Lowry Park Zoo was voted the "Best Family Friendly Zoo" and the "Best mid-sized zoo" in the U.S. With more than 1,500 animals, housed in 56 acres of lush natural habitats, it's a diverse collection that is suited for our local climate. Guests can see most animals in one of eight habitat areas with engaging interactive exhibits visitors can enjoy up close. Safari Africa & Ituri Forest. See elephants, zebras, giraffes, warthogs, meerkats, white rhinos, cheetahs, pygmy hippos, okapi, African penguins and much more! Guests can also experience the Safari Ride, a 15-minute long narrated ride offering behind-the-scenes views of dozens of African animals, including the Zoo's elephant herd, Patas monkeys and more. Asian Gardens & Sulawesi Aviary. Watch as the tigers explore the water's edge. Observe the Indian rhinos as well as the clouded leopards. Florida Boardwalk. Stroll along the boardwalk and see all the wonderful creatures that make Florida home. Feed and touch Florida's stingrays at the Harrell Discovery Center and Stingray Bay. Primate World. See endangered Bornean orangutans, chimpanzees and brilliant-colored mandrills, plus tiny marmosets and tamarins.
The Garden Outside on the waterfront, the Dali garden creates a unique environment of learning and tranquility. The Mathematical Garden allows students to experience the relationship between math and nature. The Avant-gardens consist of the West Garden, the Grotto, and the East Garden. The West Garden displays pineland acacia, verbina glandularia, and wild petunias along the entry path and attract butterflies. Butterflies were fascinating to Dali as transformative creatures. The Grotto is a place of cavernous shade, fabulous plants, and pooling water. Water splashes, reflected light from the pond plays on the ceiling, and the living wall rises on one side. The living wall is a dazzling display of orchids, peperomias and ferns, and bromeliads. This green wall is irrigated and self-sustaining, and what is usually flat stands up vertically. The East Garden is inspired by Dali's homeland and his fascination with math with homages to the mathematical principles: Pi and the Fibonacci sequence. A labyrinth, modeled after the labyrinth at the Chartres Cathedral, stands at one end of the East Garden.
Saunders Planetarium & IMAX. Take in an astronomy show in The Saunders Planetarium and gaze into the starry nighttime sky. The Planetarium now features a new projection dome, new seating arrangements and a state-of-the-art star projector-the GOTO Space Simulator Chronos projection system-capable of recreating the night sky from any time in less than 20 seconds - from the past, present, and future from anywhere on the planet! Plus, visit Florida's only IMAX Dome Theatre. The IMAX Dome motion picture system projects images of unsurpassed size, clarity and impact onto a dome shaped screen providing 10,500 square feet of visual imagery.
Caladesi Island State Park. Most of coastal Florida used to resemble Caladesi Island and now it's one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier islands in the state. Pine and palm forests lead to rolling dunes covered with grasses, which in turn lead to a long strip of white sandy beach. A relative newcomer to the Florida west coast, the island was created when a savage hurricane in 1921 separated it from what was then Hog Island. To this day, the origin of the island's name is uncertain, though it has appeared on maps since the 1930's. Accessible only by ferry from Clearwater and nearby Honeymoon Island State Park, a visit to Caladesi Island makes a great day trip. You can fish, picnic, go boating or shelling, sunbathe on the beach, and wander at will through the pine and oak forests. A wide variety of bird life call the park home, and you're likely to see an osprey soaring overhead. Picnic tables and concessions are located near the beach, and a 99-slip marina is available for those who bring their own boats. Overnight docking is permitted if you register with the park ranger.
The poured-concrete, steel-reinforced structure of the building was advertised as fireproof. The hotel has six minarets, four cupolas, and three domes. In the early 90's, all were restored to their original stainless steel state. The grounds of the hotel spanned 150 acres with 21 buildings on the hotel's campus. With its magnificent Moorish architecture, opulent furnishings, and tropical gardens, a visit to the restored rooms of the former Tampa Bay Hotel, will transport you to Victorian splendor. The museum's exhibits focus on the Gilded Age lifestyle of the old Tampa Bay Hotel's guests during the 1890s, when Tampa was experiencing sudden population and economic growth, including the beginning of the local tourist industry. Learn the significance of the hotel during the early stages of the Spanish American War and how Tampa was thrust into the world arena in the summer of 1898.
