Miami Seaquarium
South side of Rickenbacker Causeway, En route to Key Biscayne
About
If you've been to Orlando's SeaWorld, you may be disappointed with Miami's version, which is considerably smaller and not as well maintained. It's hardly a sprawling seaquarium, but you will want to arrive early to enjoy the effects of its mild splash. You'll need at least 3 hours to tour the 35-acre oceanarium and see all four daily shows, starring a number of showy ocean mammals. You can cut your visit to 2 hours if you limit your shows to the better, albeit corny, Flipper Show and Killer Whale Show. The highly regarded Dolphin Encounter allows visitors to touch and swim with dolphins in the Flipper Lagoon. The program costs $139 per person participating, $40 per observer, and is offered at daily at 12:15 and 3:15pm. Children must be at least 52 inches tall to participate. Reservations are necessary for this program. Call tel. 305/365-2501 in advance for reservations. The Seaquarium took a major hit during 2005's Hurricane Wilma and reopened in early 2006, restoring all the damage to the park's most popular attractions, such as Discovery Bay and Shark Channel. The Seaquarium also debuted a new sea lion show.
