aquariums near me field trip

Other Attractions At Arizona Boardwalk

Field Trips & School Groups

General Information and Reservations

Plan Your Trip

Aquarium Map

Title 1 Schools

OdySea Aquarium welcomes Preschool through 12th grade public, private, charter, and homeschool students. School tours are self-guided tours that take 2 hours or more. No outside food or drink is permitted inside the aquarium, and there is not a place to store your lunches. Field trips can be scheduled any day with arrival times between 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

OdySea Aquarium continues to monitor and follow guidelines from the CDC and government authorities.  Click here  for the most updated details on what we are doing to keep guests safe and what to expect when you visit.

Please call 480-291-8192  if you have any questions.

Can’t go on an in-person Field Trip? Virtual Field Trips Are Also Available! Your virtual field trip includes access to exclusive video content, curriculum-based activities customized by grade level, and we’ll broadcast to your class LIVE from our animal habitats. Get behind the scenes, meet the animals, and ask questions in a 45-minute LIVE interactive experience! Click here for more information and to book your virtual field trip.

Group Sizes

Minimum group size is 10. Maximum group size is 125 per 15 minute entry time. Groups may have larger numbers but must stagger their entry times by at least 15 minutes.

Discounted price for school tours is $15.25 plus tax ($16.48) per student; chaperones are no charge within the appropriate ratio. 

Student ratio is one adult chaperone for every five students (1:5) for preschool thru 2nd grade. For 3rd thru 12th grade, student ratio is one adult chaperone for every ten students (1:10). Chaperones within this ratio are included at no cost. Part of these included chaperones needs to be teachers and aides, the remainder can be parents. Any additional adults are welcome to join at the discounted rate of $25 plus tax ($27.01) each , but must prepay the school to receive the discounted price. Any additional chaperones who do not prepay with the school will be required to pay the regular admission price. Bus Drivers are admitted at no cost.

Admission is not guaranteed until you receive confirmation. Payment methods are school purchase order, credit card, school check, or cash. Purchase order is due two weeks prior to the date of the field trip.

Cancellations, rescheduling, or changes to final head count must be made no later than 14 days prior to your scheduled arrival.  No refunds or credits will be issued within 14 days of your scheduled arrival date.

Lead teacher who is checking in must bring the completed check-in sheet and make final payment at the ticket window for all students and chaperones.

Click here for a complete list of field trip prices for each attraction at Arizona Boardwalk, including optional upgrades.

Make A Reservation

School information, your contact information, school payment administrator, trip information.

Due to the number of requests, please allow 1-2 business days for a representative to get back to you to confirm the date.

Please note that an OdySea Aquarium representative will contact you to coordinate your reservation.

To reserve your field trip, please fill out the Field Trip Reservation Request Form above. Once we receive this form, you will be sent confirmation and payment details. Tours are expected to take 2 hours or more.

If you are a Summer Camp or Scout program, please complete the Group Tour Reservation Form .

Group Sales: 480-291-8192

Email: [email protected]

We look forward to SEA-ing you soon! 

With kindest regards,

The OdySea Aquarium Family

• Assign each student to a designated chaperone: Create a list of chaperones and the students they will be responsible for during the field trip. Add the cell phone number of each chaperone to the list.
• Go over Student Expectations & Chaperone Expectations: Please make sure that the students and chaperones understand the expectations of them during the field trip.
• Contact OdySea Aquarium if you are running late: Call 480-291-8000 (press 0) ask for the Concierge Desk.
• Call 480-291-8000 (press 0) when you are about 15-20 minutes away: This will make it so our guest relations representatives know to be looking for your bus to arrive, so they can meet you.
• Student Drop Off: For student drop-off, buses should take the 101 and get off the Via de Ventura exit and head East. The bus should turn left into the parking lot from Via de Ventura by Butterfly Wonderland. Take an immediate left and go past the valet parking area and loading dock area and around the back of the aquarium. Buses should stop between OdySea Aquarium and Beach Club to unload.
• Bus Parking: After dropping off the students, buses should continue around the Arizona Boardwalk complex and park in the far northeastern parking lot.
• Student Pick Up: Buses should pick up students at the same location where they dropped them off, making sure the door is by the sidewalk so students may safely board the bus.
• All students and chaperones should be at the bus pick-up area between OdySea Aquarium and Beach Club 15 minutes before you need to leave so you have enough time to ensure everyone is accounted for and loaded onto the bus.
• Students should form a single file line behind their chaperones.
• Students should sit on the benches if they need to wait for the bus to arrive.

Arizona Boardwalk Map

Drop Off and Parking

• A Guest Relations Specialist will meet you at your bus and escort the main chaperone to the concierge desk to give final numbers, make payment, and get wristbands.
• Please inform the Guest Relations Specialist what your lunch plans are and what time you need the students to load the bus.
• Additional chaperones will go to the ticketing counter to purchase their tickets and will then rejoin the group.
• Once the designated teacher or representative checks in, students will get off the bus and form a line where wristbands will be distributed. Students should be in line behind their designated chaperones. If your group is large, please have them form two lines.
• All members of the group (students, chaperones, and bus drivers) will be required to wear wristbands during the visit to the aquarium.
• Field trips are self-guided, but there will be Education Specialists, Animal Care Specialists, and Guest Relation Specialists throughout the aquarium to help the students learn about the animals and exhibits.
• The aquarium has two levels for guests to explore. Student groups will enter through a side hallway and go up the escalator to begin the tour on the upper floor.
• Elevators are available for students with wheelchairs or disabilities and for young students who cannot use the escalator safely.
• Each floor should take approximately an hour to an hour and a half to see the exhibits. The total time inside the aquarium should be about 2 to 3 hours, but you are welcome to stay longer if your group’s schedule permits.
• Because of the layout of the aquarium, students should finish everything they want to see on the upper floor before they move to the lower floor. The escalators only run in one direction.
• We will give your group designated times to meet at the end of the upper floor & the end of the aquarium visit to help keep everyone on-track timewise.
• Students are required to stay with their assigned chaperone at all times, but each student/chaperone group may travel as their own unit and meet the rest of the group at designated times.
• Encourage the students to spend a minimum of 2-5 minutes at each exhibit so they can observe and learn. Have them notice at least 3 things about each exhibit and the animals that live in it (shape, size, coloration, swim patterns, adaptations, mouth shape, diet, region they originate from, endangered species status, etc.)
• If students rush past exhibits it will make it so they do not learn even a fraction of what the aquarium has to offer and will put them at the end of the tour too early.
• It is recommended that you print copies of the map for each chaperone before you arrive.
• No outside food is allowed to be eaten inside of the aquarium. (If you have a student who is diabetic or has other medical issues, please let us know what accommodations need to be made.)
• We do not have space for lunchbox or backpack storage inside the aquarium. Student lunches should remain on the bus or in cars until the end of the field trip. Alternately students and chaperones may carry the lunches in a backpack.
• We encourage students to eat before or after the field trip.
• The outside courtyard area can be used for eating snacks/lunches. Please make sure students are respectful and properly dispose of their trash.
• Small groups may order from the Café inside the aquarium, but please note that the lines may be long and students must stay with their chaperone group at all times.
• There are several restaurants at OdySea in the Desert, including Opa Life Greek Café, El Encanto, Humble Pie, The View/Modern Grove, Frozen Penguin Ice Cream, Nekter Juice Bar, and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Frozen Penguin Ice Cream has a special for school groups, if you are interested we can send you more details.

