ProRodeo Sports News - March 23, 2018

Enjoying Kissimmee’s numerous attractions So Many Options

ossibly the most attractive things about the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo being in Kissimmee, Fla., are the attractions – though the payout of more than $750,000 doesn’t hurt. With the rodeo taking place April 5-8, some cowboys opt for a lengthier trip to the Sunshine State to take advantage of the numerous activities in and around the city of Kissimmee. With plenty of folks – competitors and fans alike – heading to Florida to experience the RNCFR, here are seven topics (for seven rodeo events) of places, parks and perks to experience while in sunny Florida. P

OUTDOOR TOURS & ACTIVITIES Getting outdoors to soak up the sun and wildlife is one of the region’s biggest draws. • Swamp tours are a popular attraction in central Florida, and Kissimmee is no stranger to that experience. The headwaters to the world-famous Florida Everglades in south Florida start in Orlando. Many of the swamp tours include airboat rides, such as the ones at Boggy Creek Airboat Rides and Wild Florida Airboats & Gator Park . Boggy Creek offers a variety of airboat rides, including a one-hour night expedition. There is also a “Native Village,” which reenacts how Native Americans used to cook, hunt and live. In addition to airboat tours, Wild Florida offers “Adventure Packages,” including a half-day package and an airboat tour that adds a zipline tour with Forever Florida ’s Adventure Zip Package. • Speaking of gators, at Gatorland , the self-proclaimed “Alligator Capital of the World,” visitors can get up close to alligators and crocodiles. The reptiles range in size

Reptiles

Photo courtesy Gatorland

from babies, known as grunts, to 14-foot behemoths that live in the park’s Breeding Marsh. Gatorland also has a free-flight aviary, petting zoo, animal shows, zipline and a new, off-road adventure. The park is less than 15 minutes from Silver Spurs Arena. • For a more challenging adventure, one high above the ground and that has visitors climbing through the trees, the Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park elevates climbers to an aerial-obstacle course above the ground. Patrons can swing on Tarzan-type ropes, climb ladders 50 feet above the ground, leap into hanging nets, soar on ziplines and discover more exciting challenges. There are also special courses for young adventurers. THEME PARKS There are almost too many to choose from. Walt Disney World Resort , Universal Orlando Resort , SeaWorld Parks & Resort , and Fun Spot America , are all within about a 30-minute drive of Silver Spurs Arena, where the RNCFR will play out. • Walt Disney World Resort has four distinct parks – Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There are also a pair of Disney water parks to cool off at. • Universal Orlando also has options. Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure bring movie magic to life. Universal’s Volcano Bay is a water park. • SeaWorld Parks & Resort offers SeaWorld, Aquatica (a water park) and Discovery Cove, which offers the chance to get up close and personal with some of the park’s wildlife. • LEGOLAND Florida Resort , another family-fun theme park, is about one hour away. • Fun Spot America is a theme park with locations in both Kissimmee and Orlando that offers rides and attractions.

BY SCOTT KANIEWSKI

ProRodeo Sports News 3/23/18

ProRodeo.com

20