I was given complimentary and discounted tickets in exchange for my truthful review of Gatorland. As always, the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

Florida is for gators! Lots of gators! A couple weeks ago, our family visited Florida and we were looking for adventure. There isn’t any other place that can serve up a day of excitement like GATORLAND. Established in 1949, Gatorland has always been an Orlando area icon. Before Disney and Universal, there was Gatorland.

If you are hesitant at all about the care of the animals at Gatorland, I can assure you the animals are well-treated. In fact, Gatorland is well-known for rescuing alligators and providing an excellent habitat for all of its animals. This place is not just a theme park but a wildlife refuge. You’ll find it be a great educational experience not just for your kids but your whole family.

Gatorland is a 110 acre theme park and wildlife preserve in Orlando that features family friendly exhibits and entertaiment. It provides affordable family fun and features hundreds of alligators nd crocodiles. On top of all of this, there are a lot of activities for the gator enthusiast. Looking for fun in Florida? Here are eight reasons, you must visit Gatorland!

Gatorland Shows

Gatorland boasts three different shows throughout the day: The Gator Jumparoo show, The Gator Wrestlin’ show, and the Up-Close Encounters. What I loved most was how educational all of them were on top of being entertaining. Get ready to laugh a lot at the Upclose Encounters Show. These guys were hilarious and really knew how to get the crowd to participate. I was even picked to be a part of the show! The Gator Jumparoo Show was F-U-N and we watched trained handlers feed the hungry alligators. It was amazing to see these magnificent creatures jump out of the water for food.

The Gator Wrestlin’ Show taught us the history of Florida ranchers and how they would have to jump into the swamps and wrestle gators to keep them from getting their cattle. This show showed us various parts of a gator and how they are unique. It was amazing how much the trainers were able to interact with the gators!

Gatorland Unique Experiences

Want to go behind the scenes? Gatorland offers a few unique experiences that your family will love. One idea is the Adventure Hour which allows you to venture beyond the fence and into the breeding marsh which is home to hundreds of alligators. Best of all, it’s only $10 extra a ticket. During this experience, you’ll be only a few feet from giant alligators and can pose for a photo. On top of this you’ll be able to feed those hungry gators. You’ll be grateful, YOU aren’t dinner.

Gatorland White Gator Swamp

I had never seen a white gator until our visit to Gatorland. It was interesting to see how different they looked from their other green relatives. The Gatorland White Gator Swamp area is a must-stop during your day at the park. Our family got a up close look at these gorgeous gators and went inside their home on a special VIP tour. Yes, that is a REAL gator my son is next to! It was really intersting to hear the difference between an Albino and Leucistic alligator; Gatorland has both!

Gatorland Stompin’ Gator Off-Road Adventure

Get ready for an off-road adventure ride with the Stompin’ Gator Off-Road Adventure. My family boarded 12 foot-high monster truck and then went on a rugged adventure in the Florida swamp land. This brand new ride lasts about 15-minute and includes wacky jokes and singing tour guides. You’ll see areas of the park that are only available on the ride. There is a small fee for this added attraction.

Gatorland Zipline

Looking for adventure? You can zip across alligator infested waters! Gatorland offers 1200 feet of zipping over the gator pond. You can choose the 2 hour experience that takes you over 5 zip lines that are up to 65 feet high a short one time zip. There is even a accessible zip line for guests with mobility challenges, which is the ONLY zipline in the United States that is handicap accessible. My family all zipped and loved the experience. It was thrilling but also completely safe. Make sure you wear closed-toed shoes and make a reservation in advance. This is a small fee for this added attraction.

Gatorland Allie’s Barnyard

Kids of all ages love to snuggle with a goat and feed an animal right from the palm of their hand. We spent some time in the animal petting area at Gatorland and the animals were adorable. We were even able to meet the new Emu who was born just a couple months ago.