Agua Linda Park – (northwest corner of Pima & McDonald) 8732 E. McDonald, Scottsdale, AZ 85250

McCormick Railroad Park – (southeast corner of Scottsdale Rd & Indian Bend Rd) 7301 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85250 (1.7 miles west of the 101 Loop, exit Indian Bend)

• School groups will exit out the gift shop.
• Please have a class discuss before your field trip about proper behavior inside a gift shop.
• All students must be properly supervised while visiting the gift shop.
• The outside courtyard area is part of Arizona Boardwalk and can be used for eating snacks/lunches.
• There is a snack bar that sells food items. It is not guaranteed that the snack bar will be open during the time of your visit.
• The outside courtyard is a public area and cannot be reserved, but is available on a first come, first seated basis.
• Please make sure students are respectful and properly dispose of their trash.
• Teachers and chaperones are responsible for their group’s behavior while using the courtyard area.
• Teachers & chaperones must ensure that students are not throwing things, or running or jumping across the planters, fountains, or stage.
• There are two areas where the students are allowed to touch the animals – The Tidal Touch Pool and SeaTREK. Students need to be gentle and use “two-finger touch”. They may not pick up any of the animals. They should wash their hands before and after.
• Students need to use quiet inside voices. The acoustics inside the aquarium tend to make the sounds echo & reverberate, so please have students use quiet voices.
• Students need to use walking feet.
• Benches and ledges are not for climbing or standing on.
• Railings are not for playing on, swinging from, or doing flips. The flooring underneath is concrete and creates a liability issue. It also creates a safety issue for other guests.
• Once all attendees have their wristbands, they will be led in small groups to a hallway where they will be given a brief overview of the rules and layout of the aquarium. (At times, the introduction will be given outside or on the bus, depending on weather and group size.) It would be helpful if you go over these rules with the students before they arrive as well.
• Students are required to stay with their assigned chaperone at all times.
• Chaperones must be attentive to and responsible for their assigned students.
• Guests may take as many photos and video as they like, but must so do without the flash or video light, as these can stress out the animals.
• OdySea Aquarium photographers might be taking pictures during your field trip, please let us know if there are students who are not allowed to be photographed.
• Please be aware that photos might be used for marketing purposes.

Download Map PDF

Frequently Asked Questions

No, unfortunately, we cannot allow groups to visit the bathroom in the lobby because of fire marshal maximum occupancy regulations for the lobby. There are only a few stalls in the lobby restrooms and we cannot have the extra students and chaperones in the lobby. The layout of the aquarium does not allow for the groups to visit the lobby after they begin. The sharks are viewable from three other areas at the aquarium – in the OdySea Voyager and two viewing areas outside of OdySea Voyager. Bathrooms are available in the Café area and outside the theater. There are also restrooms outside in the courtyard area by the escalators.

Although you may leave and re-enter the same day, we recommend that you spend the time to view both floors of the aquarium and then go outside to enjoy the OdySea in the Desert courtyard and shops. It should take you about 2 ½ hours to tour the aquarium.

Check In Sheet   Main Chaperone Checklist   Field Trip Expectations

Aquarium Map   Field Trip Map   Bus Driver Instructions   Bus Driver Information   Chaperone Agreement   Student Agreement   Field Trip Schedule   Sample Field Trip Schedules   Chaperone List 1 to 5   Chaperone List 1 to 10   Photo Release   Field Trip Info   Sack Lunch Order   Credit Card Auth

Title 1 Scholarship

Applications currently not being accepted, please check back later for Fall 2024 scholarship applications. -->

The OdySea Aquarium Foundation is pleased to provide opportunities for Arizona Title 1 school classrooms to experience a unique and immersive day of education at OdySea Aquarium.

Application Process The OdySea Aquarium Foundation receives multiple requests for Title 1 Scholarships every year.  There are limited scholarships and application does not guarantee an award. If your class is selected, you will be sent an award letter by email. We use the following criteria and eligibility guidelines in making our award decisions.

Scholarship Criteria & Eligibility

• Title 1 School designation from Arizona Department of Education
• At least 50% of the students eligible for the Free or Reduced Lunch Program
• Scholarship awards are limited to one per school, per semester

Scholarship Applications for 2024 are now closed.

Notification to awarded recipients Sep 2 – 6, 2024

Scholarship recipients must visit between September 16, 2024 through January 31, 2025.

The Odysea Aquarium Foundation considers scholarship applications from qualified Title 1 schools as designated by the Arizona Department of Education. To determine if your school class qualifies, please review the 'Scholarship Criteria & Eligibility' section above.

The OdySea Aquarium Foundation only accepts scholarship applications through our online process. To apply for a scholarship, please fill out the Title One Scholarship Application above.

In Arizona, there are more than 1,300 Title I schools working to meet the academic needs of children in low-income communities. The OdySea Aquarium Foundation would like to provide experiential, hands-on learning opportunities for every Title 1 school classroom, however, if your school classroom has participated in a Title 1 Scholarship field trip within the last scholarship cycle, your application may not be chosen to receive another scholarship so that other Title 1 school classrooms have an equal opportunity to participate in educational field trips. For example, if your classroom participated in a spring field trip, your classroom will not be eligible to participate in a fall field trip.

Title 1 scholarship applications are accepted on a rotating cycle. Please refer to the 'When to Apply' section above for specific submission dates.

If your class is selected to receive a Title 1 scholarship, you will be notified via email. Please refer to the 'When to Apply' section above for specific notification dates.

Mondays and Tuesdays are our preferred days for schools requesting a scholarship.

Title 1 schools may book a class of any size, but the scholarship will only cover a maximum of 100 students. Additional students may be added at the discounted field trip rate of $15.25, plus tax ($16.48).

If awarded a scholarship, it will cover the full cost of the student self-guided field trip admission (up to the maximum number of students awarded on the scholarship). Adult chaperones are free within a 1:5 ratio for preschool through 2nd grade and 1:10 ratio for 3rd grade through 12th grade.

Additional adults outside these ratios are $25.00, plus tax ($27.01) and are not covered by the OdySea Aquarium Foundation Scholarship. Additional students above the maximum number awarded by the scholarship will be required to pay the discounted student admission price of $15.25, plus tax ($16.48) each.

Changes to a Title 1 scholarship field trip reservation must be obtained no later than two weeks in advance by calling (480) 291-8192  or emailing [email protected] . Due to timelines and available funds, approval for any increase in the number of students must be obtained in advance. Groups arriving with an unauthorized group size will need to submit payment for the additional students and/or adults upon arrival. Cash, business check, credit card or PO will be accepted.

No. Only those schools designated as Title 1 by the Arizona Department of Education may apply for scholarships.

OdySea Aquarium continues to monitor and follow guidelines from the CDC and government authorities. Click here for the most updated details on what we are doing to keep guests safe and what to expect when you visit.

Buy Tickets

Be the first to hear about upcoming events, special offers, behind the scenes sneak peeks and more from OdySea Aquarium and our OdySea in the Desert partners.

Hours of Admission

Monday - Sunday: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Open Today: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Field Trips

Home Education Field Trips

Opening Eyes to the World Outside

The Florida Aquarium is excited to offer a variety of programs to meet the needs of educators.

Planning Your Field Trip

Bring your students to The Florida Aquarium for an unforgettable adventure!

Field trips are available Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM – 5 PM. Field trip prices and other information is only valid for the school year indicated below.

Reservations are required .

School field trip admission is a self-guided adventure through The Florida Aquarium, allowing classes the opportunity to explore our many diverse habitats and species at their own pace.

