McKee Botanical Garden

This is absolutely a beautiful place! From the moment you get to the tickets to the moment you leave. People are warm and friendly and super helpful. The gardens are so well kept and a great atmosphere! I would say it's the best kept gem because I have lived here over 25 years and had no idea about it till today! Definitely a must-see :)

Absolutely beautiful garden to walk around and enjoy. Spacious and beautifully maintained grounds. Nice and quiet. Not as much wildlife as others I've been to. Mostly just lizards. Not too much was in bloom but the Lilly's. All of the Lily's were in bloom. It was incredibly hot outside but it was still a good time. Honestly the 2 most impressive things there were the cypress stump outside, over a thousand years old. Absolutely massive. And I found a snake skin next to it so that was neat! And inside they have a building with the absolute longest single slab of wood for a table I have EVER seen. Very impressive. I wondered if it was from the cypress stump out front.

We had a great time. Definitely bring bug spray. We bought the wipes they had in the gift shop but they’re pricey for a big group and not as effective as spray. My husband rarely gets bit by mosquitoes but he did here so use spray even if you don’t think you’ll need it. Teenagers & little kids alike will enjoy all the plants and the playground is adorable. We went in July so it was as hot as expected but almost the entire walk through is shaded. The cafe is cute, we got an oatmeal raisin cookie (yum) and an iced coffee (not great). Took us 1.5 hours to walk the entire place but easily could have stayed longer. Highly recommend!

Beautiful botanical garden where everyone in any age can find something interesting. Lovely playground with splash space for kids and even some musical instruments. We had a fantastic time walking through this garden. You have to do this slowly, so many details around…don’t miss ☀️

Beautiful park. Lots of history stuff about how it was created and how it survived so long. Tons of cute little anoles everywhere. If you know someone who loves pants, take them here. Side note, if you're worried about $20 entry in a tourist town, you might wanna reevaluate your finances. Because considering the location, this is a pretty standard price. Most botanical gardens are the same price or more given the amount of labor involved in keeping everything thriving and interesting.

We visited the McKee Botanical Garden in Vero Beach and were not disappointed. We try and visit botanical gardens wherever we go and Mckee was a unique one. There were so many picturesque places in the garden paired with the landmark sculptures in each area. This park is a great time for you and your loved ones. It took us around 2 hrs to really finish it all up and I have to say the adventure was worth the money. The park was a little packed but the groups were staggered enough that it was not too big of a nuisance. They had a huge play area for the kids so if you have children bring them along with you to enjoy the gardens as well.

I've been coming to McKee Garden for years, and let me tell you, it never disappoints. There are so many different paths to walk, and the plant life is so vibrant and healthy. They often have special events going on. When I went this time, they had an event with a bunch of Lego statues made by an artist. It was wonderful, and the sculptures were wonderful. It's cool that they basically always have stuff going on. It's also important to note that they serve food in a little restaurant at the front. There are also bathrooms located at the front. Usually when I go and it's not the holiday season, it's not that crowded. That's probably my favorite thing about this place. Overall, it's a great place to spend time with your family. I would say that it's perfect for all ages.

The place was very clean, Very Well kept. Exploring the unique plants and features were wonderful. Our family loved exploring the grounds. They could use some updating of the spray ground for the children especially as it gets hotter towards summer, only a few of the sprayers were functional so made it tough for all kiddos at the park to cool off. A water bottle fill station would be nice. We were hoping to walk through wood/tree bent forest but we were told by a volunteer it was taken down 4-6years ago and the photos on google are old. We drove 3 hours hoping to see this feature but was not there. Also the museum portion and children’s portion we were escorted out promptly I believe by 4:30, they do not lack on closing down for the day at 5pm SHARP! All in all it was a beautiful place and a beautiful day spent, a little piece of the jungle. Thank you to the wonderful staff and people who maintain the grounds our family did enjoy it.

