Give Me Five
December 24, 2010
Garden Gnome
Showing posts with label tourist attractions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tourist attractions. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Wordless Wednesday - Hyena at Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida
Hyena at Busch Gardens
December 16, 2010
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Dusk at Pelican Island, Florida
Dusk at Pelican Island, Florida
December 24, 2010
Pelican Island in Florida is a must stop for nature lover young and old. There are so many gorgeous photo opportunities that it is well worth the stop for photo buffs as well. We will certainly be visiting this nature resort often. I can't hardly wait to see the wildlife!
Garden Gnome
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Wordless Wednesday - White Rhino at Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida
White Rhino
December 16, 2010
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Pelican Island, Florida
Pelican Island
December 24, 2010
We made a day trip to Vero Beach, Florida during our recent vacation. On the way back to our vacation home we stopped at Pelican Island. Pelican Island is a National Wildlife Refuge. This really is a gorgeous place to visit. There are a few walking trails to enjoy, definitely a photo opportunity area. It was rather on the cool side when we visited but we managed to get a few nice pictures of the setting sun. Pelican Island is on our must visit spots on future visits to our vacation home.
Garden Gnome
Monday, February 14, 2011
White Tiger at Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida
White Tiger
December 22, 2010
We have only seen tigers in captivity but they still very impressive creatures. The tiger den at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida features a massive wrap-around view area. There is a smaller viewing area that you can climb up were tigers are lounging. This gorgeous white tiger was anxious to have his feelings heard. He came up close to the viewing area a few times while letting out a loud roar. Isn't he magnificant?
Garden Gnome
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Sheikra at Busch Gardens, Tampa, Flordia
Sheikra
December 22, 2010
Some of my family members are into mind defying feats like you would not believe. There are three of my loved ones in that cart on the Sheikra ride at Busch Gardens in Tampa Florida. Now see, I am a keep my feet on the grounds type of person. I long ago learned that even a merry-go-round could induce projective vomiting and any other ride from there just a gazillion times worse. So here I am with my feet planted firmly on the ground taking pictures while waiting for them to get off that ride in one piece. They loved the ride! I on the other had was quite content to stay on the ground and worry about their safety.
Garden Gnome
Friday, February 11, 2011
Tortoise at Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida
Tortoise
December 22, 2010
I can recall reading the story of the tortoise and the hare during my earlier childhood years. Back then I understood that a tortoise was a type of turtle or so I thought when I was young when my only dealings with turtles was the one in the aquarium in my classroom and the dealings we had with the snapping turtle. There is a difference even though both critters are in the Testudinidae family. A turtle has a flatter, steamlined shell because it is a water dwelling Sauropsida. Tortoises are turtles in the Testudinidae family but in the Class Reptilia, They have a higher, dome shaped shell because tortoises dwell on land. Tortoises unlike turtles are not kept as pets. They have a live span of 80 to 150 years, almost five times that of a turtle. Suffice to say they are both slow moving critters hence the moral behind the tortoise and the hare.
Pictured is one of the smaller tortoises at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. This was a rather small one compared to the size of some of the older ones. No wonder they move so slow carrying that heavy house on their back!
Garden Gnome
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Giraffe at Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida
Giraffe at Busch Gardens
December 22, 2010
Giraffes are one of my favourite critters. I'm not sure why unless it was the influence of Jerome on the Friendly Giant. Giraffes are simply amazing. The look off balance and yet they are so tall and graceful. Did you know each giraffe is unique in it's coat pattern as well? 'Tis true!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Wordless Wednesday - Jelly Belly Punch Buggy at Jelly Belly Center, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Jelly Belly Punch Buggy
January 7, 2011
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Grey Back Gorilla at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida
Grey Back Gorilla
December 22, 2010
Our first visit to Busch Gardens in Tampa, Flordia was on December 16, 2010 with our friend and his young daughter. When our kids (ours & significant other) arrived we made it a point to take them to Busch Gardens as well. I love that place! Anyway we went to Busch Gardens with the kids and while I did take as many pictures as the first time, I won't bore you with all of them.
This absolutely stunning grey back gorilla looked a bit perturbed with all the attention. They say that they are very close to humans so it would be rather interesting to get his thoughts on the whole being on display issue. It's quite clear that this poor being is not impressed with the attention! He looks exactly how I feel when dealing with telemarketers, spammers and online trolls/stalkers ;)
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Friday, February 04, 2011
Off to the Good Old Hockey Game!