School field trips require a minimum of 10 students to receive the Self-Guided Field Trip Admission Rates.

Annual Aquarium memberships are not accepted for field trip admission.

Groups needing to reserve more than 3 months in advance will be subject to a $50 non-refundable deposit due 3 business days after reservation is made.

• School Year Field Trips
• Summer Field Trips

September 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025

Field trip group rates – students.

Chaperones play a key role in ensuring a safe and successful visit to The Florida Aquarium. To make the most of your Aquarium trip, it’s important to meet the required number of chaperones for your group. Extra chaperones are welcome, but there is a fee for any beyond the outlined ratio.  Please plan for an appropriate number of class chaperones for your trip using the following guidelines.

Field Trip Group Rates – Chaperones

June 1, 2025- august 31, 2025, summer 2025 field trips can be booked starting february 2025., summer field trip rates.

Chaperones play a key role in ensuring a safe and successful visit to The Florida Aquarium. To make the most of your Aquarium trip, it’s important to meet the required number of chaperones for your group. Extra chaperones are welcome, but there is a fee for any beyond the outlined ratio. Please plan for an appropriate number of chaperones for your group using the following guidelines.

Summer Field Trip Rates – Chaperones

Make waves: add an educational program.

From scientific investigation to hands-on discovery to doing a squid dissection, you can enhance your field trip experience by adding-on one of the Aquarium’s engaging education programs led by Aquarium experts. Click the link below learn more.

Lunch Options

The Aquarium provides a picnic area, the Sea Star Pavilion at the lunchtime assigned to you. Schools may bring lunches or pre-order from Café Ray at least two weeks in advance. All group lunches from Café Ray must be ordered in advance. Click the link below for the lunch menu and order form.

Reservation Tips

• Please have two or three possible date options in the event that your first choice is not available. Dates can book quickly as the Aquarium does have a daily group capacity.
• A 30-minute lunch time will be assigned to groups eating lunch at the Aquarium during their visit. Groups can bring lunches with them or preorder from the Aquarium. All group lunches must be preordered at least two weeks prior to your visit. To preorder your lunch, please complete the lunch order request form.
• Any changes to your program-including cancellations/postponements, change group totals-must be made by calling (813) 273-4015 or emailing [email protected] . A voicemail message or email is sufficient for cancellation notice.
• Consider using our preferred education transportation partner ESCOT Bus Lines . Special rates for Hillsborough and Pinellas County are available by calling them at (727) 545-2088.

Ready to Schedule Your Field Trip?

Make sure you have read all the information on this page before you begin! Request your visit by completing the online form. Once your field trip request is confirmed, you will receive a confirmation email from The Florida Aquarium’s Education Team. Please email [email protected] or call (813) 273-4015 with any questions.

Click the link below to request for your field trip.

Privacy Overview

School Field Trips

Our Field Trips are FINtastic!

Our school field trips are a science-filled adventure, where students can dive into hands-on learning and get up close and personal with some amazing sea creatures. With a focus on STEM combined with unforgettable animal encounters, students will gain a deeper appreciation for our oceans and all the creatures that call it home.

And the best part? We're not just educating, we're inspiring a passion for conservation and sustainability!  ​

NOW BOOKING FOR 2024/25 SCHOOL YEAR!

STANDARD FIELDTRIP (60 min) $9 per student

Enjoy a grade-level appropriate guided tour through the aquarium and learn all about our amazing animals with immersive hands-on experiences. 

Field trips are available Mon-Fri, beginning Aug. 12, from 9 am to noon. 

Standard field trip price is $9 per student. We have a 15 student minimum. Groups under 15 students are still welcome but will be charged for 15 students ($135).

There MUST be one RESPONSIBLE teacher/chaperone for every 10-15 students. One teacher/chaperone per every 10-15 students will receive complimentary admission.

Additional teachers are $9 and chaperones/parents are $12.  

Please try to allow a minimum of 4 weeks notice when booking your field trip.

ADD-ONS - Customize your field trip with a fun add-on experience for grades K-12

Stingray feedings: Get up close and feed our flappy friends. Hold a small piece of food between your knuckles and lower your hand into the water and our curious stingrays will swim over and slurp up their snack out of your hand. $3 per student (available in Fall only)

Junior Geologist - Using our 35 foot-long mining sluice, students can mine for gem and/or ancient marine specimens using the old miner's technique of sifting and washing material. Keep your finds. (30 minutes) $5 per student

Junior Geologist + activity lesson : Hunt for treasure, gems or ancient marine specimens, and then learn all about them with our own field experts. Keep your finds. (60 minutes) $7 per student

Pizza lunch: One large pizza slice (cheese or pepperoni), chips and lemonade. (30-45 minutes) $8 per student

Grade appropriate educational programs to support classroom learning:  All of our educational programs meet Louisiana Student's Standards for Science, $4 - $6 per student.

GRADES 1 - 5

FROM FIN TO LIMB

Students will delve into the fascinating world of animal adaptations  and explore how different animals utilize similar internal and external structures to thrive in their habitats. Through interactive discussions and problem-solving, students will gain insights into the evolution of these features tailored to diverse environments.

$4 PER STUDENT

GRADES 3 - 8

ENGINEERING BY NATURE: CORAL REEFS

Students will explore how these vital underwater ecosystems serve as nature's defense against waves and storms, providing refuge for countless marine species. Each group will embark on a mission to design and build their own coral system that can withstand the forces of an ocean storm while minimizing impact on ocean life. 

$5 PER STUDENT

GRADES 3 - 12 ENGINEERING FOR NATURE: BYCATCH

Dive into the world of sustainable fishing and explore the critical issue of bycatch's impact on ocean wildlife. Students become marine engineers - designing, constructing, and testing fishing prototypes aimed at minimizing bycatch in fisheries. 

$6 PER STUDENT

GRADES 6 - 12

JAW IDENTIFICATION + STINGRAY FEEDING

Take a scientific approach to identifying various jaw structures. Students can then take what they learned and make observations while feeding sting rays .

Booking & Payment Process

Click on BOOK NOW button below and fill out the registration form

Pay the $25 deposit. This will be applied to your total invoice. No show groups and cancellations without at least 7 days notice will forfeit this deposit. If needed, you may reschedule to a future date (if available) if at least 7 days notice is given. 

After you book you will receive an invoice via email within a few days to submit to your admin office. Didn't get the email? Check your junk mail.

TAX EXEMPT: If you are a LA tax exempt school and we have your R-1056 we will remove the tax from your invoice. If not, your invoice will include tax. You can upload your R-1056 form when you book, email it to [email protected] or bring it with you when you visit. All other schools please bring a check for the full invoice amount. We do not accept tax exempt forms from other states.

A field trip host will reach out to get your final headcount 7-10 days before your visit and an updated invoice will be emailed then if there are changes. No changes are accepted less than 7 days prior to visit. Sorry, no refunds after final headcount is given . If more people come than original headcount they must pay at the door. Additional people outside of original headcount may result in larger group tour sizes as additional staff can not be added at short notice. Additional teachers are $9 and parents are $12.

Please bring a check for the full invoice amount when you come for your visit. If paying by credit card payments a 3.5% processing fee will be added.

Day of Visit:

IMPORTANT: Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your start time. Late arrivals, will experience delayed start times and shortened tours. Please call ahead if you are going to be late. You might need to wait until we are finished with another group before we can take you.

Please be courteous, if your group is a no-show, you will not be able to re-book for 1 year and you will lose your $25 deposit.

