Best Old Florida attractions

Welcome to The Short List. Each week we pick a topic and share our favorite – or, in some cases, maybe our least favorite – things about the Bay area.

Before Walt Disney World arrived in the 1970s and changed tourism here forever, Florida was filled with quaint (and sometimes tacky) roadside attractions.

Over the years more than 100 attractions – reptile farms, jungle gardens, bird and wildlife exhibits – have closed. But there are still some places that recall Old Florida. We found five places that every Floridian should see to get a taste of what Florida was like before the Big Mouse moved in.

1. Gatorland, 14501 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando. Opened in 1949, this family-owned attraction is home to hundreds of alligators. The park has a show in which 8- to 10-foot gators jump straight up as high as 5 feet to grab raw chicken. The park also has a petting zoo and a swamp walk. Open daily, tickets begin at $19.99 for adults and 11.99 for children (3-12).

2. Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, 6131 Commercial Way, Spring Hill. You may not lay claim to being a real Floridian until you've seen the mermaids at this 64-year-old attraction an hour north of Tampa at U.S. 19 and State Road 50. Women dressed as mermaids perform underwater ballets. There's a river boat cruise and native Florida animal show. Open daily admission is $13 for adults and $8 for children (6 to 12).

3. Homasassa Springs Wildlife State Park, 4150 S. Suncoast Blvd., Homosassa (75 miles north of Tampa). Travel winding walkways alongside natural springs that are home to rescued West Indian manatees. The park also has wildlife, including Lucifer, a 3-ton hippopotamus. There's also a collection of art by Winslow Homer who lived there from 1836 to 1910. Open daily, admission is $13 for adults, $5 for children (6 to 12).

4. Sarasota Jungle Gardens, 3701 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Opened in 1940, this attraction has 10 acres of tropical vegetation, winding jungle trails as well as bird and reptile shows. Known for flamingoes that interact with guests, the park is home to Frosty, a unicycle riding cockatoo who recently celebrated his 75th birthday. Open daily, admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children (3 to 12).

5. Silver Springs, east of Ocala on S.R. 40 (about 100 miles north of Tampa). For decades tourists have taken the park's famed glass bottom boat rides over deep, clear-water springs that pump 550 million gallons of water a day. The park also holds concerts, reptile and bird shows and has a Ferris wheel.Admission is $31.99 for adults and $24.99 for children (3-10).

Yeah, we know. You think we're clueless because we didn't include your favorite place on our list, right? Tell us about it at TBO.com, search: Short List