Winter Haven - Cypress Gardens

Cypress Gardens features botanical gardens with 8000 flower varieties from more than 90 countries It was established in 1936 and still presents some of the "old-style" amusements from the early days of tourism in Florida. There are ice skating shows like "Fairy Tales on Ice", a butterfly project and aviary with more than 1000 free-flying butterflies, a reptile farm. It is perhaps best known for its daily water-ski demonstrations. The first ski show took place in 1943 and the park claims it is "the longest continually running entertainment production in the world." A 153-foot observation tower provides views of the gardens, and Chain of Lakes.