**INITIAL REVIEW** In Vero Beach, one of the most-popular places to visit is McKee Botanical Gardens. Established back in 1929 by Waldo E. Sexton, the gardens was supposed to be a kind of garden nursery that would house unique and exotic plants on more than 100 acres of land. Today, McKee Botanical Gardens is only a mere 10 acres (or less or something like that), as it is part plant and garden nursery and part tourist attraction. Nevertheless, it is one of the best places to visit during a visit to Vero Beach. Not to mention, many of the locals like to go multiple times to enjoy the gardens themselves. Though an address is provided, McKee Botanical Gardens (which I will shorthand simply to McKee for the remainder of this review), is located on US-1, about a five minute drive south of 20th Street, or the major street that passes through Downtown Vero Beach (where Ay Jalisco, American Icon Brewery, Indian River Citrus Museum, Indian River Chamber of Commerce, Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce, etc. are located). The single-person admission can be a bit steep depending on one's financial situation, but if you happen to want to come back to McKee more than once, especially during special events and showings, a membership is actually worth the price. Just visit three times in a year and you will have paid off the price of the membership. McKee is set up for patrons to enjoy everything the garden has to offer via a loop. It is up to you to go clockwise or counter-clockwise. There is the Hall of Giants, Spanish Kitchen, large mushroom, bamboo pavilion, numerous bridges - including the iconic stone bridge - a waterfall, and many other things to see. The upper-left area of the garden is a dedicated education and play area for children. Besides the special showing events, McKee also hosts an array of activitives especially for youngins'. As a matter of fact, McKee is one of the locations you must visit and complete an adventurous task as part of the Indian River County leg of the Treasure Coast Kids Quest. I must also stress that the eatery in McKee, the Garden Cafe, serves an excellent selection of food, which includes burgers, sandwiches, soups, pastries, and drinks. I had an iced coffee and a sandwich and it was delicious. For me, I have been to McKee twice, once with my good friend Heather, and the second time with my family, celebrating mother's day with my mom. Both times were a lot of fun. I would definitely recommend anyone to come to these gardens if you can. Ultimately, both visits were everything I can ask for, ergo I am giving McKee a five-out-of-five rating. Does that mean they are perfect? Nope, but when it comes to ratings, the five-out-of-five means that despite any understandable conditions showing that we are all human, McKee Botanical Gardens is worth the money and the experience.

This place is definitely a hidden gem I never knew existed. Beautiful gardens with winding pathways , ponds full of Koi fish and lily pads and gorgeous butterfly gardens. Right now they have an exhibit of life-size Lego sculptures which are amazing to look at. There's a children's area with a splash pad, a café, which we could not eat in because there was a garden club having a meeting but it smelled amazing when we walked by, and a cute little gift shop where we made pressed pennies to keep for souvenirs. On top of that they have knowledgeable, friendly tour guides. We definitely will come back.

When you come here make sure you grab a map because there is a lot to see! Great place to come with a significant other, family, and or kids. There is an even a kid section which is nice for the parents to relax and the kids to have fun. Lots of different plants, flowers, and nature to see! One of my favorite sections was the musical area. Very relaxing and cool. It is very large so you will spend quite some time here. There is a souvenir shop and a place to eat here too.

Most beautiful place ever!! Kate our tour leader did an incredible job, thank you!! So happy I did the tour, great place will definitely go again!!

18 acres of attractive woods. Originally one of Floridas largest attractions before I 95 was built, now a shadow of its size but what is there is well done. Pretty unique children's jungle area. Plenty of flowing water setting off many local plants and trees. They have historic kitchen area and old barn which explains rich history. Closed for a number of years before being renovated by local volunteers. Work still ongoing but pretty much all done and now just adding touches. Not that much else to do except the beaches in Vero so 5 stars because of no competition but in itself worth a visit to anyone who likes ornamental forests, old Florida history and about 1-1 1/2 hours of entertainment. They have a reasonable cafe and lots of free parking.

out of this world stunning. really incredible kids adventure area, so the garden is fantastic for the entire family. so rich in history and so many amazing tropical plants.

