This is what I rank as a C-Tier Aquarium. For reference the Chattanooga Aquarium I consider A-Tier. Ripley's Aquarium a B-Tier. Most of the exhibits are outdoor. Most of them have a Gas Station attraction feel. Most of the habitats are relatively bare and I wonder if there is enough stimulation and space for the animals. We were not able to do an encounter. I really wanted to do the turtle one. We did get to see some of the shows. The Sea Lion show was good. I got to watch the Dolphin show from water level. I'm 6 foot tall so I was in the right spot to see above and below water. A cool thing to experience. The show itself was a little basic. At $25 a person 13 and up I would expect a bit more especially considering the Chattanooga Aquarium is only $2 more per person. Is this a must see, no. Should you see it if you like marine life and in the area. Yes, I feel that you would get something out of this. Now the encounters may change that; except that is a lot of weight to pull for an additional $40 per person.

My family and I really enjoyed our visit to the Gulfarium. It was very nice. The front of the Gulfarium was under construction so the curb appeal wasn't great when we pulled up, but the inside was very nice and professional. Our first stop was to see the sea aquarium with the shark. Out kids thought it was so cool to watch the shark swim by. The tank had a lot of fish and see life in it. There were also some smaller tanks with a lion fish, sea horses, and other animals. They also had a green python--my favorite snake. We went and walked around the outdoor exhibits where we say a large pool with a ton of sting rays. We sea a tank for sea turtles, African penguins, sea lions, otters, nuse sharks, and a bunch of turtles. We walked around the sand dune habitat and saw the biggest white pelicans I've ever seen. They were huge! There were also crocodiles, alligators, and big tortoises. Our kids favorite thing to see was the new space for the dolphins and their show. They had a very fun short show where the trainers had them demonstrate some of their awesome flips and tricks. We were very impressed. Overall, we were surprised by the size of the park. We thought it would be bigger. However, it was a really nice size for our 5 and 6 year old to walk around because it wasn't too much to walk and we were able to see everything and the dolphin show all before lunch.

Pretty neat place to visit. Nice to see that they are expanding. The Sea Lion show was closed when we went so while that was a disappointment, they did give you 20% off the admission price. They also offer a military discount. They have a lady taking your picture when you first arrive and I think she should explain that it is so you can purchase them photo shopped into a variety of backgrounds. Was happy they offer food to buy. We would of liked to purchase a animal encounter but they only offered 2 different times and we would of had to stay hours until the 2nd time. Good place to take kids.

This place was a nice experience. Fairly priced and took about an hour to get through, including the Sea Lion show which was fantastic! (Definitely our favorite part - we were not able to see a dolphin show due to arriving after the last show, but we were okay with that) Nice, relaxing and beautiful surroundings as well. The gift shop was pretty large and had a wide variety of souvenirs. Variety of animals as well.

We enjoyed our time at the Gulfarium! It was extremely packed for a beautiful day and the entrance was a little confusing on where to go to see everything but once we got the hang of it it was quite enjoyable. The dolphin show was amazing. The sea lions were so funny! The store was full of all kinds of memorabilia from your trip. We highly recommend taking your kids to see this!

It’s a small size facility. They made it nice and interesting. Great for educational purposes and spend 1 hour and 30 minutes with your kid without much work. Their show was nice. I would recommend to bring a jacket if you come during a colder weather because most of the visit will be outside.

Wonderful treasure of the Emerald Coast. We started visiting over 25 years ago, and they keep improving the facility and the exhibits for all to experience coastal sea life. While everything else around seems to be so commercialized, Gulfaruim remains true to its mission. Even in December, there was plenty to do and see. Really appreciated the generous discount for veterans and families on that day. Crowd was probably a bit larger than normal for the time of year, everyone was courteous and kind. Looking forward to upgraded facility in future visits.

This place had a couple really fun entertaining shows. It was worth going at least once. I think of I had young kids I'd definitely take them here. Oh course it's not a Sea World, but the staff do a really good job with answering any questions & presenting the animals. We spent over 4 hours looking around & seeing shows. It was raining on & off when we went. Most of this place is open, but they do have a lot of areas that are covered.

As an adult it's been many years since I've seen a dolphin show. This one did not disappoint. Also a lot of other sea animals, reptiles and fish to enjoy. Pictures speak volumes!

It's really nice. It was my first visit. It was a really nice field trip for my classroom of middle school students. The staff is friendly and informative. The park is really clean. The dolphins were cool, and I highly recommend.

