Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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than 600 feet to a waiting splash pool. There are also places to picnic and sunbathe, an
arcade, a volleyball complex, and two outdoor cafes.
10001 Malcolm McKinley Dr. (btw. Busch Blvd. and Bougainvillea Ave.).
&
813/987-5600
.
www.adventure
island.com. Admission at least $40 adults, $36 children 3-9, plus tax; free for children 2 and under. Pick
Two tickets with Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (1 day admission per park) $80 adults and children 3-9, free
for children 2 and under. Website sometimes offers discounts. Parking $10. Mid-Mar to Labor Day daily
10am-5pm; Sept-Oct Fri-Sun 10am-5pm (extended hours on holidays). Closed Nov to late Feb. Check
website for exact opening dates. Take exit 50 off I-275 and go east on Busch Blvd. for 2 miles. Turn left
onto McKinley Dr. (N. 40th St.); entry is on the right.
Big Cat Rescue
Kids
Not your typical animal theme park, this one bills itself as an
educational sanctuary in which visitors can get up close and “purrsonal” (groan) with
more than 150 big wild cats. The world's largest accredited sanctuary for exotic cats, this
one is definitely a unique experience for animal lovers because not only can you view and
visit with bobcats and tigers, but you can also feed them, take photo safaris, and even
spend a night in one of the sanctuary's cabins. Something different, for sure.
12802 Easy St.
&
813/920-4130.
www.bigcatrescue.org. Day tours for ages 10 and over $25 per person
Mon-Fri 9am-3pm; special kids tour for all ages $15 per person Sat 9am; night tour for ages 18 and over
$50 per person, last Fri of the month at dusk; feeding tours for ages 18 and over $50 per person, reserva-
tions required; Keeper for a Day tour for ages 18 and over $100 per person, reservations required. Take
Busch Blvd. exit west off I-275 for 9 miles. (It becomes Gunn Hwy.) Watch for the dirt road near the
McDonald's.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Kids
Although its heart-stopping thrill rides get
much of the ink, this venerable theme park (it predates Disney World) ranks among the
largest zoos in the country. It's a don't-miss attraction for children and adults who can
see, in person, all those wild beasts they've watched on Animal Planet—and they'll get
better views of them here than at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando (p. 245). Busch
Gardens Tampa Bay has thousands of animals living in natural environments that help
carry out the park's overall African theme. Most authentic is the 65-acre plain, reminis-
cent of the real Serengeti of Tanzania and Kenya, upon which zebras, giraffes, and other
animals graze. Unlike the animals on the real Serengeti, however, these grazing creatures
have nothing to fear from lions, hyenas, crocodiles, and other predators, which are con-
fined to enclosures—as are the hippos and elephants. The park's seventh roller coaster,
SheiKra (see below), was the nation's first dive coaster, carrying riders up 200 feet at 45
degrees, and then hurtling them 70 mph back at a 90-degree angle. Yikes.
The park has eight areas, each with its own theme, animals, live entertainment, thrill
rides, kiddie attractions, dining, and shopping. A Skyride cable car soars over the park,
offering a bird's-eye view of it all. Turn right after the main gate and head to
Morocco,
a walled city with exotic architecture, crafts demonstrations, and an exhibit featuring
alligators and turtles. The Moorish-style Moroccan Palace Theater features KaTonga, a
Broadway-style musical show featuring original music, dance and puppetry that many
families consider to be the park's best entertainment for both adults and children. You
can also attend a song-and-dance show in the Marrakech Theater. Overlooking it all is
the Crown Colony Restaurant, the park's largest.
Over in
Egypt,
you can visit King Tut's tomb with its replicas, and youngsters can dig
for their own ancient treasures in a sand area. Adults and kids 54 inches or taller can ride
Montu, the tallest and longest inverted roller coaster in the world, with seven upside-
down loops. Your feet dangle loose on Montu, so make sure your shoes are tied tightly
and your lunch has had time to digest.
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