We get a lot of the beach around here, but the Florida Aquarium is bringing us a new slice of the coast to explore. The center’s latest interactive exhibit, The Tide Pool, takes us to “the rugged coastline of the Pacific Northwest.”
The experience will be one of the “only cold-water touch habitats on Florida’s west coast,” according to the Aquarium. It opens on Friday, Aug. 1, but we’re sharing a sneak peek today.
Here’s what to expect
Guests can stroll along the 60-ft long exhibit, ogling and touching 200+ marine creatures from purple sea urchins to fish-eating anemones. The PNW species are kept cold and happy in a 50°, 4,000-gallon tank.
It might be hard to envision you’re trekking along the cliffy Oregon Coast after clomping in from the steamy TBAY summer, but the backdrop of the 70-ft-long mural by Curtis Stokes should help. The artist used UV-reactive paint + light programming to create a piece that transforms from a sunrise to a starry coastal night.
