Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

10165 McKinley Drive

Tampa, FL. 33612

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Welcome to our Busch Gardens Adventure

Although the word ‘Adventure’ is something of a stretch, but it was a very fun day for all of us, despite all the rain.

But, all the rain did force us to do things inside or underneath shelters that we perhaps wouldn’t have done had it been such a lovely sunny day. The date was July 1, 2018. I know I am finally doing the write up 6 years later, September, 2024.

I would like to state that our views on Zoo’s are more in line with creating a refuge for animals that can’t live in the wild safely. I don’t believe that is the case here, but people’s views are changing about the welfare of such animals living in captivity, and perhaps soon things will eventually evolve into something where we can all be happy and still visit these beautiful animals.

I don’t believe for one moment that any of these animals are being harmed and not taken care of. It’s just sometimes a bit heartbreaking to see these magnificent creatures behind walls and fences, being contained.

I will say this, the park guests that visit Busch Gardens are just a bit nicer, and more gentle and peaceful than those we encounter at the other theme parks here in Florida in the summer months. I believe it’s because of all the animals. They make everyone feel better. This is why so many people out in the public have their therapy animals with them everywhere they go. Animals just make you feel better, they tend to absorb all of our stress and you will never find a more loyal companion than an animal.

The reason for this visit was that the tickets were provided to all employees of where Gordon worked, and we weren’t about to say no to not coming. Normally I don’t like visiting the theme parks in the summer, they tend to be a bit crowded and of course, HOT! But, I think the rain did cool things down for us throughout the day and it really did end up being a nice day for all of us.

I’ve been coming to Busch Gardens since I was a child when my Grandparents would bring me. I also came with my mother and brothers when I was a teenager. The animals were always the reason we would come.

I hope that this gives you a glimpse into our day in the hopes that you may want to enjoy a visit here as well in the future.

OYE,

Julie and Gordon

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Our Photo Booth Fun 🙂

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If you would like to check out our other Busch Gardens webpage….

Click Here For: Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival

Us at Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival, 2018

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My Favorite Photo I Took This Day

(If you are wondering why I chose the turtles as my slider photo and not this beautiful grand giraffe, it’s because the giraffes will always be seen as grand, majestic, graceful and beautiful, but the turtles will always be overlooked. Except by me.) 🙂

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My Collection of Wax Animals From the Park

It all started when I was a young girl visiting Busch Gardens with my Grandparents, that my Grandfather bought me a wax elephant. It was exciting seeing it being made in that machine, and me getting to take it home as my souvenir of my great day spent with my Grandparents at Busch Gardens.

Sadly, I had lost the elephant over the years when I was growing up, so when I saw this one, I wanted it! And I didn’t stop there. I think I got every animal from every wax machine they had available to me at the park. 🙂

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This visit to the park, I was particularly fond of the Giraffes

I was also inspired to buy a few of the Giraffe print wine glasses:

This inspiration led me to influence Gordon into creating a cocktail based on my love of the Giraffe.

HENCE…..

Our Giraffic Park Cocktail

(Recipe Down Below)

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A Lovely Fountain

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Welcome to Busch Gardens (July, 2018)

Me, Ready to Enjoy the Park

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Depending on the time of year, they do change things up a bit with their foliage.

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I Do Think The Turtles Are Cute

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As a veteran, Gordon was given free passes to Busch Gardens, so we took our son Brodie, and two of his friends.

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The tickets may have been free but we bought all of us the meal passes for about $35.00 a person. That meant that you could eat and drink every hour on the hour without paying. That includes the beer and wine. There were even lots of ‘Buy One Get One Free’ deals. It rained so much that day that the boys were happy to do nothing but EAT and DRINK and hit every restaurant there. They loved it! And haven’t stopped talking about it since.

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Meeting Up With The Boys

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Gordon With The Guys

I Think We Are Headed To Ride The Train

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The Serengeti Overlook Restaurant

This Is Where We Ate Lunch

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Entering The Serengeti Overlook Restaurant

(Love the Light Fixture)

Waiting For Our Table

Summer Dining Menu

Just Enjoying the Personal Touches while Waiting

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SEATED

I think we had the best table.

Right by the window overlooking the animals in the park.

Cocktails Have Arrived

Our Salad Are Also Here

Look at That Lovely View

First Course..

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It is kind of strange to be looking at such beautiful animals roaming the park while there is a roller coaster ride out there among them.

Gordon and Julie Restaurant Selfie

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Main Course Has Arrived

Gordon’s Shrimp with Pasta

My Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and some Vegetables

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Fun Time at the Serengeti Overlook Restaurant

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My Favorite this Trip, Which I Have Stated, are the Giraffe

I took these far away photos with my great camera lens.

The Habitat Suits Them

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Again, it just seems so strange to see these African animals in a theme park.

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I Believe I Took All of These Photos When we Were on the Train Ride

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Love These Beautiful Long Necks

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You can pay to ride on a truck through the “Serengeti Safari Tour” to view them more closely. We didn’t.

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The Zebras and The Giraffes

I Love How They Get Along Peacefully

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But Now, Back To Our Lunch….

I did enjoy my Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy. (As a southern girl I can tell you this gravy was not impressive, but the chicken was!) And Gordon enjoyed the Shrimp Pasta.

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I Can’t Even Remember What Our Desserts Were 🙂

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Inside The Restaurant

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Leaving The Restaurant

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I Just Happen To LOVE The Stairs

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The WET Park

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I Happen to Love Trees

I Thought These Were Really Beautiful

I Especially Love All The Plants Growing Out Of Them

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Gordon Buying Me a Wax Giraffe 🙂

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There are lots of acres dedicated to these wild animals to roam around in.