Gatorland Gator Gulley Splash Park

The Florida sun can be hot so be sure to bring an extra change of clothes for your little ones. Gatorland not only has a playground but also a nice size splash pad to cool off in. Best of all, it’s free with paid park admission. It looked like all the kids were having a fun time!

Gatorland Express Railroad

Want to take a relaxing trip around Gatorland? Hop on the Gatorland Train. This little steam engine will take you on a lazy loop circling the crocodile exhibits and alligator breading marsh. It’s a great way to start your day and introduce you to Gatorland or wait until later in the day when you need to sit in the shade. The cost is only $2 per person and you can ride it all day! You’ll want to listen carefully as you’ll hear intersting facts along the way.

Why my family LOVED Gatorland

When we go on vacation, our family is looking for something that we can’t do in our own hometown. We like to immerse ourselves into the culture or the area and try something new. Florida is known for their alligator population which makes Gatorland a perfect day trip for aventure seeking families. Best of all is the price. With the price continuing to SOAR at other parks in the Orlando area, Gatorland prices are still low enough for a family on a budget.

Gatorland prices are $29.99 for adults, $19.99 for children (ages 3 – 12), and seniors (ages 55 years+) are $24.99. You’ll save $3.00 on both adult and children tickets when you purchase your tickets online or you can print this Gatorland coupon to save $2.50 off adult tickets at the gate.

Gatorland
14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail Orlando, Florida 32837
407.855.5496
Follow Gatorland on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube

I received accommodations to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.

My boys had spring break a couple weeks ago and we decided to go on a quick trip with friends! Deciding what city to visit was tough but deciding where we would spend the night was EASY! Drury Hotels is always our first choice!

Our family loves Drury Hotels because we know we’ll always have a great stay. Their reputation proves it. Drury Hotels is the only hotel to receive the J.D. Power award as “Highest in Guest Satisfaction among Upper Midscale Hotel Chains” for 13 consecutive years! This family owned and operated hotel goes above and beyond what other hotels offer.

Drury Plaza Hotel Downtown Pittsburgh

The Drury Plaza Hotel Downtown Pittsburgh is a historic renovation of the Federal Reserve Bank building. It is close to the Heinz History Center, PNC Park, the Andy Warhol Museum, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and more. This hotel is unique and offers things you won’t see anywhere else.

On the lower level of the building, two vaults have been maintained and converted to meeting rooms for public use. The massiveness of the vault doors give an image of the level of security maintained by the Reserve.

Many of the original finishes and architectural features remain in the building. The “main banking room” (also known as the “bond trading room”), still boasts marble walls and stainless steel trim and castings. This area today houses a portion of the hotel’s public space off the lobby and dining area. In the dining area you’ll also see a painted mural of downtown Pittsburgh (circa 1960) that has been restored.

Our stay at the Drury Hotels Downtown Pittsburgh was exactly what we needed for a quick spring break getaway. The hotel is conveniently located in the heart of the city and we were able to walk to many city sites. We LOVED being in the hustle and bustle of the city!

FREE Perks at Drury Hotels

Drury Hotels earned the J.D. Power Award award for their clean rooms, friendly service, and exceptional value. Their tagline is “The Extras Aren’t Extra®.” and it is true! The recognition marks Drury’s 13th consecutive guest-satisfaction award and sets a record for most consecutive wins in the J.D. Power hotel category.

On top of exceptional service and gorgeous hotels, Drury Hotels are known for their perks! Check out these FREE amenities offered at all Drury Hotels:

• Wi-Fi throughout the hotel
• Hot breakfast, including Belgian waffles, biscuits and gravy, eggs, yogurt and more
• 5:30 Kickback^® reception including appetizers and beverages
• 24-hour business and fitness centers
• Indoor/outdoor pool and whirlpool
• Soda and popcorn from 3 to 10 p.m.
• 24-hour business and fitness center

Spacious Suites at Drury Hotels

Since we were a group of six (myself and two of my boys and my friend and her two kids) we booked one of the spacious the suites at the Drury Hotel. This two-room suite has two queen beds, a TV, a closet and dresser. The separate living area includes a sofa that pulls out into queen size bed, a chair, a TV, microwave, refrigerator, bathroom, and large closet.

