Which Zoo Exhibits are the Best Found in South Florida?
August 9, 2016South Florida is home to some amazing zoos and aquariums with very interesting exhibits. The summer season is a great time to visit one of the many exhibits found throughout the area. Here’s a quick look at the top five zoo exhibits found in South Florida.
Parrot Cove/Jungle Island – 111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami
You’ll find all kinds of animals and plants at Jungle Island. It’s also home to the only private beach in Miami, along with a beach playground like no other. Enjoy incredible views of the Miami skyline and the Biscayne Bay, as well.
Parrot Cove is included with your Jungle Island admission. However, if you want to use the Rainforest Riptide, an all-day pass is $15 per person. This is a huge water playground you can enjoy with your family when you come to Jungle Island.
Parrot Cove and Jungle Island are open daily from 11am to 5pm.
Butterfly Island/Secret Woods Nature Center – 2701 West State Road, Dania Beach
The Secret Woods Nature Center includes one of the most interesting butterfly gardens you will find in the area. You can immerse in the natural experience at Butterfly Island as you enjoy walking through the many butterflies. You will spot swallowtails, monarchs and many other types of butterflies here.
Along with Butterfly Island, you will want to enjoy the Monarch Interpretive Center with an up-close look at a working beehive and so much more. There’s a reptile habitat and many other displays of incredible wildlife here.
The Secret Woods Nature Center and Butterfly Island are open from 9am to 5pm daily, except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Amazing Animals: Built To Survive/Zoo Miami – 12400 SW 152nd Street, Miami
This exhibit helps to teach children and adults about some of the animals and natural techniques used by the animals to survive. It includes information about the cheetah, giraffe and many other animals. When you visit this exhibit, you’re likely to learn many interesting facts about animals that you didn’t already know.
The Amazing Animals exhibit is found in Dr. Wilde’s World at the Miami Zoo. It’s open from 10am to 5pm and will be at the zoo until August 28th.
Rainforest Adventure Tour/Monkey Jungle – 14805 SW 216th Street, Miami
If you want to explore the rainforest and learn about the monkeys, this is the place for you. Monkey Jungle will allow you to get an up-close look at the monkeys in their natural environment. Tours are offered with opportunities for you to fee the monkeys.
This wildlife park has been open since 1935 as a part of the Miami Zoo. It’s a great place for humans to enjoy monkeys running wild and even feed them. The tour is $89.95 per person, which includes zoo admission, continuous shows and monkey food.
The Rainforest Adventure Tour and Monkey Jungle are open daily. Tours are held at 10am, 12:15pm and 2:30pm.
The Hungry Tarpon/Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters – 11720 Overseas Highway, Marathon
Found about halfway down the keys, the Florida Keys Aquarium provides plenty of great Encounters. When you decide to do The Hungry Tarpon, you will get to participate in feeding a live tarpon. These fish can get to over 300 pounds as adults and are quite amazing.
The feedings are not scheduled and occur throughout the day. The best feedings are found closer to the time the aquarium closes in the late afternoon.
The Florida Keys Aquarium is open from 9am to 5pm daily.
Related: Miami’s Unique and Unusual Spots
If you enjoy animals and you want to enjoy some of the best zoo exhibits in South Florida, these five will provide you just what you want.