jedimaster1227 Posted February 21, 2021 Share Posted February 21, 2021 Today we took advantage of the surprise, cooler weather in Central Florida and ventured somewhere new... Sanford, FL. About a 40 minute drive away from the more notable Central Florida attractions, the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens has been around for quite some time... But if I've ever been, it had to be when I was really young, because it was pretty new to me. Over the years, my wife and I have made it a point to check out zoos and aquariums throughout our travels to mix in with our theme park, culture and food focuses... And for this reason, we've seen a lot of zoos. The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens is fairly middle of the road in terms of the experience. The zoo has a surprisingly solid collection of animals including some neat reptiles, a few giraffes and a rhino. The exhibits themselves are fairly straightforward for an older-style outdoor zoo. The enclosures aren't hyper-themed but they're not devoid of a more animal-native environment, which makes it feel a little more comfortable to observe... The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens is also host to a series of paid add-ons including animal encounters, a "aerial adventure" attraction, a carousel and a splash pad. The grounds themselves are the Botanical Gardens, not a separate section within the park, so what you're seeing around the enclosures is the botanical part of the experience. Nothing special in that area, but fitting for what they're going for in terms of filling the space between exhibits with flora. Overall the experience is probably best summed up as, "if Fun Spot ran a zoo." I leave that open to interpretation because like Fun Spot, this could either meet your mark or deter you greatly, depending on your tastes. Let's head in... At the entrance of the park is a pay-to-ride carousel... The Seminole Aerial Adventures upcharge attraction includes "rope bridges, zips, suspended disks, and a variety of unique elements." I was a little surprised at how low to the ground it all was compared to similar attractions in town. There are some neat paintings on the way into the park that change with your shifting perspective as you walk by. The Discovery Center seems to be where the park's educational programs are offered. Not too many live animals inside but it looks like a nice facility. The park map for those that are interested... The entrance experience is pretty simple. Always cool to see an old fashioned Mold-O-Matic machine still in use. Two beautiful hornbills on display. Say hi to this charming llama... You can feed him if you wish. I'm having PTSD from watching The Witch. TPR does love donkeys after all. Putting the botanical in the Botanical Gardens... Cougar. Mildly confusing how this is supposed to work. They have an add-on encounter where you feed the giraffes... Pretty leopard. The zoo's one rhino... Otterly adorable. Get your mind out of the gutter. It's KAA! Very cool! I hear onions prevent these from biting you... Sploosh. Nature can be a pretty impressive thing... Terrifyingly impressive. Growing up sailing and canooing in the waters of Florida, I was always warned to look out for these skimming the top of the water. You do not want to be bit by one of these. Would you believe me if I told you that this isn't a painting, but really two live snakes in the exhibit? The Central Florida Zoo has its own collection of gators and crocodiles... This narrow snouted creature is an Orinoco Crocodile. The zoo has bald eagles as well. There's a black bear in here, but this was the best view we could get. The grounds are definitely pretty on a nice day. Testing out how the forum handles panoramic photos... Kookaburras sit in the old gum tree... Dippin' Dots and Bud Light... A classic combo. The Wharton-Smith Tropical Splash Ground was not really splashing today. The Bungee Bounce is available for younger guests for an additional cost. There's at least a few jokes to be made from this photo, but I leave it to you to figure them out. It really was a nice day to try something new by visiting the park. It looks like the Little Florida Coast Line train may not be in operation anymore, as it isn't listed on the park map or website... A bonus for driving to/from Sanford? You get to see the famous I-4 Eyesore. Look it up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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