Bonita Springs, Florida: Everglades Wonder Gardens: Gator Pit

The classic version of this attraction opened in 1936. It closed in 2013, then quickly reopened with more stress on plants than animals. But kids can still feed the gators on Saturdays.

This place is great, recently funded and getting upgrades. Though you should not touch the animals, they are very attentive and perk up when you are near. You can get food out of dispensers for 50 cents to feed turtles, chickens and fish.

Sad News! Everglades Wonder Gardens last day of operations is tomorrow April 21, 2013. There's a small chance that someone could save it but the original family is calling it quits. Well worth a visit if you live nearby. Another roadside wonder fades away.

In Bonita Springs, FL, on Old US 41, is a marvelous, out of the way roadside attraction that (until April of 2004) boasted the Oldest Living Everglades Crocodile. Unfortunately, we lost "Big Joe" to old age, but visitors can see his "cousin" and thrill to crossing a suspended bridge over a pit of alligators in a feeding frenzy. Many other species represented here. Great for the kids and all under native shade trees.