No flash photography, please!

Be courteous and respectful. Talk quietly as you explore the wonders of the Aquarium. No running or horseplay.

For our animals safety, please do not use pens or pencils inside the aquarium unless permitted by a staff member.

Help protect the animals. When permitted, touch the animals gently using the two-finger touch method. Please do not disturb animals by tapping on the windows.

Keep food, drinks and gum outside the aquarium. 

Adults must stay with children and students at all times during your visit, regardless of the age of the student. 

Don't forget to visit our Gift Shop, located at the end of the aquarium. We have special tax inclusive items bundles for your students for $10 and $20.

Lunch Options:

Those who purchase our lunch option are welcome to enjoy their meal in our dining area or in our beautiful outdoor courtyard.

No outside food is permitted in the facility, dining area or in the courtyard. Riverview Park next door makes a perfect location for a picnic lunch!

Due to limited space, Shreveport Aquarium does not have a designated location to store outside food. Please plan ahead. 

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OUR SPONSORS ​

601 Clyde Fant Parkway      |     Shreveport, Louisiana 71101     |      318-383-0601      |      [email protected]

Privacy Policy

Refund policy     , frequently asked questions, accessibility, terms & conditions.

1 Central Wharf Boston, MA 02110

HOURS OF OPERATION

Mon.–Fri.: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Weekends: 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Field Trip Guide

You’ll need to make many decisions as you set up your Aquarium field trip. Use this step-by-step field trip planning guide to make sure that you have covered everything, from reservations to check-in and parking to planning your choice of activities, lunch, and more. We also have  a printable Field Trip Checklist (PDF).

Make a Case for Your Field Trip

We understand it isn’t always easy to make a case for field trips, even valuable ones. Here are some  educational resources and activities we hope will help.

Pick a Date and Time

Make your reservations  at least two weeks in advance to receive the group discount rate. Book your field trip or program with our Reservations Team at 617-973-5206,  [email protected], or by completing a group inquiry form .

Other tips and considerations: 

• The Aquarium is at its busiest at the end of the week from 9 a.m.–12 p.m, April through June.
• Have a first and second choice of dates when booking.
• We recommend at least two and a half hours to make the most of the Aquarium experience. Consider time for visiting the exhibits , seeing a film at Simons Theatre , eating at the Harbor View Café , and exploring the Gift Shop .

Decide on an Itinerary

In addition to exploring the Aquarium, you may add a range of programs to your visit, including classes, films, guided tours behind the scenes, or an excursion on a New England Aquarium Whale Watch. 

Add a Simons Theatre film to your field trip

See what’s playing at Simons Theatre, New England’s biggest movie screen. Super-sized films will take your students to some of the world’s most remarkable places—from the bottom of the sea to outer space and almost everywhere in between. The films provide students of all ages with larger-than-life experiences, perfect for capturing the imagination and interest of young minds. Concession packs and teacher guides for films are also available.  Teachers and groups visiting the Aquarium may: 

• Arrange to see a movie. Please reserve your screening while setting up your field trip or making your group reservation.
• Ask about showing a film from our library 

Add a Whale Watch Cruise

Do your students want to see where we keep the really big animals? Join us for a  Whale Watch cruise ! If booked, plan to have your entire group assemble on the plaza near the Whale Watch check-in booth while the head chaperone checks in. Please make sure everyone in your group knows how to get ready for a whale watch, including proper clothing. 

Review Chaperones Requirements

The number of chaperones required is determined by the age and number of students.

• Preschool: one chaperone for every three students 
• Grades K–4: one chaperone for every five students 
• Grades 5–8: one chaperone for every seven students 
• Grades 9–12: one chaperone for every 10 students 
• Special needs groups: one chaperone for every student 

Other rules and considerations:

• Chaperones must stay with their group at all times. Please do not leave your group unchaperoned. 
• Please assign a group leader. This person is responsible for all communication between the Aquarium and your school. 
• Chaperones are admitted to the Aquarium free of charge. Additional adults pay the group rate. 

Plan for Lunch

Harbor view café voucher program.

• Group lunch vouchers are available ($12.00 + tax per person) for the Harbor View Café, located on level 2 of the Aquarium. 
• Please note that the Harbor View Café is only available for use if you are purchasing food or lunch vouchers. If you are bringing lunch, please arrange an outside location for your meal. 
• We are unable to store lunches at the New England Aquarium. 

Faneuil Hall Marketplace Food Voucher Program

Groups of all sizes can also enjoy a meal at any time from participating Quincy Market Colonnade Restaurants, about a five-minute walk from the Aquarium. Order your Faneuil Hall Marketplace Food Voucher and present vouchers when ordering.

Confirm Your Reservation

You will be emailed a confirmation packet. Please review this packet carefully, as it contains helpful information to ensure a successful visit. Make sure the date, time, and program match your records.

The email also contains a reservation confirmation number. Please refer to it when calling the Aquarium and when checking in for your group upon arrival.

Get the Most Out of Your Trip

Pre-visit videos.

Share this   shark and ray interaction videos with students and chaperones. 

Educational Resources and Activities

Explore educational activities for a more comprehensive look at an animal or topic. These activities can be easily adapted for home or the classroom. 

Chaperone Guides: Helpful Questions to Stimulate Discussion

Enhance your visit to the New England Aquarium and help chaperones feel confident about leading a group with these chaperone guides. Each is designed to build science skills and group discussion by providing guiding questions to explore during your visit. Select the grade span and topic that best supports your classroom curriculum or field trip goals. 

Grade level guides: 

• Pre-kindergarten–Grade 2
• Grades 9–12

Teacher Visit

If you booked a class to visit the New England Aquarium and want to make a trip to the Aquarium beforehand to plan your visit, you are welcome to do so. Teachers may present their field trip confirmation letter to gain free admission to the Aquarium.

Make Your Payment

• A 50% non-refundable deposit is due 30 days before your arrival date.
• Need to cancel or reschedule? Your deposit will be available for use 90 days from the date of your. cancellation/exchange/refund request. If the deposit isn’t applied to a trip within 90 days, the deposit will be forfeited.
• The final non-refundable payment and headcount are due one week prior to arrival.
• If you do not provide payment, your group will be refused entry to the Aquarium.

Make Sure You Have Everything You Need

• Do you have your Reservation Confirmation Letter with your confirmation number?
• Do you have directions to the Aquarium?
• Do you have a map of the Aquarium ?
• Do you have the bus drop-off/pick-up permit from your confirmation package to post on the dashboard of your bus? The New England Aquarium has no on-site bus parking. Please be sure you have directions to where you are parking your bus and the facility’s pricing. Review our parking information before your visit .
• Have you made your deposit? Final payment is due one week before arrival. If you do not have payment in full by the deadline, your group may be refused admission.

Reinforce Ocean Learning Back in the Classroom

Keep the ocean education flowing! Follow up your field trip with classroom activities and plan some ocean-related outdoor activities.

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Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach

We enjoyed the aquarium immensely. Great for big and little kids alike!

- Patrick Walsh

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1110 Celebrity Circle Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

Dive Into an Aquatic Adventure

Immerse yourself among thousands of awe-inspiring aquatic animals and get closer than ever before with interactive, hands-on experiences, unique animal encounters, and exciting events!

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Become an Annual Passholder Today!

We're always excited to  sea  you! Annual passes give you unlimited admission to Ripley's attractions for an entire year, plus exclusive benefits like discounted guest tickets, special events, on-site purchases, and more.

What's Inside

Explore beneath the surface.