We attended the Jungle Lights tonight and really loved it. There were so many beautiful light displays of animals as well as holiday themed pieces. Highly recommend paying this place a visit while the Lights are up through the holidays. Everyone working there was so nice and helpful and friendly.

Six months ago, long-term great friends moved to Vero Beach. What do you get, as a new home gift, for someone who has just about everything? We bought them a membership to their new, local botanical gardens, McKee Botanical Gardens. After their first visit, they said they loved the gift and the lovely gardens. So, when we visited this past weekend, we decided to go together and see for ourselves. We were not disappointed. The garden is separated into various areas, including bamboo, live oak, lily ponds with waterfalls, butterfly and children's garden and more. In general it is a rustic garden, with many dirt paths interwoven with paved paths. One of the more interesting things, that I had never seen in a garden before, was a circular display of plants built into a turntable, that was labeled, "Turn Me." There were taleidoscopes mounted above. Very cool! *See my photos! When we were ready to leave, we opted to convert our admission into an annual membership, especially since the McKee gardens has member discounts and reciprocity with many other botanical gardens, including ones closer to our home, i.e. Mounts Botanical Gardens and Flamingo Gardens. We will be back...

Best jungle holiday lights and displays with sounds. Awesome Bavarian town model trains exhibit. Excellent childrens garden with pirate ship, interactive musical exhibits and splash pad fountains and waterfalls throughout garden. Great programming for adults and children. Educational tours and classes. Super yummy Garden cafe. Nice staff and volunteers. Incredible history, a must see!

A beautiful stuff along the way. Christmas displays are even cool during the day. Gift shop

This place was absolutely amazing. 15$ a person to get in and there is plenty to see!! They have a splash park inside for the kids. Must come visit was packed the parking lot but it's so big inside that we were alone on all the paths. It's so freaking beautiful. I would for sure come back. Plenty of parking. Don't have to pay to park.

i'll keep this short.....MEH not great, kind of boring, like walking through your neighbor's estate garden. nothing unusual or spectacular. didn't even stay longer that an hour. i wasn't impressed. after going to sunken gardens in st. pete, this place can't compare. disappointing to say the least

awesome time with my plant loving family, we have been going for years and always enjoy our visit ! highly reccommend

A beautiful Botanical garden situated on Route-1 in Vero Beach. The gardens are well kept & clean. There is an area for kids to climb & explore. Will be great to visit in April where every thing blooms. I visited in November, the weather was perfect. There were enough plants in bloom. Nice area for photos.

I've wanted to go here for years -- since it was reopened. Knowing we would be in Vero for the holidays, I made online reservations. We came on Wednesday before Thanksgiving, but they were closed due to flooding. Luckily, we were able to come back again on Friday. Some background-- The original 80 acres were bought in 1922 to be a citrus farm, but instead was developed into a tropical garden as a tourist attraction. It closed in 1976 and was sold for condo development. The remaining undeveloped 18 acres was bought to be preserved in 1994. And only started to be restored about 20 years ago. This 18 acres are now the current garden. We were only able to walk and see one side or about half on the garden paths in the time we had. After watching a short film, passing by the "bells", we entered the "hall of giants". A huge table, exhibits, and written history displays. Walking over the "stone bridge", we went past the "fan palm" path looking at all the trees and plants on the way. Even without kids, we wanted to see the "new" (2020) "children's garden" area. Kids were really enjoying the splash area and fountain. (Bring towels!). Plus climbing all over and through the pirate ship and village. We returned via the middle "main jungle trail" past the date palms and waterfall. We ended our visit at the gift shop, of course. Bought the obligatory post card to say, "wish you were here" to northern friends. We will definitely have to come back when next in the area -- to see the rest of the Garden we missed. They have periodic exhibits too -- like the glass one coming in January 2023.

Definitely worth the small entrance fee. Definitely plan on coming back soon and the girlfriend loved it as well. Completed the children's treasure hunt and managed to luckily see the giant mushroom.

