Embarking on a safari of our own, my family and I traversed Florida in search of exotic and wild animals at some of the best zoos in the state. We traveled south to Miami, north to Jacksonville, west to Tampa and many places in between and found that each zoo was exceptional in its own way. Of course we encountered the typical showcase of elephants, monkeys, lions and giraffes at most locations, but there were always several exhibits that wowed my husband and I and our two sons, 13-year-old Baker and 11-year-old Jake, at every destination.

No matter what part of Florida you visit, a quality and exciting zoo is sure to be in the area. My family and I will look back on our zoo adventures with many fond memories and with inspiration to go back again. Every zoo we visited had so much to offer, more than I was able to put in this article. For more information, contact the zoo you are interested in and see what there is to discover.


MIAMI'S EXCEPTIONAL AVIARY

 Upon entering the Miami Metrozoo, a large collection of "Safari Cycles" immediately caught my children's attention. The two- and four-person bicycles with a canopy on top are the main mode of transportation around the expansive Miami zoo - and a big hit with young visitors. My husband and I each manned a two-person bicycle with a son in tow and were grateful by the end of the day for the amenity, as it afforded us the opportunity to see the entire zoo without exhausting the whole family.

Miami's zoo features extensive Australian, Asian and Tropical Americas exhibits, but a big favorite for us was the Wings of Asia Aviary. This presentation offers the largest free-flight aviary in the United States with exotic, rare and endangered birds representing 70 species of more than 300 birds. A Field Research Center highlights the similarities and relationships between birds and dinosaurs.

The aviary, along with the rest of the zoo, takes advantage of Miami's beautiful subtropical climate for habitat for the animals, birds and fish. However when entering the aviary it is not the beauty of the flora and fauna that immediately grabs your senses, it is the sound. "Listen to all the birds in here," Jake said. "It's loud," he added. The air is alive with bird songs. Also adding to the sweet sounds are two rushing waterfalls that you can stand behind and view birds in flight, stationary or floating on a pond. Because of the unrestrictive setting, birds swoop past you as they fly unencumbered and walk beside you on the pathways. The aviary was truly a treat for my family.

Descriptions of animals throughout the zoo are offered in both English and Spanish. After witnessing the proud lionesses stretching out under a large group of trees on top of a grassy hill, one small girl excitedly repeated over and over "Su nombre es Simba" (her name is Simba). Miami houses more than 1,200 animals in cageless, open-air settings on 300 acres of land. And many creatures were unusual.

"Mom, I want to go see the cape hunting dog," said Baker looking at the zoo map. "I've never seen one." A komodo dragon and an okapi that looks a bit like a zebra mixed with a donkey also were critters that we experienced for the first time. But what delighted us most were the animals that wanted to have fun.

At the river otters exhibit, we witnessed a talented otter that could juggle a rock for minutes before dropping it into the water just to retrieve it again and entertain the crowd. "They are really lively," Baker said. "They remind me of little kids. They can't sit still," he added, a strange observation for a 13-year- old, but accurate.

Other juvenile-like creatures were the baby chimpanzees. My family sat down for ten minutes to watch two young chimps wrestle and tumble with each other. I don't know what it is about monkeys, but they always mesmerize zoo goers as these two did, attracting a large crowd of onlookers while we enjoyed them.

The Miami Metrozoo also features a children's zoo, wildlife shows, zoo keeper talks, Dr. Wilde's World that provides hands-on interactive exhibits, guided tram and walking tours, a monorail, water cycles on a large lake, and playgrounds and dining areas throughout the park.


TAMPA'S WILD SIDE OF FLORIDA
More than 760,000 visitors annually have passed through the gates of Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, and my family chose a typical Florida sunny day to spend there. The Lowry Park Zoo also has a free-flight aviary like Miami, along with the Asian Gardens and Primate World as a few of its main exhibits, as well as the brand-new Safari Africa experience.

A six-acre showcase of zebras, elephants, giraffes, pygmy hippos, warthogs and other African animal species, Safari Africa offers beautiful vistas with animals in their natural habitats. It was a chance for my family to see creatures from faraway places.

