The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical
Gardens is an attraction approximately a half an hour drive away from
the tourism center of Orlando, Florida. It is situated in Sanford,
Florida, near Interstate 4 and Highway 17-92.
It is an ideal family destination,
educational for the children and entertaining at the same time. What
better way than the zoo to instill in your children a sense of wonder
at the world around them? What better way to teach them to use their
imaginations, yet to combine that imaginative faculty with the
scientific rigor that comes from learning about and classifying many
different species of animals and plants?
Given this, what better setting for a
zoo than in the warm, tropical climate of Florida? It is the perfect
natural setting for the exotic animals that make their homes in warm
climates, such as elephants, kangaroos, cheetahs, and, of course,
crocodiles (practically the symbol of the state of Florida). In
addition to the fascinating yet relatively common animals such as the
two-toed sloth, the Central Florida zoo hosts rare and endangered
creatures, such as the Clouded Leopard and the Grand Cayman Island
Rock Iguana--the closest equivalent that this world may have to
mythic Dragon. These fascinating creatures wander among such exotic
flora as eucalyptuses and cypress trees.
As if the inherent wonder of the
animals themselves were not enough, the Central Florida Zoo and
Botanical Gardens hosts a plethora of yearly special events. During
the Fourth of July, for example, the zoo commemorates America's
independence with a "red, white, and ZOO" celebration,
which includes games for children, victuals, and festive music. In
September, the zoo holds a "Fiesta de Coqui," a holiday
celebrating the colorful and proud rooster--and, indeed, Hispanic
culture in general.
