Unique Experiences

Item Description

The Destination

BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA BAY

Tampa, Florida

Hosted by Joe Parr, Director of Horticulture

The Experience

Your visit for up to four people includes:

• A horticultural tour of the park and behind-the-scenes production areas with Joe Parr, Director of Horticulture.

• A meal at one of Busch Gardens’ popular restaurants – either the Zambia Smokehouse or the Serengeti Overlook Restaurant.

• Park admission, so you can experience the rest of the park following your tour.

Busch Gardens in Tampa is a 365-acre adventure park that combines rides, exotic animals, shows, shopping, dining, and award-winning horticultural displays. The tour will begin in the bird gardens, wind through the Myombe primate habitat, and end up at the Edge of Africa. Next you will be treated to a “feed truck” safari of the Serengeti African Grassland, where giraffes, zebras, ostriches, and a number of other animals roam freely on a 60-acre veldt and eat right from your hand. Then, you`ll tour the Busch Gardens nursery, where hundreds of thousands of annuals are grown.  Here you’ll also enjoy a brief topiary demonstration. The finale of the tour will be a delightful meal at one of Busch Gardens’ themed eateries – either the Zambia Smokehouse or the Serengeti Overlook Restaurant.

Director of Horticulture Joe Parr graduated with a degree from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Prior to joining Busch Gardens, Joe began his horticultural career at the Walt Disney World Resort, where he worked in their backstage nursery production facility and with the Disney Seminar Productions department leading garden tours and educational programs. Joe’s extensive theme park experience also includes projects for Cypress Gardens and Sea World, having spent eight years in the commercial design/build industry. Joe brings more than 35 years of experience in the field to his work at Busch Gardens, where he enjoys the opportunity to showcase incredible plant species and innovative designs that are unlike those seen anywhere else.

Item Special Note

• Best time to visit: Year-round. Seasonal highlights: March through April, the Food & Wine Festival features beautiful gardens and grand topiary;  October through November offers cooler temperatures, shorter lines, and autumn garden displays; December brings Christmastown with thousands of poinsettias on display, a million lights, holiday shows, and special topiaries.
• Conditions/limitations for this item:  Tour to be arranged at a mutually agreeable time subject to host’s availability by October 31, 2017.