Try visiting during week days, there are a couple things that were removed but still a good place for pictures and the kids will love it.

We went with my friend specifically wanting to see the "giant mushroom." We were not told upon arrival that there were many areas sectioned/closed off, and that mushroom area in particular. When we were leaving, I told the staff up front how disappointed we were that so many areas were closed off, given no notice and the mushroom in particular was not accessible. The woman at the desk said I could access it through the Bamboo Pavilion. I told her that was also blocked off, and she didn't even know that.

We went to Orlando for vacation in September. On one of our "down" days (away from the parks) we went to McKee Botanical Garden in Vero Beach. This is a unique garden with many varieties of tropical plants, very nice trails to walk through and view them and it's great for pictures. The giant mushroom is tall enough for you to stand underneath. The tropical plants and waterways are unique and have some plants you won't see anywhere else. I recommend going here when you are in Florida.

While researching what to do in the area McKee Botanical Gardens came up as highly suggested so we decided to give it a go... and I'm so glad we did! We entered through the gift shop were some sweet ladies assisted us. Providing us with a map and general suggestions on where to begin. You really cannot go wrong in choosing where to start. The Gardens are filled with various plants and trails to walk through. Lizards were sunbathing on cactus, flowers were blooming, butterflies were dancing and the fish were enjoying themselves in one of the many gorgeous lily ponds. I never knew there were so many different kinds! There are many shaded areas to walk though and enjoy the lower light plants...and to keep somewhat cool during the Florida sunshine. With many different areas and species of plants there is something for everyone to see. Even the kiddos. Don't forget your pic by the giant mushroom! Exiting through the gift shop also subbed as a quick AC break. Such a cute garden to visit. If I'm in the area, I'll definitely return.

Took my college kiddo to the botanical gardens over the Christmas holidays. Admission was $15 for adults and you are provided a map guide at the window. It would be nice if they offered a student discount, but they do offer discounts for young children and seniors. You can also purchase an annual pass. The garden decor was splendid for the holiday season with a featured "Gnome House" filled with gnome scenes, lollipops and cupcakes lining some of the pathways, panda decorations playing violins, a huge blow-up Santa upon entrance, and a giant snow globe. We went during daylight hours, however the trees and pathways were draped with holiday lights which I'm sure were beautiful in the evening. The children's play area was full of little ones checking out all of the features including a pirate themed area. The garden is a good place to teach children early to appreciate their natural surroundings and to find creative fun while exploring. I would say children 5-8 would get the most enjoyment in the area designated for kids. The gardens were more exciting because of the holiday decorations, and I'm not so sure how much younger children would appreciate the experience without themed decor. We were fortunate that we went on an overcast day, and the heat and insects were not a factor. Plan your visit around the weather because it can get quite hot, and the bugs can be pesty. There are dispensers for bug repellent on-site, but you may also want to pack your own. You cannot take food or drinks into the park, but they do have a little cafe and offer ice cream treats once inside the garden area. They also have a small gift shop. It is nice that this area has been preserved, and that there is a place to go to take a relax stroll, unwind, and decompress. I recommend you go at least once.

This lovely botanical garden is worth the trip, whether you have children and spend time in the children's garden and splash pad or just there for a nice stroll, this garden is for you. The paths are well groomed and fairly level, lots of benches and shaded areas. Beautiful streams wind around the property with different gardens intermingled around them. The Spanish kitchen is tucked away but should definitely not be missed. I was fascinated by the Stick Wood sculptures as well as the glass tower that was tucked near the meditation garden. This property is not huge but a nice size. They do not allow outside food but they do have an excellent cafe with made to order salads and such as well as a kids menu.

Went to Vero Beach to visit family and were looking for some fun, inexpensive activities to do while we were there. McKee is a great option for adults and kids alike! When we got there we received a map of the grounds that contained so much cool preserved nature. It was like a self-guided nature walking tour, and we were surprised to even see some dinosaur sculptures in this tour (Odd, but we found it kind of fun!) As an out of state visitor, this was such a fun under $20 activity to do instead of the typical trip to Disney or Universal. I would highly recommend it!

