Miami Seaquarium

This 38-acre marine-life park excels in preserving, protecting and educating about aquatic creatures, and was one of the country’s first places dedicated to sea life. There are dozens of shows and exhibits, including a tropical reef; the Shark Channel, with feeding presentations; and Discovery Bay, a natural mangrove habitat that serves as a refuge for rehabilitating rescued sea turtles. Check out the Pacific white-sided dolphins or West Indian manatees being nursed back to health; some are released. Frequent shows put gorgeous animals on display for the audience’s amusement; shows include a massive killer whale, and some precious dolphins and sea lions. The Seaquarium’s newly opened Dolphin Harbor is an especially fun venue for watching marine mammals play and show off; it also offers swim-with-the-cetacean fun via its Encounter (adult/child five to nine years $139/99) and Odyssey ($199). Note that children under five cannot participate in the Encounter, people under 5ft 2in cannot participate in the Odyssey and children under three cannot enter the observation area. Read up about the pros and cons of swimming with dolphins before committing to these programs.