Mote Aquarium

Mote Aquarium is on City Island between Longboat Key and St. Armands Key at 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy. On view are North American river otters, crocodilians, manatees, sharks, sea turtles, eels and many of Southwest Florida's fish and invertebrates. Visitors can touch stingrays, horseshoe crabs, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and other marine life in touch pools and view working research in the adjoining Mote Marine Laboratory. A 135-gallon shark habitat features sandbar, blacknose and nurse sharks and other large fish from Florida's coast. Guests can also select from nine different virtual reality experiences that range from live action swimming with humpbacks to a computer-animated rollercoaster ride.

Guided tours are available. Food is available. Time: Allow 1 hour minimum.