This is about a little day trip my family took quite a few years ago and I forgot to write about it. I guess that’s a good thing that I’ve been just so busy with new elongated coins that some of our adventures get passed over. However this was another great aquarium and you know I’m a sucker for an aquarium or zoo. This trip had us heading west to Clearwater Beach Florida.

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick or injured marine animals. As well as public education, conservation and research.

During our visit there was quite a bit of construction taking place which made things a bit hectic. There was no directly entrance from the parking garage and we found ourselves walking along the road with no sidewalk, around back to almost a staging area. Then we eventually got through security and inside the main building.

There were your standard exhibits with all different species of marine life, including tropical fish, an touch tank, and some other educational exhibits. This aquarium however is probably best known for being the home of Winter the Dolphin.

Winter was a female Atlantic bottlenose dolphin who was rescued in December 2005 by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium team members and other partners. She had been found caught in a crab trap. She lost her tail due to her injuries, but Winter developed a way to swim without a tail in an unnatural side to side motion. this unusual movement was was damaging her spinal cord, and to help a prosthetic tail was made especially for her by Kevin Carroll and a team of experts from Hanger, Inc. Winter starred in the 2011 movie Dolphin Tale which was inspired by her story. Winter can be a bit shy but does make appearance at the aquarium every so often during the day, and is a huge attraction with crowds all gathering around trying to catch a glimpse at this special creature.

We eventually finished up with the aquarium and headed back towards our car that was parked in the parking garage. I had been on the look out for the penny machine which online had been listed as being inside the aquarium. Due to all the construction for some reason they had moved the penny machine into the parking garage behind a cement pillar which I had completely missed on our way in. A standard 4-design manual machine with a nicely designed vinyl wrap on the cabinet. The coins pressed really nice and absolutely love the one with Winter and her tail on it.

Another machine I almost missed was for some souvenir medallions that was tucked in-between some vending machines.

The medallions were of the shiny gold color variety. The designs are great showing off Winter, her tail, Hope another rescued dolphin and both of them swimming together.

Unfortunately Winter passed away on November 11th, 2021 at the age of 16. The community was devastated by her passing, and memorials quickly popped up everywhere. I was happy that we were able to see her during this trip a few years before she died. We didn’t get to see much of her but it was still a very special moment that we will remember always. Keep on Pressing!

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