Gatorland was opened by Owen Godwin in 1949 and has been owned by his family ever since. It’s currently one of oldest and most popular attractions in central Orlando. Popular with both tourists and locals, Gatorland gives you the chance to get up close and personal with not only thousands of alligators and crocodiles, but a collection of creepy crawlies too.

There’s a load to see and do including their breeding marsh that you can explore via the boardwalk or enjoy from the safety and comfort of the observation tower, their reptile shows, swamp walks, educational programmes, adventure tours and loads more. They also do birthday parties and something a bit more special that they call ‘Trainer for the Day.’

Being a Trainer for the Day gives the participant the chance to see what it’s like to actually do what all the guys and gals at Gatorland do for a living, imagine work experience with a twist. They start you off small, giving you the chance to hold baby alligators and whatnot, and work you up to working with some of the biggest alligators and crocodiles that they have on site. Then it’s onto the other creatures for a while, letting you get involved with the creepy crawlies and reptiles too, before the grand finale where you get to work with one of the Gatorland trainers in the Gator Wrestling Arena!

A great day out for all occasions whether you’re celebrating a birthday or just want to get down with the creatures that Florida is famous for. Unfortunately you have to be at least 12 years old to try being a Trainer for the Day, but children are still welcome to come along, there’s a mass of other packages for families with kids. A day at Gatorland definitely seems to be one of the best things to do if you’re staying in the region.