From an early age, I was able to notice how much happier my son was when he was outdoors. Just walking out the door would be the start of new adventures. A simple walk from the apartment to the beach would offer him so much to explore, and of course, it would take a lot of time.
Right outside the door, he would find the first creature he could get his hands on–tiny and pale pink with deep black eyes. He would run up and down the hallway trying to catch them. Once outside the building, he’d see lizards in all sizes and colors. However, he would be more cautious and stop to stare at them.
Always a Plan B
During those years I had many annual tickets to Miami wildlife attractions. Most of them offer this kind of ticket and for a little more money you may visit the facility many times during the year. Some of these places won’t even charge any extra money if you purchase the year-round tickets in certain seasons. However, be aware that some attractions might have some restrictions during the holidays.
Three great options of local attractions with great wildlife exhibits are Zoo Miami, Jungle Island, and Miami Seaquarium. These were always our favorites! We wouldn’t even have to spend all day there. Even a few hours was enough for my son to get his fill of new adventures.
Real Face-to-Face
When Pepo turned two we celebrated with friends at the Wildlife Zoological Foundation. It is a 5-acre zoo located in South Miami where you are able to have private tours and hands-on encounters with a variety of wild animals. We were able to see a vast variety of felines up close and personal. Pepo saw an amur leopard, cougar, golden tabby tiger, black & spotted jaguar, lion, white African lion, and even a liger. (Did you know liger is a hybrid cross between a male lion and a tigress?!)
After visiting every species we had a face-to-face encounter with baby tigers. Such an unforgettable experience!