Great for all ages! Good reference on which native plants will grow in your yard. Paths throughout garden are accommodating. Kids area is top notch! In addition, it's rich in history. I recommend they create a QR code map of the garden. There is a lot of paper waste using paper maps.

Weather happened to beautiful which made things extra nice. My friend from Ft. Lauderdale and I met at the Gardens as a halfway point for each of us. One of the first things we noticed was the cleanliness of the grounds. I didn't see a speck of paper in the ample parking lot, in the walking paths nor in the ponds! Oh! Speaking of ponds... the flowering water lilies were abundant and beautiful in different colors. There is a gorgeous giant white lotus. We enjoyed a delicious lunch in the Garden Cafe before returning home. We enjoyed salads of roasted pear and mandarin orange. The variety of plants in the Gardens are too many to count. We suggested more labeling throughout as there were several plants we couldn't identify. Overall, it was well worth driving 2+ hours to get here. You will enjoy strolling through gardens and even learning some very interesting and surprising history behind and about McKee Botanical Gardens. If you're really lucky you'll run into Staff member Ron Mc (I said I would remember his name but I have forgotten). Anyway, Ron was a treat to listen to regarding all of the different animals living in and around the gardens. We saw squirrels, small lizards, and a small iguana stretched out in the sun, but heard funny tales of raccoons and other animals who come out from hiding after hours! Ron should be named Ambassador as he is so knowledgeable and entertaining! Yes, I recommend spending a few hours here.

McKee Botanical Gardens has such an interesting history. It used to be much larger and was called the Jungle Gardens; a major Florida attraction before Disney became popular. Unfortunately the success of the central Florida amusement parks became the downfall of the Jungle Gardens and a lot of the acreage was sold to developers. What remains now is a lovingly restored part of the original Jungle Gardens, with a variety of beautiful plants. Interesting are the Royal Palm Grove with towering majestic palms, the bamboo court, the little bridges and waterways throughout, the lover's bridge, the Hall of Giants. It's a pleasure to stroll the park and see the water lilies, the orchids and the other beauties. And since a few years it's fun to go with children as they added the Children's Garden. A fairy tale like part of the gardens with giant toadstools, a pirate boat in the trees, water fountains to play in, giant musical instruments and more. Definitely worth visiting with children and/or grandchildren.

A great place to spend a few hours looking at the various exhibits they run. The cafe has some good sandwiches, wraps, and salads and isn't a rip-off. If you want to be outside and enjoy your day doing something a little different, try this garden.

Really beautiful botanical park that you can easily spend a few hours in. Love all the different flowers and the assortment of bromeliads, gingers, orchids, palms, hibiscus and too many others to name. The walk around the garden is gravel and the canopy of the trees make it more enjoyable because of the heat and shade. The sculptures were made of recycle flip flops found on the beach and this was really cool.These sculptures are throughout the park. I really enjoyed the energy the plants gave off, a very calming effect . The water lilies were all in bloom and this was very pretty . At this park there is a restaurant that serves the meal of the day, beer or wine. The gift shop has some cool stuff but over priced. If you are in the area make It a point to come in. Admission is 15.00 for adults ,seniors 13.00 . Don't forget your mask.

Fantastic. Magical. Historical place that really draws you in from the moment YOU WALK IN! Take a deep breath of fresh air, before rushing to the Admissions Window. With the shimmer and light reflected of the glass mosaic sculptures. Excellent pieces to bring your pics to life. sally in addition & the rest of the staff in admission are friendly. Endless trails to delight you with one discovery after another. What seems like endless trails. What a great way to relax and decompress from everyday stress. After the rain the foliage looks brighter, greener. Colors are vibrant. From the orchids to water lilies. Beautiful wildlife. Everything a botanical garden has to offer an more. ***The Children's Garden was recently opened. A must see. Sealantro Café completes your day. Specializing in Healthy meals. From delicious Hard to believe "It's Vegan" dishes. To Vegetarian, Conventional Traditional Cuisine. Juices, Teas, and delicious prepared on the premises. All by Chef Michael and Jayne. Who warmly welcome all their guests. Along with their friendly staff. Before leaving stop at The Gift Shop. So many beautiful items, making excellent gifts for friends, family. That special someone. Perfect as Thank You gifts, holidays, etc...