The first thing we noticed about the rooms at the Drury Plaza Downtown Pittsburgh is that they have updated modern designs. It was fun to see all of the Pittsburgh photography on most of the walls.

The beds in our room were comfortable and perfect for a good night’s rest. The bedding was soft and the extra pillows provided were a nice perk.

Our suite was very roomy and was perfect for our group of six. I loved the large windows in our suite that overlooked the city. It let in a lot of natural light and made the room bright. The large bathoom had up a lot of counter space and offered shampoo, conditioner and body wash inside the shower are.

Free Hot Food at Drury Hotels Every Evening

As I mentioned before Drury Hotels are known for their free perks and one big one is their free food! Drury Hotels offers a free hot breakfast in the morning, a 5:30 Kickback^® every evening, free fountain soda, and free popcorn. It is the perfect option for affordable family travel with two meals and snacks covered.

The 5:30 Kickback^® is held every evening from 5:30 – 7pm down in the lobby and is open to all hotel guests. They offer many freshly made options that can change each evening. While we were there, they had chili, salad, grilled chicken, pasta, hot dog, nachos, baked potatoes and more. We ate here and didn’t need to grab dinner… money saver!

Also with dinner came unlimited soft drinks as well as limited beer, wine, and mixed drinks for the adults. Yes, the adult drinks were free also. Keep in mind that while most Drury Hotels offers each adult two drink tickets, it can vary by location. The Pittsburgh location offered one free adult beverage and two additional drink tickets for only $0.75 each.

Take a Dip at Drury Hotels

Before exploring the city the first night. Our kids took a dip in the gorgeous indoor pool, while my friend and I relaxed in the hot tub. The kids had so much fun they didn’t want to leave! What I love about Drury Hotels is that I believe most (if not all) have a pool. What a vacay without a pool, right?

FREE Hot Breakfast at Drury Hotels

The free breakfast at Drury Hotels is amazing! They don’t just offer bagels and yogurt, but a full hot delicious breakfast including favorites such as waffles, potatoes, eggs, oatmeal, sausage, and so much more. If you want something on the go there are also pastries, bagels, oatmeal, and cereal. We saved at least $25 by not having to go out to breakfast.

Join Drury Rewards

Want to SAVE on your next stay at Drury Hotels ? Join the Drury Rewards program. You won’t have to wait to start seeing the perks. As a member, you’ll get rewarded just for signing up!

Drury Rewards members have access to an exclusive rate when rooms are booked online at DruryHotels.com. When you join Drury Rewards, you’ll earn points toward future Drury stays, retail and restaurant gift cards, airline miles and more. With these perks and more, you’ll rest easy.

If you are planning a quick getaway or have an upcoming vacation to plan, I highly recommend checking out Drury Hotels. They are not only affordable, but they are gorgeous and and provide so many extras perks that other hotels can’t touch.

The Drury Plaza Downtown Pittsburgh is located at 745 Grant Street, just steps from the convention center. Valet parking is available for approximately $29/day.

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Planning a trip to LEGOLAND? Check out this LEGOLAND deal!

For a limited time, LEGOLAND is offering a FREE child’s ticket to LEGOLAND California Resort, LEGOLAND Florida Resort and/or LEGOLAND Discovery Centers (for ages 3-12)!

To snag this offer, CLICK HERE, choose the location, click on the Kids Play Free offer, click the Buy Now button in the pop-up window, add the Kids Go Free Ticket offer and head to checkout.

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There is a limit of only one Kids Go Free ticket per transaction and you can choose to have your tickets emailed to you to print at home or to view on your mobile device! When you arrive at the park, just skip the ticket line and go directly to the entrance gate with your preprinted tickets or scan directly from your mobile device!