Things to do / Travel Guide
With all the exciting activities for tourists in Central Florida one might be tempted to overlook the action at the zoos. Don't make that mistake. The number of zoos operating in the region is as large as their offerings are varied.
Zoos and Aquariums around Orlando, Florida
The Orlando area has a number of great choices starting with Disney's Animal Kingdom. You'll enjoy many encounters with live animals throughout the park. You'll even see endangered cotton-top tamarin primates up close. And then there are the rides: Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain is one of the newest, and one you won't soon forget.
Just as famous is SeaWorld Orlando, featuring Shamu the killer whale, who returns with an entirely new show. You can also enjoy Odyssea, a non-traditional circus. Among the rides are Challenge Kraken a floorless coaster, and Journey to Atlantis, which is part water ride, part roller coaster. And then there are the close-up views of the animals themselves, including penguins, polar bears, sharks, and more.
You'll need reservations at Discovery Cove, a combination resort/aquarium that's on the pricey side. Among the fun things you'll be able to do are swim with the dolphins, explore coral reefs, and touch the sting rays in the ray lagoon.
Then there's Cypress Gardens Adventure Park. Enter the Nature's Way exhibit and you'll see jaguars and crocodiles, then go into a lush aviary, where dozens of lorries and other birds fly freely all around; one may even land on your hand for food! Throughout the day, you'll have a chance to view and interact with many varied types of amazing creatures.
Budget a two to three hour visit to the Central Florida Zoological Park and you'll see endangered species like clouded leopards, black howler monkeys, and black-footed cats. Other animals on view include American crocodiles, a Gila monster, bald eagles, and a banded Egyptian cobra.
Finally, there's Gatorland, a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve that's all-things alligators. You'll see the creatures actually jump four to five feet out of the water to retrieve food, and then watch a man wrestle with one. There are also some dangerous snakes to observe - from a safe and peaceful distance.
Zoos and Aquariums around Tampa Bay, Florida
Tampa's Florida Aquarium offers many exciting hands-on adventures. Enter the aquarium's Wetlands Gallery and you'll see birds soaring overhead, turtles basking in the sun, and fish darting through the water. The aquarium also offers tours aboard a 64-foot, 49-passenger catamaran.
In addition to plenty of rides and roller coasters, Busch Gardens - Tampa Bay also gives you the opportunity to have many up-close and personal encounters with amazing animals. You'll watch brilliantly-colored parrots, lorikeets, hornbills all around, and observe hundreds of beautiful African animals from the Serengeti Express Railway. You can even walk through mist and fog to watch great apes in their natural habitat.
Among the attractions at the Zoological Society of Tampa is an interactive area designed especially for families. Among the animals you'll see in this Australian adventure are kookaburra, goats, wallabies, and kangaroos. There's also a water play area called “The Billabong,” where the little ones can also pet goats and ride a pony.
Zoos around the Cape Canaveral Area
What's happening at the Brevard Zoo on the east coast? How 'bout kayaking through wetlands! You'll also see more than 500 animals during your visit, including red kangaroos, white rhinos, and bald eagles. Kids will love the petting zoo.
Aquariums in Sarasota, Florida
Down in Sarasota is the Mote Marine Aquarium, where you can see a rare 27-foot-long giant squid the aquarium has preserved. You can also attend exhibits on research in progress, and watch a short film on sharks and their feeding habits. Kids will enjoy touching sting rays, and parents will too.
Zoos and Aquariums in Orlando, Tampa, Cape Canaveral and Central Florida
Zoos-Aquariums
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