If you’re vacationing on Florida’s Gulf Coast this month (and we hope you are), the bad news is that the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is temporarily closed beginning October 7. The good news is that it’s for an exciting reason: the filming of Dolphin Tale 2 is currently in progress. During the filming, the aquarium is closed from October 7 through November 28; from December 2-20; and from January 6-17. Winter’s Dolphin Tale Adventure facility on Cleveland Street in downtown Clearwater is still open during the filming. You can read more about the Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s filming schedule and hours of operation here.
Dolphin Tale 2 is inspired by another true story based on the life of rescued bottle nose dolphin, Winter, and introduces a new character to the story with Hope, a baby dolphin who was also saved and rehabilitated by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in 2010. The entire cast of Dolphin Tale reunites for the sequel, which includes big names such as Harry Connick Jr., Morgan Freeman, Kris Kristofferson, and Ashley Judd, just to name a few. The scheduled release date for the film is September 19, 2014. Both Winter and Hope play themselves in the sequel. It’s a must-see!
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is open on a few select dates throughout the rest of 2013. It will be open on November 29, 30 and December 1, as well as December 21 through January 5 (with the exception of Christmas Day). If you’re vacationing on the Gulf Coast during that time, it’s your chance to see these famous dolphins for yourself. Make sure you add it to your travel itinerary and learn more about the life and story of Winter and Hope.
The aquarium may be closed, but there are plenty of other fun events and attractions to attend during your t
ime here. Indian Rocks Beach hosts its Oktoberfest on the Beach this weekend. Busch Garden Tampa offers Howl-O-Scream during select nights in October. The kids will love the annual Pumpkin Carving event at Kolb Park in Indian Rocks Beach on Saturday, October 10.
Stay tuned and we’ll keep you posted on more upcoming fall events that you won’t want to miss. We hope to see you in our Gulf Coast towns, on our beaches, and at our local events. If you have a fall beach vacation planned for the Gulf Coast of Florida, please let us know.
And one final note, Go Rays!
