Busch Gardens / Adventure Island

Busch Gardens, Tampa offers thrill rides including the new Sheikra - giving riders a 70 mph, adrenaline-pumping experience like no other. At 200 feet, SheiKra now takes the crown as Florida's tallest roller coaster. This thrill machine is also the tallest dive coaster in the world and the first of its kind to incorporate an Immelmann loop (a rolling maneuver), a second, 138-foot dive into an underground tunnel and a water-feature finale. SheiKra offers three minutes of over-the-edge excitement on more than half a mile of steel track.

SheiKra serves as the centerpiece of Busch Gardens' newly themed Stanleyville area, which also includes the new 500-seat, indoor/outdoor Zambia Smokehouse. The restaurant is situated on the coaster's perimeter, allowing guests to be a part of the action while dining. Website: http://www.buschgardens.com/buschgardens/fla/default.aspx

Cypress Gardens

Cypress Gardens, Winterhaven offers rides, shows,the famous flower gardens, animals, concerts and special events including:

With more than three dozen rides, screams of joy are now as common as the flower blossoms at Cypress Gardens Adventure Park. The park offers a great selection of children’s favorites, fun for the whole family attractions and heart-pounding thrill rides, including 4 coasters and the world’s tallest spinning rapids ride. Discover two adventure zones filled with exhilarating attractions. Rides in Paradise Pier are set along a boardwalk in the style reminiscent of old–style amusement parks and Adventure Grove offers excitement set amongst a backdrop of the park’s natural beauty.

Discover the beauty and wildlife of Nature’s Way, Cypress Gardens’ all-new animal area! Home to more than 150 animals, including reptiles, mammals and a variety of birds, guests can stroll along beautifully landscaped walkways and visit with our furry, feathered and scaly friends. One of the park’s more famous residents is Tarzan, a 75 year old alligator that once starred alongside Johnny Weissmueller in the “Tarzan” movies. Sheba, a female jaguar, also finds a new home in Nature’s Way. She comes to Cypress Gardens by way of the Everglades, as do a pair of Nile crocodiles. The Bird Aviary is also open for business, stocked with Lorries and a variety of other birds. Guests can feed the specially-trained birds cups of nectar right from their hands. Look for more fearsome feedings each week as guests watch while the gators dine on their specialty diet. Other hands-on interaction includes a petting zoo sure to fascinate the youngsters. Get up-close and personal with the park’s newest friends at Nature’s Way!

Enjoy a variety of daily shows at Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, including comedy, song and dance, magic and more. The water ski capital of the world lives on, as skiers take to the water and sky in an explosive show that will leave guests laughing as well as gasping in wonder at gravity defying feats. Water of the frozen sort is the stage of choice at the Royal Palm Theater as Cypress Gardens on Ice skates to life. The Southern Belles are back to grace the gardens, Jubilee Junction comes alive with music and visitors can discover the enchantment of the Living Garden.

Star Haven Amphitheater will be home to more than 50 all-star concerts and special events yearly. The first annual line-up includes country legends Kenny Rogers and Loretta Lynn, as well as pop prince Aaron Carter, Contemporary Christian favorites Point of Grace and the Grammy-winning country group Lonestar. More concerts are being added, so check the website for a complete line-up. General seating is included in the price of admission and guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to set up. A limited number of reserved seats will also be available for the 2005 concert series.
Website: http://cypressgardens.com/welcome.asp

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

A memorable experience awaits you and your family at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, where you will have an opportunity to experience Florida's wildlife up close in one of Florida's loveliest natural settings. A Florida State Park, Homosassa Springs is truly unique as a park featuring a wide variety of native wildlife including the endangered manatees, and a myriad of fresh and saltwater fish in a first-magnitude spring. A floating observatory allows visitors an underwater view of the spring with its resident manatees and the hundreds of fish who are free to come and go.

A recently completed Wildlife Walk leads you on an elevated boardwalk through habitats for Florida Black Bears, cougars, bobcats, river otters, grey fox and red fox and much more. Birds of prey, wading birds, and waterfowl also pose for photographers strolling through the Wildlife Walk. A reptile exhibit features many of Florida's reptiles, both venomous and non-venomous. Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is also one of only five places where you can see a Whooping Crane up close, and one of only two places that have Florida Key Deer exhibit.