With this being our rainy season everything is nice and a lush green in color. Lots of grass to graze.

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I Believe These are Common Reedbucks

White Bearded Wildebeest

The Rhino’s

So Beautiful To Roam Around

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Addax, Also Known As The White Antelope, and the Screwhorn Antelope

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Nyala Deer

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The Flamingos

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Pretty In PINK

Always Fashionably Standing On One Leg

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Gordon Buying Me Another Pink Flamingo

(I’ve got two now.) 🙂

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The Non-Functioning Log Flume

On the few times we’ve come to Busch Gardens, the Log Flume is never running.

As a Former Flumey, That Makes Me Sad

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The Birds and Reptiles

The Toucans

A Really Beautiful Tree of Sorts

The Raven

White-Necked Raven

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The Turtles

The Aldabra Tortoise

I thought they were all so beautiful! 🙂

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The Other Reptiles at Busch Gardens

I can’t even begin to identify these beautiful reptiles. I can’t see some of them very well, and I don’t really recall there being placards naming them. Perhaps there were. But, I didn’t photograph them to know them.

I Do So Love Anything Sticky! 🙂

( I do remember the one of the left being a Sticky Gecko.)

Just Look At That Cute Curly Tail?

And, Get a Look at That Cute Big Boy 🙂

(I’m assuming it’s a boy?)

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This Guy Reminds Me Of My Home State Of Georgia

(We have seen many like this.)

This Habitat is PERFECT For This Other Guy

I Do Love This Yellow Snake

(I believe this is a Yellow Eyelash Pit Viper.)

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The Beautiful Flowering Foliage

I don’t think that many people stop to appreciate the beautiful foliage throughout the park. It really does add to the ambiance. These small touches of beauty just make everything more special. I am one who notices the small details. I also appreciate those small accents that add to the greatness of it all.

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No matter where you are in Florida, the Turtles and Alligator’s always seem to interact with each other very well.

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Gordon Buying My Wax Alligator

And then there’s THIS Guy!

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The Skulls

American Alligator

Malayan Gharial, Alligator Snapping Turtle, American Crocodile, Indian Gharial

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The Lions

I do have to say that when I saw them all lying around that I felt a bit sad for their existence. But, then I realized that when you see them in the wild they are always lying around.

They just aren’t laying on cement against plexiglass.

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I Do Love This Beautiful Face

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It is kind of sad to see this majestic creature just lying here against the plexiglass though.

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Gordon Buying Me My Lion Wax Figure

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I do love this flowing tree and the beautiful stream you see looking through it.

Along with the lovely swans.

I Love This Fence! It’s Genius!

It just reminds me of something a very intelligent 7 year old child with a high I.Q. would create.

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Because of the rain some of the animals did take shelter.

Lemurs Taking Shelter 🙂

I call them the Tim Burton Lemurs for obvious reasons.

Hyena

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Hyena with a Stick

Just like some fun dog would do.

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Just Something Beautiful to Admire as You Stroll By

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The Hippo Enclosure

This is one way to view the animals up close and really see them in person.

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There wasn’t a lot of people at this attraction on this day.

Perhaps the rain had something to do with it?

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Myombe Reserve

The Gorilla and Gordon

The Chimpanzee and the Gorilla Enclosure

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Love The Hut

I believe that the rain ended up enhancing some of the enclosures.

I don’t think they would have looked as lush, green and tranquil had it not been for the rain.

I’m Enjoying Myself Immensely!

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Gordon Buying Me A Gorilla Wax Figure

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Who Doesn’t Love The Gorillas?

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The Gorilla’s do have a nice Habitat

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I Believe This Is Zagora Cafe

(Although I don’t think it was called that when we made this visit in 2018.)

I don’t remember what we ordered, but there is definitely Fries with it.

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It’s these beautiful tropical touches that I notice and appreciate, while most people just walk by them unnoticed.

Look at the pink and blue wall. The yellow door. Love it!

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This was a Giraffe painting in one of the shops.

I had Gordon sit there because I love the bench. 🙂

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We Came Upon The Gazelle’s

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Time For A Snack

(Remember, this is a Food Journey for us.)

Of course we didn’t eat all this food at the park.

What do you think Gordon’s backpack is about?

No Idea What Gordon Is Doing Above?? 🙂

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The Cobra’s Curse

This side of the park is where all of the teens and young adults hang out.

I do love the Amythist Geode

It is my Birthstone

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Gordon Buying Me a Cobra Wax Figure

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The Cheetahs

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Cheetahs Get Most of Their Water From Drinking the Blood and Urine of Their Prey

They do provide them with these long stretches of a trail in order for them to run.

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Now For Our Last Meal of the Day…

This is a Moroccan Themed Restaurant

I have no idea what we ordered, but we did take it home and ate this great food for the next few days.

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We had a wonderful day in the park, inspite of all the rain. We ate some really good food. Saw some beautiful animals, and even learned a thing or two about them. We are grateful that Gordon being a Veteran was how we obtained these tickets to begin with.

It was just nice that we got to spend the day with Brodie and his friends that he/we have known since we moved here to Florida in 2003. Memories are all that we take with us. And we made some great memories that day. And for the last few months before Gordon left to work overseas.

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Our Giraffic Park Cocktail

I was so inspired by our visit to the park, and especially the Giraffe’s, that I asked Gordon to create a cocktail in honor of our visit. The Giraffe print wine glasses were also a big inspiration that we had purchased as well. We hope you like it.

The Sanchis Mira is a popular almond nougat out of Spain, which when cut has the pattern like a giraffe. I also felt the Dulce de Leche wafers had a similar pattern which made both of these a great garnish for the drink.

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Write Up By Gordon