Big Cat Rescue Florida

[NYCDiane]

Okay, so I LOVE lions! I found a place in Tampa called "Big Cat Rescue". It's a sanctuary for big cats (including lions!) and I want to take a tour there. Of course, I'll be on a tight budget and am hoping to save the $$ for my daughter and I to go in October or November.

My question is.... what is the best travel site? From the Big Cat website, they say the closest hotel is a Holiday Inn Express on Corporate Lake Drive. I would be flying down from NY (doesn't matter if from JFK, LGA, or ISP) and probably staying 2 nights.... I was even thinking of maybe just staying a day. Go to FL in the morning, rent a car, see the Big Cat sanctuary, and fly back the same day.

Any ideas or advice?

 

[Newfie2000]

This is an absolutely wonderful facility - we visited in May of this year. Since you are focused specifically on doing this I would highly recommend doing one of the special trips they have. The regular tour was rather short and left us longing for a lot more. I have to warn you though we did not see any Lions while we were there. Not all of the cats are out or available at all times. We did get to peek inside of a habitat at a Liger but could not see him very well at all. I do remember that they said certain days are better than others for viewing due to feeding schedules, etc. - you might want to give them a call and ask about that. And there are two different large cat sanctuarys - they are named pretty similar but offhand I can't remember which is which and where they both are exactly. If I can be of anymore help just let me know!

 

[Newfie2000]

I just reread your post a little more carefully. I hate to say this because the place is wonderful and is such a great cause but I am not sure I could justify a trip there just to see it. The special tours are quite costly but well worth it if you are a true enthusiast however I would definitely not call them budget friendly. I hope others will chime in here as I hate to be the one to burst your bubble and perhaps others have better things to say. Realistically I definitely enjoyed our visit there but keeping it real I would never go there just for that.

 

[NYCDiane]

This is the one http://www.bigcatrescue.org/index.htm

I was just looking on some sites for flight/hotel deals and then just flight/car deals and it's still rather expensive (for my budget).

I may just have to wait a while and plan this trip more carefully. It's in Tampa so I'm sure there's much more to see there than just the Big Cats. I'm going to research Tampa vacation packages because I think that would be much more budget wise than just going there for the Big Cat Rescue.

I'm going to the Bronx Zoo soon, so maybe I'll see the lions and other big cats there and that will hold me over until I can get to the Big Cats in Tampa.

Thanks for your response!!!!!

 

[Newfie2000]

Yes, that's the one! I believe the other one might just be in Sarasota? Honestly I can't remember. I do know we had a choice between two. I think you did make a wise choice! There is lots to do in the area and if you include the Rescue as part of a trip you will not be disappointed! I would still highly recomend that when you do go - you budget to do one of the specialty trips though!

 

[piglet33]

We did the feeding tour a couple of years ago, and it was great. We had a great time, and my hubby enjoyed the time he spent with the tigers and other big cats.

ETA - when we did this, we actually fed the tigers, but I'm not sure you can still do that.

 

[MyMuse]

I'm planning on doing this on my December vacation!

I put it off the last couple of times, I was in Tampa, but I'm making a point to go this time.

 

[Parkers_girl]

I was just checking out the site and it said that if you bring a receipt or document showing that your pet is spayed or neutered that you can get in for free! Here's the link http://www.bigcatrescue.org/spay_and_play.htm


Not sure if you have any pets, but if you do then that can certainly take a chunk out of the price for you!