The thing that draws most visitors to the hard-to-miss gates of Theater of the Sea (84721 Overseas Hwy., 305/664-2431, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily, $25.95 ages 11 and up, $18.95 children 3–10, children 2 and under free) is the promise of up-close marine-life encounters, including a swim-with-the-dolphins experience that’s trumpeted all over the attraction’s promotional literature.

However, general admission to the park only allows guests to watch a handful of shows featuring trained dolphins and sea lions as well as the ability to leisurely stroll through the tropical grounds. To get up close and personal with the sea animals—and your position on whether or not such encounters are actually animal-friendly—will have a lot to do with your desire to do so, as it costs quite a bit more.

It’s $55 to swim with rays, $135 to swim with sea lions, and a whopping $175 to swim with the dolphins; the sessions typically last 20–30 minutes.