Florida Zoos page 2.
St Augustine Alligator Farm, St Augustine Florida
A Story more than a 100 years in the making,
The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park began in the late nineteenth century as a small exhibition of Florida reptiles and soon became a quintessential Florida attraction. Today it functions as a modern zoo serving the public and the scientific community with educational shows and exhibits, important research, and worldwide conservation efforts. The Alligator Farm’s history as an attraction and an accredited zoo is nearly as exciting as zipping across the Alligator Lagoon on Crocodile Crossing, the park’s thrilling zip-line attraction.
In the late nineteenth century, George Reddington and Felix Fire began collecting alligators on Anastasia Island; they founded the St. Augustine Alligator Farm at South Beach in 1893. Read more of the history HERE
Adults (ages 12+) $35.99
Children (ages 3-11) $20.99
Guests in Wheelchairs (Adults) $17.00
Guests in Wheelchairs (Children) $10.49
Visit their website for hours and full details. www.alligatorfarm.com
Gatorland, Orlando Florida
For over half a century, Gatorland has been creating fond vacation memories for millions of visitors who have entered through its gaping gator mouth entrance. Families, friends, and employees alike have ventured through the glass double doors on their way to a journey through this natural, low-tech adventure. Located between Orlando and Kissimmee on the South Orange Blossom Trail, Gatorland is one of Central Florida’s oldest attractions and provides a unique and natural alternative to the larger theme parks of today.
Founded by the late Owen Godwin in 1949, and still privately owned by his family today, Gatorland is a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve, combining “Old Florida” charm with exciting, new exhibits and entertainment. Known internationally as the “Alligator Capital of the World,” Gatorland today provides affordably priced family fun with thousands of alligators and crocodiles, a breeding marsh with boardwalk and observation tower, one-of-a-kind reptilian shows, aviary, petting zoo, swamp walk, educational programs, and much, much more.
Hours of operation
Gatorland is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM for your whole family’s fun and enjoyment, rain or shine. You will appreciate the ample FREE parking and the relaxing absence of lines and crowds.
Showtimes for our four great animal shows vary by season but are repeated several times daily.
For current information on our show schedule, call us at 1-800-393-JAWS
Admission Prices
Adult (age 13 yrs & up) $34.99
Child (aqe 3-12 yrs) $24.99
Senior=$31.98
Children under 3 are always FREE!
FREE parking
Visit there website for full details. www.gatorland.com
Jacksonville Zoo. Jacksonville Florida
Escape to the Jacksonville Zoo for the only walking safari in Northeast Florida. Discover the earth’s wildlife through interactive and educational experiences. A true family adventure, the Jacksonville Zoo is growing and changing daily, with the addition of our temporary exhibit, Butterflies! in March 2003 and the unveiling of the Zoo’s premier attraction, Range of the Jaguar in March 2004. The Jacksonville Zoo has something for all ages with over 1,000 rare and exotic animals. Whether you are a visitor to Florida’s First Coast or a lifetime resident, come experience the Jacksonville Zoo through interactions with people, wildlife and the environment.
Sunday – Saturday 9 am to 5 pm
Observed Holidays
Christmas Day
Gates close one hour prior to Zoo closing. Subject to change for events.
Admission Prices
Adults (13 to 64) $39.95
Seniors (65+) $37.95
Child (3 to 12) $32.95
Children (2 and under) Free
Visit there website here for full details. www.jacksonvillezoo.org
Lion Country Safari. Loxahatchee Florida
Florida’s only drive-through safari and walk-through amusement park invites you to spend the day on safari with over 900 animals. With animal displays and encounters, animal feeding experiences, 9 rides, water sprayground, food, shopping and more, you are sure to have a memorable experience at Lion Country Safari.
If уоu lіkе wild animals, уоu саn gеt uр close аnd personal with sоmе оf thе world’s wildest animals wіthоut еvеr leaving уоur car. There’s thе slobbering giraffe wіth thе long tongue – but еvеr sо cute! There’s thе herd оf zebras trуіng tо hitch а ride.
There are thе ostriches pecking аt уоur car window. Dоn’t roll thе window dоwn – уоu mіght lose а valuable piece оf уоur real estate! This place іn Florida, Lion Country Safari, іs sо popular thаt hundreds оf thousands оf people hаvе mingled wіth thеsе animals іn thе wild sіnсе іt wаs established іn 1967.
This іsnt уоur neighborhood zoo. Іn fact, sоmе people wоuldnt call іt а zoo аt аll, аlthоugh уоu’ll sее оthеrs ranking іt аs thе nation’s third-best ‘zoo’. Аs а reporter, mу job іs nоt tо define whаt іs ‘best’, nоr, fоr thаt matter, whаt іs а ‘zoo’. What Lion Country Safari іs іs јust whаt іts creators wanted: А place іn Florida whеrе ordinary people соuld experience thе thrill оf sееіng thе sаmе wild animals thеу wоuld sее іf thеу соuld afford tо gо tо аn African game park. Whісh, аs wе аll knоw, mоst оf us can’t.
Those creators – а group оf South African аnd British entrepreneurs – wеrе thе fіrst tо treat Americans whо love wild animals tо а nеw concept: Тhе drive-through ‘cageless zoo’.
Open Daily at 9:30am
Admission Gate Closes at 4:30pm
Park Closes at 5:30pm
Admission Prices
Admission (per person plus tax):
Regular (ages 10-64): $$49
Seniors (ages 65 and over): $37
Children (ages 3-9): $26.00
Toddlers (ages 0-2): FREE
Parking: $8 per vehicle
Visit there website here for full details. www.lioncountrysafari.com
Lowry Park Zoo. Tampa Bay, FL.
Re-opened at its current site in 1988, Tampa Bay’s Lowry Park Zoo is today the number-one family-friendly zoo in the U.S. (Child magazine) and recognized by the State of Florida as a center for Florida wildlife conservation and biodiversity (HB 457).
The region’s only dedicated zoological garden, Lowry Park Zoo was designed to enhance the quality of life in greater Tampa Bay as an affordable leisure destination and center for education and endangered species conservation.
Natural outdoor exhibits for more than 1,600 animals from Florida and similar habitats include a Florida wildlife center and manatee hospital, Asian Domain, Primate World, aviary, Australian-themed children’s zoo, and Safari Africa.
The Florida Environmental Education Center (The Zoo School) serves more than 100,000 children annually. Programs offered are summer and holiday camps, daycare, preschool, and kindergarten
Zoo Hours of Operation:
9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., 7 days a week.
We are open every day except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
The Zoo may close due to inclement weather or other circumstances.
Admission Prices,
General Admission (ages 12+) $30.95
Youth (ages 3-11) $22.95
Visit there website here for full details. www.lowryparkzoo.com
South Florida Museum Bradenton Fl.
Florida’s natural and cultural history; life-size dioramas and exhibits of Indian life, maritime traditions, and turn-of-the-century medical facilities. The Great Hall houses a 19-foot high mastodon discovered in Florida’s Aucilla River. The Spanish Plaza features a full-scale replica of a 16th-century chapel. The East Gallery is devoted to changing exhibits. Natural history can be investigated through the study of the Museum’s fossil, bird, and shell collections.
As part of Florida’s manatee rehabilitation network, the Museum features a state-of-the-art 60,000-gallon multi-level manatee aquatic refuge. Discovery Place, the children’s hands-on activity center, is open at selected times.
Mon. – Sat. 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday Noon to 5 pm
Admission Rates
Adults: $19
Seniors (65+): $17
Children (4-12): $14
Under 4: Free with paying adult
Visit there website here for more details. www.southfloridamuseum.org