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Southwest Florida |
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Aquariums, Zoos & Animal Exhibits |
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Charlotte
County |
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Collier County |
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Naples Zoo is a nationally accredited zoo and
yet much more. The paved path winds nearly a
mile past rare and beautiful animals residing
within a historic tropical garden of exotic
plants. In this tropical setting, you can take
delight at seeing many of your favorite animals
like lions, kangaroos, and monkeys. In addition,
you'll also discover feature exhibits and an
array of more rarely seen creatures like the
African wild dogs or an Asian deer that barks
and eats meat. Beyond the exhibits and gardens,
the best of the zoo can be seen by taking in the
full day of fun and entertaining presentations
and activities that have a solid conservation
foundation. Safari Canyon presentations like
Planet Predator and Serpents: Fangs & Fiction
enable you to understand wildlife in exciting
ways through living animals, wildlife video, and
live camera close-ups. The Primate Expedition
Cruise takes you through islands inhabited by
monkeys, lemurs, and apes. You can also enjoy
the Meet the Keeper Series and Alligator Bay
Feeding. Children have fun touching animals at
some of the presentations and exploring each of
the three play areas. |
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Rookery Bay National
Estuarine Research Reserve, the Gulf Coast's largest and
most pristine wildlife sanctuary, occupies more than
110,000 acres at the gateway to Ten Thousand Islands. It
is "Ding" Darling without the crowds, and a favorite of
fisherman and bird-watchers. Rare creatures such as the
American crocodile, manatee, Atlantic green and Ridley
sea turtles, bald eagle, and roseate spoonbill inhabit
its backwaters. For an introduction to this vast and
largely inaccessible reserve, visit The Environmental
Learning Center, a 16,500 square-foot facility with four
research laboratories, classrooms and 140-seat
auditorium, and two story visitors center. The visitor
center offers a variety of hands-on experiences,
including 2,300-gallon aquarium with a 15-foot mangrove
growing out of it and space into which kids can crawl
and get to know the habitat. Interactive exhibits,
include Crab Condo, a touch tank, Mosquito Landing, and
other fun and original learning tools. as well as a
nature store, gallery and picnic area.
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Lee
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This environmental center
offers a 2-mile wildlife trail with a Seminole
Amerindian village, a butterfly aviary, a native plant
garden, a caged bobcat and albino racoon, 100 other live
animals, and an injured bird aviary. Join a guided walk
of the cypress swamp boardwalk (call for days and
times). Indoors you can see live animal exhibits-
snakes, tarantulas, alligators, and bees- and
demonstrations. The planetarium uses telescopes, laser
lights, and astronomy lessons in its
presentations. |
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C.R.O.W. |
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3883
Sanibel-Captiva Road |
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Sanibel Island, Florida |
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239
472-3644 |
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The clinic for the
rehabilitation of wildlife is a hospital that duplicates
natural habitats and tends to sick and injured wildlife.
The facility cares for more than 3,000 patients
annually. You can visit animals on the mend by tour. |
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Everglades Wonder
Gardens |
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27180 Old US 41 |
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Bonita Springs, Florida |
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239
992-2591 |
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Opened in 1936 and
one of the first attractions of its kind in the
state, Everglades Wonder Gardens captures the
beauty of untamed Florida. The old-fashioned
zoological gardens have Florida panthers, black
bears, crocodiles and alligators, tame Florida
deer, flamingos, and trained otters and birds.
There's also a funky natural-history museum.
Tours, which include an otter show and alligator
feedings, run continuously. The swinging bridge
over the alligator pit is a real thrill! |
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| Learning can be
fun for the whole family at the Imaginarium.
Touch a cloud, feel the force of a hurricane, or
run through a thunderstorm! The Imaginarium
provides hours of entertainment for the entire
family with over sixty interactive exhibits,
plus live fish, sharks, turtles, swans, iguanas,
and live animal programs. |
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Maintains a showroom of
local sealife for visitors to tour. Aquariums hold local
species in various habitats. Manatee, loggerhead, and
other kiosks explain the plight of endangered species
and the workings of the local shrimping industry. In
addition the center provides interactive displays and a
boardwalk along the bay where you can learn about
shrimping, estuaries, and local maritime heritage. A
three-hour Wednesday Working Waterfront Tour takes you
along the boardwalk beginning at 9am. |
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Periwinkle Park |
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1119 Periwinkle Way |
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Sanibel Island, Florida |
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239
472-1433 |
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| The owner of
this trailer park raises and breeds exotic birds
and waterfowl. He has roughly 133 species,
specializing in african and asian hornbills.
Flamingos, parakeets, cockatoos, and others
occupy the park and fifteen aviaries. During the
off-season visitors can drive through:
in-season, biking is recommended. The birds are
especially talkative in the evening. |
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| This longtime
attraction has grown into a mega-complex- still
old-fashioned, with restaurants, a fun park, a
small wild animal zoo, Waltzing Waters lit
fountain show, stuffed African animal
collection, aquariums, video games, and lots of
souvenir shops. |
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