Gatorland, Orlando

Travel distance/time from Florida Delight (18.6 miles: 29 minutes) 

Gatorland is over 60 years old now and is still a family run, privately owned business. It covers 110 acres and is a blend between a theme park and a wildlife preserve. Known as the Alligator Capitol of the world, here you will experience at close hand, not just alligators but also crocodiles, snakes, turtles and other reptiles.

There is a free flight aviary, a petting zoo, shows, the natural alligator breeding marsh and for those wanting a thrill high above the tree tops there is the Screamin' Gator Zip Line.

The zip line was voted by AOL travel as the best in the USA and you can enjoy the fun and thrill of flying high above the park and over the alligator breeding marsh as you travel along the 1,200 feet of the zip line, with the added knowledge that as you do so there are 130 giant alligators looking up at you from below as you soar overhead.

You can pay for additional activities such as a behind the scenes opportunity to be a trainer for the day during which you will really be able to get up close and personal to these unique creatures at Gatorland.

There are a few places to eat while you are in the park such as Pearl's Smokehouse, a snack bar and Fudge Kitchen.

As Gatorland is situated quite near to the airport it can be a good place to visit on your last day when you have checked out of your villa and are heading north to the airport.