Admission was pricer than t I thought it would be, but honestly well worth it. Their dolphin show was awesome. They obviously care very much for the animals there. They even have a separate area for rescued turtles where you can see them getting care in their tanks. I think they do a lot to really drive home that we need to share the area and take care of the animals around us. I appreciated that a lot. There is a good variety of things to see here and you can plan on staying at least 3 hours if not more. Definitely stop by and support this place and what they do.

Was looking for something different outside of the norm for the family and came across the Gulfarium. Was pleased with the shows, information and access to view the various sea life. The staff provided great insight and answered any questions we had about the exhibits. Be sure to arrive a bit early to each show for seating or for standing room at the dolphin show. Great way to spend time and share an experience with the family and friends.

I use to go here when I was a child. Now I was able to share this experience with my wife. We had a wonderful day and really enjoyed the shows. Seating to shows starts 30 minutes before show, so go early if you want a seat as they fill up fast. They are currently constructing an new dolphin oasis, but they still have the original dolphin tank, so you still get to see these adorable creatures! The tank has 2 levels below the water where you can watch the dolphins frolic from below. Food prices are VERY reasonable, especially for an attraction. I’m talking $7 for 5 chicken fingers reasonable. There was lots of shade and beautiful ocean views. The sharks were humongous! They run a rehab facility where they rescue and rehabilitate sea turtles to be returned to the wild. The parking lot was being worked on/ expanded when we were there, so parking was a bit of a challenge.

Nice variety of wildlife! The aquarium itself is really nice and the animals seem well cared for. The penguins are hilarious, so make sure you stay for the whole penguin lecture. It’s very educational for kids and adults alike. It’s a small aquarium and zoo, and you can get through in about an hour and a half. Make sure you wear good shoes and a hat. The sun is bright and it’s a lot of walking! They have a turtle rehab center where you can see what’s going on with the injured turtles. It’s so heartbreaking to see how humans have really impacted such beautiful animals. The Gulfarium is doing a great job helping these animals heal. My kids really enjoyed seeing the animals so I’d definitely recommend!

A little shabby and, frankly, sad aquarium but the kids really enjoyed it and it appears that the place is being expanded and refreshed soon. We liked that the aquarium was right on the beach. We also liked that it was clean and had a sea turtle sanctuary/rehabilitation center. The dolphin enclosure seems very small and outdated. Admittedly we didn't attend the show so we didn't hear anything about the handling and how the aquarium acquired the dolphins. What is really cool is that they have an albino alligator! The concession stand seemed reasonable for the location and when I walked past families dining, the food looked respectable. The gift shop was as to be expected but wasn't outlandish. All of the staff we encountered were friendly and helpful.

Had a wonderful time seeing all the animals here. Food was wonderful as well. Visted on the 13th of February. Was a little cool but we enjoyed ourselves anyway. Would definitely love to visit when the weather is warmer. Will go back again.

This place is wonderful. I am typically anti-zoo type experiences but this place was very cool. The kids loved it and there was lots of shaded areas to relax on a hot day. We watched the sea lion show and it was amazing! We got to see a Sea Lion break dance. We arrived early and beat the crowds mostly but I would go anytime of day. You can cool off in the underground viewing area.

I went to the Gulfarium with my family and the experience was alright. When I walked in everything felt pretty rundown and a little dirty. Walking around the entire aquarium took about 45 minutes and was most definitely one of the smallest aquariums I have ever been too. On to the positive things, the workers seem to like their job and my family had a good time. Im not an animal expert but the animals look happy and well cared. The shows the aquarium had to offer were pretty cool, not Sea World level but it was still a nice and fun experience. Definitely stop by here on your next vacation.

Cute but small. The sea lion show made it worth it. The staff and the guy who led that show were really great. And of course the cute sea lions. The dolphin area was not open to see when we went. It’s right on the beach so the views are nice. Some of the animal exhibits look kinda old and dirty which is slightly depressing.

My child (age 7) and I had a WONDERFUL time this Tuesday! It’s a smaller more intimate experience. Definitely pick your seats early for shows if you want to be super close. Volume of show music & narration was good; not too loud but not too quiet. Bring ear protection just in case. Staff was super helpful and friendly! ADA access was more thought out than most places. Such a wide variety of species and tons of creative learning opportunities. Well shaded from sun which was a huge plus for our sensory processing. Just absolutely fabulous. The new dolphin cove is not open yet. Overall such a great leisurely experience. It was also located within a very short stroll to other places of interest.

