When we think of Miami, we think of beaches, nightclubs, and all things tropical. We never think of going to the zoo. Truth is, Miami has plenty of places to check out exotic wildlife and botanical gardens.
The most diverse zoo down in South Florida has to be Miami Metro Zoo. The 740 acre zoo houses over 100 exhibits and is home to over 2,000 animals and 500 different species. Follow the walkways through the grounds to see all sorts of monkeys, antelopes, tigers, and more. There are over 70 species of birds in their Wings Of Asia exhibit and they offer various wildlife shows throughout the days.
If you are staying on Miami Beach, you might want to hop across the causeway to visit Jungle Island, where you will find a huge range of tropical birds and other animals, including orangutans, kangaroos, and other curious species of wildlife you might not be accustomed to seeing in this part of the world. There is a petting zoo and picnic area, so it is a marvelous place to bring the kids.
Monkey Jungle is a very unique zoo here in South Florida. The monkeys roam free while the humans are caged, adding to the amazing experience. To feed the free-raoming monkeys you put little peanuts in their baskets, which they lower to let you know they are hungry, then they raise them, hand over hand, to feed. It's quite fun.
If you want the full-on safari experience, I recommend taking a bit of a drive up to Loxahatchee, FL (just west of West Palm Beach) to visit Lion Country Safari, where the animals roam wild and the humans drive by them in their cars. It also has a walking portion, where you visit a small zoo were you can see several animals in their natural habitat, feed giraffes, pet goats, and see wildlife shows. It even has some rides for the kids.
What is your favorite animal adventure in South Florida?
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