Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, Sarasota (must see)

Mote Marine Laboratory is an independent not-for-profit marine research organization based on City Island in Sarasota, Florida. Founded in 1955 by Eugenie Clark in Placida, Florida, it was known as the Cape Haze Marine Laboratory until its 1967 renaming in honor of William R. Mote, his wife Lenore and his sister, Betty Mote Rose (major benefactors of the Laboratory). The laboratory aims to advance the science of the sea, both through its marine and estuarine research labs and through the public Mote Aquarium and its affiliated educational programs. It also supports the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.

You can explore the secrets of the sea through touch pools, viewable-working labs and high-tech interactive exhibits that showcase the world-renowned research of Mote Marine Laboratory. The aquarium houses a 135,000-gallon outdoor shark tank and over 100 species of marine life. Visitors can see sharks, manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, seahorses, rays, skates, and invertebrates. Mote Aquarium also includes windows into Mote's working laboratories. The Aquarium hosts birthdays, weddings, corporate gatherings, and other events, and can provide special group tours. Besides, you can join Eco-Boat tours or Seahorse Lab tours, join the staff for an evening on the Kayaking tours in Florida’s coastal waters at dusk, prepare a brunch for the sharks, or enjoy many other activities.

Why You Should Visit:
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium give you the possibility to take part in some unique experiences for both kids and adults alike: you can explore the secrets of the sea through touch pools, viewable-working labs and high-tech interactive exhibits showcasing the Laboratory’s researches. Feeding the sharks and meeting the charismatic manatees is an unforgettable adventure!

Tip:
There are two separate buildings to explore. Be sure to visit both.
If you have a zoo membership, you can benefit from a reciprocity discount. If you are staying at a hotel in the area, ask the staff whether they offer discount coupons.
You can avoid waiting on the long lines by ordering tickets online. However, discounts are not applicable to online ticket purchases. Ticket lines are usually small in the secondary building, hosting the manatee tank.

Note that in certain times of the year, there are plenty of school groups visiting the site. Hence plenty of school buses and lines. If you’d like to avoid the concourse, visit Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in the afternoon.