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Aquariums, MOSI and other Tampa Bay attractions have more in store this summer

 
Terry Tomalins "Take it Outside" at the Florida Aquarium's New Interactive Shark Program. The aquarium has launched a brand new program called Shark Swim that allows guests to become immersed in the Coral Reef Gallery, home to their massive Sand Tiger Sharks, sea turtle, barracudas, eels, stingrays and over 1,600 fish ?€š€" all without being SCUBA certified!
Terry Tomalins "Take it Outside" at the Florida Aquarium's New Interactive Shark Program. The aquarium has launched a brand new program called Shark Swim that allows guests to become immersed in the Coral Reef Gallery, home to their massive Sand Tiger Sharks, sea turtle, barracudas, eels, stingrays and over 1,600 fish ?€š€" all without being SCUBA certified!
Published May 19, 2015

Florida Aquarium

Near the Port of Tampa, the aquarium has more than 20,000 aquatic plants and animals in various exhibits with eels, rays, sharks, frogs, ducks and the always entertaining otters and penguins. You'll also see a giant grouper, alligators and several bird species that wander freely in the wetland exhibits.

• World Oceans Day weekend, June 6-7: Ocean-themed activities and educational displays throughout the aquarium and special presentations each day.

• July 4: With extended hours until 9:30 p.m. that night, the aquarium is a good spot to watch the Tampa fireworks.

• Shark Week, July 5-12: It's the 28th year of the Discovery Channel's most popular programming and the aquarium is on board with a week of toothy fun. You can see six species of sharks while enjoying shark-themed activities.

• Extended Fun Thursdays, June 12-Aug. 13: Extended hours and a price break return this summer on Thursdays. Admission is $15 after 4 p.m. and the aquarium and its outdoor splash play area and tiki bar will be open until 6:30 p.m.

Admission $23.95, $20.95 for seniors 60+, $18.95 for kids 3-12. Prices are about $2 cheaper online at flaquarium.org. 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa; (813) 273-4000.

Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI)

The hands-on science museum with exhibits on hurricanes, space, human development, engineering marvels and more, MOSI also features an IMAX Dome Theatre, the Saunders Planetarium and an outdoor ropes course.

• Mess Fest: The comedic S.T.E.A.M. punks at MOSI like to get messy and this summer there will be water-based experiments (June 13), the science of fireworks (July 4) and what promises to be the biggest food fight ever (Aug. 15). You might want to bring a change of clothes.

• National Days of Making, June 18-21: The Maker Movement and technologies like the personal 3D printer are driving innovation in manufacturing, engineering and industrial design. Get firsthand experience in making your creations come to life.

• Kids in Charge 10th Birthday and National Ice Cream Day, July 19: Special games, activities, birthday cake and free Blue Bell ice cream samples.

Admission $22.95, $20.95 seniors, $18.95 ages 6-12, 5 and younger free. Separate pricing for IMAX-only admission. It's $15 for the zip line only, or $10 with admission. Ropes course is $10 by itself, or $7 with admission at 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa; (813) 987-6000. mosi.org.

Dinosaur World

Sprinkled throughout the outdoor attraction's pine trees and palmettos are more than 200 life-sized statues of dinosaurs, both vegetarians and carnivores, each with its own explanatory sign. There are also dino bones in the Skeleton Garden, and visitors can tour the on-site dino museum.

• For Summer Sundays, get $3 off admission every Sunday June 7-Aug. 23 at the park.

Admission $16.95, $14.95 seniors, $11.95 ages 3-12, 2 and younger free at 5145 Harvey Tew Road, Plant City; (813) 717-9865. dinosaurworld.com/florida.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

The modest-sized aquarium near Clearwater Beach is a working animal hospital that rescues and rehabilitates sea creatures, the most famous being Winter the dolphin with the prosthetic tale. Her story has been told in two hit family films starring Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman. Coming up:

Dolphin Tale stars visit: On May 29-31 Cozi Zuehlsdorff (Hazel in the Dolphin Tale movies) will visit the aquarium, meet fans, take photos and hold Q&A sessions. Also, on July 18-27, Dolphin Tale actors Zuehlsdorff, Nathan Gamble and Austin Highsmith will visit.

• June 7 World Oceans Day: Learn about conserving the ocean and how you can play a part. First 100 visitors on June 7 receive a special CMA reusable bag if they promise to not use disposable plastic bags for a year.

Admission $21.95, $19.95 for 60 and older, $16.95 ages 3-12, 2 and younger free at 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater; (727) 441-1790. SeeWinter.com.

Tampa Bay History Center

On the waterfront in Tampa's bustling Channelside district, the 60,000-square-foot center's three floors contain interactive exhibits, theaters, a map gallery, research center, event hall and museum store. Coming this summer:

• Patios, Pools, & the Invention of the American Back Yard: Opening on Father's Day weekend, June 20-Aug. 30, the Smithsonian's traveling Exhibition Service brings this look at the suburban back yard as an American original invention. From the rise of the suburbs and tract houses, to the beauty of postwar garden design and the birth of the environmental movement, it is filled with vintage photographs, historic drawings and fun period advertisements. The exhibition reveals how these spaces became such an integral part of American popular culture.

Admission $12.95, $10.95 seniors/students with ID, $7.95 ages 4-12, 3 and younger free at 801 Old Water St., Tampa; (813) 228-0097. tampabayhistorycenter.org.