“Parents Magazine” gave the distinction of #1 Zoo in the United States this year to the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa Bay, Florida. It’s no wonder. The zoo has more than two thousand animals housed in their natural environments and habitats. There are seven different sections to the zoo, and each one is unique and extremely interesting. In the Asian Gardens there are tigers, python snakes, a clouded leopard and Komodo dragons just to name a few. The perfect place for children, exotic and exciting.
One of the areas is named for a jungle that exists in the Congo of Africa, it is the Ituri Forrest. Here one can see up close flamingos and pelicans, pygmy hippos and cheetahs. In the Florida Wildlife Center located on the zoo grounds there are crocodiles, alligators, panthers and whooping cranes. The center has the most comprehensive mix of all of the species of Florida that are considered endangered at the moment. This is not only a beautiful exhibit, but an educational one as well, and leaves many with the knowledge of those species that are most in need of protection.
And of course when traveling with children one should not miss the Wallaroo Station. This is the section of the zoo dedicated to kids and has an Australian theme. The petting zoo includes llamas and goats as well as the koala bear, singing dogs from New Guinea, kangaroos and horses. Many of the other sections include such interactive experiences such as the feeding of giraffes and rhinos. There are rides such as the Treetop Skyride and the Jungle Carousel, and a water park in the Manatee Fountain. This is one place that will entice families out of their best Tampa hotels, and into the wonderful world of the outdoors and the wildlife not only of Florida, but from around the world.
Related posts: