Though the Gulf Coast is their natural habitat, alligators often have to be rescued from unsafe situations here, especially when they reach over 4 feet in length or lose their fear of humans. Alligator Alley provides one such sanctuary to re-home these prehistoric-looking reptiles, offering a vast area of swampland for them to roam. People can wander the park, too—though, thankfully, on an elevated boardwalk or fenced-in walkways. That's a good thing, since one of the main attractions is Captain Crunch, a massive 13-foot male whose bite strength is 2,982 pounds.

Visitors can see his jaws snap onto fresh meat during one of the daily feedings performed by owner Wes Moore and his gator-loving staff. The rest of Alligator Alley's more than 450 residents, ranging from hatchlings to fully grown, decades-old adults, can be seen sunbathing, swimming, courting, and angling for "alligator chow" from the visitors. Plenty of other natural residents can also be spotted, including turtles, ospreys, snakes, owls, and frogs.