Southern Byways

A box filled with raw meat may not be your ideal holiday gift; but for a lion, well, it’s just what they asked for from Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens.
It’s definitely an unique twist on the 12 Days of Christmas as the zoo presents their own version with the 12 Days of Wild Holiday Fun. From December 13-24, you can watch as different animals open their special holiday treats. It’s what Tim Tetzlaff, director of conservation and communications at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens refers to as “a fun and unpredictable time.”
“Some animals will spend a few minutes investigating …read more

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Don’t forget to join Apryl on her last day in the area as she discovers Brandenton.
Creatures of the Land
Sarasota Jungle Gardens promotes itself as the “area’s only zoological gardens.” However, while that is something definitely to talk about, I think what’s most interesting about the Gardens is the fact that not only is it the oldest attraction Sarasota, but also the oldest, continuously operating attraction in the state. If you want to see an “old Florida” attraction, this is it. Encompassing ten acres (original began as 13 acres), the Gardens appeal to everyone.
First and foremost, the Gardens serve as …read more

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Do you really need a reason to visit Central Florida? Okay, if you decide to take a break from the parks, here are 8 things worth doing:
1. Still going strong for 55 years, Gatorland is a 110-acres alligator theme park, complete with nature walks and other animals.
2. Sunken Gardens is St. Petersburg’s oldest living museum. Over one hundred years old, the gardens are home to waterfalls, tropical plants and more.
3. Experience the area’s natural beauty on Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour. This hour-long excursion through Winter Park’s chain of Lakes can prove to your …read more

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Downtown Chattanooga, Tenn., is filled with all types of things to do. You already know about the Tennessee Aquarium, Hunter Museum of Art, Chattanooga Market and Coolidge Park, but are you aware of the zoo? 
Yes, located in Warner Park, Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park is a seven-acre zoo with a number of exhibits that includes Himalayan Passage in the Asia section where you can see the Red Panda and the Muntjac Deer. Over in the Latin America section, you can spy a Spider Monkey and a Macaw.
Don’t miss out on visiting the Misunderstood Marvels exhibit and try to …read more

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If you have been following this particular thread, we have made it to the end!
 
The Doctor is Always Right: They say that no matter where you are in Florida, you are about 60 miles away from a beach, unless, of course, you’re already on the coast. In fact, the Sunshine State’s beaches account for 1,000 miles of the state’s 1,800 miles of coastline. The beaches themselves are as diverse as the state. What you’ll discover along the Panhandle is quite different from what you’ll find in Cocoa Beach. That beach is different from what’s in the Keys and so …read more

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So, you survived the first weekend of summer and now you are wondering what to do for the rest of the season. Well, you’ve come to the right place! The South is filled with so much do to during summer. Here’s sampling of a few activities that’ll keep you busy:
1. Swim with the dolphins at Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach, Marineland near St. Augustine, Discovery Cove in Orlando, Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key, Miami Seaquarium in Miami, or the Theater at the Sea in Islamorada, Fla.
2. Ride a carousel. Take a spin on the Dentzel …read more

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The ducks in the Peabody Hotel in Memphis actually started out as a joke. Back in the 1930s, an inebriated hunter, who happened to also be the property’s general manager, and his friend, placed their live duck decoys into the fountain. Both thought it would be funny, but little did he know what he started. 75 years later, the ducks are as much a part of Memphis as ribs and blues.
The five ducks (one male and four females) make their grand entrance at 11 a.m. each morning and retire for the evening at 5 p.m. Their coming and going is …read more

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A little over a 100 years ago, a Hot Springs, Arkansas local started an alligator farm because he thought the town needed additional attractions. Alligators are common in this area, and the alligator farm, in his mind, would provide tourists with more to do and see.
With close to 2,000 alligators and a museum, the farm was sold twice throughout the years. Around the 1960s, the third owners added more animals and renamed it “The Arkansas Alligator Farm.” The farm would eventually would exchange hands, but remain in the same family.
Today, the farm includes over 200 alligators and a …read more

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When you think about the South, what comes to your mind? Perhaps good food, humidity and football -at least those are a few things that come to my mind when someone asks about this region. It is doubtful that you think exotic animals when someone is talking about Georgia.
Oh, but the South is full of surprises. Here’s a quick list of places along the Georgia mountains where you can see all types of animals without having to take your passport along.
Did you know that The Kangaroo Conservation Center in Dawsonville is home to the largest collection of kangaroos outside …read more

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“West Indian manatees are large, gray aquatic mammals with bodies that taper to a flat, paddle-shaped tail. They have two forelimbs, called flippers, with three to four nails. Their head and face are wrinkled with whiskers on the snout. The manatee’s closest land relatives are the elephant and the hyrax, a small, gopher-sized mammal. Manatees are believed to have evolved from a wading, plant-eating animal. The West Indian manatee is related to the West African manatee, the Amazonian manatee, the dugong, and to the Steller’s sea cow, which was hunted to extinction in …read more

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