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Vacationing families may visit any one of many world-famous
west central Florida attractions, meet friendly creatures of all shapes and sizes, marvel
at intriguing cultural treasures, and explore historical sites hundreds
of years old. Explore the intrigue of turn-of-the-century Africa
at Busch Gardens, a 335-acre family entertainment park packed with
thrill rides, live entertainment, animals in natural settings, shops,
restaurants and games in 9 distinctly themed areas. With more
than 3,400 animals roaming throughout the park, Busch Gardens is
one of the top zoos in the country. At Busch Gardens, visitors can
also try to tame the park's other savage beasts — a collection
of record-breaking roller coasters. West
central florida beaches add to the excitement of the
area.
Families can also spot exotic creatures from
faraway places at another of west central Florida attractions—Lowry Park Zoo. Ranked as one of the top three
mid-size zoos in the country, Lowry Park Zoo features a free-flight
bird aviary, an Asian Domain, a variety of primates—from
chimpanzees to woolly monkeys — and the Florida Wildlife Center,
a special sanctuary for native Floridians such as alligators, panthers,
bears and red wolves.
At the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, vacationers
can meet Sam, the bottlenosed dolphin, Big Mo, a 500-pound loggerhead
sea turtle and get a fish-eye's view of a mangrove and seagrass
community. Nearby, Celebration Station offers a variety of rides
including go-karts and bumper boats, plus miniature golf and batting
cages. To the south, St. Petersburg offers numerous cultural activities
connected by the city's downtown trolley service, called the Looper.
Family-friendly stops include the St. Petersburg Museum of History, where a replica of a Benoist airboat commemorates
the world's first commercial flight made from St. Petersburg to
Tampa in 1914; and Great Explorations: The Hands-On Museum, where
kids can play inventor-for-a-day as they help Einstein with his
latest project, reconstruct a 40-foot-long roller coaster or create
their own symphony. Along St. Pete Beach, kids can enjoy an amusement
center full of video games, while parents stroll through shopping
villages set in tropical surroundings.
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