Despite our landlocked borders and fly-over status, the Midwest has quite a few great aquariums.

Oklahoma Aquarium, Tulsa

Oklahoma Aquarium

During a family road trip we overnighted in Tulsa an had an opportunity to visit the Tulsa Aquarium. We found an incredible array of salt and fresh water fish, opportunities to touch stingray, shark and shrimp and even feed turtles! Wander through the shark adventure to watch the toothy beasts swim over and around you. Daily otter feeding will elicit giggles and seeing the interaction of the coral reef divers and the colorful fish will make you wish you could dive in, too.

Open daily at 10am. Closed Christmas Day.

Pratt Education Center, Aquariums and Fish Hatchery, Kansas

Pratt Aquarium

Though you won’t find colorful salt water species here, the Pratt Aquariums feature fish that are native to, or have been successfully introduced to, Kansas. Biologists are on hand to show you through the building and answer any questions. The gem of this exhibit, though, is the wildlife right outside the door. The nearby ponds are popular with heron, ducks, and mink, for their abundant food supply.

Open Monday thru Friday at 8am.

Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, Nebraska

This unique aquarium is popular for its affordability- only $1 for adults and 50¢ for children. A total of 12 large display tanks display Nebraska’s native water life; the largest tank is designed to host some of Nebraska’s largest fishes, including the Paddlefish. In addition to fish you’ll also see amphibians and reptiles.

Open year round at 10am. Days may vary due to season.

Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery and Aquarium, North Dakota

Another aquarium and fish hatchery focusing on local fish. In the fall migrating salmon return to the hatchery, delighting hikers along the river.

Open Memorial Day to Labor Day at 8am.

Minnesota Sea Life Aquarium

Take a break from your shopping at the Mall of America and take an underwater adventure. Over 10,000 sea creatures can be seen here- from the Giant Pacific Octopus to adorable miniature seahorses. 300 feet of ocean tunnel, touch pools and interactive quiz trails make this a fun and educational experience.

Open daily at 10am.

National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, Iowa

Aquarium exhibits show fish and wildlife that live in and along the river; a favorite is the river otters sliding in and out of the water, while perhaps less popular are the snakes that are found in the area.  Instead of a large aquarium tank, several smaller aquariums highlight different aspects of river life.

The Port of Dubuque area where the museum is located is adjacent to Dubuque’s downtown, and just steps away from a casino, a riverwalk area, and the Spirit of Dubuque paddlewheeler, which gives tours of the Mississippi River itself.

Open daily at 9am Memorial Day weekend thru October 31; open 10am daily November 1 til Memorial Day weekend

World Aquarium, Missouri

World Aquarium

Also located near the Mississippi River in St. Louis, in the fabulous City Museum. Featuring aquatic life from around the globe you’re likely to see fish you’ve never heard of. Plenty of hands on exhibits for kids plus adorable otters, slow moving sloths and snapping turtles mean kids will adore this aquarium.

To visit the World Aquarium you must purchase admission to the City Museum.

Schedule varies during the year. Closed Monday and Tuesday, open at 9am Wednesday thru Saturday and 11am on Sunday.

Shedd Aquarium, Illinois

The most well known of all Midwest Museums, the Shedd sits along Lake Michigan in Chicago. Possibly the largest assortment of marine life in the Midwest you’ll find everything from anacondas to Zebra sharks. See the difference between the river and sea otters. Learn why the Lungfish can breathe in both air and water. Or just enjoy the grace of the dolphins.

Open year round at 9am.

Reiman Aquarium, Wisconsin

Inside Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin in Milwaukee you’ll find aquatic life from the Great Lakes, North Atlantic and Caribbean. A touch tank lets you get up close and personal with stingrays, shark and lobster.

Admission to Discovery World includes the aquarium. Closed Monday; open Tuesday – Friday at 9am, Saturday and Sunday at 10am.

Photo credits:

Oklahoma Aquarium; JLHalsted

World Aquarium

Pratt Aquarium

My family and I lived in Orlando, Florida for about four years and we spent many weekends enjoying the area’s world class attractions. That included SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. You could say we’re a little spoiled when it comes to animal exhibits and we definitely have high standards for zoos and aquariums. So it was with a little trepidation that I headed to Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut this summer. How could a tiny facility in a little New England town compare to the House that Shamu Built?

Beluga whale at Mystic Aquarium

The aquarium was small, it’s true. But, as my 11-year old son keeps saying, they “made really good use of their space!” There wasn’t a lot of unnecessary walking or wooded paths meant to make the grounds look bigger than they were. Each nook and cranny was used to display a variety of sea creatures in beautiful habitats that provided ample space for the animals to move and play.

The Mystic Aquarium didn’t try to do it all, but instead focused on doing a few things very well.

