Gulf Specimen Marine Lab in Panacea Florida is the place to go for those that love ocean life!
You may have noticed that I’ve started sharing a few posts that aren’t food related. I’ve wanted to share with y’all things that we do around here, that aren’t tourist and beach related. We aren’t really “beach” people. Of course we go to the beach, we just don’t build our weekends around being there. We like to road trip it, within a few hours of here, doing things that people may or may not know about. I’ve shared our adventures to the Pensacola Lighthouse and National Aviation Museum and over to Mobile, to visit the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. Today I’m sharing about a place that I found by doing a Google search one afternoon.
Panacea is located just two hours east of Panama City. It’s a little town with not a lot going on. Don’t let this little town fool you though! Located off the beaten path, right down the street from the bay you’ll find Gulf Specimen Marine Lab. Ever wonder where the squid came to be on the dissection table at school? This place possibly supplied it. Gulf Specimen Marine Lab supplies colleges, high schools, and other locations with specimens for dissection and study. You’re thinking to yourself, why would you want to go there?
Let me tell you! If you have ever had any love for marine life, this place is for you. There are thousands of different kinds of sea life located at the Gulf Specimen Marine Lab, waiting for you to discover and touch. Yes, touch! You can touch and feel hundreds of different sea life, from star fish and crabs to sea urchins and beyond.
Our family loved our visit to Gulf Specimen Marine Lab. The idea that you can get hands on with these creatures is amazing. Of course you could take a stroll down to the bay and get lucky with possibly grabbing a crab or some shells. Here though, you get the opportunity to read the plaques as you go, and learn about the different creatures that you’re picking up and holding.
For Kelsie, this was the opportunity of a lifetime. She’s torn between her love for sloths and her love for marine life. She wants to be a zoologist and marine biologist. This trip was a wonderful opportunity for Kelsie since we are studying marine biology this year in homeschool. She loved getting up close and personal with all the creatures. Especially this guy!
Although the sea turtle was off limits to touching, you can see that you can get closer than you’ll ever get at the beach!
Word of caution for this trip. Closed toe shoes are recommended. You are in and out of non-air-conditioned buildings and tented areas. It was super hot and humid when we went; dress accordingly! We were hot. I’m not sure if the hours change or not; perhaps a good time to visit would be early spring or late fall, when the weather isn’t quite so sweltering.
All in all, we had a wonderful time, heat and humidity included. I highly recommend this place if your a marine life lover, as our family is. You won’t be disappointed!
All opinions are my own, these are our honest reviews. We were in no way compensated for this post.
Marcie
Whoa! I love places with hands-on exhibits! What a fun place for families!
Jessi
That looks awesome! I might have to make a trip of that one weekend. It’s a bit of a farther drive from Central FL but not too terrible
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CoCo
Looks like such a fun time! Love how interactive it was and so jealous how close you got to that turtle!
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Jeanine
What fun! I love doing stuff like this, and my 7 year old is a huge animal and marine freak so this would be right up his alley! He would love it.
Debra
What a a fun place, I love days like this and making memories with my kids.
Jaimie
I love anything that has to do with marine life! I have never been to a place like this but it looks awesome, my daughter would definitely approve!
Krystal // The Krystal Diaries
This looks like such a great place to see. The exhibits seems really interesting and fun.
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Robin Rue
This looks like such a fun time. My boys would love to visit and explore somewhere like this!
Jen K
What a neat place! It posts like this that make me miss living in Florida. And especially today as I’m watching the snow come down.
Angela Tolsma
aww the turtle picture is awesome. I love finding places like this. It’s a great way to see life differently. It’s nice that they let you touch things!
Sarah
This looks like such a fun place to visit! I can’t wait to do some traveling this summer!
Holly
Oh wow this place looks really cool. Looks like a great place to take the kiddos!
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Lydia
I LOVE this! It looks like so much fun! Hands-on experiment is seriously the best when going to see animals
Missy Burson
The touching pond reminded me of Finding Dory! I love that turtle came right up to you, how fun!
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Ashley @ Far Beyond Love
This looks like so much fun! We lived in Florida for a lot of years and did so many things like this but we never made it there. I’m so glad you enjoyed your experience.
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Laura
This place looks awesome! I love aquariums so much! That purple fish is beautiful!
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rojielyn
i love what you experienced.those wonderful sea creatures reminded me of my sister. she love the beaches, fishes and even mermaids!
Kristin
I live in Florida and I have never heard of Panacea! What a cool place. I cannot believe how close you were able to get to the turtle! That is really cool.
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Kim
My son would love visiting this! The education behind it is priceless too. It’s a great day trip idea.
Mandy Carter
This looks like a great fun family day. I love hands on museums like this one.
Heather
I’m not a beach person either – I know, it seems to be something everyone loves, not me. This, however, looks exactly like something my family would love!
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Stephanie Lee
That place sounds like a blast! I love how interactive it is, and you even get to touch some animals! Very cool!
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Kiwi
Whata fun engaging aquarium. I like how interactive is it and you can actually touch some of the marine life creatures.
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HilLesha
How exciting! I have never been to Panacea, Florida, but this marine lab sounds like a place that my family and I’d enjoy visiting.
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Brittany
My kids would love to go to a place like this. We try to get to the Georgia Aquarium as often as possible but the specimen marine lab seems cool because you really get to touch and feel the animals.
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Vaishnavi
Wow, what a fun place to learn about marine life. An awesome weekend destination for kids too. Love this.