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Sculptor Albin Polasek moved here to retire, but in fact he kept producing his figurative works until his death in 1965. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the museum and its sculpture gardens contain works spanning Polasek’s entire career.

Choose from themed tours, including gator-watching, lake ecology, and Native American constellation tales, aboard this six-passenger pontoon boat.

Think of this place as a halfway house for some of the most impressive examples of Florida’s birdlife. It was cre-ated by the Florida Audubon Society to rescue, rehabilitate, and release wounded raptors (birds of prey). Those that wouldn’t survive being released into the wild are kept here, living a pampered existence in a lovely lakeside location, while helping to educate visitors about wildlife issues and conservation. Guests aren’t allowed to observe the rehabilitation process, but permanent residents on view usually include vultures, bald eagles, screech owls, hawks, ospreys, and more.

Some describe it as an example of form-follows-function Programmatic architecture from the 1920s. Others just see it as a 25-ft- (8-m) long frankfurter.

With five roller coasters, this park is a close second to Islands of Adventure on the thrill front. Roller coaster addicts rate the park’s Kumba ride very highly. Busch Gardens is also a step ahead of Disney’s Animal Kingdom (see Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Park) when it comes to spotting nature’s finest creatures, which are very visible here on the Serengeti Plain, Serengeti Safari Tour, and Rhino Rally ride. During summer don’t miss cool rides like Congo River Rapids and Tanganyika Tidal Wave.