"I Survived a Close Encounter with a 12ft Gator and Would Relive It" - OK! Magazine

Dinosaur-esque physique. Razor sharp teeth. Insatiable hunger. Cute. Wait, that can't be right? But that's exactly what I came across on a recent visit to Gatorland in Kissimmee, Florida - but perhaps this was because this gator in particular was only a few inches long and born just a month before. However, the mums and dads weren't far away and a sight to behold, but a lot less cute. Powerful and breathtaking is a closer description, and so impressive with some standing at up to 15ft in length.

Taking a trip away from the usual tourist spots like Disney to get back to nature and 'true' Florida was a breath of fresh air and one I'd highly recommend if you're planning a trip to the sunshine state. I headed out for a fortnight of thrills and if you're looking to create memories to last a lifetime then pan a visit here. The park, located just 15 minutes from Disney, is actually Florida's first and original 'theme park', built and opened an incredible 22 years prior to anyone in the state setting eyes on a magical giant mouse.

And there's plenty to do and see for the whole family. I visited with holidaymakers from 10 years old to 60 years and planning retirement, yet both managed the park's Gator Screamin' Zipline. Yes, you didn't misread - a zipline, where at it's highest point, I found myself dangling 70ft above local gators and lush vegetation under the hot Florida morning sunshine. If you don't have this on a bucket list then find a pen quickly and get adding because if adrenaline and a sense of achievement is what you're after, you'll find it here.

Climbing a lot of stairs is involved but it's worth it. The higher we went the better the views, including eye level sights of local vultures surveying the vegetation below, but not before hearing the sweetest of squeaking and whimpering. We discovered baby raccoons hidden beneath some of the stair floorboards on our ascent to our taking off point. Mummy raccoon has safely 'stored' them there while she was out scavenging and would be back later. They were in safe hands though - the staff here care. They really care. And their enthusiasm and passion for the local wildlife shines through, from the knowledge they shared with us to the personal interactions and bonds they share with the animals. From Blondie the large territorial gator to Goose... the goose, who happens to do a pretty good 'guard dog' job at the park.

We also came inches away from gigantic gators for feeding time. Luckily not us, but alongside very experienced Brandon Fisher, the park's wonderful director of media relations, we helped throw some meat to them and grabbed some breathtaking photos. Gators are opportunist hunters though as staff reminded us regularly, so I'm still not sure how I've made it back in one piece.

After all that hard work having fun it was only right to head back to our hotel, cool down and head out for some food as the sun began to set. I headed for Margaritaville's Fish Emporium to experience some of the highly recommended Floridian seafood. You'll find all manner of stunning holiday cottages, activities and places to eat here, and it's well located by shops and bars to while away the evening hours, but the beautiful fish restaurant was easily found, located in the resort's main building.

At Fish Emporium we dined on lots of traditional fish and chips and as true Brits and judges of a classic battered fish, we were blown away - the star of the show being that homemade tartar sauce. I opted for the melt-in-the-mouth seared scallops served on a bed of sweet creamed corn, and others were a little more adventurous with their stunning Florida Grouper with mushroom risotto. All washed down with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc, and colas for the kids.

It's not a budget meal by any means but worth splashing out on as a treat amid a holiday that's jam-packed elsewhere with chicken tenders and cheeseburgers galore.

For more ideas on incredible things to do in Orlando and Kissimmee visit www.experiencekissimmee.com