By Melissa Voelker
Miami, Florida is not just another sunny vacation spot for the
beach-going crowd. It is a city that offers many options for things to do, especially if you are an animal and science lover. Between the museum, Seaquarium, zoo and Parrot Island, you can get your fill of lions, tigers, sharks and stars.
Miami Museum of Science
The museum has many permanent exhibits as well as changing exhibits, such as "Megalodon: The Largest Shark that Ever Lived" as well as "Newton's Notions." The planetarium is home to "Jack Horkheimer's Star Gazer," a weekly television series that airs on most public television stations, as well as the Weintraub Observatory. There is also an on-site wildlife center with a rehabilitation center for injured birds of prey. Museum tickets for adults are $18, students are $16 and children are $13. Special rates are offered for Dade County employees and museum members. Tickets include admission to all galleries, planetarium shows and the wildlife center. The Miami Museum of Science is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., except for Christmas and Thanksgiving when it is closed.
Miami Museum of Science
3280 South Miami Ave,
Miami, FL 33129
Tel: (305) 646-4200
Miami Seaquarium
The Miami Seaquarium is home to a variety to exhibits and shows, such as the "Golden Dome Sea Lion Show" starring sea lions and harbor seals, "The Flipper Dolphin Show" with bottlenose dolphins, and "The Killer Whale and Dolphin Show" which includes a killer whale as well as white-sided dolphins. There is also a a shark pool, tropical reef pool and manatee pool. General admission tickets for adults are $36 and for children 3 to 9 years old they are $27, while parking is $8. Discounts are available for groups, seniors and military personnel. The Seaquarium is open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Miami Seaquarium
4400 Rickenbacker Causeway,
Miami, FL 33149
Tel: (305) 361-5705
Miami Metrozoo
The Miami Metrozoo is home to exhibits such as "Amazon and Beyond," with Tropical American animals in residence such as jaguars, harpy eagles, toucans and vipers. They also have a collection of animals from around the globe, such as tigers, lions, bears, giraffes, okapis and gorillas. The Children's zoo is home to animals such as blue-tongue skinks, kinkajous and macaws. The Zoo offers several programs for those that want to get an inside peek into the behind-the-scenes of the park, such as Zookeeper for a Day adventures where you can help care for animals, or Overnights with a school or scout group. Tickets for adults are $16, for children are $12 and discounts are available for members, groups and Miami-Dade County Employees. The zoo is open daily year-round from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with special areas such as the Aviary and Children's Zoo open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Miami Metrozoo
12400 SW 152 St,
Miami FL 33177
Tel: (305) 251-0400
Parrot Jungle Island
Parrot Jungle Island has a more specialized collection of animals to see at its park, including reptiles, mammals, birds and primates that all normally make their homes in the jungles. The park has several shows to see, starring tigers, alligators and birds. They also have exhibits of tropical plants, trees and flowers. Tickets for adults are $30, for children are $24 and discounts are available for seniors, active military personnel and their families and children under age 2. Parking is $7. The park is open 365 days a year from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Parrot Jungle Island
1111 Parrot Jungle Trail
Miami, FL 33132
About the Author:
Melissa Voelker has been a professional writer since 2002. She works full time at a TV station in the commercial traffic department and also writes for Paperbackreader.com and Pinkraygun.com. Her articles have appeared in "Listen," "The Spokesman Review" and "Freepress Houston."
