Founded in 1949 with only a handful of alligators living in huts and pens, Gatorland now houses thousands of alligators and crocodiles on its 70-acre spread. Breeding pens, nurseries, and rearing ponds are situated throughout the park, which also displays toads, insects, turtles, and a Galápagos tortoise. Its 2,000-foot boardwalk winds through a cypress swamp and breeding marsh. There are three shows. Gator Wrestlin' uses the old "put-them-to-sleep" trick, but it's more of an environmental awareness program. The Gator Jumparoo is a crowd-pleaser in which the big reptiles lunge 4 or 5 feet out of the water to snatch a hunk of meat from a trainer's hand. And Jungle Crocs of the World showcases some of the world's toothiest carnivores. While you're here, try the smoked gator ribs or nuggets in the open-air restaurant, or grab a gator-skin souvenir in the gift shop. Allow 4 to 5 hours.

Note: Gatorland's new Trainer for a Day program lets up to five guests get up close and personal with the gators for a Day (or two hours in this case). The $100, 2-hour experience puts you side by side with trainers and includes a chance to wrangle some alligators (minimum age 12). Advanced reservations are required, and admission to the park is included.

Gatorland is home to thousands of alligators and crocodiles, some of which have appeared in movies, television shows and commercials. The 51-year-old park combines a petting zoo, bird sanctuary, mini-water park, eco-tour, action packed outdoor entertainment and gift shop.

The park was created by Owen Godwin. He had an alligator pit in the backyard of his house and sold gator products and noticed that after making their purchases, customers step outside and stare in amazement at a gator mom with her babies. So the idea of the attraction that shows Florida wildlife appeared. First the park was named Snake Village and in 1951 the name changed to Gatorland Godwin went on safaris worldwide - Africa, India, Honduras, Alaska - searching for animals for the Gatorland zoo.

During the show guests learn more about the alligators and crocodiles and their capabilities and watch as giant alligators jump four to five feet out of the water to retrieve food.

The 800-seat Gator Wrestling Stadium has a huge stage with surrounding moat. During 20-minute shows, a wrangler jumps into the reptile-infested waters and hauls a thrashing gator onto the stage.

Ten acres of natural habitat populated with 100 female and 25 male gators. Guests can get a birds-eye view from our three-story observation tower.

As a bonus, Gatorland becomes a vast rookery, with thousands of aquatic birds nesting above the Marsh. Alligators protect nests from natural predators, like raccoons and opossums. Today, the rookery is considered one of the largest in Central Florida. The theme park is one of the few places worldwide where visitors can watch endangered wading birds build nests and feed their young, all just an arm's reach away.

Gatorland is located on Hwy 441 at the Orlando-Kissimmee line in South Orlando, only 15-20 minutes away from Walt Disney World, Sea World and the Orlando International Airport.