Animal Action

At a newly minted seven years old, Lindsay kind of finds herself in a bit of a no-man’s land when it comes to Busch Gardens Tampa. She’s outgrown many of the rides at the Sesame Street Safari of Fun area, both in terms of interest level (she pointed out the lack of excitement on the Big Bird’s Whirly Birdie Ferris wheel–style ride) and size (she’s taller than the height limit on some of them). But she’s nowhere near brave enough for many of the park’s thrill rides, even if she’s got the height to ride them.

So during our most recent visit to Busch Gardens, we wound up exploring areas that we’ve often overlooked or quickly passed through during Lindsay’s younger days. One of our new favorite sections is the Jungala area, home to all kinds of cool animals and a couple of rides just right for our first grader.

 

The Wild Surge has become a Lindsay must-do. We strapped ourselves in four times on this ride, which shoots up four stories out of a rocky outcropping and plunges back down several times over. Think of it as a slightly less intense version of the Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Another newfound fave is the Jungle Flyers. Lindsay was disappointed that it wasn’t operating during our recent visit; it was a highlight from our time at Busch Gardens last spring. The zipline-style ride soars fifty feet above the Jungala area, offering riders a bird’s-eye view of the animals below. I admittedly experienced a few moments of panic as I stood below and watched Lindsay take off, but seeing the smile on her face as she flew overhead quickly calmed me down.

Opportunities for interesting animal encounters abound in the Jungala section. I’m usually not a fan of the often-crazy, playground-style climbing structures at theme parks. (We can go to a playground for free, I always tell Lindsay.) But the one here has some nooks and crannies kids can scramble into for out-of-the-ordinary views of animals like gibbons and flying foxes.

In another portion of Jungala, a trail leads visitors to all of the different viewing areas for observing the park’s Bengal tigers, including a very cool “pop up” spot where folks can get an incredibly close look at the fierce creatures. “I could see the tiger breathing!” Lindsay exclaimed after emerging from the enclosure.

Maybe it’s because I’m not a thrill-seeker myself, but I’m happy that Lindsay’s in-between age has afforded us the chance to explore things at Busch Gardens Tampa we might miss otherwise. After all, it’ll only be a matter of time before she’s ditching mom and dad and running off for the twists and turns of a heart-stopping roller-coaster. So I’ll take these more sedate kinds of experiences while I can get them.

Smooth Sailing

Disney Cruise Line recently announced its itineraries for 2015, and it’s got me wishing for another ocean voyage with the company. We enjoyed our first and (so far) only Disney cruise on the Dream last fall, an experience that exceeded our expectations.

Not surprisingly, Disney’s attention to detail stands out, whether it’s the space-saving designs of its staterooms or the staffers standing at the entrance to all of the restaurants passing out hand wipes (a relief to this mom who’d read too much about norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships). There were almost too many activities from which to choose, from the upper-deck mini-golf course and frequent photo ops with Disney characters to the first-run movies and nightly Broadway-style productions.

 

After a tour of the space before we left port, Lindsay couldn’t wait to spend time in the Oceaneer Club and Lab, two of the ship’s kids’ clubs. So one night we dropped her off there and, with one of the ship’s phones in hand, enjoyed an adult dinner overlooking the ocean at Palo. We returned to find her with a face-painted, pirate eye patch and lots of stories about the new friends she made while crafting, playing games, and dressing up like Tinker Bell and other Disney heroines.

 

There’s almost no need to leave the ship; it would take days to see and do everything on board. But you don’t want to miss Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. Free fun includes two water play areas and alfresco game zones (think table tennis, foosball, shuffleboard), while excursion options range from parasailing and kayaking to snorkeling with stingrays.

 
If you’re not into magical mice or think a Disney cruise would be nothing but a floating preschool, think again. Sure, there will be lots of families on the ship, but there are plenty of adult-only spots and activities to entertain even the biggest curmudgeons. Don’t believe me? Read this story I wrote on Disney cruises for adults for Gulf & Main magazine and use it to convince your kiddo’s childless uncle or grumpy grandpa to join in on the fun.

Garden Variety

During our past visits to the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida, Lindsay has always enjoyed playing among the sprawling roots in the site’s Banyan Grove. But during our most recent trip she played above and within the trees, thanks to the new Children’s Rainforest Garden.

 

The years-in-the-making, recently opened spot helps kids understand the interconnectedness of the natural world while giving them a new perspective on what might be growing around them. A canopy walk and wobbly rope bridges offer a bird’s-eye view of the banyans’ gnarly roots and the plants growing among their upper branches.

As a waterfall splashed in the background, we meandered along the walkway, darting in and out of caves and examining lithophytes, the types of plants that grow in or on rocks. Several spots along the way offer opportunities for hands-on fun. An elevated, thatched-roof hut houses binoculars, magnifying glasses, and a tent set-up for playing field biologist.

 

Additional huts on ground level contain please-touch-style stations where kids can check out shells, pinecones, and seed pods and try their hand at building their own tree house–like structures. There’s even a “hugging tree,” where Lindsay enthusiastically made like one of the epiphytes or “air plants” clinging to the giant banyans.

This new addition adds even more pint-sized appeal to the already family-friendly spot. To learn about other ways to explore Selby Gardens with kids, read this story I wrote for Visit Sarasota County.  

Hello Again!

After a long period of dormancy, I'm finally getting back to Kiddo on the Go. Be on the lookout for more frequent posts about kid-friendly museums, attractions, restaurants, and other fun places to head with your little ones in tow. Adventure awaits, and I look forward to writing about some of the cool spots we come across in our travels near and far. Thanks for reading!