Things to do in Central Florida, Central Florida: The Best Zoos & Aquariums

Exotic Animal Experience is a TOTALLY interactive, hands on experience with exotic animals including lemurs, kangaroos, muntjac deer, kinkajou, bush baby, wallaby, fainting goat, zebra and most recently, our ADORABLE sloths, Saki and Blossom, our precious baby camel Baby Girl. All visits are BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, and only offered n the mornings. We offer group visits or private visits, please see our website for more details as far as current pricing and animals. Because of the extreme interaction we DO have an age restriction in place, and ask that you PLEASE visit the website for all details on the age restrictions and pricing. ALSO, please remember to call to schedule your visit before driving out without an appointment, visitation is strictly limited for the animals well being. Treat yourselves to a once in a lifetime experience like no other! Be prepared to fall in love many times over, as each animal will steal your heart with his/her silly antics and sweet personalities!

Skunkie Acres is a nonprofit, 501.c3, organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and responsible adoption of animals. As a nonprofit animal rescue, we save the most vulnerable animals, giving them all the medical care, nourishment, training, socialization, TLC, and time they need until we find them forever families. Our passion is to help these creatures become adoptable by providing a nurturing environment, medical care and training. Skunkie Acres Animal Rescue is a no-kill, volunteer-based rescue located on a beautiful 40 acre park in Citra, FL. We are focused on helping make the world around us a better, happier place. With the help of our volunteers, we organize fundraisers, community-building events and so much more You can see, pet, feed, and interact with animals from all corners of the globe as they roam freely across 40 acres of natural habitat. When you visit our park, you'll get up close with our animals before finishing with a relaxing bite in our picnic area.

Nestled in a protected natural wetland, the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens has animals from around the world including, rhinos, giraffes, leopards, monkeys, exotic birds, an Insect Zoo, and much more. Our Reptile House offers the southeast's largest collection of reptiles. We also offer live animal encounters, many educational opportunities and demonstrations, daily Keeper Chats and Shows, a Tropical Splash Playground, and Animal Carousel. For a small fee, you can feed our giraffes, or have a one of a kind encounter with our Indian rhino! With something for everyone, the adventures are endless!

Jungle Adventures, A Real Florida Animal Park is the natural habitat jungle home of our rare Florida Panthers, Black Bears, Wolves, White-Tailed Deer, Tropical Birds, Reptiles, Mammals, and other critters. When you enter this timeless old Florida Hidden Treasure attraction on a journey into a lost world that time forgot. SEE, HEAR, SMELL AND FEEL OLD, REAL FLORIDA. Live Guided Tours include a Hands On Wildlife Presentation where you get to hold a juvenile American Alligator, a Native American/Old Florida Village Presentation learning how Florida's 1st Settlers survived in the area, a Gator Feeding - watch our guides hand feed the larger gators in the park,and our Jungle Swamp Cruise, a 15 minute, in park pontoon boat ride on our Green Gator River, home to over 50 large (9 to 14 foot) alligators. Once you complete your guided tour, you are able to walk at your leisure and see the animals that we have on exhibit that include lemurs, monkeys, crocodiles, caimans, Florida Panthers/Cougars and variety of other interesting animals including over 200 alligators in various areas.

Petting Zoo Ocala offers a variety of kid-friendly farm animals for viewing, petting and feeding. A stroll through the barn gives visitors an opportunity to meet alpacas, llamas,camels, lemurs, squirrel monkeys, goats and a few of our other barnyard friends. Some highlights of the zoo include: goats, pigs, horses, sheep, ducks, donkeys, emus and peacocks just to name a few. Come and meet all our four-legged, furry and feathered friends! Pony rides and camel rides , train rides are available for an extra fee. Picnic area.

SEA LIFE is the number one aquarium brand in the world with 50 attractions worldwide. SEA LIFE Orlando is the eighth SEA LIFE location in the U.S. and the 50th worldwide. SEA LIFE Orlando offers a wave of underwater adventures with species from the oceans of the world! Come face-to-face with more than 5,000 creatures including colorful fish, seahorses and jellyfish, and surround yourself with turtles and sharks in the only 360-degree ocean tunnel in Orlando. SEA LIFE Orlando provides an interactive journey into the diversity of marine life while playing an active role in conservation efforts and inspiring others to lend their support. SEA LIFE Orlando provides visitors with a mix of education, conservation and fun. SEA LIFE celebrates everything about the sea. We are passionate about preserving marine habitats and protecting the incredible species that live in them. Marine conservation is at the heart of everything we do, supporting projects across the world to inspire more people to care. The focus of our business is to educate and conserve. We take a three-pronged approach to conservation – Breed, Rescue, Protect - which can be found at the heart of everything we do. Breed: we run successful breeding programs for sharks and endangered creatures like seahorses. Rescue: we save as many sick, injured or orphaned sea creatures as we can, rehabilitating and returning hundreds of them to the sea each year – and we’re committed to doing more. Protect: we raise funds for conservations projects like the Turtle Rescue Hospital in Zakynthos, Greece to help ensure they can continue their vital work. We also fundraise locally with organizations like the Turtle Hospital and the Coral Restoration Foundation. SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium offers an interactive, educational visit for schools and groups. Event spaces and buy-outs are available for such occasions. Features - 25,000 square-foot indoor attraction - 360° underwater ocean tunnel - Over 5,000 creatures, including: Sharks Sea turtles Seahorses Octopus Jellyfish Rays - Over 30 fascinating displays - 350,000 gallons of water in our ocean habitats - 17’ deep ocean habitat - Interactive rockpool experience - Educational talks, feedings throughout the day - Kids’ quiz and activity trail - Presentation video theatre - Children's soft play area - Retail store - ADA compliant and stroller accessible