Great small aquarium with a focus on larger animal exhibits like dolphins and seals. Similar to a small scale Sea World. All of the exhibits were easily accessible and had plenty of easy viewing space. All the animals were easily seen which is great. Often you go to a zoo and the animals will be hiding in their enclosures; that isn’t the case here. Lots of educational sessions/shows. Reasonable prices on encounters and concessions as well. The turkey wrap is really good.

Lovely place to spend time with water species.. Dolphin & Sea Lion shows are amazing. There are few animal interactions too. Look for the schedule when you enter so that you can plan accordingly. Most of the area is outdoor & sheltered. Outdoor areas make it specious & easy to manage crowd. Little sand area for kids to play. Staff & food is good. Overall you can expect to spend 3-4 hours here.

This was a let down / though it has potential. 3 dolphins in a very small pool - and the main dolphin pool was closed. The brochure said dolphin oasis coming in 2023 - there are 10 days left and it’s not open yet. Touching pond had no fish to touch. Sting ray tank had just a handful of stingrays. The Gators and turtles and water fowl were pretty cool. Sea lion and dolphin shows were cute. Gift shop was great but overpriced. Lots of missing habitats of birds, reptiles, and small aquariums inside. Over needs some paint, more sea life, and hurry and open the dolphin oasis. Spent some good money to take my family of five and while they had an ok time k feel like we got a wish version of what could have been great . I would be open to go again after the oasis opens

Great for not wanting to walk a lot. The breeze from the ocean keeps you cool in the outdoor areas. The prices at concession are reasonable! The souvenir cups are awesome and come filled with a drink!! The dolphins were a hit but both shows were amazing. They even have wheelchairs if you need them to use for disabled or older seniors at no charge. The gift shopped was the only thing lacking.. it was pretty picked through.

We had a good experience here. The dolphin show was good. We watched them feed the penguins. Also saw them taking care of some sea turtles. Overall a great experience. However we are a family of 6 and it cost over $150 to get in. We spent about 2 hours here total and pretty much saw and experienced everything.

I just renewed my yearly pass for an adult +1. What a great way to spend an afternoon with a special someone. The facilities are a bit dated, the presentations a bit corny, but the intimate and up-close atmosphere makes the Gulfarium a guaranteed good time, rain or shine. I've pretty much memorized the scripts of the dolphin and sea lion shows yet I never get tired of them. And I could stare through the "windows" into the dolphin tank for days. (Watching the dolphin show from under the surface was even more entertaining than the stands.) If you are visiting the area, it's a "must do". If you're a local that hasn't been in years, it's a "should do".

Very nice aquarium. They have different show times for the dolphins and the sea lions. Definitely get to the showings like 20mins early for good seating. They have lots of cool marine life like, sharks, penguins, fish. You can also do hands on marine visitation as well. We spent about 3 hours here so definitely plan accordingly. Would come again.

The best decision we made when planning our wedding was booking Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park as my venue! We had an indoor ceremony and reception with the outdoor time for my guests to enjoy. Our guests enjoyed the great exhibit Gulfarium has to offer! The fun atmosphere made our wedding unique! We also loved our penguin ring bearer! Our guests thought it was the cutiest and coolest surprise! I would recommend booking Gulfarium 100%!! Communication with the staff before, during, and after the wedding was amazing!

10 out of 10 recommend to go! This place was awesome and my kids stayed engaged the whole time. The dolphin show was really cool! We will definitely be going back.

An absolutely amazing experience. It's a small park but very easy to see everything. The shows are great. It's a good idea to get to them early to sit where you'd like. There's a lot to see, a lot of shows. We didn't get a chance to do the animal interactions but we will for sure come back to do them sometime.

We loved it! It's quaint, but big enough. We loved the dolphin show. All the animals looked well cared for and we enjoyed ourselves there.

The best place so far for family fun. The kids had a blast and so did we. Great time. Plan on spending atleast 4-5+hrs to get it all in and walk away feeling like you've seen it all. Highly recommend this place.

It was great visiting The Gulfarium again. I hadn't been for 50 years. It was a great experience with great shows and lots to see. I took my grandchildren and they enjoyed seeing the different tanks but they especially enjoyed the dolphin show.

Facility is nice, animals are maintained well. Love that they rehab sea turtles. But kind of underwhelming for the price, very few animals for being so expensive, mainly shows about the animals which for a kid under 6-7 is hard to sit through and they are staggered throughout the day. Extra experiences are just as pricey as the tickets. Just going to see the animals and no shows could be done in a hour.

Great dolphin show and we loved the exhibits of the fish, penguins, and sea otters. The staff were nice. The majority of the exhibits are outside, so make sure to wear appropriate clothing. The only exhibit inside are the small fishes. There was handicap seating for the dolphin show. They sell food and drinks, but their water fountain outside was not working according to the sign they placed on top of it.

