After clearing up our plates from the table, the little boy requested to see the dolphins at the Gulfarium. My eyes grew big. They hurried to lock with my husband, who just returned from the area where to place the empty plates and throw the trash.
"He wants to go to the Marine Park," I announce.
For the past couple of days, I've been selling him the idea but he wouldn't buy. Not until two days before the end of our Florida vacation that he had a sudden change of heart.
"But wait, we need to go back to the hotel to get my DSLR camera."
The poor hubby had no choice but to go back. ;)
Though it took us longer to get to our destination, we were still able to catch the Sealion and the Dolphin shows. We stayed at Navarre Beach while the Gulfarium is at Fort Walton Beach which takes about 30 minutes drive depending on traffic
It was drizzling but thankfully, we were still able to meet most of the resident animals.
Our son loved the visit so much that he still sleeps with the stuffed dolphin toy we bought him. It reminds him of funny dolphins at the Gulfarium. In fact, we named it after one of them. Cosmo.
The Marine Park isn't that big and as developed as other places we've visited but it sure is fun for the kids. And just a few meters away is the beach. We could see it while saying hello to the seals.
Gionni got interested in the sea shells, he picked one and check out what is inside. It reminded me of my childhood days when we were still living in Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines. The shoreline of Mactan Island near the Marcelo Fernan bridge, which connects Cebu and Mactan, is still clean. And that bridge was still not there. We used to pick up sea shells and boil them for dinner.
Sadly, gone were those days. When the bridge was built, the squatters came. Or were they there before? Probably. Still, I'm grateful to have experienced those times.
How much is the admission to Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park?
Check out their website here --> https://gulfarium.com/general-admissions/
Would I recommend it? Yes, if you can.