Frogs in the swamp exhibit at Mystic Aquarium

The exhibits were clean and spacious and made it easy for large groups of adults and kids to watch and learn. You can see even more by paying attention to feeding times or signing up for animal encounters and engagement activities.

Bottom line: two thumbs up to this seaside aquarium!

Photos: Britt Reints

Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Bucs, is host to the 2009 Super Bowl XLIII

As the clock ticks down toward the long anticipated Super Bowl XLIII, Tampa is putting the final touches on festivities leading up to the big match. The elaborate schedule of events includes celebrity autograph sessions, football clinics, football card shows, parties, concerts, bike days, golf classics, fireworks, and a game day half-time extravaganza that features Bruce Springsteen. But the game is not the only excitement in town. After the Super Bowl champions have been crowned, visitors will be delighted to discover that the Greater Tampa Bay area is home to hundreds of attractions, festivals, and cultural events. From the big city glitz of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater, to the dozens of small towns that comprise the metro area, Tampa Bay has something for everyone.

Dr. Beach named Caladesi Island the #1 U.S. Beach in 2008

Along the Gulf shores and on the barrier islands, dozens of pure, white sand beaches beg to be discovered. Several have made Dr. Beach’s list of top ten beaches in years past, including Caladesi Island, where thousands of unblemished shells wash ashore each day.

In addition to spectacular beaches, Tampa Bay is home to unique theme parks, professional and non- professional sports teams, fabulous shopping, museums, music venues, abundant parks and preserves, cultural activities, great nightlife and some of the best dining in Florida.

Some of the more popular attractions include the following:

Billed as the world's longest continuous sidewalk, the 4.5 mile long Bayshore Greenway provides scenic views of the bay and Tampa's modern skyline. A favorite with walkers, joggers, runners, skaters, and bikers, the path starts on the north at Columbus Statue Park and ends at Gandy Boulevard. Photo courtesy of Tampa Gator, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/

SHOPPING, DINING, MUSIC, AND ENTERTAINMENT:

• From Downtown Tampa, hop on the trolley and head over to the Channelside District, near the Port of Tampa. Channelside has been the center of Tampa’s waterfront since it was opened in 2001, merging shopping, entertainment, dining, and the arts into a single complex.
• Chosen by LIFE magazine as one of “America’s 21 Wonders,” Tampa Theatre is a spectacular 1926 movie palace. The theatre hosts indie and classic films, concerts, special events and tours.
• The St. Petersburg Pier, known for its five-story inverted pyramid shape that juts out into Tampa Bay, offers fishing, boat rentals, shopping, dining, entertainment, weekly festivals, and is home to a small aquarium. A replica of the HMS Bounty used in the 1962 movie starring Marlon Brando is frequently docked at The Pier. More recently this same ship was used in the filming of sequels to Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean.
  

  St. Petersburg's Pier Complex appears to float on Tampa Bay. Photo courtesy of Texxsmith: http://flickr.com/photos/texxsmith/1261895898/sizes/o/

• Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center provides a venue for a wide variety of world-class events, include one of the nation’s leading Broadway series, grand operas, concerts, performances, and events.
• Ruth Eckerd Hall, located in Clearwater, hosts performances ranging from world renowned classical artists and dance companies to Broadway musicals and pop stars.
• The Ford Amphitheatre, a unique open-air concert facility under a one of a kind canopy, is the site of the 2009 NFL Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Bash, which will showcase award-winning musical sensations Rihanna, Enrique Iglesias, Fall Out Boy, and Lifehouse.
• Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa features 3,300 gaming machines, 50 poker tables, multiple bars and a nightclub.

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES:

Known for its ethnic diversity, the Tampa Bay area offers unique cultural experiences:

• In 1885, a prominent cigar manufacturer named Vicente Martinez Ybor moved his cigar factory from Key West to Tampa, Florida. For the next 50 years, millions of cigars were rolled in this neighborhood known as Ybor City. Although the cigar factory has long since closed, the area has redeveloped into a popular night club and entertainment district. During the day, tourists can watch an authentic Cuban cigar roller at work and take in the sights along historic 7th Avenue. After dark, the area comes alive with live music and restaurants serving authentic Cuban cuisine.
  

