Minor Attractions Vol. 5 – Gatorland!

Low Key Fun That Can Be Done In Less Than One Day

This year, we decided to forego annual passes to any of the 3 major Orlando area parks and try some of the lesser known attractions that the area has to offer. On our last visit to Disney Holiday Townhome (DHT), we decided to try an “oldie, but a goodie”.

Gatorland

I have to be honest, whenever I thought of Gatorland, I thought of Chevy Chase in National Lampoon’s Vacation – he was always wanting to head off the beaten path and check out some bizzare attraction. Well, Gatorland was always my, “World’s Largest Ball of Twine”.

I live in Florida, so seeing alligators, while not commonplace, certainly wasn’t some “once in a lifetime” experience for me. Heck, we have a gator or two in the canal behind my house! We also had a 10+ footer in the pond at my place of business. So, why was I supposed to be excited to go to Gatorland?

No Longer a Roadside Show!

Yes, Gatorland started out decades ago (1949) as a roadside attraction. Probably a little cheesy, and definitely not as big as the Gatorland of today. However, what has developed out of that heritage is an attraction that does a very good job at educating visitors as well as entertain. All of the shows and exhibits do a very good job of providing information on the indigenous (and not-so-indigenous)  species of Florida. Some shows even provide you with a bit of a history lesson on Florida and Gatorland itself.

Activities range from shows on gator handling and feeding to train rides and nature walks. There’s even the obligatory petting zoo with domestic animals such as goats, llamas, cows, etc.  There is a beautiful natural viewing area, complete with an observation tower that provides you with a great vantage point for watching and feeding gators in their natural habitat.

If you are a bird lover, you’ll be impressed with the variety of Florida’s water fowl present. We happened to be at Gatorland just after many of the eggs had hatched. A boardwalk around the gator lagoon provided an excellent opportunity to view nests (complete with hatchlings!) up close.

My family and I particularly enjoyed the “Swamp Walk”. This area of the park features a boardwalk through an area representing Florida as it must have been prior to the settlers’ arrival. It’s amazing that anyone ever wanted to settle in Florida! Yes, you can still find areas like these, but they are becoming increasingly difficult to find, unfortunately.

Decent Prices

Park entry was very reasonable at $22.99 for adults and $14.99 for children under 12. Children under 3 are free. Those prices are for the basic entry. There are packages that allow you to unlimited train rides. There are also options for getting your picture taken with an alligator. Personally, I’d skip the unlimited train rides. We only took the train once around the park. It was nice, but I didn’t see a need to ride it again. For the photo opportunity, I’d recommend bringing your own camera. Similar to other parks, a Gatorland photographer is there to take your picture. However, unless you really like having these photos as mementos, I’d forgo the approximately $10 fee for the photo and take one yourself. Yes, having your picture taken is included in the package – the photo actually taken by the Gatorland employee is extra.

FYI, click here to go to Gatorland’s website for a discount coupon. You can also get discounted tickets/packages by purchasing them on Gatorland’s website – click here.

Lunch at Gatorland was also very reasonably priced, and the variety was such that everyone should be able to find something they like. You could even order some gator tail!

A Great Break From The “Big Boys”

After visiting Gatorland, I’d have to say that my attitude has changed completely. What a great day! Smaller crowds than the big attractions – although there were crowds. If you get there at the 9:00AM opening time, you should be able to see every show and every exhibit by 2:00PM or 3:00PM. This includes a break for lunch.

For a nice, relaxing off-day from the major attractions, hit Gatorland early, enjoy a wonderful day of Florida wildlife and history, and then come home to Disney Holiday Townhome and hit the pool during the heat of the day!

Up Next

Another minor attraction? Maybe a pub? Heck, I’m not even sure! But stay tuned – I’m sure I’ll think of something!

Local Restaurants Vol. 9 – El Tenampa

Right Under Our Noses!

Once again, my family and I were on a mission to find some authentic ethnic food during our last trip up to Disney Holiday Townhome (DHT) . This time, we thought we’d try some Mexican food. We had seen a couple of Mexican restaurants in the area, but were unsure as to which one to try. I mentioned this to a fellow vacation rental owner, and she suggested a restaurant that just around the corner from DHT!

The reason I hadn’t noticed this particular Mexican restaurant is because it shares a building with a Mexican food market. The other vacation rental owner told me two things that convinced me that we should try this place: 1) very authentic Mexican cuisine and 2) GREAT margaritas! That was good enough for me!

El Tenampa

Located just 3 miles east of DHT on Irlo Bronson Highway, El Tenampa Mexican Restaurant is easily found on the north side of the road – if you know to look for a restaurant and/or a small grocery store! Whenever, we stay at DHT, we go past this place at least twice, and I’ve only ever noticed the grocery store!

Pulling into the parking lot, El Tenampa doesn’t look like much more than one of those convenience marts with a coin-operated laundry next door in the same building. The lot is small, and we parked off in the dirt/grass. Opening the door to the restaurant, however, revealed a charming little establishment with full wall murals representing Southwestern scenes. We were immediately greeted by El Tenampa’s friendly staff, and seated at a table in the middle of the restaurant. A quick look around the (mostly full!) restaurant told me we were in the right place.  I’d say about 60% of the customers were of Mexican (or Hispanic) descent – a very good sign, in my opinion!

We started off with drinks. My wife and I had to try the margaritas. We were not disappointed! While looking at the extensive menu, we all munched away on the chips and salsa provided – which were very good, BTW!

Everyone was feeling a bit adventurous. The kids happened to see that you could get a side of cactus and wanted to try it. Sure! Why not? We’ve never had cactus. It was actually pretty good. It had the look and consistency of green peppers, but was a bit tart and not bitter like a green pepper.

For the main courses, my daughter got a junior quesadilla, and then munched on the chips & salsa, the cactus, and some of our main courses. Trust me, she didn’t starve! There was plenty of food to go around.

My son had the chipoltle style chicken. He really liked the meal. He mentioned that it was too much food. I also know that he’s not a big fan of pulling at “chicken parts”, so that didn’t go ever too well. Boneless would’ve been better for him – but how authentic is that?!

My wife had the grilled fish and was very pleased. She even tried the slices of avocado that came with her meal – and she is not a fan of guacamole!

I ordered the rib-eye steak and shrimp. I couldn’t have been happier with my choice. The flavor of the steak was outstanding! Like everyone else, I felt like there was just too much food. Wow! I’m glad I dug into the steak and shrimp before I gorged myself on the tasty re-fried beans and yellow rice.

The meals were all very affordable, with my steak and shrimp dish topping out the pricing at at paltry $15.99. Everyone else’s meals were under $10!

Authentic Cuisine, Great Atmosphere, Awesome Price

If you like great Mexican food served by a pleasant staff at an incredible price, then El Tenampa is a place you must visit. As I mentioned, the exterior will underwhelm you, but you won’t be disappointed with what’s inside. This is definitely one of those, “you can’t judge a book by its cover” kind of restaurants! It just has a great vibe to it. I can tell you that we will definitely be back to try another dish or two. Give it a try – you’ll be happy you did!

Up Next

A minor attraction that has been around longer than Disney, Universal, or SeaWorld!