Such a great afternoon. The garden is really beautiful. I took my toddler niece and she had a blast in the children's section; particularly the water areas. There's a fee to get in but it's definitely worth it. Restrooms are on site. And there's a cafe in case you want to spend some time for lunch. Take the kids, go on a date, or take a solo stroll. I would def recommend.

As a frequent visitor, I am always amazed at the wonders of nature. The traveling exhibits never fail to astound me. Have taken many guests and the reception is anonymous. A good time no matter visitors ages. Young and old alike are mesmerized!

Beautiful gardens for small area. Membership got us into Bok Towers, too. Highly recommend it

This is a hidden gem of a garden in Vero I took a day off to go and see this park. I am really glad that I did. It is a beautiful gem of a park located in Vero Beach. It is on the southeast corner of US 1 and 4th street. There is a fair amount of parking between US 1 and the entrance to the park. Tickets to the park are $15 for adults. They have a nice website at https://mckeegarden.org/ that has the events and details about the park. The park hosts more than 10,000 plants across 18 acres. The grounds were beautiful and the staff was friendly. There is a walkway around the park that has a fair amount of shade. There are several unique features to see as you make the large loop. There is a playground, library, cafe, and gift shop. They often have workshops and special displays that make the grounds unique each time you visit. My last visit had a display made from woven reeds that you walked through and looking at their current website they are advertising The Garden of Glass which makes me want to visit again. I highly recommend this to fellow travelers and plan to visit again soon.

Such a beautiful botanical garden. I stayed for hours taking pictures. I loved the statue of the sailor that they had when I was there. I will definitely be returning!

Beautiful place and great for kids!!! We took my daughter here on a weekend during their activity days, which was pirate and fairy themed this day.

This place I swear is a must go! Especially if you are a lego enthusiast like me. It's amazing what sculptures and holiday decorations they have here. I loved it and truly enjoyed it here the price is $15 per adult and I would recommend coming mid week when it's less busy . Everyone was great at social distancing here too but the garden is so big you don't really run into many ppl. Totally worth it and a must see place

Fabulous Christmas lights display! Fun for children of all ages! Enjoyed the hot cocoa and holiday treats after touring the Gardens!!!

Everything always good, would love to see more selection in food choices. Flavored ice teas, chicken, and seafood salad and croissants, egg sandwiches, avocado for breakfast.

One of the best small Botanical Gardens I've seemed in Florida. It's located in Vero Beach, Florida. Just follow the walking paths and enjoy a slow walk. We attended the annual $1.00 entrance fee per person event. While we were there we bought an annual pass that's good for located all over the country. Bathrooms, food, and a really nice gift shop to buy a Christmas ornament or a book. If local don't forget you can sign up to volunteer. Please ask questions from the staff. #TimSamsTravelUSA Live Life Today, Travel USA!!!

We visited on February 29 2020. It was significantly bigger than we originally believed. It took a couple of hours to see all the sights and we took a lovely stroll. There were many sculptures of animals, a lake, plants, and even The Children's Garden was spectacular. We took many pictures to capture the fond memories of our lovely day. There were a # of families at the exhibit. It is actually perfect for a day out. Most of the associates were volunteers, which made their enthusiasm and care for the project even more impactful. The project cost $7M, which wonderful for a non-profit. I give this a high recommendation.

If you have kids, this seems like a nice outdoor place to go for a family outing. They had a dinosaur exhibit (with sounds), pirates and fairies present. It was not the nice zen garden with beautiful flowers everywhere type of environment I was hoping for.

