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Tampa Pages by DUNK67
| Page Views: 2,541 Last Visit to Tampa: February, 2002 | DUNK67's Tampa Page by DUNK67 - last update: Aug 8, 2004 |
We didn't really see much of Tampa as we were there on a trip to Busch Gardens from our base in Orlando, so this page is soley dedicated to the theme park until of course we pay another visit and see more .
Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida is one of my all time favourite theme parks in the world, not that I have been to many outside of England. It is a superb mix of rollercoasters and animals from around the world.
Busch Gardens is owned by Anhauser Busch brewers of Budweiser, you can sample some of the beer after viewing the animals or riding one of the breathtaking rollercoasters. And no the free beer isn`t the reason it is one of my favourite theme parks.
Busch Gardens is divided into different areas with something different in each one.
As you walk through the entrance gates you enter Morroco which is the main shopping and gift area where you can buy virtually any kind of souvenir of your visit, adding to the atmosphere is the African marching band that patrols the area.
I love rollercoasters and Busch Gardens has some of the best that I have ever been on. My advice to anyone would be to ride the smaller coasters like Scorpion and Python as a build up to the bigger rides otherwise they will seem like an anticlimax if you ride them last. The two big rides Kumba and Montu are breathtaking steel coasters. Montu was shut when I went so I cant really comment on it but Kumba was amazing, turning you upside down several times. My favourite coaster though has to be the "woody" Gwazi, a dual track which takes you on a different ride on each one.There is something about wooden coasters that make them so much better than steel coasters, I`m not sure whether it is the sound, smell or the fact that you can feel every rattle and jolt of the track that makes them so much better.
From the top of Gwazi you can see an amazing view of Tampa Bay which is even better at dusk when it is all lit up.
There are three wet rides so a spare t-shirt may be a good idea. They are Stanley Falls-a log flume, Congo River Rapids and The Tidal Wave where the chances of getting a soaking are greater once you leave the ride if you time it wrong.
There are some other rides like the Pirate Ship but they aren`t really my cup of tea.
The variety of animals is second to none with over 3000 ranging from Alligators to Zebras, with the majority of them displayed in their natural habitat.
The Serengeti Plain area is my particular favourite as you can take a train ride or walk through it or even ride a cable car over it. The animals appear to roam free in this section and look at home in their enclosure. The Serengeti is home to Busch Gardens newest ride, Rhino Rally where you ride a Landrover through some of the enclosure but watch out for the rapids. We didn`t go on this ride as the queue was way too long as it was a new ride.
A must see is in the Myombe Reserve where you can see the giant Silverback Gorilla, a remarkable animal and an inspiration to watch.
There are several shows on throughout the day but we didn`t get chance to watch them although we did get to see the dolphin show which is amazing to watch.
As well as the shows you can meet the keepers throughout the day to learn about the animals, times may vary throughout the day.
Facilities for the disabled as in most Florida theme parks look excellent, but because we didn`t need them I can`t really comment on them.
Transportation
The Busch Gardens Shuttle Express offers daily round trip transportation from Orlando to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The cost is only $5.00 USD per person, round trip. This service is always FREE with a purchase of a 5-Park Orlando Flexticket. For Reservations/Information, please call 1-800-221-1339.
Admission (2002)
Adult admission- $51.95 plus tax.
Child admission ages 3-9- $42.95 plus tax.
Children (2 and younger) are admitted for free.
Admission includes access to all rides, shows, and the majority of park attractions.
A variety of combination tickets and Passport Memberships are available here. |
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DUNK67's Tampa Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do
Tips: 2 - Photos: 1 | | | | Restaurants | Hotels & Accommodations | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | | Transportation
Tips: 1 | Local Customs | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips |
 DUNK67's Tampa Travelogues | | | | Title [Click to view] | Travel Year | Pictures | | Lizards | 1996 |  3 | | Tigers | 1996 | 5 |
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 Comments for DUNK67 about Tampa | | | | |
matcrazy1 Mon Jun 16, 2003 16:19 UTC
AMAZING pictures in travelogues! | Madasabull Sun Feb 9, 2003 22:01 UTC
Reptiles are my fave. Nice page. | dedeckerm. Fri Jul 19, 2002 20:58 UTC
Great page, beautiful photo`s !! | Sarah_Jane Thu Jul 11, 2002 14:00 UTC
I love Gwazi too! One of the best ;-) |
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