There are plenty of reviews of popular aquariums, and eventually I'll give you my take on them. But for now, I'd like to highlight a hidden gem to visit in Florida: Weeki Wachee Springs State Park.

An hour north of Tampa, Weeki Wachee is one of Florida's oldest attractions. It has a very family friendly environment with a touch of nostalgia. A great day trip if you are in the Tampa area, and a welcome break from the crowds and prices at Sea World or Disney.

Things to Do:

Get Up Close With The Manatees

The manatees are my absolute favorite part of the park. They love swimming through the springs. Many manatees that are victims of boating accidents find refuge here. They come pretty close to the shore, and visitors can feed them lettuce and carrots at certain times of the day. When I last went, there was also a staff member telling visitors more about the manatees and answering questions.

Watch An Underwater Mermaid Show

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The park is most famous for their underwater mermaid shows. Visitors watch the performance in the theater which sits 16 ft. underwater. My favorite show is Weeki Wachee's version of Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Mermaid.

The mermaids stay underwater the whole show by using free floating breathing tubes and do crazy acrobatics all while wearing tails. For younger kids is a must, but even older kids will be fascinated by the manatees and otters that often come to interact during the show. Elvis was a big fan of the show, and Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie were mermaids for a day on their show the Simple Life. Be sure to check out the Mermaid Roster and this behind the scenes video of how they do it.

Take A River Cruise

Tired of walking everywhere at other parks? Sit back and relax on the River Boat Cruise. During this guided tour you will learn more about the history of Weeki Wachee and see several of the inhabitants of the springs. There are several different kinds of birds, manatees, turtles, snakes, and even alligators.

See An Animal Show

Another fun thing to see at Weeki Wachee is an animal show. They have a very entertaining and educational bird show. There are parrots doing cute tricks and a few majestic falcons, to name a few of the acts. The reptile show is less active, and more show and tell. I didn't find the reptile show as amusing, but maybe it's more of a boy thing. Definitely try to see at least one show though.

Visitor Information

Currently ticket prices are the following with tax included:

• Adult: $14.68
• Child (Ages 6 - 10): $11.66
• Children 5 and under: FREE

Currently the off-season hours of operation are:
Thursday - Sunday 10 AM - 3 PM

In the spring and summer they are open seven days a week from 10 AM - 4 PM

For more information visit the official website.

All Photos by John Athanason

For more aquarium reviews and marine life news check out my blog at aquaallie.blogspot.com or follow me on twitter at twitter.com/aqua_allie