-on approach. Each day, they cast a net and see what they can bring aboard from the bay to examine. It’s anyone’s guess what they might find day to day, but it makes for an entirely new experience each time you’re on board. 

And during the midcruise stop, you and your family get to hop off the boat to explore a small island where you can shell and take in the natural beauty of Clearwater. It’s a day-trip adventure with a seasoned crew that will teach you the wonders of the ocean. 

The Sea Life Safari Nature Cruise runs daily. Each tour last about 90 minutes and for more information, be sure to head to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium website .

LATEST NEWS

A new manatee rehab center at Clearwater Marine Aquarium is set to open

Manatees are still facing die-offs from a lack of seagrass they eat, collisions with boats and red tide. A new facility opening around the first week in June will help at least some of them survive.

James "Buddy" Powell shows off several large tanks that are being repurposed as part of a new manatee rehabilitation center at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The tanks are equipped with elevators that lift injured manatees to new emergency rooms, where they can be operated on.

Powell is the aquarium's chief zoological officer and one of the world's foremost experts on manatees. He grew up in Crystal River, where the warm-water springs harbor scores of the gentle creatures every winter.

Powell described their work as akin to first responders.

 “If an animal has come in that has been injured by a boat or is starving or succumbed to red tide, they come in kind of like an emergency room,” Powell said. “And that's the sort of the next step is that we're building out over here, which is essentially going to be hospital space that will have all sorts of equipment — just like you'd find an emergency room for people.

“So this will become a what's called critical care space, the emergency treatment space for the manatees.”

They'll start out being able to treat a couple of manatees that were rescued as orphans. Those will likely stay here until next winter, until they are old enough to be released into the wild. Then, the new center will be able to treat six to eight animals, as larger pools come into operation.

“I think if manatees were not as resilient as they are, given everything that's kind of thrown at them to survive, we probably wouldn't have manatees in the state right now,” Powell said. “But we give them that sort of extra help to make sure that the population is stable.”

He says red tide makes their work even more critical.

“One of the things about us here at Clearwater Marine Aquarium is we're very strategically located right here on the Gulf of Mexico, which is the heart of red tide,” Powell said, “so that we'll be able to provide at some point the critical care so that they don't have to be transported across the state.”

“When you look at some of the injuries these animals come in with, you know, broken bones and punctured lungs or going through convulsions because they've been exposed to red tide or all their ribs are showing and so forth. Just given a little extra help, they'll make it.”

Clearwater Marine Aquarium is one of only 10 manatee hospitals in the state.

They're part of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership , which includes Sea World, Disney, ZooTampa, Mote Marine Laboratory and the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature in Bradenton — even as far away as the zoo in Columbus, Ohio, to treat these gentle creatures.

When asked why places like Cincinnati and Columbus — places far away from the ocean — were taking in injured manatees, Powell said it's basically all hands on deck to try to save them.

"We are right now responding to a need that essentially all the pool space - bed space - for manatees in Florida has reached capacity,” - Buddy Powell

“We are right now responding to a need that essentially all the pool space — bed space — for manatees in Florida has reached capacity,” Powell said. “And so we'll actually take manatees from Florida, move them up to Columbus, where they'll be treated, and then bring them back here and put them back out into the wild.”

A big picture window toward the bottom of one of the renovated pools here will allow people to see them swim underwater. A wall in the middle will prevent people from seeing them as they are being operated on.

“The purpose is not to exhibit them, but actually to treat them to get them back out into the wild,” Powell said. “And the purpose of getting them back out into the wild is to help with the recovery of the species, making more manatees part of the breeding population.”

Satellite tags will be attached to their tails to act as a tracker when they're released back into the gulf.

Funding of $5.9 million for this project was made possible by the state of Florida; the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Duke Energy Foundation; John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program; and other private donors and foundations.

Powell said they still have a funding gap and are looking for more donors.

This is the first phase of their aquarium’s Rising Tides project, which aims to raise $32 million over the next six years.

