When you’re driving down Route 1 towards south Vero Beach, just pull over at McKee Botanical Gardens to visit one of Florida’s most impressive plant collections.
Long before Mickey descended on Orlando, in the 1920’s the land was part of an 80 acre tropical attraction called McKee Jungle Gardens, where they planted 300 royal palms in precise rows.
Most of the land was sold off for development and a golf course, but a preservationist group saved 18 acres culminating in the McKee Botanical Garden in 2001.
As you walk amongst the plants, the cooler air feels more oxygenated, as if the plants themselves are breathing life into the space around you.
This taste of old Florida is home to one of the most impressive collections of water lilies, with the massive Victoria lilies stealing the show opening white on the first night, then changing to pink on the second evening before retreating beneath the surface.
While dragonflies hover above the water, turtles bask on logs with a resident gator. When you arrive for a morning visit with the golden lights streaming through the canopy, spiderwebs glisten with dew.
The palm collection showcases specimens from around the globe, creating a canopy that filters sunlight into the patterns along the pathways.
There’s a towering Bamboo Fortress, where a whimsical mushroom sculpture looks like it’s out of Alice in Wonderland.
With the singing birds and the rustling palms, this is truly a captivating experience for all ages that you will treasure.
There’s a Garden Cafe and a gift shop with motorized scooters for rent.
This hidden gem takes about two hours to fully explore, and admission for adults is twenty five dollars.
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