Navigate the galleries of the aquarium below and learn more about each species.

Ocean Wonders

Tropical rainforest, friendship flats, planet jellies, penguin playhouse, savage seas.

Step into one of the oldest living ecosystems on the planet to discover arapaima, piranhas, caimans, and more!

Be mesmerized by fish, camouflaged creatures, rare orange lobsters, and much more!

Come face-to-face with amphibians like axolotl, iguanas, and other reptiles of the rainforest!

Make a new friend and reach out to a ray as they glide through this tropical lagoon.

Immerse yourself among hundreds of otherworldly jellies and experience their underwater planet like never before.

Embrace your silly side and discover the playful personalities of endangered African penguins in this unique habitat.

Tales of adventure, myth, and ruin await! Find out what it takes to survive on the open waters amidst pirates, sea monsters, Mother Nature, and more!

Discover the World of Ripley's Nearby

Check out nearby Ripley's attractions for more experiences you'll have to see to believe.

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Myrtle Beach

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Get hands-on and have fun exploring hundreds of rare and unusual artifacts, incredible art, animal oddities, pop-culture memorabilia, interactive games, and stories of people and places you have to see to believe!

Ripley's Mirror Maze Myrtle Beach

Find your way out or lose yourself in a reflective world of LED lights and never-ending mirrors that challenge your sense of perception, direction, and fun!

Ripley's Crazy Golf Myrtle Beach

Put your skills to the test with selfie-worthy shots, 360-degree loops, and a hole that sends you swinging, all set indoors under the cover of epic, glowing lights.

Ripley's Illusion Lab Myrtle Beach

Switch up your perspective, challenge your senses, and spark your curiosity through optical, photographic, and interactive illusions!

Ripley's Super Fun Zone Myrtle Beach

Step into endless excitement and challenge yourself to arcade games for all ages!

Ripley's Haunted Adventure Myrtle Beach

Scare yourself silly as live actors, special effects, and unexpected surprises keep you on your toes at this walk-through experience.

Discover the Wonders of the Ocean

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Wonders You Must Sea to Believe

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Conserve. Educate. Inspire.

Our mission is to provide a world-class experience that fosters the conservation and research of our natural world through environmental education and exceptional animal care, inspiring and providing fun for visitors of all ages through immersive learning and unforgettable experiences.

Ripley’s Aquariums are committed to providing the highest standard of welfare for our animals, from routine veterinary care to numerous research and conservation initiatives on both a local and global level. We aim to foster a culture of sustainability that helps build a legacy of ecological stewardship and inspires the next generation of conservationists.

Sink Into Some Stories

Woah! The aquarium sounds like alotl fun! But what are you doing all the way down here with the axolotls – some of the most secretive salamanders in the world?!

Did you know the spotted salamander is the state amphibian of South Carolina? It earned the title in 1999 thanks to a campaign led by a class of Spartanburg third graders.

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A Land & Sea Adventure!

Touch, feed, and interact with animals from five different continents right here in Fort Worth!

INTERACTIONS & SAFARIS

Meet Our Animal Friends

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OUR VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS ARE A GREAT WAY TO LEARN FROM A DISTANCE!

Where Can You Find SeaQuest Ft. Worth Aquarium?

Ft. Worth is a city that calls the great state of Texas home. Explorers and settlers came to reside in Texas between the 16th and 18th centuries and officially became a state in 1845. The state capital, Austin, is 180 miles south of Ft. Worth, and Dallas is a quick jaunt east, just 30 miles away. Dallas is home to a number of fun entertainment attractions including the Dallas Arboretum, the Texas Horse Park and the George W Bush Museum and Presidential Library.

Animal Interactions at SeaQuest Ft. Worth Aquarium

• Asian Otter Interaction : Meet Chip and Dale! During your time to feed the otters, you’ll get an educational overview of the otter species and habitat, then participate in an informational Q&A on how you can help save the otters in the wild!
• Sloth Interaction : Hang out with our sloth Flash while learning all about him. You get to feed, pet, and touch the sloth in this once-in-a-lifetime experience! Be sure to bring your camera for a selfie during your hand-feeding session.
• Snorkel With Stingrays: Splash on in with Seaquest! Bring your suit and towel and jump in the water with a variety of rays, tropical fish, and non-threatening sharks for an ultimate up-close animal experience.
• Meet a Capybara! That’s right, capybaras have become so popular these days, and SeaQuest Ft. Worth is home to one of the most famous Texas capybaras: Alvin! He’s won the hearts of many on TikTok – but here you’ll get to meet Alvin in person.

Come Sea Why We're the Best Aquarium in Texas!

Why is seaquest the best aquarium in the dallas and ft. worth area.

SeaQuest Fort Worth is the ultimate land and sea adventure and home to some of the most unique and interactive experiences among Texas aquariums!

SeaQuest allows you to get up close and personal with aquatic animals and enjoy once-in-a-lifetime experiences. In fact, many visitors find that Seaquest Ft. Worth has much more to offer than any other zoo or aquarium, particularly for kids. 

SeaQuest offers a number of exciting encounters that allow guests to have a one-on-one interaction with animals. Visitors are invited, and encouraged, to have an up close and personal experience with the animals. You’ll be able to touch the animals and directly hand-feed them treats! You’ll also learn about protecting endangered animals and the conservation of the planet. 

Here’s just a glmpse of some of the exotic animals you can see here at SeaQuest Fort Worth: 

• Asian Small Clawed Otters
• Sloth Interaction    
• Stingrays and Sharks     

Dallas has a variety of aquarium options to choose from that will bring the adventure of a lifetime for your family! For the BEST animal interactions in the state check out the SeaQuest Ft. Worth website. You can book your special encounter today!  

Aquariums vs. Zoos: What’s the Difference?

Zoos and aquariums are intended to provide a safe and healthy place for the wildlife of the world.  They both have a specific purpose and goal to provide education to people about biology and ecology, as well as teach visitors about conservation and protecting the world’s oceans, forests, and endangered species. Aquariums have more of a focus on marine and aquatic creatures while zoos aim to preserve mammal and land animals. 

Is SeaQuest Ft. Worth a Zoo or Aquarium?

Both! Here, you’ll see more than just fish and sea creatures. Discover mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and amphibians from around the planet! You’ll journey through the Amazon Rainforest, Caribbean, Mayan Jungle, and Pirate Island as you interact with sharks, snakes, turtles, and lizards during your quest.

How Much are Tickets to SeaQuest Ft. Worth?

General Admission tickets start at $13.99 for kids, $16.99 for seniors or military and $19.99 for adults. Seaquest Ft. Worth also offers an annual pass for only $39.99 per person and includes feeding tokens and discounts on gift shop items, plus more. SeaQuest allows for online booking options or simply walk right into the Guest welcome counter for tickets!

Is SeaQuest Fort Worth Near Grapevine, Texas?

SeaQuest Fort Worth is located about 30 miles southwest from Grapevine, Texas.

Is SeaQuest a Good Activity for Toddlers?

SeaQuest is a wonderful place to bring children, toddlers, and adults alike! It is a delightful experience for anyone with an interest in the animals of our world.

Does SeaQuest Fort Worth Have Sloths?

Yes! Come hang out with Flash the Sloth while learning all about him. You get to feed, pet, and touch the sloth in this once-in-a-lifetime experience! Be sure to bring your camera for a selfie during your hand-feeding session

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Florida travel: visit a working sea turtle hospital in the florida keys, florida aquariums your family will love.

