Marineland Florida

Hey everyone.  Long time, no posting.  Keith and I have been trying to stay warm the last several weeks.  It has been the coldest winter here in Florida in the last 7 years according to the local news.  Of course this has put a bit of a crimp in the activities for us.

This weekend however we were able to take a little trip with Southern Style.  Saturday morning we left Hammock Beach Marina for the short 1 hour trip (trawler speed) north to Marineland, FL which is both the name of the town as well as the dolphin interactive tourist facility across the street.  We toured Marineland dolphin center on Sunday.
                                                 
                                                    Dolphin pools at Marineland.

Marineland opened in 1938 as Marine Studios.  The original vision for the facility was to give the public an opportunity to view and learn about the bottlenose dolphin.  It was also designed for Hollywood film-makers to shoot underwater footage for motion pictures.  Marine Studios was the world's first oceanarium and the home of "Spray" the first dolphin successfully born in captivity.                         

During the 1950s and 1960s Marine Studios became Marineland of Florida and was a top attraction with 500,000 guests per year.  At the turn of the millenium the facility underwent changes and updating.  In 2006 it became known as Marineland Dolphin Adventure.  Today along with passive viewing and education; there are interactive activities that visitors can have in the water with the dolphins.

One of the most famous ambassadors was "Nellie" the dolphin.  Born at Marineland in February of 1953, Nellie stared in several TV shows and commercials filmed on site and was a local celebrity.  She inspired thousands of guests during her long life.  After 61 years at Marineland she passed away in April of 2014 as the world's oldest dolphin in human care.  Dolphins in the wild often live only 13 to 20 years and even in captivity usually do not live past about 40-50 years.
                                             
                                                Trainer interacting with one of the dolphin.

         Talking with some dolphin friends we made during the behind the scenes tour we took.

                                           
                                               Dolphin having playtime with a boat fender.

                         There are also several types of sea turtles at Marineland.
                                                       Loggerhead turtle

Kemp's Ridley sea turtle

Across the street from Marineland is the Georgia Aquarium Conservation Field Station.  This field station responds to sick, injured, or stranded dolphins and small whales in the area.  There was a concert there that Keith and I attended Saturday evening.  Great guitar pickers and folk singers.  We both really enjoyed it.

So it was really nice to get out and about a bit with the boat.  Next weekend we are heading to Detroit.  Yes, you read that right, Detroit, Michigan in freak'n January.  It will be a big formal party for our good friend Ray Batt as he becomes the commodore of his yacht club.  Tune in next week to see pictures of Keith and I you will rarely see (the two of us dressed in formal attire).