Don't forget to mark your calendars for these annual festivals: the Gasparilla Pirate Fest in January, The Florida State Fair in February, the Florida Strawberry Festival in March, the Ruskin Tomato & Heritage Festival in May, and the Ruskin Seafood Fest in November. Visit Tampa now and discover how historic Old Florida blends well with the modern, upscale style of some of the most beautiful, master-planned communities for families and retirees. Yes, climate, dining and shopping, cultural attractions, educational and business opportunities, and the beautiful beaches help make Tampa home to a wonderful lifestyle. Tampa is a lot more than beautiful sunsets! Make it your home, too.
The Garden Outside on the waterfront, the Dali garden creates a unique environment of learning and tranquility. The Mathematical Garden allows students to experience the relationship between math and nature. The Avant-gardens consist of the West Garden, the Grotto, and the East Garden. The West Garden displays pineland acacia, verbina glandularia, and wild petunias along the entry path and attract butterflies. Butterflies were fascinating to Dali as transformative creatures. The Grotto is a place of cavernous shade, fabulous plants, and pooling water. Water splashes, reflected light from the pond plays on the ceiling, and the living wall rises on one side. The living wall is a dazzling display of orchids, peperomias and ferns, and bromeliads. This green wall is irrigated and self-sustaining, and what is usually flat stands up vertically. The East Garden is inspired by Dali's homeland and his fascination with math with homages to the mathematical principles: Pi and the Fibonacci sequence. A labyrinth, modeled after the labyrinth at the Chartres Cathedral, stands at one end of the East Garden.
Saunders Planetarium & IMAX. Take in an astronomy show in The Saunders Planetarium and gaze into the starry nighttime sky. The Planetarium now features a new projection dome, new seating arrangements and a state-of-the-art star projector-the GOTO Space Simulator Chronos projection system-capable of recreating the night sky from any time in less than 20 seconds - from the past, present, and future from anywhere on the planet! Plus, visit Florida's only IMAX Dome Theatre. The IMAX Dome motion picture system projects images of unsurpassed size, clarity and impact onto a dome shaped screen providing 10,500 square feet of visual imagery.
Caladesi Island State Park. Most of coastal Florida used to resemble Caladesi Island and now it's one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier islands in the state. Pine and palm forests lead to rolling dunes covered with grasses, which in turn lead to a long strip of white sandy beach. A relative newcomer to the Florida west coast, the island was created when a savage hurricane in 1921 separated it from what was then Hog Island. To this day, the origin of the island's name is uncertain, though it has appeared on maps since the 1930's. Accessible only by ferry from Clearwater and nearby Honeymoon Island State Park, a visit to Caladesi Island makes a great day trip. You can fish, picnic, go boating or shelling, sunbathe on the beach, and wander at will through the pine and oak forests. A wide variety of bird life call the park home, and you're likely to see an osprey soaring overhead. Picnic tables and concessions are located near the beach, and a 99-slip marina is available for those who bring their own boats. Overnight docking is permitted if you register with the park ranger.
The poured-concrete, steel-reinforced structure of the building was advertised as fireproof. The hotel has six minarets, four cupolas, and three domes. In the early 90's, all were restored to their original stainless steel state. The grounds of the hotel spanned 150 acres with 21 buildings on the hotel's campus. With its magnificent Moorish architecture, opulent furnishings, and tropical gardens, a visit to the restored rooms of the former Tampa Bay Hotel, will transport you to Victorian splendor. The museum's exhibits focus on the Gilded Age lifestyle of the old Tampa Bay Hotel's guests during the 1890s, when Tampa was experiencing sudden population and economic growth, including the beginning of the local tourist industry. Learn the significance of the hotel during the early stages of the Spanish American War and how Tampa was thrust into the world arena in the summer of 1898.
Don't forget to mark your calendars for these annual festivals: the Gasparilla Pirate Fest in January, The Florida State Fair in February, the Florida Strawberry Festival in March, the Ruskin Tomato & Heritage Festival in May, and the Ruskin Seafood Fest in November. Visit Tampa now and discover how historic Old Florida blends well with the modern, upscale style of some of the most beautiful, master-planned communities for families and retirees. Yes, climate, dining and shopping, cultural attractions, educational and business opportunities, and the beautiful beaches help make Tampa home to a wonderful lifestyle. Tampa is a lot more than beautiful sunsets! Make it your home, too.
About the Author:
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