Moments to Cherish
Orchids, Tropicals, Birds and Butterflies
The USF Botanical Gardens offer 10 acres of landscape displays and collections, a plant shop and bookstore. Enjoy orchids, begonias, palms, tropicals, carnivorous plants, birds, butterflies and more – totalizing a living collection of more than 3,000 of plants, animals and natural habitats. Attracting about 35,000 visitors annually, the gardens serve as an important outreach component of the University of South Florida (USF). Plant festivals and other events attract enthusiasts from around the state to shop for rare and unusual plants. The garden’s house ongoing research in medical botany, provide opportunities for service-learning to USF students and is a great way for student organizations to get involved on campus. The admission for adults is $5 and students with a valid ID admission is only a dollar.
The Florida Aquarium
Immerse yourself in one of the top family-friendly aquariums in the country with interactive programs like "Swim with the Fishes" and "Dive with the Sharks" or take a peak behind the scenes with a shark feeding or penguin encounter at The Florida Aquarium. With many exhibits, shows and special events, the aquarium has fun for everyone. From playful river otters to intimidating sharks, there are more than 20,000 aquatic animals and plants to see during a visit to the Aquarium. Touch a bamboo shark in Stingray Beach or a sea star in the No Bone Zone on the 2nd floor. For a wildlife experience, take the Wild Dolphin Cruise departs daily from The Florida Aquarium (weather permitting) to view some of the 500 wild dolphins that call Tampa Bay home. This 75-minute cruise includes an entertaining tour aboard the 72-foot, powered catamaran the Bay Spirit II.