Located about eight miles from Siesta Key, Sarasota Jungle Gardens is one of those Florida throwback attractions that were hugely popular before the big amusement parks arrived. Originally a swampy banana grove, it was developed into a botanical garden in the thirties. Featuring a wide range of plants from the Australian Nut Tree to the largest Norfolk Pine in Florida, a visit here is pretty low-key as you stroll through the grounds marveling at the plants and animal exhibits.
The bird acts reminded me of going to Parrot Jungle in Miami as a kid in the 60's. I guess a cockatoo riding a bike will always be a classic!
To top it off, when we bought our tickets, the cashier casually mentioned not to miss the Flying Wallendas show. Excuse me? Do you mean THE Flying Wallendas? Sure enough, in a small clearing, a number of plastic chairs were set up next to a high wire. We then enjoyed a terrific show by the surviving members of the famous family. Apparently they were in town for a few days and were making appearances at various locales. It was totally unexpected and off-beat but a great memory at an old-fashioned Florida attraction!