The Tampa zoo has a collection of 298 mammals, 374 birds, 386 reptiles, 126 amphibians, 430 fish and 30 invertebrates, totaling 1,664 specimens. However, my family was really intrigued by the Native Florida Wildlife Center. Grabbing a snack of Florida Cracker-style kettle corn before hiking along a wooden boardwalk through native scenery, we encountered all the famous Florida animals and many unknowns.

With background noise supplied by the howler monkeys from the nearby Primate World, we began the trek by seeing the American bald eagle, white-tailed deer and Florida sandhill crane. As the howler monkeys' cry turned into a frenzy, the agitated wolves began to pace faster and faster along the fence wearing down a path in the dirt. "It's kind of eerie in here," Jake observed.

As much as the wolves were affected by the combination of high and low monkey noises, the black bear across the way was not and slumbered in the hollow of a large oak tree. The flamingos, in defiance, squawked back at the monkeys.

The Florida state animal, the Florida panther, also stalked in its habitat like the wolves. "It seems bigger than I thought it would be," said my husband. The Florida panther is an endangered species with only about 30 still existing in the wild.

We then approached a swampy setting and watched several Florida alligators glide stealthily through the waters. Unlike the Florida panther, the American alligator has made a big comeback under animal protection laws. Yet, my family's favorite protected Florida animal was housed in a center all to its own: the manatee.

Lowry Park Zoo has a wonderful Manatee and Aquatic Center as part of its Native Florida Wildlife section that can keep you busy for at least an hour. Resident manatees can be seen through above- and below-ground viewing. My husband and I rested on a bench and watched manatees eat tons, literally, of romaine lettuce while sea turtles and tarpon, snook and other Florida saltwater fish glided past. The center also showcases tropical fish tanks, sharks like the nurse and bonnethead, large grouper fish, alligator snapping turtles and terrariums full of Florida snakes and frogs.
Because of this exhibit, Lowry Park Zoo was named the number one zoo in the United States for young children by Child Magazine.

As we reluctantly left the aquatic center, thinking we should keep moving to take in all of the zoo, we heard cries and shouts of joy just around the corner. All the commotion was coming from Stingray Bay, a tank of water where zoo goers could touch and feed all sorts of stingrays. The stingrays swam circles in the pool flapping their fins while adults and children alike, some more reluctantly than others, gently reached into the water to get a feel of their smooth skin.

"They move fast," exclaimed Baker. "It looks like they are flying in water."
"I think they are waving hello to us as they go by," countered Jake, as a stingray streaked past us and caused a splash in the water.

After the fish, we went to the fowl. Lowry Park Zoo also has a quaint smaller aviary called Lorikeet Landing where you can purchase food to feed the colorful Australian birds. It was a rare treat to witness fluorescent-feathered birds landing on the heads, shoulders and arms of my husband and children.

Lowry Park Zoo also has a four-and-a-half-acre Australian themed children's area called Wallaroo Station Children's Zoo, showcasing sheep, goats, horses, flying fox bats, singing dogs, emus, kookaburra and a koi fish pond. Young visitors and their parents can interact with kangaroos and wallabies, cool off in a water play area called the Billabong and take a ride on the Jungle Carousel. Because of this exhibit, Lowry Park Zoo was named the number one zoo in the United States for young children by Child Magazine.


JACKSONVILLE LOVES JAGUARS
The city of Jacksonville is known for its professional football team the Jaguars, and The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is quickly becoming famed for the new Range of the Jaguars exhibit. The zoo presents Plains of Africa, Australian Adventure, River Valley Aviary, Wild Florida and Great Apes as main exhibits, but my family really saw something special in the Jaguar showcase and its surrounding features.

Discovering a village market and outdoor café area at the base of the Range of the Jaguar exhibit, we stopped for lunch and enjoyed viewing the jaguars while dining on Mexican fare. The sleek creatures are housed in an open-air setting with high rocks, lush waterfalls and pools of water and dense vegetation. Sister jaguars, Onca and Salsa, entertained us as they pounced from rock to rock.