By Lauren Tjaden

Florida aquariums celebrate our oceans, brimming with life. They offer unique experiences such as touching the velvety skin of a stingray, swimming with sharks, and walking underwater with a host of sea creatures.  Discover where your family can learn about, experience and enjoy vibrant coral reefs, frolicking dolphins and more, all around the Sunshine State.

Your Family's Gotta Try This: The Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key

Aquariums in south florida.

Located a few waves west of downtown  Miami , you’ll find  The Miami Seaquarium , a 38-acre oceanarium, on the island of Virginia Key in Biscayne Bay. Children of all ages will enjoy its awe-inspiring dolphin and sea lion shows. The sea life exhibits are world-class, showcasing manatees, sea turtles, penguins, rays and more. The Conservation Outpost teaches visitors about wildlife rescue and marine animal care. Best of all, you can climb in the water with the world’s most beloved marine animal, the dolphin, for a once-in-a lifetime thrill.

Discover the underwater worlds of the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic Ocean at  The Smithsonian Exhibit  at the  St. Lucie County Aquarium  in Fort Pierce, which includes a spectacular living model of a Caribbean coral reef ecosystem, a touch tank and hands-on interactive activities.

IMAG History & Science Center , located in Fort Myers, promises that ‘the fun never ends.’ Your gang is likely to agree; the Center features interactive virtual reality exhibits, a “SEA-to-See” Touch Tank, opportunities to hand-feed stingrays, live animal encounters, explosive chemistry, wild physics, wacky engineering shows, and 3D films in the Theater-in-the-Tank.

Kayakers, campers, beachgoers and anglers love  Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve , but it offers more than outstanding recreational activities. Its Environmental Learning Center, located in Naples, houses a visitor center complete with an interactive 2,300-gallon mangrove aquarium as well as moon jelly and marine life exhibits. A kayak or boat tour with a Rookery Bay Reserve naturalist is another way the Reserve makes learning enjoyable.

Snuggled between the Indian River and the Atlantic Ocean on Hutchison Island, the  Florida Oceanographic Society  is a 57-acre marine life nature center that offers a nature trails, a 750,000-gallon Game Fish Lagoon, a Sea Turtle Pavilion, Children's Activity Pavilion, Sea Star Touch Tank Pavilion, Rays on the Reef Ray Pavilion, and a Visitors Center. As if that’s not enough, the center’s planning a $6.5 million expansion, with the addition of a new "Ocean EcoCenter" building, pedestrian bridges over the existing Game Fish Lagoon and a waterworks exploration zone. 

Situated in West Palm Beach,  The COX Science Center and Aquarium  offers laser light shows, nights at the museum, the county’s only public observatory, and literally too much more to list. It also boasts  Aquariums of the Atlantic , which is home to Shipwreck Cove, a 3,500-gallon predator tank teeming with sharks, a giant spotted moray eel, and fierce barracudas. Other tanks include Jewels of the Sea, Seahorse Corral, Venomous Beauties, and a Touch Tank.

Dive into the secrets of the sea with touch pools, working labs and oh-so-high-tech interactive exhibits at  Mote Marine Laboratory  in Sarasota, heralded worldwide for its research. With birthday parties, breakfast programs, events, boat tours, kayaking, research charters, events and more, Mote invites you to immerse yourself in experiencing the ocean and its wonders.

The  Loxahatchee River Center  features fresh and saltwater aquariums where your gang can meet the interesting creatures that live in Florida’s first National Wild and Scenic River. The fun includes interactive exhibits and a touch tank. Make sure to allow time for a family-friendly boat tour with the Center, where you can kick back and relax, hunt for shells and snorkel.

Holding is allowed! The historic  Key West Aquarium ’s touch tank, home to conchs, sea stars, giant hermit crabs and more, introduces your little ones to these beautiful creatures and allows them to gently pick them up. Located in Key West’s famous Mallory Square, the Aquarium promises the unique chance to meet and pet live sharks and stingrays, get up-close and personal with alligators, jellyfish and other marine creatures, and enjoy interactive conservation talks as well as animal feedings.

A planetarium, aquarium and science museum guarantee a fun-filled day at the  Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science . Located in Downtown Miami's Museum Park, the three-level aquarium is considered a masterpiece of living science. The top level puts you at the surface of the South Florida ecosystem, where mahi-mahi, devil rays and hammerhead sharks roam the 100-foot wide, 500,000-gallon Gulf Stream Aquarium. The next level is The Dive, with nearly 30 aquariums and interactive exhibits.  The Deep, true to its name, explores the mysterious, vast depths of the Gulf Stream. Your journey through the aquarium is capped off with a 31-foot oculus lens forming the bottom of the Gulf Stream Aquarium, where the marine life you saw on the first level now glide overhead.

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center , snuggled close to the shores of Boca Raton, lures visitors with nature trails, a butterfly garden, a nature center and four saltwater aquariums representing different South Florida marine habitats. For an unforgettable experience, watch a sea turtle hatchling release or go on a turtle walk, where a guide takes you out to the beach at night to watch a mother sea turtle lay her eggs.

The motto of  The Turtle Hospital  is “Rescue, rehab and release,” and they encourage visitors to join them on their fascinating journey. This fully functioning veterinary hospital for sick and injured sea turtles, located in Marathon in the Florida Keys, offers guests guided educational tours of the hospital facilities and the sea turtle rehabilitation area. Besides a presentation on sea turtles, you’ll enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the hospital and have a chance to feed the permanent residents. Reservations are recommended.

Situated on 438 acres between the Atlantic Ocean and the Lake Worth Lagoon in North Palm Beach,  John D. MacArthur Beach State Park  celebrates nature. It encompasses a maritime hammock, an estuary, a gorgeous beach and dunes, and an Anastasia limestone rock reef, home to parrotfish, barracuda, damsel fish and loggerhead sea turtles. You can see the coral reef from shore, and if you want an up-close look, you can easily reach it with a mask and snorkel. The staff at the Nature and Welcome Center welcome visitors and will help you discover all the park has to offer—kayaking, science camps, aquariums, events, a playground and more.

Grassy Key is home to  Dolphin Research Center , where your family can meet their family – one that’s made up of dolphins and sea lions, living in natural, seawater lagoons in the Gulf of Mexico. The fun includes educational presentations, as well as the chance to meet, touch and even get pulled around the lagoon by dolphins.

Encompassing 1,501-acres,  Anne Kolb Nature Center  holds bragging rights as Broward County’s largest regional park. Located in Hollywood, it offers a nature trail, environmental boat tours, a picnic area, and a coastal mangrove wetland brimming with plant and animal life.

Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands , located in Boynton Beach in Palm Beach County,   overlooks 100 acres of constructed wetland. The wetland is complete with 1.5 miles of elevated boardwalk featuring interpretive signs about the unique environment. The Nature Center encompasses a lecture hall, gift shop, and live animals in an extensive exhibit room.

Make sure to try SeaVenture at Discovery Cove  in  Orlando , an underwater walking tour where, thanks to a dive helmet, you’ll feel right at home under the waves.

Central Florida Aquariums

Explore the world under the ocean without even getting your shoes damp at  SEA LIFE Orlando , home to Florida’s only 360° tunnel. You’ll be part of the action as fish, sharks, turtles, and eels swim above, beneath and all around you. Be amazed by unique dive shows, meet a famous rescue sea turtle, and enjoy unusual photo ops at the jellyfish wall exhibit, where your gang can change the colors of the habitat. Consider a behind-the-scenes adventure to see what the fish eat, say hello to the divers, and view the ocean from a new perspective.

