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Jungle Island event with downtown Miami skyline as a dramatic backdrop
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Animated Events at Florida Zoos & Jungle Island
Florida is home to exotic native wildlife such as alligators, snakes and Florida panthers, as well as a sea of aquatic creatures. Did you know that wallaroos, the rare liger and even penguins are also found in the Sunshine State? When looking for a "wow" venue or teambuilding site for your next event, consider Florida zoos or Miami's Jungle Island.
Midway between downtown Miami and South Beach lies Jungle Island, an 18-acre, jungle-themed attraction that offers winged wonders, reptilian giants and wild encounters to groups of all sizes. Meeting venues at the parks surrounded by Biscayne Bay range from event pavilions to open areas ideal for clear-span tents. The 13,824-square-foot Treetop Ballroom can accommodate up to 1,000 people banquet-style and opens to the Veranda Balcony, which overlooks the bay and the lights of downtown Miami. Sable Palm Plaza features a built-in tropical theme with foliage and lighted palm trees.
Jungle Island lays claim to some unusual animals, including the liger, the world's largest hybrid cat, as well as many types of birds, reptiles and other wildlife whose visit to your event can make for a memorable evening. You would not expect to find penguins in balmy Miami, unless you bring your group event to Jungle Island. These adorable inhabitants are actually African penguins who only take a few days to acclimatise to the Miami sun.
Groups can hold an event near the penguin area or have them make a private showing in the Serpentarium, which holds 800 people. Cocktail-time animal visits or a group stroll through the jungle might include a sighting of the crocosaurus (the largest crododile in the Western Hemisphere) or twin orangutans.
Teambuilding programs can be created, and the park is available for evening buyouts. Learn more about Jungle Island
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Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo welcomes groups with the 17,000-square-foot Safari Lodge, just opened in December 2008. The look and feel of an African Village is represented within the interior lodge decor, while representations of the regions of South Africa are seen in the exterior. Climate-controlled and located in the Safari Africa exhibit area, the lodge offers a birds-eye view of the elephant, giraffe and zebra habitats. Attendees may even catch a glimpse of a meerkat or warthog nearby.
Groups can explore Australia at the Wallaroo Station, where 4.5 acres are available for your event. Venues for smaller groups within Wallaroo Station include The Patio, which accommodates 48 attendees 
New Safari Lodge at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo |
and the Wallaroo Pavilion, which welcomes a maximum of 60 guests. A charming guest house and surrounding porch is also available for an Australian-themed event. Interactive animal exhibits include kangaroos and other creatures from down under.
The Key West Banquet Room boasts a deck overlooking pools where manatees rescued from the wild feed and play. Lowry Park Zoo operates the only non-profit manatee hospital in the world and has rescued more than 200 manatees to date. The Lowry Park Zoo Banquet & Lecture Hall can accommodate up to 250 with state-of-the-art audiovisual capabilities and surround sound. A "Florida Cracker" homestead is found at Gator Falls, and groups can take a wild flume ride that ends with a 30-foot drop over an exhibit filled with alligators.
Lowry Park Zoo is located 10 minutes north of downtown Tampa and features on-site catering that can be custom designed by the park's executive chef.
Learn more about Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo
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North Florida's Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has some big news to share with meeting professionals. The new Gardens at Trout River Plaza provides an event setting within a botanical garden plaza with a view of the tranquil Trout River. A celebratory fountain, mosaic menagerie and Grecian-style columns bursting with flowers create a unique backdrop for receptions up to 500 and dinners up to 350. The Gardens also include The Riverview Courtyard for smaller events and the open-air Great Lawn for large events. The botanical gardens are a much-anticipated, first-of-its-kind project within the zoo.
Other opportunities to "rent the zoo" for events include the African-themed Kenya Boardroom, offering a permanent set for up to 24 people. Up to 400 guests can gather at Shaba Terrace and look down upon the Rift Valley Bird Aviary or enter the Range of the Jaguar with its Mayan stone temple and magical fountain.
Animal encounters always make for an interesting event addition as attendees get up-close and personal with creatures from around the globe, and a "behind-the-scenes" tour with Jacksonville Zoo's expert zookeepers are available to groups. When it comes to teambuilding, groups of 15 or more can experience a complimentary "WILD for the Zoo" scavenger hunt; teams will discover new animals and learn little known facts throughout the zoo. Groups can also experience the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens' stunning flora and wildlife via a narrated train ride.
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