Part of the Jaguar presentation is The Lost Temple, an ancient temple overtaken by the rainforest and its animals. Inside the dark, stone-walled dwelling unusual critters can be found like the eyelash palm pit viper, vampire bats, tarantulas, centipedes, blue poison dart frogs, caiman lizards, death's head cockroaches, a Hoffmann's two-toed sloth, giant anteaters, squirrel monkeys, and many, many, many snakes. My two sons were thrilled. And when you exit The Lost Temple the zoo reminds you of the motto of the jungle: "Leave only your footprints behind."

After the shadowy temple we encountered the vivid Emerald Forest aviary, another showcase of the Range of the Jaguar exhibit, where again we came across unique winged creatures. Inca doves and terns, ruddy ducks, spangled cotingas, scarlet ibis and Cuban amazons perched and took flight all around us. One Inca tern, which looked like it had a white mustache, positioned itself on a fence next to Jake. They studied each other for a couple minutes. A very proud harpy eagle caught the attention of Baker. The bird majestically and systematically called out as if it ruled the aviary. "Look how it scrunches its shoulders whenever it talks," he laughed.

The most uncommon animal discovered in the Range of the Jaguar exhibit was the largest rodent in the world called the capybara. This creature was the size of a really large dog. "It's actually pretty cute for a rodent," admits Jake. Yeah right.

After a stint through the Australian Adventure, where we spent time with wallabies and vultures, we came across a very endearing adult chimpanzee in the Great Apes presentation. We heard giggling and screaming and discovered a group of little children with faces pressed against a glass partition giving kisses to the chimp. The chimp would kiss back, make silly faces and slap the glass to the delight of the children.

"Mom - he loves me, and I love him," shouted one little girl. The Great Apes exhibit gives visitors a close-up view of chimps, gorillas, mandrills, lemurs and marmosets in their natural settings.

Jacksonville's zoo has more than 1,000 animals, and you can't forget the word "Gardens" in the name because there truly is beautiful scenery throughout the 89 acres. The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is officially recognized as a botanical garden. The zoo property also includes 1,400 feet of river frontage on Trout River.


PALM BEACH EMBRACES MAYAN CULTURE
The Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park offers 23 acres of lush, tropical, landscaped habitats belonging to more than 900 animals from Florida, South and Central America, Asia and Australia. The most exciting showcase is the new Tropics of Americas with multiple exhibits that feature the Mayan Indian culture.

Beginning at a Mayan hut, my family was treated to two 45-foot pyramids with hand-carved hieroglyphics that house jaguars and bush dogs, semi-aquatic wild dogs from western South America. A giant replica of a Montezuma cypress called the Tule tree offered sleeping areas for the jags and wild dogs.

A collection of nocturnal animals was displayed in the Creatures of the Night area, such as bats, snakes, frogs, spiders and rats. This display is also an observatory that educates visitors about the Mayan culture's involvement in astronomy. Giant anteaters, Patagonian cavies, emus, tapirs and waterfowl were seen from a suspension bridge that looked out over the savannah lands and ponds.

The Tropics of the Americas has two primate islands surrounded by waterfalls with several monkeys calling them home. Entering into the Explorer's Cave we saw stalagmites, tropical fish and cave-dwelling critters.

The final destination was the Amazon Market Place, where my husband and I could shop in a traditional South American market, and my sons could encounter iguanas, parrots, exotic fish, turtles and boa constrictors. After a stop at the market, we ended the great day at the Amazon River Port, which offers waterfront dining at the popular Tropics Café. I imagine some visitors to the Palm Beach Zoo come just for a hideaway lunch or dinner at the café because of the relaxing tropical atmosphere.


MELBOURNE'S SAFARI EXHIBITION
The city of Melbourne has the Brevard Zoo to show off to visitors with 70 acres of habitats housing more than 480 animals from Africa, Australia, Asia, Latin America and Florida. My family hopped on the Cape to Cairo Express train to tour the most exciting of the zoo's features: Exhibition Africa.

This new exhibit spans 10 acres of savannah habitat with the man-made Nyami Nyami River surrounding the showcase. Zoo goers can take guided kayak tours to see the animals from a different perspective, along with the river's plants, fish and birds. Guests also can hike through the lush lands.