Swimming with dolphins, unlimited food and drink, tropical beaches, snorkeling with fish and rays, animal encounters and more: Make your escape to  Discovery Cove  in  Orlando   for an all-inclusive experience like no other. Make sure to try SeaVenture, an innovative, underwater walking tour where, thanks to a dive helmet, you’ll feel right at home under the waves.

The  Clearwater Marine Aquarium  is anything but typical; it’s a working hospital focused on rescue, rehabilitation and release. Your family will love meeting the otters, sharks, pelicans and more. Activities include boat and kayak tours as well as animal care experiences.

The  Tarpon Springs Aquarium ,  located at the west end of the historic Sponge Docks, is small in size but big on adventure. You can watch a SCUBA diver hand-feed the dangerous inhabitants, including sharks, in the central 120,000-gallon tank; learn about alligators and touch one; and even touch one of the python snakes, some measuring an astounding 14 feet.

Rides! Shows! Animal experiences!  SeaWorld Orlando  has it all. Watch frolicking dolphins from above and below the surface at Dolphin Cove, explore the Jewel of the Sea Aquarium, and step behind the scenes to see manatees being rehabilitated. That’s just the tip of the sandbar as far as adventures with the finned, flippered, and feathered occupants of SeaWorld; heart-stopping coasters and must-see shows add to the excitement.

Seeing an aquarium is one thing; snorkeling with its occupants brings it to a whole other level of fun. The RumFish Grill at RumFish Beach Resort in St. Pete Beach invites you to  Swim with the Fishes  in its 33,500-gallon aquarium. Heated to 76-78 degrees and about 13 feet deep, the aquarium is filled with fish that you’d find locally, like tarpon, amberjack, grouper, a nurse shark and more. All equipment is provided, and reservations are required. The  RumFish Grill  promises a unique place to refuel, too; you can enjoy a seafood meal by the massive fish tank.

The Environmental Learning Center  welcomes visitors to come discover their 64-acre lagoon island campus in Vero Beach. It offers nearly two miles of boardwalks, canoe trips and pontoon boat tours. Don’t miss its Discovery Station interactive museum, which promises a true hands-on experience with the marine animals in its 145-gallon touch tank, teaching you how to best handle the small occupants, which may include hermit, horseshoe or spider crabs, sea cucumbers and sea urchins.

Learning about the ocean, its animals and environmental issues is fun and easy-to-understand thanks to the marine volunteer opportunities and experiences offered by  Marine Exploration Center  in St. Petersburg. It offers a unique mobile experience that travels to schools and local events, and you can hire it for a birthday party, too.

Established in 1995, The  Florida Aquarium  invites you to connect with the sea. Located in Tampa, driven by their mission to entertain, educate and inspire stewardship of the natural environment, the Aquarium encompasses 8,000 animals and plants and hosts 300 events annually. There, you can enjoy wild dolphin tours, meet penguins, or even try an in-water swim or dive adventure with more than 1,600 fish, stingrays, eels and sea turtles. The exhibits are staggering, including a huge simulated wetland nestled under a glass atrium as well as a coral reef ecosystem awash in half a million gallons of natural seawater. If you’re in need of a break, cool off on the Splash Pad or relax in the 4-D Theater.

Climb aboard a “clamobile” with your little ones on  The Seas with Nemo & Friends   ride   at Epcot, located at Orlando’s Walt Disney World Resort, for an underwater adventure where Nemo’s friends dart through colorful coral reefs. When the ride ends, the fun is just starting; The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion boasts a gigantic 5.7-million-gallon saltwater aquarium filled with 4,000-plus sea creatures, including 85 species of tropical fish, rays and sharks. If you’re hungry, Disney has that covered too. The  Coral Reef Restaurant   promises panoramic windows that offer every table a view into the aquarium, which is the largest inland saltwater environment ever built, holding enough water to fill 54 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

  Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park features dolphin encounters as well as shows with sharks, rays and dolphins.

Aquariums In North Florida

Open since 1955 in Fort Walton Beach,  Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park  entices you to play and learn. The park features dolphin encounters as well as shows with sharks, rays and dolphins. Your little guppies can even celebrate their birthdays there, surrounded by beautiful tropical fish in the Living Sea event room.

Gulf World Marine Park , located in Panama City Beach, urges visitors to “Come for the experience, leave with a mission to help the environment.” This historic attraction features daily educational shows and chats as well as interactive programs. You can swim with a dolphin, cradle a penguin in your arms, and touch and feed stingrays. The splash zone promises a fun place to cool off.

South of Tallahassee, in the pristine, quiet town of Panacea, you’ll find  Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratories , a nonprofit that studies endangered species and provides marine life to schools and research laboratories. (Its sea urchins and sponges have even been sent to outer space!) It offers guided tours of its aquarium and lab, as well as field trips to the “living dock” and the nearby salt marshes. Your family will love the touch tanks, graphic exhibits and hands-on experiences, encouraging them to touch, smell, and hear the interesting and often odd creatures inhabiting the Gulf of Mexico.

Places to Remember

Clearwater beach, panama city beach, related content, the florida aquarium.

• 701 Channelside Dr.
• (813) 273-4000

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

• 249 Windward Passage
• (727) 441-1790

Key West Aquarium

• One Whitehead St.
• (305) 296-2051

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Austin Aquarium

Sea to BelieveSea to Believe

The Austin Aquarium field trips provide augmented, age-specific teachings for pre and post-visit study for Austin area PreK – College students.

Austin Aquarium hopes to inspire a new generation of oceanic explorers and conservationists from Greater Austin through education and shared experiences to create an ever-expanding appreciation for our planet’s oceans, rain forests, and deserts.

Booking times start at 10 AM.

Austin Aquarium hopes to inspire a new generation of ocean explorers and conservationists from Greater Austin through education and shared experiences with live animals in order to create an ever-expanding appreciation for our planet’s oceans, rainforests and deserts. The experience will instill respect and awe for species they don’t see every day. Students will expand their understanding of our ecosystems as they remain engaged throughout the field trip for maximized learning.

Austin Aquarium hosts over 30 exhibits and more than 2,500 animal species! Interact with sharks, stingrays, sea jellies, octopuses, birds, reptiles, amphibians, tropical and cold water fish, and so much more!

The Austin Aquarium offers a wide variety of educational programs for field trips led by the aquarium’s staff of educators, biologists and aquarists. Field trips will include many hands-on activities as well as age-specific programming. Experience invertebrates (sea stars, urchins, anemones, and more) native to the Oregon Coastline and areas of the South and Central Pacific.

The Austin Aquarium provides teachers and students with access to interactive educational opportunities

Students in the Austin area can learn about the ocean and get a good look at its strange and wonderful inhabitants without having to make a trip out to the coast.

Please let our staff know about any special requirements such as special educational needs, if your group is studying a topic we can include in our presentation, if your group is working toward a badge, patch, loop or rank, or if there are any special language requirements.

Students - $9.95 Parent Chaperones - $8.95 Staff - FREE

TITLE 1 SCHOOLS

Students - $4.95 Parents Chaperones - $5.95 Staff - FREE

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Need to know.

• All state certified teachers with teacher ID badge pay no admission.
• Minimum of 15 people. Groups over 150 please call or email us so we can ensure your experience is a quality one!
• If you are a tax-exempt entity, be sure to select the appropriate booking when making your online reservation above. You will be required to provide your tax exempt ID.