  Centro Ybor, a family-oriented shopping complex and movie theater that opened in the former home of the Centro Español social club, is shown here with TECO Line Streetcar crossing in front. Photo courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/

• In the late 1800′s, when it was discovered that money could be made from the sponges that carpeted the seabed of the Gulf of Mexico, experienced divers from Greece were brought to Tarpon Springs to harvest the plants. As the industry thrived and grew, so too did the Greek population. Today visitors can experience this Greek influence at restaurants and shops scattered throughout the area and attend any number of Greek events, including Epiphany, celebrated every January 6th with the blessing of the waters and the boats.
• The delightful small town of Dunedin, located just north of Tampa, was settled by Scottish families in 1899. Evidence of this Scottish heritage is everywhere. Both the high school and middle school have pipe and drum marching bands and adult residents play in the City of Dunedin Pipe and Drum Corps. Each year, Downtown Dunedin hosts more than 50 events, including the annual 9-day Highland Games and Festival, where athletes compete in ancient Scottish sports. A Celtic Festival features Scottish-influenced music, dancing, food and fun, while the shops that line Main Street offer a variety of Scottish goods for sale.

THEME PARKS:

• Busch Gardens Africa (also known as Busch Gardens Tampa Bay) combines world-class thrill rides and live entertainment with a19th century African-themed park where visitors can explore the treetops on a zipline and see exotic animals up close.
• Slides, waterfalls, and waves abound at Adventure Island, Tampa’s 30 acre water park.

Graceful turrets adorn the historic Tampa Bay Hotel, which today is home to the Henry B. Plant Museum. Photo courtesy of the Plant Museum.

MUSEUMS:

• In its heyday, the Moorish architecture, opulent furnishings, and spectacular tropical gardens of Henry Plant’s Tampa Bay Hotel were a magnet for celebrities and VIP’s. Today this National Historic Landmark is home to the Henry B. Plant Museum, where the life and accomplishments of railroad magnate Henry B.Plant are celebrated.
• The SS American Victory, a 1940s-era merchant cargo vessel which served during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars, has been preserved as a museum ship in Tampa, Florida.
• The Tampa Museum of Art collection includes 20th century and contemporary art and a renowned collection of Greek and Roman antiquities.
• MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry) in Tampa is the largest science center in the south. The 400,000 square foot facility is home to Florida’s only IMAX® Dome Theatre, a Planetarium, the Science Works Theatre, the newest and largest childrens’ science center in the nation, and a myriad of traveling and permanent special exhibits.
• The Museum of Fine Art in St. Petersburg contains the only comprehensive art collection, extending from antiquity to the present, on the Florida west coast.
• Located in St. Petersburg, the Florida Holocaust Museum houses an actual box car from Gdynia, Poland that was used to transport victims of the Nazi regime to the concentration camps.
• The Salvador Dalí Museum boasts the largest collection of Salvador Dalí works outside Europe. The museum is currently located on the campus of the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg, however plans are underway for a new facility.

SPORTS:

• The Tampa Bay Lightning, commonly referred to as the ‘Bolts,’ is an NHL ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida.
• Reigning 2008 American League Baseball Champions, the Tampa Bay Rays, are based in St. Petersburg, Florida.
• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (often shortened as the Bucs) football team is based in Tampa. The team plays at Raymond James Stadium, which is the site of this year’s Super Bowl XLIII.
• The Honda Grand Prix, an Indy Racing League IndyCar Series event, is held in St. Petersburg each spring. This year’s race is scheduled for April 3-5, 2009.
• Tampa Bay Downs, open from mid-December through early May each year, is the only Thoroughbred race track on the West Coast of Florida, and is one of America’s oldest and most well-maintained racetracks.

In addition to the spectator sports listed above, a wide range of participatory sports are available. Drop a line from a pier or an in-shore boat or hop aboard a day charter to try your hand at deep sea fishing. Canoe or kayak the waters of the placid Bay. Enjoy a round of golf at any of the areas numerous golf courses. Go for a horseback ride, soar over the city in a hot air balloon, or skydive from a small plane. Or simply enjoy a leisurely walk or a day hike on a trail in any of the hundreds of state, local, and national parks that are scattered throughout the Tampa Bay area.

ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS:

The 500,000 gallon coral reef tank at the Florida Aquarium. Photo courtesy of Florida Aquarium.

• At Tampa’s Florida Aquarium visitors can follow the journey of a drop of water from one of Florida’s fresh-water springs to the Gulf of Mexico. Exhibits include a swamp/river area, a simulated beach, and a coral reef in a 500,000 gallon tank.
• Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa was voted the #1 Family Friendly Zoo in the US by Child Magazine. It features a larger collection of Florida species than any other zoo and has a hospital for Florida manatees where injured animals are rehabilitated prior to being re-released into the wild.
• The Big Cat Rescue in Tampa is an educational wildlife sanctuary that is home to more that 150 exotic cats, most of whom have been abused, neglected, or abandoned.

In truth, it is impossible to thoroughly investigate the Greater Tampa Bay area during a single vacation. With all the major attractions, ongoing entertainment, and a year round calendar of special events, a person could spend a lifetime and still not see it all!

Article by Barbara Weibel of Hole In The Donut Travels