Fort Walton Beach Aquarium: 5 Reasons to Visit the Gulfarium

The Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Fort Walton Beach, a 10-minute drive from Destin, still has that Old Florida feel, the kind of classic roadside attraction you remember as a kid.
 

By Stephen Kubiak

Along Florida’s Emerald Coast on Okaloosa Island is Fort Walton's Gulfarium, a Florida attraction that’s been entertaining and educating visitors and locals alike for almost 60 years. In fact, we've named it one of our top Florida aquariums for families.

This Fort Walton aquarium still has that Old Florida feel, the kind of classic roadside attraction you remember as a kid. But much has changed over the years, and once you step inside you realize there's much more than nostalgia to the park. After spending the day with my family at the Fort Walton Beach Gulfarium, located next to the Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier, I've come up with 5 great reasons, old and new, why you should visit.

What to See at Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park

1. The Dolphins

The Gulfarium has had a dolphin show for many years, but now, instead of the ago-old tricks one would typically see at a marine park, the audience is treated to demonstrations that educate the public to these magnificent creatures of the sea. One of the trainers spoke to the crowd about the behaviors of the dolphins and showcased those behaviors throughout the show. The trainers continued to work with the dolphins even after the show; you could sense how deeply they care about the animals they work with on a daily basis.

2. Sea Lions

If one marine mammal was ever voted class clown by its peers, the lovable sea lion would have to win, flippers down. While the trainers had great fun showing off all of the tricks and comedic talents of the sea lions, they also took time to explain different techniques they use with the sea lions. It's a fact - a dancing sea lion never gets old.

3. It’s Not Just Marine Animals

While the Fort Walton Gulfarium has just about everything you can think of from the sea, they also have several, non-marine animals for visitors to enjoy. There are plenty of alligators, turtles, tortoises and birds to see along the park's Expedition Trail. My son enjoyed seeing the baby alligators, not knowing at first that they were baby alligators.

4. Kid-Friendly

You would think a kid-friendly park would be something of a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised by the little things they've thought of. For instance, picking up a child to see every animal along the way can get tiresome. At the Gulfarium, no problem: most of the enclosures are at the perfect height so my sons could see the animals -- without me having to contort my back.

With kids come the inevitable questions: “Daddy, what does that otter eat?” or “Daddy, why can’t we pet the sharks?”

Instead of having to make up an answer, there are plenty of knowledgeable staff members around to answer every questions. It's part of the staff's dedication to educating the guests about all the park's creatures. The Gulfarium also has a really great touch tank for the kids, but Tyler wasn’t sure about touching a star fish.

5. The Gift Shop

I know what you’re thinking; how can a gift shop be a reason to visit a place? First, it was a really cool gift shop with everything from Gulfarium shirts to classic roadside trinkets. What the kids really enjoyed was a back room that had wall-to-wall stuffed animals. With all of that stuffing in such a small area, the room was seemingly soundproofed. We relaxed for a bit and let the kids hug each and every stuffed shark, whale, and pirate seal.

Plus, after venturing around the outside exhibits for a while, the ice-cold air conditioning and stuffed animal heaven was a welcoming ending to our day at the Gulfarium. We spent quite a long time exploring, but will have to return; the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park offers many other great opportinties to see the animals up close, including swimming with stingrays and painting with dolphins.

With so many ways to learn from and engage with these amazing animals, the Fort Walton Gulfarium has plenty of reasons to keep coming back for visits.

When You Go...

What: Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
Where: 1010 Miracle Strip Parkway SE - Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
Phone: 850-243-9046, 850-247-8575
Web: www.gulfarium.com