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Saturday, June 15, 2013

Must Do Activities In Tampa, Florida

By Jony Mozen


The Salvador Dali Museum in downtown St. Petersburg is another center of cultural tourism on the west coast of Florida and welcomes over 200,000 visitors each year from around the world. The Dali Museum Collection is rich in works from artist Salvador Dali's entire career (1904-1989), with key works from every moment and in every medium of his artistic activity. The museum opened in 1982 displaying the most comprehensive private collection of Dali's work in the world. The museum is made up of 1062 triangular pieces of glass and stands 75 feet at its tallest point - a 21st-century homage to the dome that adorns Dali's museum in Spain. Inside, the Dali houses another unique architectural feature - a helical staircase recalling Dali's obsession with spirals and the double helical shape of the DNA molecule. First floor visitors enter through the Dali Museum Store, featuring the largest collection of Dali-inspired merchandise in the world. A caf offering Spanish-themed light fare has indoor and outdoor seating. The theater regularly shows a short film about the museum and is also the setting for concerts and lectures. The second floor is where scholars of Dali and the avant-garde will do research in the Museum's extensive library. The third floor galleries display 96 paintings with a selection of Dali's works of other media, including surrealist objects and a selection of Dali's prints and drawings.

Big Cat Rescue is a sanctuary, not a zoo, so the animals come first. They do not allow people to wander around unescorted - tours are all guided and provide an educational experience that includes the plight of big cats in the wild and in captivity and what you can do to save them. Big Cat Rescue is the largest accredited sanctuary in the world dedicated entirely to abused and abandoned big cats. They are home to more than 100 lions, tigers, bobcats, cougars and other species most of whom have been abandoned, abused, orphaned, saved from being turned into fur coats, or retired from performing acts. Big Cat Rescue is a member of the World Society for Protection of Animals. Rated 4 Stars by Charity Navigator (their highest rating) it has the highest score of any animal based charity. The sanctuary is situated on 55 acres in the Citrus Park area of north Tampa.

Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo also offers a hands-on and educational experience with our interactive exhibits and habitats, such as Giraffe Feeding. Stand on the feeding plateau of Safari Africa and get eye-to-eye and even feed the tallest animals in the world. Camel Safari. Children and adults can take a ride on the back of a Dromedary camel. This ride also offers unique views of Rhino Reserve as well as the cheetah exhibit. Discovery Center. Enter the Harrell Discovery Center and to see aquariums full of exotic and endangered frog and toad species, where you can learn about our amphibian friends! Wallaroo Station Interactive Experiences. Feed and pet the goats in the Goat Yard, walk with wallabies, feed bright orange koi fish or take ride on a pony or llama. Bushland Budgies. This unique interactive free-flight aviary allows guests to feed hundreds of small Australian parrots known as Budgies. Lorikeet Landing offers a thrilling experience for guests when birds land on you and if you purchase nectar, they will eat out of a small cup as you hold it. Stingray Bay. Feel slippery stingrays brush under your fingertips. Smooth and silky to the touch, the stingrays will come over to the side of their pool so you can touch and feed them.

Caladesi Island State Park. Most of coastal Florida used to resemble Caladesi Island and now it's one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier islands in the state. Pine and palm forests lead to rolling dunes covered with grasses, which in turn lead to a long strip of white sandy beach. A relative newcomer to the Florida west coast, the island was created when a savage hurricane in 1921 separated it from what was then Hog Island. To this day, the origin of the island's name is uncertain, though it has appeared on maps since the 1930's. Accessible only by ferry from Clearwater and nearby Honeymoon Island State Park, a visit to Caladesi Island makes a great day trip. You can fish, picnic, go boating or shelling, sunbathe on the beach, and wander at will through the pine and oak forests. A wide variety of bird life call the park home, and you're likely to see an osprey soaring overhead. Picnic tables and concessions are located near the beach, and a 99-slip marina is available for those who bring their own boats. Overnight docking is permitted if you register with the park ranger.

Talk Shows. Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo offers many opportunities to get up-close and learn about animals. Part of our mission is education about the natural world and we offer that opportunity on a daily basis through our programs. Zoo Keepers hold fun lectures about the animals and their behaviors and also what it's like to be a Zookeeper. Water Play Areas. The Zoo offers two exciting water play areas designed to help your little ones cool off during your day at the Zoo. Manatee Fountains splash ground is situated among tall palm trees with plenty of benches for parents to relax while watching the little ones play. Billabong Fountains take guests for an aquatic romp with enough water fun to make sure that your little one stays cool in the hot tropical sun.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for these annual festivals: the Gasparilla Pirate Fest in January, The Florida State Fair in February, the Florida Strawberry Festival in March, the Ruskin Tomato & Heritage Festival in May, and the Ruskin Seafood Fest in November. Visit Tampa now and discover how historic Old Florida blends well with the modern, upscale style of some of the most beautiful, master-planned communities for families and retirees. Yes, climate, dining and shopping, cultural attractions, educational and business opportunities, and the beautiful beaches help make Tampa home to a wonderful lifestyle. Tampa is a lot more than beautiful sunsets! Make it your home, too.




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