Clearwater Marine Aquarium
By Angela Ash
When you find yourself anywhere near Clearwater Beach, do not even think about not adding the Clearwater Marine Aquarium to your list of "Must Do's". This place is nothing short of amazing.
If you are walking in, expecting to see your average, everyday aquarium, with rows of bubble tanks, then prepare to be surprised and thrilled. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is literally a working aquatic hospital, where injured, sick, or stranded animals are brought in for treatments and surgeries, hopefully to be returned to the wild.
You have surely heard of one such resident, Winter the dolphin, from the motion picture Dolphin Tale. The CMA completely shocked the world by fitting Winter with a prosthetic tail, catapulting her into the role of the most famous dolphin in the world. And on the last day of filming, fate brought Hope into the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, set to star in the sequel, Dolphin Tale 2.
And yes, you heard correctly... most of the filming for both movies occurred right at the aquarium, so sets and props are around every corner. However, if you want to wade just a little deeper into the movie magic, take the Jolley Trolley or the narrated boat ride to Winter's Dolphin Tale Adventure, where you will embark on an educational journey that will lead you deep into Winter's miraculous story.