Posted August 30, 2012 by John in bookitnow

Animal Lovers Meet the Dolphins Of Clearwater

Florida offers vacationers and local alike various attractions and events to enjoy. From soaking up the sun with the many beach activities such as surfing and boating, to racking out your credit card for a day of shopping, exploring the various museums and art galleries, and indulging in an array of fine dining restaurants and pubs, the Sunshine States has something to offer everyone. And that includes animal lovers.

Florida is not only known as home to dolphins because the state is home to the professional American football team, The Miami Dolphins, but these marine creatures are native to the Florida Gulf Coast. Clearwater Beach is especially well-known for the many bottlenose dolphins that spend their time swimming in the waters. Because they swim close to the shore, visitors and locals alike can easily spot dolphins during anytime of the year.

While staying at your Clearwater vacation rental, if you’re interested in seeing dolphins up close, there are many programs and guided tours available. You can hop on one of the many sightseeing tour boats available and watch the dolphins in their natural habitat. You can capture dolphins swimming in the waters and listen to them as they make a sound under water or above. While on the boat tour you can enjoy the warm sun and cool breeze and do some sightseeing of the area around you, including the Gulf of Mexico.

In addition to boat tours, you can also stop by the many aquariums and zoos nearby. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center where you can closely interact with dolphins as well as other sea life creatures and land animals including sea turtles, stingrays, otters, raccoons, opossums, and many more.

If it’s swimming with the dolphins that you’re interested in, then make your way over to Discovery Cove for a dolphin swim program. Here you will be taught and aided by a professional to show you how to swim and interact with dolphins. You’ll be amazed at how friendly and fun these marine animals really are. In addition to swimming with the dolphins, you can also go snorkeling and scuba diving and explore the beautiful coral reefs and see the underwater shipwrecks that lie deep in the waters.

To make the most of your Clearwater vacation rental, you should also swing by the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa. This zoo offers visitors more than 1,800 animals to see in outdoor exhibits, as well as fascinating animal shows and rides to enjoy. Also located in Tampa, the Florida Aquarium offers over 10,000 aquatic plants and animals. Here you can see the more intriguing sea animals including sharks, stingrays, alligators, octopuses, eels and other animals.