When my friends invited me on a trip to The Florida Aquarium in Tampa, I was nervous.

I had stayed inside since the pandemic started, so I was nervous about this—especially the crowds, social-distancing, and hand sanitizing stations.

Even at the grocery store, I try not to touch something unless I absolutely need to buy it, so a trip to the aquarium during a pandemic seemed stressful.

When I arrived, I was surprised.

They had brightly colored fish to mark social distancing rules, hand-sanitizing stations every twenty feet, and even a designated outside area for families to take off their masks, eat, and lounge.

What pleased me the most was how respectful people were of each other.

Despite everyone being excited and wanting to see the exhibits, everyone kept their distance, waited their turn, and said "excuse me" when passing each other.

The children surprised me the most; not only did they wear their masks, but they were kind and patient around others. These were things I hadn't even seen in a grocery store among grown adults!

The attitudes among the staff and guests alike made me enjoy my visit even more.

Litzy Lerma

The aquarium featured tanks full of snakes, otters, mangrove fish, and turtles! I got to see how fast otters dive and swim through the water. I can honestly say that I am in shock that there are animals that are faster than them and see them as their prey.

The jellyfish exhibit was my favorite exhibit.

The jellyfish were as smooth as silicone and as squishy as jello. As soon as I touched them, they bumped off my fingers and went in the other direction.

I saw lots of clownfish, and I even got to see one that was almost completely white. There were also colored lights that shone on the fish and coral, making them really pop, as well as aquariums on the ceiling. It was really cool because I was the first person in my group to notice them!

I also got the opportunity to see stingrays up close, but since I am five feet tall, I could not reach out enough to touch them.

I did manage to get one of my sleeves soaked when trying to touch the stingrays, so I'll wear short sleeves next time!

My favorite creature was a sassy turtle who bumped into fish on purpose, even hitting one with her flipper! According to one of the keepers, she was the boss, even though people tend to think that the shark is in charge.

My biggest take-away is that you never know what you might miss if you don't take chances and explore new places.

Overall, my trip to The Florida Aquarium was a magical experience. I was so glad to have been able to enjoy it. Being able to sanitize and wash my hands frequently helped me enjoy the trip a lot more. Everyone was respectful which helped my friends and I relax, and of course, taking as many pictures as possible in front of the coolest tanks made for lots of great photo ops!

Litzy Lerma

Litzy Lerma