One of the oldest botanical gardens in South Florida, established in 1927 with 60-acres of botanical gardens, over 3,000 species of rare and exotic plants and trees, and home to the Florida Native Wildlife Sanctuary, this is Flamingo Gardens! Our day will be filled with fun as we explore different exhibits of the 60 acre Flamingo Gardens, we will be pairing a walking tour with a short, narrated tram ride to ensure we get to see every exhibit on the property. We will embark on a leisurely stroll accompanied by a knowledgeable botanist to learn about rare and exotic species of plants as you are surrounded by lush greenery. As we venture through the gardens, we will make a stop at the wildlife sanctuary.
The wildlife sanctuary is one of the first of its kind, giving residence to permanently injured or non-releasable Florida native wildlife. In addition to the non-releasable Florida Native wildlife Sanctuary, Flamingo Gardens is also home to some of the last original jungle growth in South Florida and it still remains as it has for over 100 years, much as it would have appeared when Seminole Indians occupied it! We will enjoy a narrated tram ride through the vast 42 remote acres of Flamingo Gardens, traveling through a unique native hammock of 200 year old Live Oaks, a tropical rainforest, the tropical fruit groves and the mitigated wetlands, where many of the juvenile birds that are born in the Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary are released. While we are on this side of the gardens, passengers will have the opportunity to disembark the Tram at the Wetlands Walkway and/or at the Pioneer Walkway to walk around the lake and see the wildlife, wander along the Pioneer Walkway to discover native Florida plants, or visit the brand-new butterfly conservatory where visitors can learn about the inseparable connection between butterflies’ survival and our own!
As the day gets later Flamingo Gardens will transform right before your eyes as the sunsets and the gardens begin to sparkle with thousands of beautiful Christmas lights. Enjoy a self guided walk with friends and family through beautifully decorated walkways and get into the holiday spirit! Now that we have worked up our appetite, we will reboard the Motor Coach and head to one of Davies most popular restaurants.