On our train excursion, we saw giraffes, white rhinos, impalas, gazelles, oryx, duikers, ostriches and several large cranes. More than 60 animals can be seen in this exhibit. The Baobab Bridge crosses the Nyami Nyami River and leads into the trunk of Baobab tree, an enormous specimen that typically grows in the wilds of Africa.

A savannah overlook that rises nine feet in the air offers another unique perspective to witness Exhibition Africa. You may even look a giraffe right in the eyes.

Other presentations at the Brevard Zoo are Latin America and Native Florida exhibits, the Australia Loop and Petting Zoo and Wildside Tours. Eco Tours also are available in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.


GULF BREEZE GOES BATTY
After Hurricane Ivan struck this Northwest Florida beach community, The ZOO & Botanical Gardens in Gulf Breeze took a few months off to make some repairs and reopen their doors to welcome visitors back. The ZOO looks great and is featuring their newest exhibit, Bats - Misunderstood Creatures of the Night.

My family was thrilled with this state of the art nocturnal bat house, where four blood-sucking vampire bats live with a colony of 200 tropical fruit bats. The ZOO also has a 30-acre Wildlife Preserve where animals dwell free range. The wildebeest, alligators, deer, pygmy hippos, zebras, African wild dogs and more call it home. The Safari Line Limited train travels throughout the preserve for more in depth viewing.


JUNGLE-THEMED ZOOS
Timeless attractions show off jungle habitats Florida's original and smaller zoos are often characterized with a jungle theme and are a fun way for a family to spend the day, especially if you are in the mood for a more leisurely pace.

Caribbean Gardens: The Zoo in Naples was founded in 1919 by Dr. Henry Nehrling as a botanical garden. It now spreads across 52 acres, offering close-up views of animals from apes to zebras. This nationally accredited zoo presents exhibits such as Primate Expedition Cruise, Scales and Tails Show, Meet the Keeper, Safari Canyon and Alligator Bay Feeding.

Sarasota Jungle Gardens is filled with nature trails that wind through a true jungle. Flamingos, exotic birds, alligators, monkeys and even wallabies and emus can be found along the jungle paths.

In South Miami, Jungle Island was opened in 1936 and is home to 1,000 tropical birds, 1,000 varieties of plants and flowers and many exotic animals. The birds fly free throughout the 18-acre attraction, making it a unique presentation for visitors. Animal stage shows, interactive aviaries, plant nurseries, jungle trails, a petting farm and parrot shows along with a serpentarium, Jungle Theater and an Everglades habitat are also part of the experience.

Monkey Jungle ), also in Miami, has the motto: "Where humans are caged and monkeys run wild!" and that about sums it up. About 400 primates run free on the 30-acre preserve. Orangutans, gibbons, guenons, tamarins and colobus are just a taste of the animals that entertain you. Monkey Jungle strives to teach visitors about the lifestyle of primates and to be part of the conservation efforts for many of the species it houses.


ANIMAL-FRIENDLY THEME PARKS

Theme parks offer zoo-like features Florida is known for its theme parks, but a few combine thrilling rides and shows along with exotic animal exhibits and presentations.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay was one of the original attractions to offer a roller coaster and a lion habitat together to create a unique fun-filled day for families. The theme park opened in 1959 and has grown into a large attraction offering a diverse blend of family activities. Most recently added was a 26-acre white rhinoceros habitat, were visitors see one of the largest and majestic land mammals. To add to the experience the Rhino Rally adventure ride thrills guests with an intense off-road experience aboard a Land Rover amongst the Rhinos and other large animals.Busch Gardens Tampa Bay houses more than 300 species in quality habitats in a variety of ways. The theme park is recognized as one of America's premiere zoos.

Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando is Disney World's newest adventure. Explore animals on a safari, in a prehistoric world or on stage shows. Many of the Disney characters are featured along with real animals in their natural habitats.In Discovery Island, "A Bug's Life" characters are showcased in a 3-D show about how tough it is to be a bug. The Tree of Life exhibit offers hiking trails where you can discover Galapagos tortoises, lemurs and kangaroos. The continents of Africa and Asia are also featured, and in Rafiki's Planet Watch, visitors can learn about worldwide conservation efforts.