One of the perks of living here in Florida is being able to use my Disney Annual Pass. Orlando isn’t far away, so my daughter and I will jump in the car and head over for a few hours of fun. Since I’m not a world traveler, I can visit countries like Italy, France or Germany, to name a few, at Epcot. Just last week we went over for the Food and Wine Festival and tasted different foods from around the world. The culinary choices are awesome and well prepared, the portions are just the right size to taste but not fill you up. We ate while we walked around the entire park and never felt stuffed. Definitely worth the trip.

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, I can also visit exotic places like Asia or Africa. Our favorite attraction is the Kilimanjaro Safaris. We love seeing the animals up close and personal. In June of this year, a female giraffe named Aella was born. So cute! She happened to be out on the savanna as our tour passed by.

Every time we go on the safari ride, we have a wonderful encounter. Last year, we took the tour at sunset. In the lion enclosure, a female was resting on top of a boulder. The tour guide was telling us that the female makes a loud purring sound. As if on cue, the lion sat up and started making the sound. Not a roar, exactly, but it was loud enough to carry to our bus. The entire group went quiet and my daughter was able to record the lion. It was an experience I’ll never forget.

Here are just a few pictures of the incredible animals we’ve been able to see on our trips.

If you’ve never been to the Animal Kingdom, and you love animals, it’s worth the trip. There are walking trails where you can take your time and watch the birds or animals in their native habitat. Not the same as going to the actual countries of origin, but fun just the same. At least I can drive home and sleep in my own bed after a day trip!

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author of nineteen novels. Family values, a bit of mystery and, of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Look for her Harlequin Heartwarming romance, THE LAWMAN’S SECRET VOW and her Christmas Town romance, OUR CHRISTMAS PROMISE, both available now.  Visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. Sign up for Tara’s Newsletter and receive a link to download a free digital book.