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Visit Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, FL

It may be challenging to decide what to do first when you stay in an Anna Maria Island beach rental. A day trip to the Lowry Park Zoo is one of our favorite things to do near Anna Maria Island during your beach vacation. The award-winning Lowry Park Zoo offers many wildlife exhibits in natural habitats that are home to more than a thousand animals from around the world.

Here is our guide to a fun and educational day at the Lowry Park Zoo! 

About the Zoo

Set in a lush tropical garden setting, the zoo features up-close animal encounters, wildlife connections, amusement rides, and educational programs. The zoo also offers curated personal experiences and behind-the-scenes tours.

The Lowry Park Zoo focuses on endangered and threatened species that come from climates similar to the Tampa Bay area, including Africa, Asia, Australia, and Florida. Throughout the zoo, visitors are encouraged to think about protecting and preserving wildlife. A winner of the Tampa Magazine award for Best Kids Attraction in 2021 makes this a must-see day-trip destination. 

The Exhibits

The Lowry Park Zoo wildlife habitat exhibits are home to many species. Your adventure begins at the entrance of Manatee Circle with its free-flight aviary. Experience the famous Macaw Flyover and snap a photo as the colorful birds briefly land for a closeup shot. 

Move on to the new Florida Wilds Exhibit, an immersive habitat encounter that showcases expansive and unobstructed views of the endangered Florida panther, the state’s official animal. Three panthers are permanent residents due to injuries sustained in the wild.  

Florida Wilds is also home to other rescued animals, including owls, Caribbean flamingos, river otters, striped skunks, reptiles, and Florida black bears – a subspecies of the American black bear. Two endangered female red wolves also reside in the Florida Wilds exhibit. The zoo aims to increase the Florida red wolf population by pairing the females with suitable mates and then reintroducing their offspring to the wild. 

An African elephant at the Lowry Zoo.
Photo from Shutterstock

After this, visit the most recognizable Florida wildlife animal: the beloved manatee. Known for its 30 years of manatee conservation, the Lowry Park Zoo has been rescuing and caring for critically injured, sick, and orphaned manatees and releasing them back into their natural habitats. 

Manatees are vulnerable because they live in the warm brackish water of Gulf coast estuaries, canals, bays, and rivers frequented by the human species. Visitors will not want to miss the chance to see these gentle creatures! You can also learn more about the environmental conversation by participating in a daily chat with wildlife experts. 

There are many other wildlife exhibits to explore at the Lowry Park Zoo. Bird lovers will enjoy walking through the five aviaries that house winged creatures from Asia, Africa, and Florida. A visitor favorite, the Primate World Exhibit is home to many endangered species, including Bornean orangutans, Colobus monkeys, lemurs, and Guenons. New to the Primate World is the Hamadryas Baboon Habitat, home to the most northern of all baboons.

The Asian Gardens Exhibit is where visitors will find Komodo dragons, Malayan tigers and tapirs, crocodilian gharials, sun bears, and more. You can also offer a rhino some leafy greens in the Indian Rhino Feeding Signature Encounter. The Africa Exhibit is where some of the world’s largest and rarest animals live. Visitors will see okapi, white rhinos, giraffes, African elephants, painted dogs, and zebras. 

This exhibit features several animal encounter experiences, including the Giraffe Backstage Encounter, White Rhino Backstage Encounter, and the Aldabra Tortoise Encounter. The wildlife exhibits conclude in Wallaroo Station where visitors can walk about with a wallaby, see koalas and bats, and then cool down in the Splash Pad.

Plan Your Visit

The team at BeachRentals.Mobi looks forward to hosting your Anna Maria Island adventure, so contact us today to find the perfect vacation rental! Start planning your beach getaway today!

The Rides

Lowry Park Zoo also features several amusement rides! Start by taking a whirl on the Carousel and choose an elephant, a manatee, or a cheetah to ride. This area is also home to a delightful African penguin exhibit. The Roaring Springs ride is a boat journey that winds through waterways reminiscent of old Florida and ends up on a thrilling three-story splashdown before returning to base. 

Hop on an open-air vehicle on the Expedition Wild Africa Safari for a guided tour of the Habari Preserve. Along the way, visitors will learn about the incredible animals that live there. Moving on, young visitors will want their parents to take them to the Boomer’s Flyin’ Bananas ride to fly around in a banana, complete with up-and-down control levers. Board the Overland Express Train at Wallaroo Station for a classic train ride named after one of Australia’s great trains. 

You will want to stop along your wildlife journey for a bite to eat. Macaws Landing Café offers salads, sandwiches, burgers, fries, and ice cream. Fountain drinks, beer, and wine are available. Dine inside or out. 

Later, take a break at the Beer & Wine Garden and sit in shaded lounge chairs while sipping a beer, wine, or a mixed drink. Located in the African Circle, this spot offers happy hour drinks and food specials. Shoppers and souvenir collectors will have plenty of places to make fun purchases.

Lowry Park Zoo tickets range in price and packages that offer several benefits. Upgrade to receive Signature Encounter experiences, feed a rhino, and go backstage with a giraffe and an elephant. Packages for curated personal experiences, and behind-the-scenes tours are also available. The Lowry Park Zoo offers an online map that provides detailed information. 

A close-up of a rainbow lorikeet.
Photo from Shutterstock

Directions to Zoo

By car from Anna Maria Island to the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa is just over an hour, making it a very accessible day-trip outing. Take Manatee Avenue to Business 19 North to Highway 275 to St. Petersburg through Tampa then 275 North to E. Sligh Ave. 

Book Your Anna Maria Island Vacation Rental

Many other destinations are accessible from your home base in one of our Anna Maria Island rentals. Ideal for families, BeachRentals.Mobi offers beachfront properties as well as those that are only slightly off the beach. Our single-family home and condo offerings can accommodate large and small families, depending on the property. 

When staying in one of our Anna Maria Island vacation rentals, you’ll enjoy fully equipped kitchens with state-of-the-art equipment, laundry facilities, high-speed internet, and glorious views of the Gulf of Mexico. As a local, family-owned operation with more than 30 years of expertise in the industry, we provide our guests with an exceptional experience that includes 24/7 customer service.

In addition to your day trip to the Lowry Park Zoo, there are many things to do in Anna Maria Island, with hitting the beach at the top of the list! Anna Maria Island is renowned for its stunning white-sand beaches, warm and gentle waves, and spectacular sunsets.  

There is also a diverse array of dining establishments where seafood rules and cocktails are best sipped on the beach. A true destination for families, Anna Maria Island rental guests will find countless options for family fun. Walk through a nature preserve, charter a fishing boat, kayak, shop at the many boutiques in the famous Bridge Street area, or book one of the Shore Thing Tiki Cruises. 

Your gateway to the Lowry Park Zoo, gorgeous beaches, countless family activities, and excellent food and drink begin with your Anna Maria Island rental through us at BeachRentals.Mobi!