Marineland Dolphin Adventure: Don’t Miss The 80th Anniversary Celebration

Honored to be invited to a month-long 80th Anniversary Celebration that started with the Historic reopening ceremony of the Marineland arch entrance, I can tell you that there’s no better time to visit Marineland Dolphin Adventure than right now! Gone are the days for visitors to passively watch performances at this dolphin conservation center located just south of St. Augustine along scenic A1A in Marineland, Florida.  Now a part of the Georgia Aquarium, Marineland Dolphin Adventure is a beautiful facility where families can have physical and emotional connections with playful dolphins through interactive programs and tours.  There are plenty of reasons to soak up the sun and fun at this iconic attraction of Florida.

Marineland Dolphin Adventure

My traveling family was ecstatic to visit Marineland Dolphin Adventure for the first weekend of the 80th Anniversary Celebration.  We spent the day getting up close and personal with these beautiful creatures and learned so much about them.  Did you know that dolphins can swim at speeds of 35 miles per hour and that Nellie the dolphin lived to be 61 years old while living at Marineland? You can watch a touching tribute to Nellie HERE.

Did you know that Nellie the dolphin lived to be 61 years old at Marineland Dolphin Adventure?

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There’s so much more to see and do any month of the year but especially during this month of special events and activities for the whole family.  You do not want to miss all the reasons to visit Marineland, Florida this year.

MOVIE VENUE

Marineland Dolphin Adventure was created as an underwater film studio in 1938 who wanted to introduce undersea life to audiences nationwide. The most well-known classic movies created at “Marine Studios” in the 1950s are Sea Hunt, Creature from the Black Lagoon and Revenge of the Creature, who starred a talented bottlenose dolphin named “Flippy.”

Through the decades, many movies continued to be shot on location here including Benji Takes a Dive at Marineland. A brand new movie called Bernie the Dolphin was filmed here earlier this year starring big names like Kevin Sorbo and Patrick Muldoon and will hit theaters in December 2018.

Watch Bernie The Dolphin filming The movies that have been filmed at Marineland Dolphin Adventure are:

• Marine Circus (1939)
• Port Sinister (1953)
• The Sea Around Us (1953)
• Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
• Revenge of the Creature (1955)
• Secrets of the Reef (1956)
• Sea Hunt (1958, TV)
• Zaat (1975)
• Sea Dream (1978)
• Benji Takes a Dive at Marineland (1981, TV)
• The Flamingo Rising (2001, TV)
• Bernie the Dolphin (2018)

MEET THE TRAINERS

Every day in June 2018 is at two different time slots, guests have an opportunity to learn about dolphins and see the highly skilled trainers interact with them.  It’s no wonder that scores of young people leave Marineland every week with visions of being a trainer themselves.

FUN DISCOUNT DAYS

Sundays and Mondays are fabulous days to visit for Florida fun and discounts.  Each Sunday in June from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., you’ll find a Farmers Market with live entertainment waiting there for you.  Sunday also means fun days for families with children’s events, face painting, eating contests, animal touch pools, and more.  Two kids get a free admission with a paying adult!  On Mondays in June, Marineland is offering Buy one – Get one for general admission and the “Behind the Seas” tour.

FREE TICKETS

Join the beach cleanup effort called, “Save Our World Ocean” on June 8th that will begin at the boardwalk adjacent to Marineland.  Live music will entertain those as they clean and volunteers will receive free passes.

EXCITING EDUCATION

During our ‘Behind the Seas’ tour, we learned that there are 15 dolphins onsite – one fella that’s over 500 pounds.  We also fell in love with Betty – the sweet 50-year-old gal!  Since there’s more than dolphins at Marineland, we were also able to see lots of other sea life including a 5-foot long moray eel!

On June 10th, visitors have the chance to learn more about Marineland history, dolphin research, and conservation.  Visitors that attend the lecture will learn from experts Dr. Kathleen Dudzinski, John Anderson, and Matthew Denny.

MILITARY SUPPORT

There’s a special 5k on June 16th!  “The Gratitude America 5k Run” starts at 8 a.m. at Marineland and will benefit our USA Veterans.

GATOR NIGHT

An unforgettable evening is planned for June 16 at 7 p.m. as Heisman Trophy winner Steve Spurrier will be on-site to feed dolphins and reenact an experience he had at Marineland during the 1960s.  This event will be followed by a movie that was filmed at Marineland, along with food and beverages available.

OFFICIAL CELEBRATION DAY

Don’t miss the big celebration of the official anniversary of Marineland’s humble beginnings on June 23rd.  There will be proclamations, special guests, food and beverages, a silent auction, and a free souvenir booklet.

Not only is Marineland Dolphin Adventure a one-of-a-kind facility for the care of marine life, it’s also situated smack dab in the middle of one of my favorite areas of Florida.  If time allows, take the family 30 minutes north to St. Augustine or south to Beverly Beach.

Warning: Please don’t confuse Marineland Dolphin Adventure with attractions of the same name in Canada or Grand Cayman Island.

Location: 9600 N Ocean Shore Blvd, St Augustine, FL 32080

watch video of our family travel adventure in Marineland, FloridaClick Here For Great Hotel Options In Palm Coast, Florida

Visit the official Marineland Dolphin Adventure website to start planning your trip now.

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I’m glad to help with any questions about Marineland Dolphin Adventures that you may have.  Ask away in the comments or contact box below!

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