Family Vacation Deals: Busch Gardens Tampa

Family vacation deals are numerous, but one sure to get your attention is a trip to Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. While Disney may have put theme into theme park, but when it comes to re-creating the wild in a safe environment Busch Gardens does it better than anyone. Since it's opening over 42 years ago as a bird sanctuary and visitors center Busch Gardens Tampa this theme park has expanded to 335 acres and includes over 2,700 creatures from 320 different species. And, let's not forget the thrill rides and entertainment. Busch Gardens is considered Florida's largest zoo, and is home to a host of free-roaming animals, which many are threatened or endangered in the wild.

With animals roaming the grounds of the 70-acres Serengeti Plain attraction visitors can travel through and observe giraffes, zebras, wild beasts, antelopes, and gazelles aboard a monorail, chug along train or in a safari truck. The Edge of Africa is a walking safari that allows visitors to stroll through abandoned African villages and into the natural habitats of lions, hippos, vultures, a Nile crocodile and other wild creatures. Meanwhile, The Myombe reserve, which hosts the Great Ape Domain allows visitors a glimpse into the world of chimps and gorillas, while making a trek through rugged terrain, thick vegetation and clouds of mist. In other areas of the park visitors can see birds, koalas, kangaroos, elephant and yellow and white Bengal tigers.

A new attraction to Busch Gardens is Rhino Rally, an eight-minute off road river safari with a Survivor theme. With a blend of thrill seeking and animal watching, Rhino Rally takes visitors on a guided course through 16-acres of African wilds and ends with a raging river ride. Different from other rides, this one attempts to turn spectators into competitors. 17 visitors ride in each land Rover and compete for the "world's off road trophy."

For more thrills, visitors have their selection of roller coasters from four steel track and one dual-track coasters. The Gwazi is a wooden duel-track coaster that features dueling trains that travel at speeds of 50 mph through 7,000 feet of track that includes six flyby encounters in which the two dueling trains come within feet of each other. Of the park's steel coasters, the Montu is the largest and fastest inverted steel coaster in the Southeast.

For those who aren't excited about being whisked through the air at high speeds or meeting up with a lion face-to-face there are numerous entertainment and food options, plus Adventure Island, a 30-acre water park. This definitely is one of the best in family vacation deals. Visit family vacation deals and begin your planning today for and exciting vacation to Busch Gardens Tampa!