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If you think about holidays to Florida, you're likely to picture sunny beaches and days teeing off on the golfing green. This is certainly true of top destinations St Petersburg and Clearwater, which are famous for their 35 miles of tempting white sand and excellent golf courses - but what else do they offer? They are home to a range of other attractions, from thrilling theme parks to prestigious art galleries, so it's definitely worth delving beneath the surface here. Indeed, if you're interested in discovering some astonishing marine life at a really unique facility, it is worth beginning your trip at Clearwater Marine Park. Helping creatures injured or taken ill in the wild, it aims to nurse them back to health and return them to their natural environment. However, there are a few permanent residents - such as sea turtles Molly and Stubby - which could not survive in the wild due to their injuries or illness. You can see Molly and Stubby swimming in the park's Turtle Lagoon, as well as visit interactive exhibits like Stingray Beach, where you can hand-feed the animals. Plus, you can also take behind-the-scenes tours to learn all about how they are cared for, in addition to seeing areas such as the veterinary lab and food preparation areas. The park is open every day of the week from 09:00 to 18:00 local time, so there is plenty of scope for including a trip in your itinerary. Another great place to see some animal attractions is Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. In fact, this park is home to a 65-acre recreation of the Serengeti Plains, where you can see all kinds of incredible creatures, including lanky giraffes and robust white rhinos. There are a number of safari tours you can go on, with each having a slightly different focus, such as endangered species. As you will be accompanied by a professional wildlife expert, you can be certain of learning a lot of fascinating facts about the creatures you see. In addition to the animals themselves, the park is home to a variety of themed attractions, including shows and rides. Here you can ride the famous SheiKra, which is the first floorless rollercoaster in North America. Thrill-seekers are bound to love this, while there are six other rollercoasters and a host of other thrilling rides to try as well. So, there is plenty to keep you busy! If you would like to see some animals enjoying life in the wild, it is worth travelling up to Crystal River, which is famous for its manatee population. Swimming with them is an absolute must if you're an animal lover, and you'll find there are plenty of tours on offer that will allow you to do so. It is also a good idea to check if the annual manatee festival - which usually takes place in January - will be running during your visit. This comprises a mixture of tours, live music and food, so it's a great event to attend whether you're eager to see some manatees or you're just keen to get a taste of the local culture. Art aficionados, meanwhile, should head straight to the Salvador Dali Museum in St Petersburg. The largest Dali collection in the world, it houses more than 1,000 pieces, making this the ultimate place for fans to visit. Tours are regularly given, which introduce you to selected works from the permanent collection. Typically, each tour will focus on one of Dali's interests or an aspect of his work, such as Catalan culture or mathematics. Generally speaking, these last for an hour and cost nothing to attend. The Average Bureaucrat, Girl with Curls and Puzzle of Autumn are just a few of the highlights of the collection. As well as seeing as many of his famous works as possible, you can also discover more about the building itself. Indeed, if you visit on a Sunday, you could take a complimentary tour of the museum's unique architecture and the design of the gardens, which are impressive in themselves. These generally start at 12:45 local time on Sundays, and are the perfect way to broaden your experience at the gallery. Discover St Petersburg and Clearwater's varied attractions with Bon Voyage. We offer amazing holidays to Florida, which will give you the chance to experience everything from its great weather and gorgeous coastline to its fantastic theme parks and galleries.
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