Field trip pricing is good for all Pre-K through 12th Grade students regardless of the size of the group (educational institutions, certified child care, home school, YMCA, or any other legitimately certified groups of children). Please show certification at the door.

Low-income school districts may qualify for up to $2 per person discounts via our scholarship fund.

Homeschool small groups are encouraged to pair up with other homeschoolers or contact the aquarium on which date you prefer and they will gladly pair you up with others interested in that day. The Austin Aquarium does include special pricing for homeschool groups of 15 or more. Homeschoolers, contact the aquarium to reserve your date by calling us at 512-222-5586 or email at [email protected].

In order to keep our Field Trip schedule running smoothly and on time in addition to accommodating all our groups, please try and be as punctual as possible and arrive only at your appointment time.

If you find that you are running late, please call the aquarium at 512-222-5586 so we can adjust our schedule as it likely will affect our other field trips. We are not able to accommodate your party more than 15 minutes before your scheduled arrival time. To help expedite your check-in process please keep students on the bus until an tour guide has come to direct your group.

For further information on our field trip program, please email us at [email protected]

The Best Zoos, Aquariums, and Wildlife Sanctuaries Near Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a city with a lot to offer visitors, from its world-famous beaches and Hollywood attractions to its diverse neighborhoods and vibrant arts scene. But did you know that LA is also home to some of the best zoos, aquariums, and wildlife sanctuaries in the country?

If you’re looking for a fun and educational day out with the family, be sure to check out one of these amazing animal attractions.

Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens , Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is one of the oldest zoos in the United States, and it’s home to over 1,400 animals from around the world. The zoo is divided into several different geographical zones, so you can see animals from Africa, Asia, North America, and more. There are also several educational exhibits that teach visitors about animal conservation. During Halloween they also offer Boo at the Zoo and during the holiday season they host the popular event Zoo Lights . My personal favorite though is their private animal encounters .

Aquarium of the Pacific , Long Beach

The Aquarium of the Pacific is a must-see for any marine life lover. The aquarium is home to over 11,000 marine animals from over 500 species, including sharks, penguins, sea otters, and dolphins. There are also several interactive exhibits that allow visitors to touch sea stars, sea anemones, and other marine creatures. They also offer special preview days throughout the year just for homeschoolers.

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium , San Pedro

The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is a small but well-curated aquarium located in San Pedro, California. The aquarium is focused on the marine life of the Southern California coast, and it features exhibits on everything from seahorses to sharks. There is also a touch pool where visitors can get up close and personal with some of the aquarium’s animals. They offer excellent grade specific field trips as well.

Heal the Bay Aquarium, Santa Monica

Heal the Bay Aquarium , formally known The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, is a small, free aquarium located on the Santa Monica Pier. The aquarium is home to a variety of marine life from the Pacific Ocean, including sea stars, sea anemones, and crabs. There is also a touch pool where visitors can get up close and personal with some of the aquarium’s animals.

Gentle Barn, Santa Clarita

The Gentle Barn in Santa Clarita, California is a non-profit organization that rescues farm animals from abuse and neglect. The organization operates several “sanctuaries” where the animals can live out the rest of their lives in peace and safety. Visitors to the Gentle Barn can meet the animals, learn about their stories, and participate in educational programs.

One interesting fact about the farm is that they offer cow hug therapy for visitors! Advance reservations are required. The Gentle Barn is also home to one of the many other local family farms in the greater Los Angeles area .

Wildlife Learning Center, Sylmar

The Wildlife Learning Center in Sylmar, California is a non-profit organization that provides educational programs about wildlife conservation. The center operates a wildlife hospital where injured and orphaned animals are rehabilitated. Visitors to the Wildlife Learning Center can learn about the center’s work, meet some of the animals, and participate in educational programs. They also interactive educational tours and animal experiences for an additional cost.

Montebello Barnyard Zoo, Montebello

The Montebello Barnyard Zoo is a small zoo located in Montebello, California. The zoo is home to a variety of farm animals, including goats, sheep, pigs, and chickens. Visitors to the zoo can feed the animals, pet them, and learn about their care.

America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College, Moorpark

America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College is a non-profit zoo located in Moorpark, California. The zoo is home to over 200 animals from around the world, and it offers educational programs for both children and adults. Visitors to the zoo can learn about animal conservation, animal behavior, and animal care. The zoo also offer an Associate Degree in Exotic Animal Care for students.

These are just a few of the many amazing zoos, aquariums, and wildlife sanctuaries near Los Angeles. With so many options to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect place to learn about and appreciate the natural world.

Happy Field Tripping!

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Ocean Life Exhibits

Large variety of life including fish, jellyfish, crabs, and eels., freshwater life exhibits, come meet our freshwater fish and friends, shark exhibit, learn more about the sharks’ journey to east idaho aquarium., stingray touch exhibit, touch a ray in this interactive exhibit. this is also a token station where you can feed the rays, idaho fish exhibit, learn more about the fascinating fish in idaho, river giants exhibit, feed the river giants at the token station., visit the birds, feed us at this token station., iguanas & bearded dragons, caiman & toucan, visit rufus, electric eel and albino boa, visit wookiee the sloth, eastidahoaquarium.

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Virtual Tour

Before you visit, get to know the National Aquarium so you can make the most of your time and see it all!

Where in the National Aquarium are your favorite animals? This virtual tour will take you through the Aquarium's two main buildings, so you know where each exhibit is located and what animals you'll find there.

Exhibits Explore Award-Winning Exhibits

Experience dozens of unique aquatic habitats—from a northern Australian river gorge to an Indo-Pacific reef to a tropical rain forest—all interconnected by the binding force of water.

Amazon River Forest

Discover an Amazon tributary in three distinct stages of seasonal flooding.

Animal Care and Rescue Center

Atlantic coral reef, australia: wild extremes, blacktip reef, dolphin discovery, tours & experiences experience the aquarium like never before.

Explore behind the scenes, meet our experts and come face to face with amazing animals.

Daily Family Sunrise Tour

Saturdays & sundays insider's tour, daily vr experiences, daily dolphin training session, daily shark behind-the-scenes tour, subscribe to our newsletter sign up to receive updates on animals, news and events..

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Florida Aquarium

At the Florida Aquarium visitors get up close to many of Florida’s aquatic and terrestrial animals and ecosystems, and others from around the world. Ranked in the top 10 Aquariums in the country by TripAdviser and top 5 Kid-Friendly Aquariums by Parents Magazine, the Florida Aquarium is more than a must-see attraction. The Aquarium works on many conservation fronts, including research and rescue efforts that help restore Florida’s sea turtle and coral populations and to ensure that sharks continue to swim our seas. Exhibits follow the journey of a drop of water from one of Florida's many freshwater springs out to the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico and include large simulated wetlands located under a tall glass atrium, a simulated beach and a coral reef community housed in 500,000-gallons of water.

contact info

Hrs: Daily 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

HELPFUL LESSON PLAN(S)

Prepared by fieldtripdirectory.com.

Aquarium Lesson Plan

• Did you know a sea cucumber can shoot its intestines at predators, and then regrow them, in order to avoid being eaten?

• An electric eel can produce 500 watts of electricity (that’s enough to light up 10 light bulbs) to frighten away predators.

• Dolphins sleep with one half of the brain and one eye open to watch for danger.

• No matter how many pieces you cut a sea sponge into each piece will continue living and growing.

• Ocean life can do amazing things to survive. As you visit an aquarium with your students, note the different ways animals defend themselves. Just like a squid, people wouldn’t bother you either if you squirted black ink in their face!