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Wild Florida:  A Safari Without Leaving the Car

This week’s adventure is a drive-through safari—an outing that’s appropriate for the whole family. That’s right: you don’t even have to get out of the car. But first, lunch.

We stopped in rural Kenansville, Florida, at Lake Marian Restaurant, a Western cowboy-themed restaurant that’s open from breakfast through dinner. Their specialty is Southern comfort food, including fried chicken, slow-cooked pulled pork, catfish, and chicken-fried steak. They proudly advertise that they cook with 100% beef tallow rather than processed seed or vegetable oils. That seems fitting in Central Florida’s cattle country, where beef tallow is readily available.

Bob ordered the chicken-fried steak, while I had a fried steak sandwich. If you’re traveling with little ones, don’t worry—Lake Marian has a “Little Boots” menu just for children. The food was good, and I had no complaints. The fries were particularly delicious, thanks to being fried in beef tallow.

With full tummies, we headed down the road. It was about a 35-mile drive and took roughly 45 minutes to reach Wild Florida Adventure Park (WFAP). There was nothing but Florida wilderness along the way. We really were in the middle of nowhere, but eventually we found our destination and queued up for admission. It was about 1:45 p.m. when we arrived, and several cars were already ahead of us.

Keep in mind that WFAP closes at 6:00 p.m., with the last entry at 5:00 p.m. The safari itself takes a good hour to an hour and a half, so plan accordingly. You’ll also want to leave enough time to visit the small zoo, watch the alligator show, and browse the gift shops.

Another option is to eat at WFAP. There’s a restaurant onsite called Chomp House. We didn’t have a chance to try it, but I did some research afterward. It’s a family-friendly restaurant serving slow-smoked barbecue sandwiches and the usual grill favorites: hamburgers, fries, gator nuggets, catfish, and fried gator. There’s something for everyone, and the prices are comparable to what we paid for lunch offsite. If Lake Marian feels like too much of a detour, Chomp House is worth considering.

Back to the Safari

The safari takes between 60 and 90 minutes to drive through, mainly because the speed limit is a leisurely 5 mph. Take your time and enjoy close-up views of axis deer, dromedary camels, Watusi cattle, wildebeest, and bison. We also saw an emu and an ostrich, although neither one came close to the car. I was ready, though, with my finger on the window button—just in case!

It’s a leisurely, relaxing drive, but there’s still a little excitement in seeing these animals wandering around so close to your car.

My only complaint is that you can see a surprisingly large portion of the park from a single vantage point. There wasn’t much mystery about what might be waiting around the next curve. Florida is famously flat, and that became especially obvious during our safari.

Our admission included free entry to the onsite zoo, so we wandered around for about half an hour, looking at the animals in their enclosures. If you have children with you, I strongly recommend visiting the zoo. After an hour or more of sitting in the car, the kids can burn off some energy at the enclosed playground—and be as loud as you’ll let them!

There’s more to WFAP than the safari and zoo. You can also take an airboat ride, visit Gator Park, or even paint with a giraffe. If you’re in the area, it’s a fun way to spend the day.

After leaving WFAP, we headed to “nearby” St. Cloud, about 20 minutes away. Our destination was Phyre Brewery & Tavern, housed in a historic 1909 building.

As is our custom, we sat at the bar. Before long, we were pulled into a conversation between the gentleman sitting next to Bob and the gentleman next to me. They were reminiscing about their younger, drunken days, and I was thoroughly entertained by their stories. At one point, I had to jump into the conversation and point out that drinking three bottles of wine by yourself is just plain crazy. The same goes for drinking an entire box of wine by yourself. Both men laughed it off.

We always enjoy chatting with strangers at a bar, and this time was no exception. Unfortunately, the bar itself was a bit of a disappointment. We had specifically chosen Phyre because it was a brewery—a brewery, as in a place that actually brews its own beer. Yet Phyre had no house brews available. I settled for a Stella Artois, while Bob ordered one of his usual IPAs.

So, Would I Recommend This Adventure?

Again, the answer is yes and no.

If you live within 30 to 45 minutes of Wild Florida Adventure Park, then yes, by all means, go check it out. It’s a fun, relaxing experience, especially if you have children.

However, if you’re looking for the best value for your money, I think the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne is the better choice. If you’re visiting from Orlando, I’d make the drive to northern Melbourne and spend the day at the zoo. You’ll find a greater variety of animals and plenty to keep the kids entertained, including a splash pad that’s especially welcome on hot Florida days.

For lunch, stop at Euro Deli on U.S. 192 near Wickham Road, and afterward, head to Intracoastal Brewing Company for an adult beverage.

As for Lake Marian Restaurant? It was perfectly fine, but I wouldn’t make the drive specifically for it. The same goes for Phyre Brewery. Both were enjoyable stops along the way, but neither was worth a long detour.

Wild Florida Adventure Park, however, is worth experiencing—especially if you’re already in the area.