One of Daytona Beach’s newest attractions is a mere 2.2 miles and 10 minutes from its top master-planned community (Mosaic!) and we at ICI Homes have the latest about the attraction and how Mosaic residents can enjoy it.

The Daytona Aquarium and Rainforest Adventure opened in February 2024 as the first aquarium in the Daytona Beach area, which is home to some of Florida’s most iconic attractions. The Aquarium recently opened its second major exhibit, the stunning Rainforest Adventure.

Mosaic is much longer-lived. This expansive master-planned community on Daytona Beach’s booming west side opened in 2018, but continues to add new custom Florida homes and residents while boasting the area’s most extensive resident amenities.

There’s plenty of room here for you and yours. And, if your household includes kids and grandkids, Daytona Beach’s new aquarium should be on your to-do list.

Here’s why.

Key takeaways

The Daytona Aquarium and Rainforest Adventure is one of Daytona Beach’s newest family attractions, located just minutes from Mosaic.
The aquarium showcases more than 1,500 animals and 350 species, including tropical birds, otters, lemurs, and sharks.
Interactive experiences include touch pools, virtual reality exhibits, live feedings, and educational encounters.
Mosaic residents enjoy easy access to this exciting local destination along with a vibrant, amenity-rich lifestyle.
The aquarium offers fun for all ages and supports learning through conservation-focused exhibits and events.

Meet the Aquarium

The Daytona Aquarium and Rainforest Adventure features more than 1,500 animals and 350 species, including amphibians, birds, fish, mammals and reptiles.

That wildlife is a magnet for kids of every age, but also for adults, who can be equally awed by the teeming, vibrant tanks, and the sounds of croaking flogs and cawing birds.

The Rainforest Adventure, which opened in July 2025, spotlights tropical birds, ring-tailed lemurs, inquisitive otters, and sloths, among other creatures. There’s also a Reptile Den, home to Florida-favorite alligators and many of their reptilian friends such as snakes and lizards.

The 100,000-gallon Shark Reef is a highlight. Touch pools feature starfish and sting rays — the 12,000-gallon sting ray pool also houses bamboo sharks. Visitors will discover other exhibits along the way, but don’t miss the octopuses. They’re astonishing up close, in real life.

Fun things to do

Visitors to the Daytona Aquarium and Rainforest Adventure can do much more than roam exhibits. The facility features an education room (more on that below), party rooms for special events, a virtual reality room with nine different VR experiences (diving with sharks, swimming with humpback whales, for example), plus other interactive options. And, many of these experience are included in your admission or as part of your membership.

Watch a tortoise waddle or pet a lizard in the education room. On the weekends, keepers feed sharks, asian water monitors and American alligators at regularly scheduled times. Tip: Asian water monitors are very large lizards — one of many creatures possibly new to you and yours.

The aquarium also accommodates special events. Think school field trips, summer camp outings, scouting activities (earn badges!), birthday parties, corporate events, holiday specials, and even proposals (hey, plan ahead).

Also available? A gift shop and an arcade. A cafe is in the works.

How to get there

The Daytona Aquarium and Rainforest Adventure encompasses 55,000 square feet. It’s located at 1008 West International Speedway Boulevard and is open seven days a week from 11 a.m., until 6 p.m.

Ready for your Mosaic lifestyle? Talk to ICI Homes here.