Get Adventurous by Gobbling Gator in Orlando

Sprinkled amidst the urban jungle of Orlando are numerous restaurants to please those seeking to dine outside the box. If you are amongst this adventurous underground dining crowd, consider visiting one or more of the restaurants offering alligator as a star menu item.

Alligator has a flavor similar to, you guessed it, chicken and the consistency of pork. This exotic protein can be interpreted in various ways to please and delight even the pickiest of eaters. Take a stroll from your vacation villa and explore the flavors of the south with some authentic and unique cuisine.

Rides with a Side of Gator at Gatorland Theme Park

Inside Gatorland theme park the smell of fried food beckons guests through the doors of Pearl’s Smokehouse. This vintage treasure has been around since 1991 and has established itself as a staple for American foods. After working up an appetite on the zip line and other attractions, Pearl’s is the place for classic comfort food like burgers, hotdogs, pulled pork, enormous turkey legs, and most notably, delicious gator. Named after the founder’s wife, Pearl Godwin, hungry eaters travel for miles to grab a taste of their signature gator nuggets, which are served hot and crispy to hungry visitors.

Flavors from the Gods

Just minutes away from the Orlando metro, Café Tu Tu Tango offers a variety of gluten-free and vegetarian options along with their classic menu. For the adventurous eater, two offerings of alligator are on the menu to tantalize your taste buds. Their Florida Gator Dip appetizer includes gator that has been braised with house pimiento and fresh key lime, or their Spiced Alligator Bites entrée comes with local Florida gator and a zesty key lime mustard for dipping. If gator isn’t your game on this trip, feel free to sample from their cornucopia of fusion dishes that are sure to please even the pickiest eater.

When in Doubt, Barbecue!

Including virtually every type of meat on its barbecue-themed menu, Bubbalou’s Bodacious BBQ on Kirkman Road requires a large appetite and a zest for the unique. Start with Mac and Cheese Bites, Fried Okra, and their Gator Bites for an authentic southern meal that is both filling and delicious. Be sure to save room for a sweet treat, because their delicious homemade brownies and assorted cupcakes are worth every delicious calorie.

Classic Cuisine

If a more sophisticated ambiance is what you seek, A Land Remembered Restaurant features a classic menu using prime cuts from both land and sea. With photo-worthy presentation and a penchant for fine ingredients, this elegant eatery adds flair to classic dishes such as oysters, scallops, and lobster bisque. If gator is your mission, look no further than their delicious and hearty Gator Creek Stew with white beans and greens. With diced bits to utilize the gator’s texture to the fullest, this chowder-like stew is a popular favorite.

Whether you are traveling with family or your most fashionable friends, venture into the unknown by dining on the unusual and exotic protein that is alligator. Even those who just want a sample can split a side of one of many delectable dishes that is sure to please. For the freshest ingredients and unique interpretations, Orlando is sure to please by just taking a few steps outside of your vacation villa.

You see the deep and intense color of the Painted Bunting long after you close your eyes for the night, while the beautiful song of the Wood Thrush lingers in your ear. Birding, for you, is a total engagement of the senses, from the sights to the songs to the documentation through photography or pen to paper. It’s both a visual and an auditory experience. It’s scientific yet joyful, technical but relaxing. There’s something so freeing about watching these stunning creatures fly through blue skies. And now it’s wintertime, so they’re calling you to Florida.

Florida is For the Birds

Cloaked between the Gulf of Mexico and the deep blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Florida boasts of famed destinations, lush gardens, gorgeous waters, and almost a backyard view of the exotic Bahamas. Yet, these are often the only stories we hear. The truth, though, is that Florida holds the key to unlocking a vibrant new world out in the wild. While it might seem as though birdwatching is Florida’s best-kept secret, Florida is becoming quite well known among birders – those who delight in and appreciate the art of birding. The best part is that the Florida climate is warm and inviting, even in the middle of winter. Ready to go?

How to Choose Your Next Florida Birding Adventure

The entire state of Florida offers birding adventures galore, and your destination simply depends on your goals. Which birds do you love and cherish most? What kind of habitat do you prefer? Consider whether you’d like to enjoy some beach time, or if the glades of the swamp are more your style. Do you yearn to be one with nature, or do you love to share in the joy with other birding enthusiasts? Perhaps you even dare to embark on a journey to see as many sites as possible – Florida offers hundreds – with an intent to eventually visit them all. It’s doable with a little preparation.

According to Visit Florida, the top birding sites in the state include Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, and “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. These locales, like the hundreds of other birding sites, span the state, so you’ll have no trouble finding several near your vacation rental home.

Birding Adventure of a Lifetime

The state of Florida, spanning more than 65,000 square miles, is a wonder of nature. On the first day, you might feel like you’re in the jungle. On the next, you’re admiring the ocean. If you like a dose of action on your adventure, you and your binoculars can rent a kayak and enjoy the birds from the river or lake. Florida offers a dozen habitats for its bird species, including swamp lands, prairies, dunes, and tropical brush, and you can experience all of them.

There are plenty of resources available, but one of the best is The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail organization. Create a plan for your adventure with the trip planner, a cool tool for casual research or final arrangements. Florida Birding Trail also hosts events throughout the year, so you can get together with fellow watchers to share stories and tips.

For the junior birder or experienced enthusiast, the search for the next great winter escapade is over. Destination: Florida. Welcome to the Sunshine State.