In addition to an already planned expansion of its manatee rehab facility, the aquarium will expand its facilities to help dolphins, sea turtles — and for the first time, sharks, albino alligators, penguins and California sea lions.

The aquarium also plans to break ground this summer on a new marine rescue center in the Central American nation of Belize. Its CMA Research Institute has rescued and released manatees for 20 years in Belize, which has the highest known density of Antillean manatees in the world.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium will present its second in a series of “Echoes of the Ocean: A Marine Life Speaker Series, with its second presentation, “ Superheroes of Manatee Conservation ” on June 6 from 5 - 8 p.m. It will reflect a 50-year span of research, rescue and release of manatees both locally and globally.

The speakers will be James “Buddy” Powell, who has studied manatees since the 1960s and Jamal Galves, CMARI’s Belize country coordinator. They will share their stories of how their lives and careers became intertwined to become pioneers in manatee research and conservation in the U.S. and Belize.

The cost is $25 for general public, and $15 for aquarium members. The event will be held on the 4 th Floor Level of the Visitor’s Center in the ArtSea Conservation Exhibit and Dolphin Tale Theater. For more information about the speaker series, bios of the speakers and to purchase tickets, please visit https://www.cmaquarium.org/echoes-of-the-ocean/

• Twitter / X
• Readers' Choice
• Food & Drink
• Arts & Culture
• Travel Guides

USA TODAY 10Best

Come face-to-face with marine life at the 10 best aquariums

Best Aquarium (2024) May 22, 2024

Aquariums reveal the hidden wonders of the world's oceans, lakes, and waterways in fun, exploratory settings. The best aquariums also play a vital role in animal conservation by participating in rescue efforts and marine advocacy. 

These 10 aquariums, selected by a panel of experts and voted as the best by readers, represent the best in the country for their high-quality exhibits and visitor interactions.

No. 10: Georgia Aquarium - Atlanta, Georgia

The crown jewel at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is the Ocean Voyager exhibit, where guests can watch manta rays and giant schooling fish swim past a 23-foot-tall viewing window. Other guest favorites include a stellar penguin exhibit, as well as many marine mammals — beluga whales, bottlenose dolphins, sea otters, and California sea lions. They're also the only aquarium in the United States to house whale sharks.

No. 9: Mystic Aquarium - Mystic, Connecticut

The most popular residents at the Mystic Aquarium are New England's only beluga whales; guests can observe these gentle giants from above and below the surface. Animal interaction is the name of the game at the Discover Long Island Sound experience, while Sharks! features one of the ocean's most misunderstood animals. African penguins, bearded dragons, seals, sea lions, and several species of frogs also call the aquarium home.

No. 8: The Florida Aquarium - Tampa, Florida

Florida Aquarium displays some 8,000 plants and animals from a range of fresh and saltwater environments, including alligators, sharks, seahorses, river otters, and free-flying birds. The Wetlands trail highlights regional life in a recreated mangrove forest, while the Journey to Madagascar takes visitors across the globe to observe a host of interesting animals — ring-tailed lemurs, hissing cockroaches, and frogs. At Stingray Beach, visitors are invited to touch stingrays and view sharks.

No. 7: Maui Ocean Center, The Aquarium of Hawaii - Wailuku, Hawaii

Explore the special connection between Hawaiian culture and the sea at Maui Ocean Center, The Aquarium of Hawaii. Exhibits include artifacts, traditional tools, and artwork dedicated to past and present life in Hawaii. The aquarium also offers thrilling experiences and attractions like a cage-free shark dive in a 750,000-gallon tank, snorkeling tours, a turtle lagoon, and a 3D humpback whale experience. 

No. 6: Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

More than 350 species are represented among Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies' 10,000-plus aquatic residents. Shark Lagoon, with its moving walkways through underwater tunnels, is the aquarium's biggest and most popular attraction, but kids love the interactive penguin encounter, where they can come nose-to-beak with endangered African penguins.

