Vacation spotlight: Busch Gardens, a zoo within an amusement park

The Tampa attraction gives visitors a chance to enjoy rides and animals, too

The kids are clamoring for roller coasters and the parents are looking for a more relaxed vacation experience. So what’s the best solution for a family trip that can bring happiness for all?

To me, it’s Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida.

There are roller coasters and rides for kids of all ages, but this is something special. Animal exhibits are located throughout the park.

It’s an amusement park. It’s a zoo. It’s both.

If you’ve wanted an up close look at giraffes, Busch Gardens has a great view from its train. (Photo by John Naughton.)

My first visit to Busch Gardens in Tampa was many years ago. I’m happy to say that same philosophy of animals + rides = fun still exists after a visit on Thursday. It offers smaller crowds and a smaller investment for a family vacation than other Florida destinations that focus on cartoon animals.

It’s a slow-paced park with lots of walking. There are enough rides to satisfy roller coaster enthusiasts; as much as I love thrill rides, the thing that makes Busch Gardens special is the zoo-like atmosphere.

How close can you get to a rhino? At Busch Gardens, the train may come to a sudden stop while one of them is on the track. (Photo by John Naughton.)

Let’s start with the train. It runs through the park and the animal habitat.

Unlike most zoos, the access to animals is very close. Not quite close enough to feed or pet the beasts, but a proximity that lets you take photos within a few feet of rhinos, zebras, giraffes and several varieties of antelope.

A park employee on the train tells you background about the animals and provides some unexpected surprises.

“There are rhinos on the track up ahead, we’re pausing the train.”

Elephants are a park favorite. These pachyderms applied dirt to themselves to help keep away bugs in the Florida heat. (Photo by John Naughton.)

I’ve visited quite a few zoos in the United States and it’s rare to see creatures up close like this. I recall trains and trams that loop through them, but Busch Gardens offers a look that’s included in the price of your admission ticket.