Tampa aquarium and zoo tickets compared

The short answer

Tampa has two single-venue tickets on SkyGate, and the choice is between water and land. The Florida Aquarium Ticket covers marine and wetland habitats on Channelside Drive; the ZooTampa at Lowry Park Ticket covers a zoo with animals from Florida and around the world and a manatee care centre. Each sells one option, general admission, with the same child ticket band.[3][1] Neither is a combined ticket, so seeing both means buying both.

The Florida Aquarium: habitats from wetland to reef

The operator gives the address as 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, Florida 33602, and describes itself as a nonprofit accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Its site names habitats including Wetlands of Florida, Shorelines, Coral Reefs, Heart of the Sea, Stingray Beach and Moon Bay.[2] SkyGate's listing describes walking through wetlands and coral reef displays with sharks, sea turtles, stingrays and reef fish, and touch experiences at Stingray Beach and Moon Bay.[1]

The single option is general admission, and you scan your smartphone ticket directly at the aquarium entrance. According to SkyGate, children under 3 go free, children aged 3 to 11 need a child ticket, and opening hours may vary during holidays and special events.[1] See The Florida Aquarium page on XTOUR.

ZooTampa at Lowry Park: a zoo with manatee care

ZooTampa's site gives its address as 1101 W. Sligh Avenue, Tampa, FL 33604, and calls it an independent charitable organisation committed to conservation, education, recreation and research, accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.[4] The operator runs the David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center, with a visitor area called Manatee Rescue.[4] SkyGate's listing names wildlife from Florida, Africa, Asia and Australia, splash pads and the manatee care centre.[3]

The single option is general entry, and you scan your smartphone voucher at the scanning gate without visiting the ticketing windows first. SkyGate's listing says children under 3 go free and children aged 3 to 11 need a child ticket. It also says bags are subject to inspection, only service animals are permitted, and the zoo remains open rain or shine except in extreme weather. The same listing says the zoo has accessible pathways and rental mobility equipment on a first-come basis, which XTOUR has not verified with the zoo.[3] See the ZooTampa at Lowry Park page on XTOUR.

The difference that matters

XTOUR's reading of the two listings is that they differ more in subject than in how they work.

• What you see. The aquarium is about water: Florida wetlands, shorelines and coral reefs.[2] The zoo is about land animals from several continents, with manatee rescue as its water-based exhibit.[4][3]
• Touch experiences. SkyGate names touch pools at the aquarium, at Stingray Beach and Moon Bay; the zoo listing names splash pads and interactive areas instead.[3][1]
• Food. SkyGate's ZooTampa listing says outside food is permitted for special dietary needs and that a picnic area is near the main parking lot; the aquarium listing says nothing about food.[3]
• Location. Both operators give Tampa addresses, the aquarium on Channelside Drive and the zoo on West Sligh Avenue.[4][2] XTOUR does not publish a travel time between them.

Tampa theme parks are elsewhere in XTOUR

Busch Gardens Tampa and Adventure Island Tampa are not sold as separate products here. They appear only as choices inside the 2-Day and 3-Day bundle options of the SeaWorld Orlando Ticket, to be used within 14 days of the first park.[5] See XTOUR's guide to Orlando theme park tickets for those bundles.

How to choose

• Marine life, reefs and wetlands: The Florida Aquarium Ticket.
• Animals from several continents and the manatee care centre: the ZooTampa at Lowry Park Ticket.
• Both, on one trip: buy the two tickets; SkyGate sells no combined option.[3][1]

Before you book

• Children aged 3 to 11 need a child ticket at both; under-3s go free.[3][1]
• Hours can change, especially on holidays; check the venue's own site for your date.[1]
• At ZooTampa, expect a bag inspection before entry.[3]