No. 5: Texas State Aquarium - Corpus Christi, Texas

The Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi, the largest aquarium in Texas, offers a journey through land and sea including encounters with the fascinating wildlife of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Notable exhibits include a spacious jungle featuring flamingos, flying birds, and tortoises, and a deep-sea habitat, where visitors can get up-close and personal with sharks prowling among a sunken shipwreck. Additional exhibits give guests a captivating look at sea turtles, dolphins, otters, and other amazing animals, while stingray touch pools and a 4D theater provide even more interactive educational experiences.

No. 4: Adventure Aquarium - Camden, New Jersey

Many surprises await visitors at the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey. Among the aquarium's 15,000-plus aquatic critters in 2 million gallons of water are hippos, the world’s smallest species of penguin, and the world’s largest species of hammerhead shark. Guests can reach out and touch sharks, stingrays, sea stars, and horseshoe crabs. Live presentations and keeper interactions with penguins and hippos enhance the visitor experience.

No. 3: Tennessee Aquarium - Chattanooga, Tennessee

Visitors to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga trace the journey of water from the mountains to the sea within the aquarium’s two buildings. Guests enjoy meeting a broad array of wildlife, becoming immersed in ecosystems along the way. Alligators, otters, colorful freshwater fishes, and turtles by the ton can be found in the River Journey building, while visitors come face-to-face with penguins, sharks, jellyfish, flashlight fish, and lemurs, within the Ocean Journey building.

No. 2: Audubon Aquarium - New Orleans, Louisiana

In downtown New Orleans on the riverfront, the Audubon Aquarium is home to thousands of animals, many endangered, ranging from penguins and stingrays to seahorses and jellyfish. It features the Amazon rainforest’s underwater habitats, a 4,200 square-foot Great Maya Reef exhibit, and the 400,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico tank. Another notable exhibit is an enlarged 13,000-gallon shark and ray touch pool with a 60-foot LED screen that highlights the diversity of the world’s oceans. 

No. 1: Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium - Springfield, Missouri

Founded by Johnny Morris, CEO of Bass Pro Shops, his Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium celebrates hunting, fishing, and stewardship of the land and water through over 1.5 miles of immersive galleries featuring 4D dioramas and a 1.5-million-gallon aquarium. Some 35,000 animals representing over 800 species are on display, including zebra sharks, sea turtles, and freshwater sport fish. Unique to the aquarium is its collection of historic boats used by Ernest Hemingway and Zane Grey.

About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards

Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best .

The Experts

Chelle koster walton.

Chelle Koster Walton — the Local Expert for...   Read More

Chelle Koster Walton — the Local Expert for Naples, Florida and the Caribbean — has been covering the destination for 30 years. Her top-selling  Sarasota, Sanibel Island, and Naples  guidebook (Countryman Press) is in its sixth edition. She was contributing editor for  Caribbean Travel & Life  for 12 years and has written guidebooks on the Bahamas. A veteran travel writer, Chelle has published thousands of articles for  Miami Herald, USA TODAY, Latitudes;  has written/contributed to a dozen guidebooks, and produces travel shows for the local PBS station.

Chez Chesak

‘Chez’ Chesak is Executive Director of the Outdoor...   Read More

‘Chez’ Chesak is Executive Director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, an adventure travel writer, board member of the Society of American Travel Writers and 22-year veteran of the outdoor and travel industries. While he’s lived all over the U.S. and traveled to more than 30 countries, he has the most fun when he’s exploring with his wife Sally and two daughters. An avid outdoors person, he’s happiest on a trail, on skis, or nestled into a sleeping bag. Learn more about him and his work at www.chezconnects.com .  

Jacky Runice

Born in Bucktown when bulletproof was a home...   Read More

Born in Bucktown when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA). In her best Chicagoese, Jacky asks, "Who has the time or money to blow on hotels, attractions, restaurants, exhibits and activities that blow?"

Jamie Davis Smith

Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50...   Read More

Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50 countries, many of them with her children in tow. She loves visiting everything from theme parks to ancient ruins and packs strictly carry-on-only. Jamie can be reached at [email protected].

Jenny Peters

Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los...   Read More

Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Critics Choice Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world's great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).

