aquarium

Sea otters love to play, play, play, play, play and they also have to eat, eat, eat, eat, eat — at least that’s what people say — so the Monterey Bay Aquarium is tapping Taylor Swift fans for help.

The Central Coast aquarium launched a fundraising campaign Thursday involving a re-release of one of its classic T-shirt designs to support its sea otter program and other marine conservation efforts after noticing a curious flood of $13 donations it could attribute only to Taylor Swift fans.

The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter is seen sporting a vintage 1993 Monterey Bay Aquarium shirt with sea otter art in “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl,” her movie celebrating the release of her latest album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” Swift’s fiancé, Travis Kelce, a tight end with the Kansas City Chiefs, is a known sea otter fan, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium had previously invited the couple for a special visit.

“Swifties, you truly walk the talk,” the aquarium said in a post on its website announcing the new campaign. “We tracked down the original artwork — first printed in the 1990s — and are bringing it back to say thank you, sustainably.”

The limited-time fundraiser, which offers the new eco-conscious reprints of the shirt in adult and kids sizes to those who donate $65.13, hit its initial goal in a mere seven hours, according to an update posted Thursday by the aquarium. When this story was published Friday, the total was approaching $2.2 million and the shirts were available on back order only.

“Intentional or not, by putting our sea otter conservation work in the spotlight, this has brought a new era of support and awareness to the Aquarium’s long history of ocean conservation,” the Monterey Bay Aquarium said on its website, which also features some fun Swift and sea otter crossover facts.

In addition to debuting the music video for “The Fate of Ophelia,” Swift’s “Release Party” movie included behind-the-scenes footage and commentary from the artist about her songs. The 89-minute movie made $34 million at the box office over its one weekend in theaters.

Brits hoping to see the likes of sharks, eels and angelfish may want to check out a huge new £1million aquarium display that’s just opened in the UK

Brits looking for fun days out with the kids on those gloomy rainy days may want to head down to a huge new aquarium in the UK complete with a shipwreck model and sharks.

That’s because SEA LIFE Great Yarmouth recently opened the doors to a brand new £1million aquarium display, and it’s pretty impressive. For a start, it’s home to over 30 marine species including blacktip reef sharks, moray eels, tangs, and angelfish. One major highlight is the 250,000-litre Ocean Tank and Tunnel where you can walk right under the fish and sea creatures, or get up close thanks to the specially created immersive viewing windows.

Oh, and keep an eye out for the impressive shipwreck habitat where all sorts of marine life is hiding in the nooks and crannies. The whole shipwreck was inspired by HMS Gloucester, a royal warship which sank off the Norfolk coast in 1682. The shipwreck itself was discovered by two divers in 2007, but it wasn’t until 2021 that the full public reveal was announced.

Other highlights also include an immersive interactive experience where you can see and hear crashing waves, with the aim of leaving you feeling like you’re completely submerged in the ocean’s depths.

There’s plenty more to explore across the attraction too, with SEA LIFE playing host to animals such as penguins, crocodiles, rays and green sea turtles. Ticket prices for SEA LIFE start from £16 per adult when booked online up to two days in advance – you can find out more at visitsealife.com.

Of course on a sunnier day, you may also want to leave time on the itinerary for a trip to Great Yarmouth beach. With miles of golden sands, a bustling promenade lined with restaurants and shops, and swim-friendly waters, it’s a firm favourite with sunseekers in the summer, but also makes for a lovely scenic stroll on those days where it’s a little too chilly to get into the sea!

It’s worth noting that it can get quite busy during the peak holiday seasons, so if you’re not tied to school holiday dates, it might be worth planning a trip when it’s slightly quieter. One happy holidaymaker did just that and shared their experience on Tripadvisor, writing: “What a wonderful walk on the beach in the sunshine. Such a clean beach. Out of season was ideal for us. We parked at the end of the road near the Premier Inn and walked down the beach to the shops. Such a lovely day and beach.”

This summer, there will be heaps of fun for families too including a Wheels Festival across June 21-22, the annual free fireworks on the Golden Mile on Wednesdays from July 23 to August 27, and fireworks displays every Tuesday near Hemsby Beach from July 23. You can find out more at visitgreatyarmouth.co.uk.

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