Family Getaways 2008 - (Page 48) KEY WEST: Sunny Days’ Dolphin Tours See dolphins in their native habitat: wild and free in Key West’s back country. On the tour, knowledgeable guides dole out fun facts about dolphin lifestyles as you watch them frolic in your boat’s wake. The tour also includes a chance to snorkel the Keys’ famous coral reefs. KEY WEST: Dancing Dolphin Spirit Charters Be the dolphin on Capt. Victoria’s Dolphin Day for Humans charter. Specializing in “children of all ages,” the wilderness boat tour includes a snorkel tow on a “dolphin water massage board.” Wild dolphin often join “human dolphin” on their voyage into dolphinity. 1) 2) 3) ISLAMORADA: Theater of the Sea One of the highlights of this all-day marine life destination is a short boat ride on a “bottomless boat,” where dolphin perform in the open water at the boat’s center while passengers applaud from seats around an arena. Besides watching dolphin behavior, swimming with dolphin and a snorkeling cruise into dolphin habitat, the 62-year-old facility offers sea lion experiences, a beach, snorkeling with tropical fish and gardens filled with parrots, sea turtles and other native and exotic creatures. 4) MARATHON: Dolphin Research Center Paint with a dolphin? DRC adds an artistic twist to the dolphin experience. Participants collaborate with one of its 19 dolphin – many of them descendants of the 1963 Flipper movie cast – to create a colorfully abstract T-shirt that the dolphin decorates with water-based paints and a paintbrush it holds in its mouth. This and other encounter programs help the facility fund important research on dolphin parenting and other factors that help us understand and improve life for coastal dolphin. 5) MARATHON: Hawk’s Cay Resort Stay where dolphin live at this seaside resort. The Dolphin Connection has designed programs for kids and adults to learn about and interact with its stable of dolphin. The breeding and training facility lets you feed the dolphin, get into the water to splash around with them, help train them and experience them one-on-one or with a group. 6) KEY LARGO: Island Dolphin Care Every child should be able to experience dolphins in Florida, and this place makes sure. It was developed specifically so kids with special needs could undergo the healing pleasure of a dolphin’s company. Programs range from half-day meet-and-greets to five-day “Dolphin Time-Outs.” 7) KEY LARGO: Dolphin Cove Tiny tots, you have From top, dolphin show at Miami Seaquarium. Center, Madison kissing little girl at Dolphin Research Center. Above, Sherman and Eclipse kissing at the Theater of the Sea. your own dolphin program! The Junior Dolphin Encounter here was designed specifically for 4- to 6-year-olds. It’s a non-swim, stay-dry experience where small children learn about, pet and kiss the loveable creatures. Home to the Marine Environment Research & Education Center, its mission is to raise public awareness with its Structured Swim program, which includes an educational briefing aboard a 30-passenger boat.
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