ORLANDO, Fla. — When you think of Icon Park in Central Florida, you likely think of the Orlando Eye, food and entertainment.
Within that popular entertainment complex sits Sea Life Aquarium Orlando.
The aquarium is a large indoor facility home to thousands of underwater creatures.
Sea Life’s curator, Kelli Sparks, said there is something for the entire family, and you go at your own pace.
“So, when guests come to Sea Life, they get to walk through a variety of habitats at their own pace,” Sparks said.
The aquarium is a self-guided, immersive marine experience where visitors of all ages learn about places like the Everglades and the Indian Ocean and can walk through Florida’s only 360-degree ocean tunnel.
There are also several tour opportunities (priced separately) that allow guests to learn how Sea Life operates and cares for numerous underwater creatures that are all indoors.
The behind-the-scenes Turtle Experience tour takes guest on a journey to the top of the tank to visit with a green sea turtle.
Experts will feed the marine reptile while visitors are only feet away. They can learn what the animal eats and how the turtle was injured in the Florida Keys.
“Chely is actually a boat strike victim, which means his shell was hit by the propeller of a boat," Sparks said. "This caused an injury on the back of the shell, which can cause some paralysis — which means he’s not releasable.”
The cost of entry for Florida residents at the Sea Life Aquarium is $24.99 for adults and $19.99 for children.
The behind-the-scenes Turtle Experience Tour is an additional $15 per person and is available only once a day at 12:30 p.m.