If you have followed me for any length of time you know that I’m a sucker for a good zoo or aquarium. While we were visiting Sarasota Florida for a little family vacation we took a break from the beach to check out the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.

The laboratory was founded by Eugenie Clark in 1955 and was known as the Cape Haze Marine Laboratory until 1967 when it was renamed in honor of major benefactors of the laboratory William R Mote, his wife Lenore, and his sister, Betty Mote Rose.

The aquarium displays more than 100 marine species across its expansive campus covering over 10 acres and multiple buildings.

One thing I thought was kind of unique and seemed like a very Florida thing, was that the aquarium had both indoor and outdoor sections. It was a different feeling to be exploring some of the animal exhibits outdoors under covered canopies and walkways.

There were separate buildings spread out all over their campus. Each with a specific speciality like the above section that was used to rehabilitation different species of turtles.

Another section was dedicated to alligators and many different reptiles, and my daughters favorite was the Manatee area.

Plus no aquarium would be complete without a shark exhibit and underwater viewing area.

Near that shark exhibit was a set of restrooms and as we hav just come to realize was the perfect location for two pressed penny machines. I guess it gives you something to do while waiting for your family.

Penny machine number 1 had a striking blue vinyl wrap that looked like water reflections and an intimidating shark at the bottom. The pennies pressed perfectly with images of some rays, jellyfish, a seahorse and a great white shark.

The second machine just a few steps away had a similar cabinet design only this time with a green tinted water color and a cute dolphin at the bottom. The set of four pennies available in this machine had images of some manatees, a few tropical fish, dolphins and a sea turtle.

There was a lot to see and do at the Mote Aquarium and I’m happy we took the time to explore all its different sections. We only had one more days left of our vacation but I still had plans to find a few more pressed pennies before we had to head home. Keep on Pressing!

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