Florida's beautiful weather and beaches have attracted tourists for more than a century--long before the existence of Walt Disney World. The State Library & Archives of Florida's Florida Memory project reports that "Florida's earliest tourists came to view and experience the state's many rivers, springs, and beach destinations." Lush gardens, animal attractions and theme parks followed. The development of the interstate system brought a decline in traffic passing many of Florida's old roadside attractions, leading to their demise, but there are still a few gems that can be found along the way.
One of hundreds of Florida's freshwater-fed springs, Weeki Wachee opened in 1947 by a former Navy SEAL who trained pretty girls to swim underwater while wearing mermaid costumes and breathing with air hoses. The mermaid show, performed in the springs' underwater theater, was a huge hit. Located just north of Tampa, Weeki Wachee soon became one of Florida's most popular tourist attractions, and it is still thriving today with animal shows, a river boat cruise and the famous mermaid shows.
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
6131 Commercial Way
Weeki Wachee, FL 34606
352-592-5656
weekiwachee.com
Since December of 1940, Sarasota Jungle Gardens has entertained locals and tourists with its lush gardens and bird and reptile shows. According to the website, 85 percent of the animals at Jungle Gardens came from rescue groups or were donated, and it has become a sanctuary for many sick and injured exotic animals. If you have ever wanted to hold an alligator, you can have the opportunity during the Reptile Encounter show, or you can stick to feeding the flamingos roaming around the park.
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
3701 Bay Shore Road
Sarasota, FL 34234
941-355-5305
sarasotajunglegardens.com
St. Augustine Alligator Farm was founded in 1893 and is one of Florida's oldest animal attractions. Famous for the rare albino alligators, the farm also claims to have "every species of crocodilian," according to its website. You can also meet birds of africa, like the West African Crowned Cranes, explore the Wading Bird Rookery and visit Maximo, a huge saltwater crocodile that is more than 15 feet long and weighs 1,250 lbs.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
999 Anastasia Boulevard
St. Augustine, FL 32080
904-824-3337
alligatorfarm.us
If you are driving on Interstate 4 just west of Tampa, look out for the dinosaurs. Dinosaur World has more than 150 life-size dinosaurs grazing and hiding among Florida's landscape, including a triceratops, the spinosaurus, a brachiosaurus family and the giant plant-eater, tyrannosaurus rex. The Fossil Dig, where you can play paleontologist and sift through sand for real fossils, is very popular with the kids.
Dinosaur World Plant City
5145 Harvey Tew Road
Plant City, FL 33565
813-717-9865
dinoworld.net
