SEAWORLD SAN DIEGO

With a colony of penguins, sharks, dolphins, polar bears and many other species, SeaWorld boasts over 10,000 animals, making it one of the world's largest marine life parks. Aside from the large aquariums featuring multicolored lagoon fish, rays and sharks, its success lies in its shows and attractions. From the Manta to the Emperor, the Electric Eel, the Tentacle Twirl and the Journey to Atlantis, all the theme park classics are on show.

But SeaWorld is more than just a place to entertain the average American - or tourist, for that matter. This commitment includes a species protection and reintegration center, a marine and animal research center, and an educational foundation. Nevertheless, the company's reputation was scratched by the fallout from the shock documentary Blackfish, released in 2013. Based on the tragic incident that took place at SeaWorld Orlando in 2010 - a confirmed dancer was fatally attacked by an orca during a show - the film denounced the poor captivity conditions of the so-called killer whales, and their danger to trainers. As a result, SeaWorld announced in 2016 that the orcas currently in their parks will be the last generation, and that they will then discontinue their program.