Gatorland

Lonely Planet review

With its goofy, gaping alligator jaws as the main entrance, Gatorland is the kind of attraction you'd imagine would be on Clark Griswold's National Lampoon's Vacation itinerary. But that's exactly what makes this mom-and-pop type attraction great! You won't find any fancy roller coasters or drenching log flumes here. Just gators as far as the eye can see - and plenty of 'em.

A warning though: this place probably isn't PETA-approved (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), especially the stunts during the Gator Wrestling' Show, but all ends well with a sleeping gator waking up with a tickle.

Ethical issues aside, Gatorland is just plain fun. The Jumparoo Show has 10ft-long alligators leaping almost entirely out of the water to grab whole chickens from the trainer's hand - like the whale Shamu, only creepy. The Jungle Crocs Show highlights four rare species and gives an entertaining history lesson on the creatures. A splintery wooden boardwalk, mere inches above the water, winds through the hundreds of alligators and crocodiles in the breeding marsh, and a three-story observation tower provides a soaring lookout for the birds of the wildlife habitat. Skip the ho-hum Gatorland Express Train though - you can see more by walking around.

Not that the little ones will be bored, but there's also a petting zoo and playground for the younger set.

Hungry? Gatorland not only breeds alligators for entertainment, but serves 'em up on a platter for folks with adventurous tastebuds (and yes, it does taste like chicken). Grab fresh gator nuggets and smoked gator ribs at Pearl's Smokehouse. The bathrooms by the way get our vote for one of the cleanest in Central Florida.

Indulge your Crocodile Hunter fantasy with the Trainer for a Day package, and learn how to wrangle both crocs and gators hands on.

You can't leave Gatorland without passing through the gift shop, of course. But where else could you pick up a professionally mounted gator head, a brass gator door knocker or a striking pair of alligator skin boots?