SILVER SPRINGS, 5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd., east of Ocala on S.R. 40, exit 352 east off I-75 (352-236-2121). This 350-acre nature theme park offers glass bottom boat cruises on Silver River as well as other river cruises; wildlife exhibits featuring a white alligator, Florida panther, bears and more; rides; reptile and snake shows; various dining options; and botanical gardens. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Admission is $34.99 adults, $30.99 seniors, $24.99 ages 3-10 (children 2 and younger enter free). silversprings.com.
SOUTH FLORIDA MUSEUM AND PARKER MANATEE AQUARIUM, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton (941-746-4131). It's hard to believe Ice Age mammals roamed through Southwest Florida 12,000 years ago, but at the South Florida Museum, visitors can see life-size casts of these extinct creatures. SFM specializes in Florida history from the prehistoric to the present. Check out the Tallant Collection of artifacts, dating from the Paleo-Indian period to the arrival of the Spanish explorers in the early 1500s. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-5 p.m. Sun. (open daily Jan.-April and in July). Admission is $15.95 adults, $13.95 seniors, $11.95 ages 4-12 (free admission for children 3 and younger). southfloridamuseum.org.
SS AMERICAN VICTORY, 705 Channelside Drive, Tampa (813-228-8766). The SS American Victory served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War as a cargo carrier and is now open to the public for self-guided tours and various special events. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-5 p.m. Sun. Admission is $10 adults, $4 kids 4-12 (free for children 3 and younger). americanvictory.org.
SUNKEN GARDENS, 1825 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg (727-551-3100). Paths meander through this four-acre, 100-year-old garden, which drops 15 feet below street level and combines lush tropical areas with flowing ponds and waterfalls. There's also a Butterfly Aviary with 300 native butterflies, exotic flowering and fruit trees, and wildlife and gardening programs. Hours: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Sat., noon-4:30 p.m. Sun. Admission is $8 adults, $6 seniors, and $4 ages 2-11 (free for members and children under 2). stpete.org/sunken.
TAMPA BAY GHOST TOURS, locations vary (727-398-5200). Four tours are offered: "Maritime Mysteries & Pirates of the Pass" in John's Pass Village (tours leave 7:30 p.m. daily, $14 adults/$10 ages 11 and younger); "Haunted Halls & Horrifying Hermits" in Pass-A-Grill/St. Pete Beach (6:30 p.m. Wed., Fri. and Sat., $32/$19); "Guys & Ghouls" in Gulfport (8:30 p.m. Tues., Fri. and Sat., $14/$10); and "The Dark Side of the Sunshine City" in downtown St. Petersburg (8 p.m. Tues.-Wed., 8 and 10 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., $14/$10). Reservations are required. www.allthebesthaunts.com.
TAMPA'S LOWRY PARK ZOO, 1101 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa (813-935-8552). Recognized today as one of the top three mid-size zoos in the country, Lowry Park Zoo currently features 41 acres of lush, natural habitats. Natural outdoor exhibits of more than 2,000 animals from Florida and similar locales include a Florida wildlife center, manatee hospital, Asian Gardens, Primate World, free-flight aviaries, an Australian-themed children's zoo, and Safari Africa. The park also encompasses rides, shows and hands-on interactive exhibits. Hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Admission is $19.95 general, $17.95 seniors, $14.95 ages 3-11, and free to children 2 and younger. lowryparkzoo.com.
TARPON SPRINGS AQUARIUM, 850 Dodecanese Blvd., Tarpon Springs (727-938-5378). A 120,000-gallon reef tank houses more than 30 species of fish, including nurse sharks, bonnet head sharks, snook and the goliath grouper (aka Jewfish). There's also octopus, live coral, anemones and alligators. Featured diversions include narrated shark and alligator feedings and a stingray petting tank. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., noon-5 p.m. Sun. Admission is $6.75 adults, $6 seniors, $4.75 ages 3-11 (free for children 2 and younger). tarponspringsaquarium.com.
WET N' WILD, I-4 to exit 75A, 6200 International Drive, Orlando (800-992-WILD). This Orlando water park features more than 30 acres of amusements, including several slides with long vertical drops (like the "Brain Wash" extreme tube slide and the "Mach 5" flume ride), the "Disco H20" light and music enhanced tube ride, and a four-passenger toboggan adventure. Other amenities include a kid's park with miniature versions of all the rides, several dining options, and swimwear shopping opportunities at the Breakers Beach Shop. Open year-round; hours vary. Admission is $44.95 adults/$38.95 seniors and children 3-9 (free for ages 2 and younger). wetnwildorlando.com.
WEEKI WACHEE SPRINGS, 6131 Commercial Way, Weeki Wachee (352-596-2062). This attraction includes the world famous Mermaid Shows, riverboat rides, animal shows, scuba diving opportunities, and Buccaneer Bay, a spring-fed water park, beaches, flume rides and more. Add to this the distinction that Elvis visited here once upon a time. Hours vary season to season. Admission is $24.95 adults, $16.95 children 3-10 (ages 2 and younger enter free). weekiwachee.com.
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, 1000 Universal Studios Plaza (East I-4 to exit 74A), Orlando (407-363-8000). This Hollywood-inspired theme park boasts movie-based rides such as Back to the Future, Terminator 2 ... 3D, Twister ... Ride it Out!, and Jaws. You can also see the Nickelodeon set and the house used in Psycho. After you've toured the movies, trek through Citywalk, a 30-acre hot spot featuring a stadium movie theater, shops, nightclubs, and restaurants, including Hard Rock Cafe, NBA City and Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. Hours vary week to week. Admission is $73 adults, $63 ages 3-9; children 2 and younger enter for free. Universalorlando.com. Citywalk hours: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. Admission is free, but some clubs may charge a cover; an all-access Party Pass is available for $11.99, or a Party and Movie pass for $15. universalorlando.com.