Kristen Lummis

Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in...   Read More

Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in Western Colorado. The mom of two now-adult sons, Lummis broke into her writing career through snowsports, founding the website  braveskimom.com  in 2010 to provide family-friendly tips across a full range of winter topics. And while skiing is Lummis’ first true outdoor love, she grew up camping, hiking, biking, kayaking and traveling extensively with her family — pursuits that she continues today. She prides herself on unbiased opinions, based on activities and destinations she’s visited and experienced. Lummis is honored to be considered an “expert” for 10Best. Follow her @braveskimom on Instagram and Facebook. 

Meg St-Esprit

Meg St-Esprit is a journalist based in Pittsburgh...   Read More

Meg St-Esprit is a journalist based in Pittsburgh who covers family travel, lifestyle, education, and parenting. With their four kids in tow, she and her husband love to travel anywhere and everywhere — but have a soft spot for camping and outdoor adventures. In fact, her kids are well on their way to achieving their goal of visiting all 124 state parks in Pennsylvania. Meg believes travel doesn’t need to be luxurious or costly to be valuable, and aims to share that with her audience. Meg’s work has appeared in publications such as  The New York Times, Thrillist, The Washington Post, Fodor’s, Yahoo, Good Housekeeping, Romper , and more. Follow Meg on Instagram and Twitter at @megstesprit or check out her work on  https://megstesprit.com/

Melanie Reffes

Melanie is an island girl at heart . Born in...   Read More

Melanie is an island girl at heart . Born in Manhattan, she now lives on the sunny island of Montreal and covers  the Caribbean for a variety of publications  including  USA TODAY 10Best, CaribbeanTravel.com and MarryCaribbean.com.  A journalist with a boatload of writer awards under her belt, Melanie's affection for the Caribbean started  young when her family vacationed in Puerto Rico.   An avid fan of spicy food,   Melanie enjoys the diversity of Montreal - especially during the warmer months -when she's not en route to the Caribbean. She  holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Toronto. 

Molly O'Brien

Molly O'Brien is a Los Angeles-based freelance...   Read More

Molly O'Brien is a Los Angeles-based freelance travel journalist, who writes and edits for a variety of international travel and lifestyle outlets including Fodor’s Travel, Travel + Leisure, and Business Insider among others. She's lived on both coasts from Massachusetts to California and has so far made Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, San Luis Obispo, Barcelona, and Los Angeles her home.  Molly earned her journalism degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on the Central Coast of California and since then has worked professionally in the fields of hospitality and travel PR and most recently, as a freelance travel writer and editor. Molly especially enjoys covering feature profiles about interesting people doing interesting things such as chocolate making, beekeeping, wing-walking, and interesting destinations like under-the-radar wine spots, the best brewery towns, and lesser-known ski destinations.  She also loves to write about a boutique hotel with a good story. When she's not writing, Molly enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring new coffee shops and breweries, and of course, traveling.  Her favorite city in the world (so far) is Barcelona, Spain, but she loves traveling anywhere that offers sunny weather and ample hiking opportunities. She loves spending time in the mountains, enjoys connecting with nature through camping and glamping adventures, and is always up for learning about the world through fun, immersive experiences (and then sharing those stories!).  You can connect with Molly here:  Instagram: @metropolitanmolly Twitter: @Molly_A_OBrien Facebook: @MetropolitanMolly LinkedIn: @mollyannobrien www.metropolitanmolly.com

Tamara Gane

Tamara Gane is an expert panel member for 10Best...   Read More

Tamara Gane is an expert panel member for 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. She's based in Reno/Lake Tahoe and in addition to USA Today 10Best, her work has been published in Travel & Leisure, Fodor's Travel, The Washington Post, SF Gate, Houston Chronicle, Lonely Planet, and more.

10Best Editors

USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,...   Read More

USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.

Best Hot Springs

Best Yoga Retreat Center

Best Wellness Retreat Center

Best Meditation Center

Best Spa Resort

Browse the best.

Best Aquarium (2023)

Best Zoo (2023)

Best Safari Park (2023)

Best Zoo Exhibit (2023)

Best Botanical Garden (2023)

Back to readers' choice.