GATORLAND!

When you hear the word,"Florida", two things typically come to mind for most people. Walt Disney World and alligators.

And while there ARE alligators and crocodiles here in Florida, most people might find it shocking how rarely you see a gator out and about around here (at least within Orlando city limits). It's so rare, in fact, that we haven't seen A SINGLE ONE since we've lived here over the last (almost) two years. Not one.

And if any of you know Jacob, you know that he always has his eye out for those Florida swamp cats! So, when I told him that I wanted to take a trip to Gatorland, he didn't hesitate at all. haha

We weren't really sure what to expect from Gatorland and I typically try not to do a ton of research before I visit new places because I don't want to spoil the surprise for myself, so when we got there, we were pleasantly surprised by how serene (albeit, strange) the experience was!

One thing that I can say about Gatorland, is that they sure know how to make an entrance! Upon walking in, there was a giant pit of alligators all piled on top of one another, soaking in the sun.

It was honestly probably one of the creepiest things that we saw all day. Now, I ain't afraid of no alligators, but there's something about seeing them all together like that, that just makes your skin crawl, doesn't it?

But, once you made it past the gator pit, you got to these little guys. These ones are considered "babies", as they are only 2-4 years old. They actually have a spot where you can purchase some food, for around $3, to feed them with the help of a team member. I wasn't feeling that brave, but it was fun to watch the employees do it!

FUN FACT: Baby gators stay with their mother's until they're about two years old, at which time, they will venture off to start their own families.

If there's one thing I noticed about alligators during this visit, it's that they are not much for moving. They tend to just lie around lazy and some of them even fall asleep in the water with their front legs floating! These guys didn't move a muscle in the five minutes that I stood there, observing.

Though many people are afraid of alligators, these animals mostly keep to themselves, unless they are feeling threatened.

The really cool part about this facility, is how close and personal you can get with these reptiles. I had never been close enough to a gator to really look at the detail of their face, skin and teeth (nor do I ever want to be, outside of an exhibit), but it was a fascinating experience! I, personally, think that they're awesome looking creatures!

Did you know, that the word "alligator" comes from the Spanish word "el lagarto," which means "the lizard"?

One thing that surprised us about Gatorland, is that it's also an animal sanctuary! There are many other animals to be seen here besides alligators and crocodiles. This enormous, loveable tortoise was one of them!

They found this guy in Tampa, roaming around the streets. They think that he was somebody's exotic pet that got loose, which apparently is happening more and more frequently these days. According to Born Free USA, "In Texas alone, there are more tigers in captivity than there are in the wild globally."

I was highly impressed with the level of cleanliness and care at this facility! The grounds were beautifully and organically preserved. This swamp was natural to the land prior to Gatorland's arrival in 1949 and now it serves as a nature preserve (and a zip line location where you can zip line over hundreds of alligators - *insert horrified expression*).

In fact, Gatorland offers a variety of entertainment! Including Up Close Encounters, the Gator Jumparoo Show, Trainer-For-A-Day, and more. You'll also find a petting zoo, a water park for kids, photopass options to capture your grand adventure and you can even have your birthday party there!

One type of gator that I was most excited to see while I there, was the albino alligator! I had heard about them before and I'm not exactly sure why they peaked my interest so much, but I was really hoping we could spot one!

I wasn't expecting there to be so many different kind of alligators and crocodiles and I think another thing that really took me by surprise, was the fact that some species of alligators don't get along with other species, or even others of their own breed. There are some that are best suited for just one mate, others that need to be kept in solitude and some that thrive in a group environment.

These leucistic (pigment deficient) alligators, seem to do best when they're coupled off, and since they're lacking pigment in their skin and eyes, they are extremely sensitive to sunlight and can even get sunburned! For this reason, they have their own private section of the park where they're covered by the shade of an awning.

They were rather beautiful, though their pinkish-red eyes can be a tad menacing.

This big guy, however, has to be kept in solitude. This is Chester. Weighing in at 1,000 pounds and 13 ft. long, he's known as the "Big Dog Eater", he was found in Tampa where he was caught because he quite literally, was going around eating dogs! He was rescued and brought here, but they found that he didn't play very nice with others, so they gave him his own bachelor pad.

Chester was our last stop of the day before heading out to grab a bite to eat. On our way out, we were led through the gift shop (which actually had a lot of really unique and interesting souvenirs), and we saw this little dude!

He was so small that he fit in a fish tank! I think I've officially deemed him as my favorite gator of the entire day.

We couldn't think of a better place to wrap up this wild day than Gator's Dockside. Incredibly fitting, I know.

They have THE BEST soft pretzel and beer cheese that I think I've ever had and their wings...*drooling*

It was a really fun, unique day and I can genuinely say that I hope to go back in the future! We didn't get to experience any of the shows that they offered and I'm kicking myself for not grabbing that license plate souvenir and a onesie for Dax. Next time.

26 Weeks Pregnant