Small serene park, the Christmas decorations were nice. The dinosaurs were fun for the kids, very realistic without being scary. We brought our 5 & 8 year old grandchildren and they enjoyed them and knew some of the names. They had a better time on the pirate ship playground. The adults enjoyed the slow paced walk and the nice plants and decorations. Price is reasonable and it's very clean.

Went to the Christmas night lights because we missed a few turns on our 2 hour drive. I was expecting a really enchanting experience reminiscent of Jurassic times. Hey I believed I would see some freaky giant mushroom. I did but it was concrete :-( I think I would have appreciated the plants more in the daylight.

My family and I walked around the gardens today and it was completely underwhelming and not worth the expensive price of admission. Do yourself a favor and save your money and don't go. I feel as though if I took $45 and threw it out of my window, it would have been more entertaining than this.

absolutely beautiful place!! café's burger was pretty good, children's area is big and entertaining. overall a cute and great experience.

A fabulous place to unwind Great kids area as well Worth a visit for sure Enjoy. They often have FABULOUS exhibits.

Lovely subtropical botanical garden. There are various plants to the the Vero climate. The grounds are not overly manicured so that you actually feel in the subtropical world. There are lots of palm trees. Currently, there are orchids scattered about. There are interesting buildings dating to the founding of the botanical garden. They also have a wonderful café with lots of healthy dining options as well as a gift shop with interesting items to buy. The café is only open this time of year Thursday through Sunday.

There is only one word that I can use to describe McKee Botanical Garden- (PARADISE) absolutely beautiful. We have gone there many times. It is well worth the time spent there. We also enjoy peaceful atmosphere. A true Vero Beach Treasure. Love it!

McKee Botanical Garden was created when Vero Beach pioneer Waldo Sexton and Arthur G. McKee bought 80 acres of tropical hammock. Originally they wanted to create an orange grove but the beauty of the area soon turned their thoughts in another direction. Landscape architect William Lyman Phillips was hired to create the pond, streams, and trails and plants were added from all over the world with an emphasis on orchids and water lilies. They also added birds and monkeys. McKee specialized in plants while Sexton was the architect of the buildings. In 1940 he created the Hall of Giants to house the world's largest mahogany which you can still see today. The attraction opened as McKee Jungle Gardens in 1932 and was very popular through the 1940's. It operated until 1976 when Disney World opened and drew all of the tourists away. Most of the land was sold to developers but 18 acres remained until the Indian River Land Trust purchased the property in 1995 and with $9.1 million dollars of restoration opened the botanical garden in 2001. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. Today you can still visit the garden for a $12.00 adult admission. The trails are natural dirt so they are not wheelchair friendly. There is a display detailing the gardens history near the entrance where you can see the Hall of Giants and gates that used to belong to Henry Flagler. The garden is divided into themes like meditation, the bamboo pavilion, and the lily pond. As you stroll through the property and see the 10,000 native and tropical plants the trails will take you over bridges and boardwalks. There are a lot of water features to showcase the extensive collection of water lilies. The garden is currently working on opening a children's garden this year. You can see the creation of a large pirate ship. The garden also has a reference library, garden cafe, and gift shop. The garden hosts different art exhibitions. I love when gardens combine art and beautiful plants. When I visited the Seward Johnson Sculpture Exhibition was taking place. 20 realistic sculptures of people were nestled throughout the garden. It started to become difficult to tell the sculptures from the people. I was convinced that a couple on the bridge where part of the exhibition until I came closer and saw that they were real people. The highlight of the installation is the 25 foot high Embracing Peace sculpture that depicts the moment a navy sailor kissed the nurse in Times Square to celebrate V-J Day. The exhibit will be in the garden until April 28, 2019. I loved my visit to the gardens. It combines history, nature, conservation, and art. During the summer they offer a children's camp and during the holiday season they decorate the garden in lights and open it at night. There is always something going on here and I am sure I will be a repeat visitor.