So I've finally had the chance to go on a site-seeing adventure during my off time this summer. And what better place to go than the deep blue where the fish are?! Today, I went to the
Orlando Sea Life Aquarium located at
Idrive360 where the world's newest (and 5th tallest, as told by
Orlando Sentinel) giant ferris wheel stands proudly in the heart of Orlando, Florida. In case you are unaware, Orlando, FL has been one of the top vacation destinations in the world, especially for its renowned home to none other than the Walt Disney World theme parks. And this beautiful city is only getting better!
Let's start with how cool this thing is! There is a handful of other places in the world where a giant ferris wheel overlooks the city such as in London, Singapore, and Dubai! I did not get to explore this magnificent attraction today, but that's definitely on the list of things to do very soon!
Now, if you've read my first blog post, you must know that I have an obsession with mermaids. And with that comes the whole sea, of course! You might have also noticed that I have a phobia of Orca whales, which sounds like a contradiction. I know. But aside from that, I have always had such a fascination for marine life for as long as I can remember.
So what's this Sea Life Aquarium all about?? Well, it's a rather small section of the general attraction complex if you ask me, but the contents of this place surely make up for it's perimeter! The sea life is divided up by different seas such as the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Caribbean Sea, and more. Their tanks are filled with thousands of colorful and active creatures just doing their sea life thing.
If you're wondering, it's a great family-friendly place to be, so bring along the kids if you wish (or not)! There are so many things you can do as a kid or adult. I certainly felt like a kid again! Just check out how interactive you can be with the fish!
There's a world full of pointy fins and razor-sharp teeth in this tank!
There were so many different kinds of fish. I couldn't keep track! I especially loved seeing stingrays. They look like pancakes. Mmm... now I want pancakes!
And this beautiful sea turtle. One of the staff said that she's a rescue and that her back fins were damaged in some kind of accident, but she still has full mobility in her front fins and continues to swim freely and happily. She's in good hands!
Btw, I didn't really get a chance to figure out the types of species each animal was. I was having too much fun just looking at them! Reef fish are so vibrant and stunning!
Here are some pretty jellyfish under a pink light!
And if you're into getting up close and personal with some of the creatures, there's a special exhibit where you're allowed to stick your hands in the water to actually PET them! That's right! This open tank is filled with gorgeous mollusks, anemones, crabs, sea urchins, and sea stars just chillin' and waitin' to surprise you with their amazing textures and colors. But prepare yourself for some chilly hands.. They keep the water at a brisk 50 degrees Fahrenheit to mimic the original deep sea environment where the creatures thrive in very cold conditions. I was having so much fun, I couldn't keep my hands out of the water! But I thought they were seriously going to fall off after a while.
My favorite part was touching the anemones and watching them close up. They were very soft and kinda slimy. The staff member in this exhibit told us that if you feel sort of a sticky feeling around the middle, that it means it's them trying to sting you. Also, she said that humans don't feel the stinging sensation because our skin is so thick. Super cool!
And for those of you who might be concerned about the safety and health of these creatures, the staff members encouraged us to touch anything in this tank only and asked us to just not move or pick them up.
So if you're ever in town and are looking to have a good time with some of our underwater friends, go to the Orlando Sea Life Aquarium and go nuts over these crazy beautiful animals! You will not regret it!
From yours truly, DancingMermaid1920s
