Want all the fun a theme park in Orlando has to offer but less crowd and travel distance? Busch Gardens of Tampa Bay is the place to visit on your next trip to Tampa, Florida.
Busch Gardens offers a little bit of everything for everyone old and young. If you're into roller coasters, you're in luck, because Busch Gardens offers many large coasters including a wooden roller coaster and the new Shekria which takes you on a wild ride with twists, turns and a 90 degree drop! Florida gets hot in summer, so what's better then a water ride to cool you down? With three fun water rides you'll have a blast going down a steep drop in a log or spinning under a waterfall while on the Congo River Rapids.
If rides are not your thing, check the times for the different shows that Busch Gardens has to offer. The animals are abundant in the park, with a bird aviary, zebras, hippos, giraffes, lions, monkeys and more; you'll feel as if you're right in the heart of Africa.
Busch Gardens offers so much that one day is not enough. The shows are of an excellent standard. The animals are behind glass so you can see them so clearly. There are many talks from the keepers. The tiger compound means you can stand beside the glass, walk above them and even climb under them. The Rhino Rally was a hit with the family. The "Animal Antics" show was excellent (very similar to the one in SeaWorld).
The Tropical Bird section was very enjoyable, being able to feed the birds (very similar to Discovery Cove).
The highlight of the day, however, was feeding the giraffes from a jeep. This was £23 extra each which seemed to be worth every penny. This should be booked upon arrival at the park.
Food seemed reasonably priced within the park.
The journey from International Drive was approximately an hour and even with a dvd was still a drag. The departure time was 6 pm and one day was just not enough with so much on offer within the park. However, the thought of another long journey to go again did not appeal. The transfer to Busch Gardens was free of charge.