Destin and Fort Walton Beach Florida’s Gulfarium

Frommer’s Review

The country’s second-oldest marine park (it opened in 1955) presents ongoing 25-minute shows with dolphins, sea lions, Peruvian penguins, loggerhead turtles, sharks, stingrays, moray eels, and alligators. Fascinating exhibits include the Living Sea, with special windows for viewing undersea life. During one of the shows, a scuba diver explains the sea life while swimming among the various creatures. The Spotted Dolphin Encounter is a terrific program in which brave participants receive an up-close-and-personal hand-to-flipper encounter with two of the dolphins, Kiwi and Daphne. A trainer will guide you through the 40-minute interactive session. If you’re not satisfied with just seeing a few dolphins and leaving, expect to spend about 3 hours here between all the shows and exhibits. (Be aware that swimming with dolphins has both its critics and supporters. You may want to visit the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society’s website at www.wdcs.org. For more information about responsible travel in general, check out www.treadlightly.org and www.ecotourism.org.)