The Florida Aquarium in Tampa, Florida, is consistently ranked among the top 10 aquariums in the United States, and for good reason. This family-friendly destination is celebrated for its incredible diversity of marine life, engaging interactive exhibits, and its dedication to conservation and education. Even better, visiting the Florida Aquarium on points and miles can make the experience more affordable, allowing travelers to enjoy everything it offers without overspending.
Conveniently surrounded by attractions like Sparkman Wharf and Amalie Arena, the Florida Aquarium is a must-visit for families, marine enthusiasts, or anyone planning a Tampa Bay itinerary. In this article, I’ll share my experience, how I traveled there using points and miles (including how much I spent), and tips to maximize your trip.
Trip Details
Our Itinerary
We kept our trip short, focusing on the Aquarium but plan to return to explore more of Tampa next time.
- Day 1: Fly into Tampa → Rent a car → Visit the Florida Aquarium → Check into hotel
- Day 2: Enjoy free hotel breakfast → Fly home
Getting to the Florida Aquarium
We rented a car at the Tampa airport, which made getting around easy despite some downtown congestion due to the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. The ride from the airport to the Aquarium was entertaining, with plenty of pirate-dressed pedestrians and rickshaw riders having a good old time! For lunch, we stopped at Chick-fil-A—always a reliable option for our picky eater.
Parking at the Aquarium was easy to find and straightforward, with its dedicated lot offering plenty of space even during the festival. Payment via kiosk or app was simple, and we went ahead and booked for four hours paying $20. Four hours may have been a little long, with the average time visitors take at the Aquarium being two hours.
Tickets and Admission
Advance timed-entry tickets are required per the Florida Aquarium website, though tickets were available at the door during our visit. Despite arriving 45 minutes after our reserved time, we walked in with no lines or issues.
- Adult Tickets: $35.95
- Child Tickets (Ages 3–11): $30.70
- Kids Under 2: Free
Our total for two adults and one child came to $107.60 with tax. They also offer many paid experiences like a Penguin Encounter, SeaTREK guided underwater walking tours, Stingray Feeding, and even a Wild Dolphin Cruise along Tampa Bay.
Inside the Florida Aquarium: Highlights and Tips
We must have randomly timed it just right at 2:15 p.m. As we walked through the door, employees were lining up everyone in the front corridor. They brought out two African Blackfooted Penguins, Pebbles and Archibald, to waddle through the line. They loved hamming it up for the crowd and we of course, loved every bit of it!
Exhibits
We started to make our way through the exhibits. Starting out in the Wetlands Exhibit, we loved the bright colored pink Roseate Spoonbills, turtles, otters, and alligators. Next, our favorite animal in the Journey to Madagascar exhibit was the ring-tailed lemurs with their caught in the headlights expressions! In the Shorelines exhibit, we saw tiny eels that looked like swaying grass sticking up from the sand. My daughter loved Stingray Beach where she got to touch cownose rays. We had never seen such a wide variety of anemones in the No Bone Zone.
In the MORPH’D exhibit, we had fun watching a four-eyed fish as his eyes were both above AND below the water! The largest habitat in this Aquarium, the Coral Reef had us face to face with tiger sharks and chasing a giant sea turtle between tank windows. At Reef Secrets, we loved the beautiful seahorses and even saw one carrying eggs. In the Waves of Wonder exhibit, there is a fish that spits sand and in Moon Bay, you can actually touch little moon bay jellyfish. I was told they do have stinging tails, but they are mostly undetectable in humans and there were many little kids all over that tank.
Travel tip with kids
If you plan to visit the stingray touch tank, bring an extra change of clothes, or at least a shirt! Bending over the edge of this touch tank, gets their little shirts pretty wet. My 8 year old was all smiles until we walked away and she noticed she was drenched and not just her pulled up sleeves. We made our way to the bathroom and took advantage of the Dyson hand dryer. I’m not sure what we would have done without that thing. Next time I’ll definitely bring an extra shirt!
What the Florida Aquarium Does Well
Prime Location
Conveniently located near the airport, hotels, and other popular Tampa attractions, the Florida Aquarium is easy to access with ample parking. The surrounding area offers plenty of additional activities, making it a great spot for a day of exploration. Or, like us, you can fly in for a quick direct trip!
Diverse Wildlife Collection
The Aquarium excels in showcasing a wide variety of species and habitats. Whether it’s the vibrant pink birds, beautiful sea turtles, or the colorful anemones, the diversity of wildlife provides an enriching experience for all visitors.
Engaging Interactive Activities
Hands-on experiences are a standout feature at the Florida Aquarium. With multiple touch tanks, guests can get up close to stingrays, jellyfish, and other marine creatures, making it a particularly engaging destination for families and children.
Focus on Conservation and Education
The Aquarium is committed to marine conservation and education. Through informative displays and signage, visitors can learn about marine ecosystems, endangered species, and the important efforts being made to protect them.
Family-Friendly Environment
Designed with families in mind, the Florida Aquarium offers a range of amenities and activities suitable for all ages. Its accessibility and interactive exhibits ensure that everyone, from toddlers to grandparents, can enjoy their visit.
Accessibility
The Florida Aquarium ensures wheelchair-friendly exhibits, elevators, and sensory services so everyone can enjoy their visit. They also offer stroller, scooter, and wheelchair rentals.
Clean and Accessible Bathrooms
Bathrooms are clean, plentiful, and easily accessible, with thoughtful amenities such as Dyson hand dryers – a lifesaver, especially after a visit to the stingray touch tank!