St. Petes Times Forum
December 20, 2010
Our kids bought us along with their sib and significant other tickets to see the Tampa Bay Lighting and Carolina Hurricanes game. Now my husband usually figures it is rather useless hauling me to a hockey game or any other sports game for that matter. Apparently that is not the ideal time to re-organize your organizer or tweet or even people watch. At any rate I managed to get to this game. I bought the $6 popcorn then ate a couple of bites. My $11 beer I bought did not taste all that great knowing I could have got the same size at happy hour for less that $2. I did manage to get a lot of great pictures of my husband and the kids though. My husband took some great shots as well. He's a lot taller than I am so could hold the camera above the cheering crowd. It was a wonder outing spent with family! We had a blast! Thanks so much to our other kids for this very generous gift :)
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Hippopotamus at Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida
Hippopotamus Swimming
December 16, 2010
The exhibits at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida are very impressive! Several of them allow you to see what is going on both above on the water's surface as well as below in the water. Pictured is a hippopotamus swimming below the water's surface. I never understood why cartoons often depict hippos as ballerinas but now I know. Hippos appear quite graceful moving along on their toes across the bottom. It was an amazing sight!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
A Fancy Smoker at Bush Gardens, Tampa, Florida
A Fancy Smoker at Bush Gardens
December 16, 2010
Although it did not set out to be, the theme of our recent vacation to the sunny south quickly became 'Q' - BBQ that is. We savoured the sweet yet robust flavours of some of the best smoked Q you have ever tasted. Now I've been wanting a smoker for quite sometime. Smoked meats have a characteristic red ring that you just can't get with any other cooking method. The choice of wood, usually hardwood, determines the flavour. The thing about Q is it is long and slow so not only is the meat flavourful it is moist and tender, melt in your mouth. A smoker is on my list of must haves this year!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Hubby Meets Big Bird
Big Bird at Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida
December 16, 2010
Sesame Street was such a big part of our daily routine when our kids were young. Now our grandkids are watching Sesame Street. During our visit to Busch Gardens we spotted Big Bird and Elmo greeting visitors in the Sesame Street Safari of Fun. Grandma just had to get a picture of Papa with Big Bird for the grandkids. Papa is quite tall but Big Bird towered over him by at least a head. Papa came up to Big Bird's neck! It was a great photo that I immediately emailed to the grandkids when we were home for the evening. I must say that Big Bird is one of the friendliest birds you will ever meet! What a great day!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Caribbean Flamingos at Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida
Caribbean Flamingos
December 16, 2010
Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida is home to about 300 Caribbean flamingos. Flamingos are very impressive magestic birds with their characteristic pink colour and habit of standing on one leg. Their pink colour comes from carotenoids, a pigment found in their food. They stand on one leg in both cool and warm environments because of a process called thermoregulation, an adaptation strategy. Curling one leg under the body keeps the foot warm and conserves body heat. These birds are protected under the US Migratory Bird Act of 1918.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Albino Wallaby at Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida
Albino Wallaby
December 16, 2010
The kangaroo and wallaby exhibit at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida is home to a rare albino wallaby. Albino means lacking normal pigmentation so the coat appears white while the skin appears pinkish even though it is white. What gives the pinkish tone is the blood below the skin. This is the same reason why the eyes appear red. Albinism is a rare, autosomal recessive trait. In the wild, albino animals seldom survive because the lack the necessary colouration to avoid predation. As a result of their reduced fecundity, albinos seldom live long enough to produce offspring however the gene that causes albinism remains in the general population as a recessive only to be expressed on the very rare occasion. Thanks to Busch Gardens this little guy should have a relatively normal lifespan!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Kangaroos at Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida
Kangaroos Lazing in the Sun
December 16, 2010
Busch Gardens has a large number of wildlife exhibits. Our first stop was the kangaroo and wallaby exhibit. You can buy a cup of feed to feed them through the low wood fence. If you put the food in your palm or hold the container where the can see it, both the kangaroos and wallabies will come to eat the offerings. Kangaroos and wallabies are both marsupials but wallabies are considerably smaller than kangaroos. They were quite docile, lazing in the sun.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
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