Children will enjoy hands-on activities at the Children's Education Center. Pontoon boats and trams transport visitors from the main entrance and Visitor Center on U.S. 19 to the West Entrance. There are two gift shops and a snack bar for your convenience and shopping pleasure.

Don't miss this opportunity to discover the Real Florida at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Our dedicated staff of employees and volunteers is waiting to welcome you! Website: http://www.floridastateparks.org/homosassasprings/default.cfm

More Florida State Parks to visit:

• Blackwater River State Park
• Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
• Cayo Costa State Park
• Collier-Seminole State Park
• Crystal River Archaeological State Park
• De Leon Springs State Park
• Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
• Don Pedro Island State Park
• Dudley Farm Historic State Park
• Econfina River State Park
• Eden Gardens State Park
• Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
• Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park
• Falling Waters State Park
• Fanning Springs State Park
• Fort Clinch State Park
• Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park
• Gasparilla Island State Park
• Grayton Beach
• Henderson Beach State Park
• Hillsborough River State Park
• Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
• Ichetucknee Springs State Park
• Jonathan Dickinson State Park
• John U. Lloyd Beach State Park
• Lovers Key State Park
• Ochlockonee River State Park
• Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
• Rainbow Springs State Park
• Ravine Gardens State Park
• Savannas Preserve State Park
• Silver River State Park
• Tomoka State Park
• Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

Florida Aquarium, Tampa

Discover an expanded shark collection, dive in our shark tank, see ocean predators and spineless wonders from around the world, rare leafy sea dragons from Australia, an invasive species exhibit with games for kids of all ages, plus playful river otters, American alligators, free-flying birds, a giant Pacific octopus, and more!

Enjoy dive shows daily including one with a diver in our shark tank. Explore the Bay on the Eco-Tour aboard a 64-foot catamaran! Take part in close-up animal encounters,feel around our two touch tanks, and more. Website: http://www.flaquarium.org/

Tarpon Sponge Docks, Tarpon Springs

With approximately 15 restaurants and more than 100 shops, the Sponge Docks offer something of interest for everyone. You can take a leisurely sightseeing cruise down the Anclote River, enjoy a lunch or dinner cruise to the Gulf, take a 5 hour casino cruise, or experience a live, sponge diving exhibition You can also visit the 120,000 gallon salt water aquarium, tour the sponge museum, or go deep sea fishing.

Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa

The Center is located on a nine acre site along the east bank of the Hillsborough River in Downtown Tampa, and provides an environment for a wide variety of performances, concerts, and events. The 300,000 square foot, state-of-the-art complex is the largest performing arts center in the Southeastern United States.
Website: http://www.tbpac.org/

Weeki Wachee Springs

The only city of live mermaids! - Come and enjoy some "fun n' the sun" as Florida's only spring fed waterpark is open daily! Price of admission includes both Buccaneer Bay and Weeki Wachee Springs Mermaid Park! The white sandy beach, picnic areas and beach volleyball are just some of the activities for the entire family!

The "World Famous" Mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs have been entertaining audiences since 1947. They perform two shows daily in the only underwater theater of it's kind! There is no tank or aquarium. The theater is built into the spring itself and the mermaids perform in this natural and pristine spring while visitors enjoy the show 16-feet below the surface of the water!

The mermaids perform with Florida's wildlife as a variety of fish, turtles, manatees and an occasional alligator frequent the spring and the show!
Website: http://mermaid.weekiwachee.com

Windsong Sailing Charters, New Port Richey, FL

Windsong Sailing Charters is located on the beautiful Gulf Harbors Channel in New Port Richey, Florida. We are a few miles north of Tampa, and only a 2 hour drive from the Disney and Universal parks in Orlando.

Explore uninhabited islands, deserted fish houses and lonely sandbanks. Experience our secret snorkel spot and the beautiful chain of islands called Anclote Keys, all in one single day of fun. Website: http://www.windsongcharters.com/