Dining Options
Whether you’re looking for quick bites or a sit-down meal, the Florida Aquarium has diverse dining options like Cafe Ray and The Cove. Enjoy pizza, burgers, sushi, salads, and even beer, wine, or Tiki Time for adults. Cafe Ray also offers allergy-friendly and diet-specific menus (vegan, nut- free, gluten-free, etc.) available online for easy planning before your visit.
How the Florida Aquarium Could Be Better
Cleaner Displays
While understandable given the mix of water, animals, and frequent kid fingers, some of the exhibit glass could benefit from more frequent cleaning for better visibility and presentation
Travel and Booking On Points and Miles
Flight: Delta
From my home airport of Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), there are three airlines offering direct flights to Tampa International Airport (TPA): Frontier, Southwest, and Delta. For my family of three, Delta is always our top choice. While Delta may not always have the cheapest fares, their exceptional customer service and overall experience make them worth the loyalty—especially when we can use points and miles to offset the cost.
For our trip to Tampa, we booked Delta First Class, and here’s exactly how we made it happen:
- Roundtrip Economy Seats for Three
- 13,900 Delta SkyMiles per person (41,700 total)
- Taxes and fees: $33.60
- Upgrades to First Class for Three
- 3,267 Delta SkyMiles per person (9,800 total)
- Total Points and Cash Used
- Delta SkyMiles: 51,500
- Cash (taxes and fees): $33.60
By strategically earning and redeeming Delta SkyMiles, we were able to enjoy a premium First Class experience for just the cost of taxes and fees—a perfect example of how points and miles can elevate your travel experiences! We earned our Delta SkyMiles from a combination of Delta co-branded credit cards and past flight spend. You can also transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Delta, but there is a small excise tax fee of $.0006 per point transferred.
Where I Stayed: Home2 Suites by Hilton Westshore Airport
The Home2 Suites by Hilton Westshore Airport is conveniently located about 2.5 miles from Tampa International Airport (TPA) and 7 miles from the Florida Aquarium, making it a great choice for travelers visiting the area.
What’s Great
- Prime Location: Situated between the airport and aquarium, it’s perfect for those renting a car and looking to easily navigate the area. Plus, the hotel offers a free airport shuttle for guests not planning to rent a car or drive.
- Spacious Rooms: The large, clean, and comfortable rooms stood out. For our family of three, we chose a king-sized bed with a queen pullout sofa for our daughter—a layout that was perfect. Many similar hotels only comfortably sleep two guests per room.
- Complimentary Breakfast: The free breakfast offered plenty of options, including:
- Oatmeal with toppings
- Yogurt with toppings
- Signature Belgian waffles
- Sausage, egg, and cheese sandwiches
- Omelets and egg bowls
- Cereal, bagels, toast, jams, and coffee
What Could Be Better
- No On-Site Restaurant: After a long day of travel and fun at the Florida Aquarium, we checked in around dinnertime. At that point, we really wished we had booked a hotel with an on-site restaurant for convenience. Instead, we drove 2.5 miles to Metro Diner for a quick meal. We knew this hotel didn’t have a restaurant when we booked, but next time, we might prioritize the on-site restaurant if we plan our day out the same way.
- I did not have luck using Hilton Gift Cards: Points and Miles folks may know why I’m saying this. Certain Hilton credit cards offer values that can be redeemed by buying Hilton gift cards that are then reimbursed. I still have $200 worth of Hilton gift cards and have had trouble using them at Hilton and partner hotels. Again here, they were unsure if they even had what was needed to process the gift cards and I was unsuccessful in using them.
Booking Details
- One-Night Stay: 50,000 Hilton Points
- Parking Fee: $12 (cheaper than I found at other hotels nearby)
- Breakfast: Free with stay
The Home2 Suites by Hilton Westshore Airport offers a convenient and comfortable stay for families and points travelers alike. If you’re planning a visit to Tampa using points and miles, this hotel is a solid option! We earned our Hilton points from a combination of Hilton credit cards and stays. You can also transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Hilton.
Transportation
From the Tampa Airport, we rented a car for one day. Though the process to rent a car with points and miles looks different from booking flights or hotels, we didn’t pay cash for this ride. To book, we went through the Capital One Travel Portal. We chose a Hertz EV Manager Special for $43.81. Because we have the Capital One Venture X, which comes with a $300 travel credit, this amount ($43.81) was deducted from our yearly travel credit and we paid $0 out of pocket.
For us, renting a car was the best option and allowed for the most flexibility. It balanced cost and convenience for a more enjoyable experience.
Other tips for Visiting Tampa Attractions
Check out Tampa Bay CityPass, which gives discounts for:
The Florida Aquarium
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
ZooTampa at Lowry Park
The Tropics Boat Tours
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Museum of Science & Industry
Glazer Children’s Museum
Packing It Up: A Rewarding Florida Aquarium Visit
Our trip to the Florida Aquarium was a fantastic experience, made even better by strategically using points and miles. From touch tanks to the unexpected penguin parade, the visit offered plenty of memorable moments. The convenience of flying in with Delta SkyMiles, staying at a Hilton property using points, and covering our rental car with a travel credit all reinforced how rewarding it can be to leverage points and miles for family travel.
If you’re considering a visit, I highly recommend booking tickets in advance, bringing an extra shirt for kids visiting the touch tanks, and planning extra time to explore Tampa’s waterfront attractions nearby. If you’re looking for a fun family-friendly stop in Tampa, the Florida Aquarium is well worth the visit. And if you can book it all on points? Even better!
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