Shell Factory & Nature Park

Shell Factory & Nature Park Review

This entertainment complex, once just a quirky shopping destination and a survivor from Florida's roadside-attraction era, now contains eateries, museum displays, an arcade, bumper boats, miniature golf, and a mining sluice where kids can pan for shells, fossils, and gemstones. Strolling the grounds is free, but some activities carry individual fees, and a separate admission is required to enter the Nature Park, which has the feel of a small zoo. There you can find llamas and a zebra to ogle; a petting farm with sheep, pigs, and goats; a walk-through aviary; an EcoLab with reptiles and small animals; and a gator slough. The Shell Factory also hosts annual events such as the Gumbo Fest in January.