Go early to avoid the crowds! It was just ok. For the price def not enough to keep ya busy for long. Felt bad for the captive animals but that's just my animal heart.... Dolphins were the best. If you watch the show from downstairs you can see a different perspective which was pretty neat!

8-4-2022 - decided to go to the Aquarium while here. There are expansive changes coming by 2023, so be patient parking wise. Adjacent parking is nearby. We purchased tickets in advance, which includes all animal shows. We were able to get in with little wait time. Most of the exhibits are outside. A lot of people were in attendance, and the friendly staff kept things moving. Managed to see the Harbor Seal 🦭, Sea Lion, and Dolphin 🐬 shows multiple times, different performers and educational and entertaining. Walked around, asked questions at various activities, and we enjoyed it all. Would recommend it now and once changes are complete.

It’s definitely worth the money. There are constantly shows happening and the animals seem really happy. There’s plenty of free parking. The gift shop is awesome. The food is stadium type food. Staff is friendly. Not crazy expensive. Take a look at the “experiences” online when planning your visit. You can be in the dolphin show, swim with the stingrays, or participate in a number of other activities.

An amazing place for kids and adults. All kinds of animals and I was even surprised to see African Penguins ! The have food and drinks for purchase and plenty of encounters and shows for everyone. The only downside was majority of the exhibits were outside, so we needed to stay extra hydrated. Make sure to bring sunscreen and water. We were there for a few hours and absolutely loved it. Tickets are reasonably priced.

We had our first Family Summer vacation to Florida and I was dying to visit the Gulfarium as I had heard many great things. Admission price is $$ what you typically pay at aquariums/zoos. We did not purchase our tickets in advance as we wanted to use a coupon we got at our hotel so there was maybe a 5-10 minute wait to purchase tickets and get inside. They do have an option to purchase tickets in advance online and it seems that might be your straight in with no wait ticket. Once inside we headed for the Dolphin show first and it was beautiful. I think the dolphin show was my favorite part aside from the location. You have beautiful views on top of beautiful views. The place is literally on Fort Walton Beach so you get the beautiful view of the beach while you’re admiring most of the animals. It’s an outdoor open air facility and the setup is very easy to navigate through and very well thought out. I was happy with my overall experience and would go again but the reason for my four stars is that I wasn’t wowed. Don’t get me wrong the views were astonishing but other than that I felt as if I was at the zoo back at home.

Wonderful experience at the Gulfarium with my family. A lot of interactive exhibits and experiences! The staff was friendly and great with the animals. The grounds themselves were a bit small, but well kept and space was used in a great way for the different exhibits. The animals seem healthy and active (which is saying a lot for fish and reptiles). The only complaint I really have is they allow quite a bit of people in but most of the shows you either have to line up early and wait, or they have limited seating and can't seat everyone in line. The dolphin show, which we did get to see (our 2 year old is only patient for so much) was so cool but we had to stand at the railing due to no space in the stands. There were people all around the railing as well, which led to being in real close quarters with strangers, which wasn't a big deal, but a bit annoying considering two adults was slightly north of $70. There is a place for food as well, and had a decent selection for pretty reasonable prices. The gift shop was nice and while they do charge $25 for one print and frame, it isn't terrible compared to some attractions that charge for pictures.

Gulfarium was one of many destinations that I visited with my Wife on our vacation. Right as we entered there was lady taking pictures that you could later on purchase after you were done with watching animals. Place is not huge but big enough to offer a lot to see. They give you little brochure with little map and time frames for animals shows. We were lucky and got into sea lions shows. It was fun. I always saw things like that on TV. Those animals are smart as hell, we had great time watching staff interacting with animals. After that we checked every possible spots. There is a lot to see. Delphines, turtles, penguins, sharks etc. After that we spent some time in their store. Bought bunch of souvenirs and got our picture in nice frame. We had great time.

Our family of four had a great experience here. We went on a Monday afternoon and arrived just in time to catch the dolphin show. We saw all exhibits and caught the sea lion show too in just over two hours. Staff was helpful and friendly. Most of the park is covered so even in the heat there is shade to stand in. Big gift shop as you walk out so parents with little kids be warned.

We absolutely loved the Gulfarium! The people were very friendly and the dolphin show blew me away! My whole family enjoyed it! I also enjoyed seeing the nursery for the sick/injured sea turtles. Not overpriced at all, worth every penny! I do recommend buying tickets online before going!