CLEARWATER, FL (March 5, 2024) – As families gear up for spring break, Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) announces an array of thrilling experiences and extended hours to make this break one to remember. From March 10 to April 7, CMA will extend its hours from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., allowing guests more time to explore and enjoy fun activities.
CMA offers a myriad of exciting new experiences, from a state-of-the-art virtual reality adventure to intimate encounters with sloths and pelicans, sunset boat rides, and more. With activities tailored for all ages, there’s something for every member of the family to enjoy.
New Up-close Animal Encounters
- Tortoise Treat Time: Guests can get up close and personal with these delightful creatures. Witness the tortoises feasting on a diverse diet during feeding time, creating a unique connection with these incredible animals.
- VIP Pelican Program: Bird lovers can enjoy a one-of-a-kind avian adventure with CMA’s resident pelicans. This unique 20-minute experience offers private habitat access, insights from animal experts, guided pelican encounters, and a memorable photo to cherish.
- Sloth Meet and Greet Encounter: Families can make lasting memories meeting Lima, the charming two-toed sloth. Guests can learn about these fascinating creatures in a private setting designed for a small group, and capture the moment with a complimentary photo.
- Paint with a Dolphin Program: Calling all artists! Art enthusiasts will revel in a 15-minute artistic session blending painting with our resident dolphins. Enriching their cognitive abilities for over 14 years, this program offers stimulating activities to support their mental and physical well-being.
An Easter to Remember
- Easter Brunch: Families can dine with the Easter Bunny at CMA’s Seaside Easter Breakfast on March 30th from 9:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m. Guests They can indulge in a gourmet breakfast buffet, an interactive dolphin presentation, and capture the moment with a photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny.
Thrilling Experiences
- Amazing Animal Experience: Guests can embark on an interactive journey with a variety of incredible animals on select dates. Families will meet and learn about wild species including sloths, bearded dragons, alligators, tortoises, hedgehogs, parrots, and other reptiles. It’s the perfect opportunity to create lasting memories with loved ones.
- Tropical Sunset Cruise: Adventurers can set sail on the Tropical Sunset Cruise and enjoy the breathtaking sunset while sipping a refreshing beverage. They’ll spot local wildlife, participate in educational games, and relax with music and fun for the whole family.
- “Drop in the Ocean” Virtual Reality Experience: This interactive and social adventure takes visitors on a deep underwater journey, shedding light on the pressing issue of plastic pollution plaguing our world’s oceans. Guests will ride a jellyfish up to the ocean’s surface, where they will encounter a colorful array of sea creatures and tiny organisms, including micro-plankton. From coming face-to-face with a majestic leatherback turtle to exploring the vastness of the ocean alongside a magnificent whale shark, participants will gain a firsthand understanding of the urgent threat pollution poses to our planet’s delicate ecosystems.
Dates, times, and reservations to encounters can be found on CMA’s website. To learn more about Clearwater Marine Aquarium Spring Break guide, visit https://www.cmaquarium.org/spring-break-visit-guide-2024/
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Media Contact: Marsha Strickhouser | mstrickhouser@CMAquarium.org | (727) 242-0770
- About Clearwater Marine Aquarium
- Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working marine rescue center dedicated to inspiring the human spirit through leadership in education, research, rescue, rehabilitation and release. With a mission to preserve the environment and its marine life, CMA is home to rescued dolphins, sea turtles, river otters, stingrays, a nurse shark and more. Through Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, CMA conducts important global research focused on protecting manatees, North Atlantic right whales and sea turtles. Major motion picture Dolphin Tale (2011) and its sequel Dolphin Tale 2 (2014) features the true stories of rescued resident dolphins Winter and Hope, inspiring millions around the world. The mission and potential to change people’s lives differentiates Clearwater Marine Aquarium from any other aquarium in the world.
© 2023 Clearwater Marine Aquarium | 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater, FL 33767 | 727-445-1139 | 727-441-1790 | mission.cmaquarium.org | cmaquarium.org
We believe in preserving our environment while inspiring the human spirit through leadership in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine life; environmental education; research; and conservation.
A Florida non-profit 501(c)(3) organization