At Gulf Coast Vacation Rentals we offer gulf coast rentals the whole family will enjoy. Most of our rental properties are near adventurous places such as Mote Aquarium, Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary, and Sarasota Jungle Garden.
Meet the fish and scientists!
Visitors of Mote Aquarium have been asking to learn more about the research and marine world being conducted here, so they enhanced their formal and informal learning programs to offer hands-on learning for everyone. As a working aquarium, they give you an up-close experience with a variety of marine animals. You can also observe the scientific researcher as they are working in the laboratories. More than a hundred species call Mote their home, such as the manatees, gators, sea turtles, otters, and many more. Make this excursion one for the books by taking a swim with our sharks! Don’t worry they are well fed so they won’t bother with you. Join in on shark encounter between ten and eleven-thirty every Wednesday morning! Maybe swimming with sharks isn’t for you, don’t worry our gulf coast rentals include shark free pools!
Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary
Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary is a growing large-animal rescue in Sarasota County. The sanctuary offers a place for animals in need, and they try to educate the public about animal care and conservation. Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary uses admission fees to feed and care for the animals. When you visit Big Cat Habitat  you’ll meet bears, lions, tortoises, birds, primates and the petting zoo animals. However, what you won’t want to miss seeing is the liger! No, it’s not a typo, it’s a real animal! As you may guess from the name, ligers are a mix of tigers and lions. A liger is born from a female tiger and a male lion, not to be confused with tigons which are born from a female lion and a male tiger.
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
Over the years, the animal population in the Sarasota Jungle Garden has grown, many of them came as donations or rescue animals. Most arrived sick or injured, but some just outgrew or outlived their owners. Sarasota Jungle Garden intends for most exhibits, shows, and off-site presentations to help educate people on exotic pet ownership. Due to Florida’s subtropical weather and compassion towards importing various species of animals. Although illegal, many reckless pet owners release these exotic animals into local lakes and ponds, as well as neighborhoods. Most of the animals don’t just survive, they thrive and begin reproducing and taking over some of these areas. Unfortunately, the Garden is not large enough to accommodate all the demand; however, they do offer to help educate those who are considering purchasing or adopting an exotic pet. The shows are intended for audiences of all ages and frequently include audience participation. Each show runs approximately twenty minutes featuring many of the animals’ performance. We promise you’ll have fun learning new animal facts. Keepers answer questions at the end of the show, which allows guests to see the animals up close.
Make sure to book your gulf coast rentals with Gulf Coast Vacation Rentals to kick off your summer vacation the right way!
