Flamingo Gardens - Davie (42 miles South)

Flamingo Gardens is a 60 acre Botanical Garden and Everglade Wildlife Sanctuary. 

The Flamingo Gardens botanical gardens in Fort Lauderdale, (Davie) Florida, features over 3000 species of rare & exotic, tropical, subtropical, and native plants and trees. Flamingo Gardens wildlife sanctuary is home to the largest collection of Florida native wildlife including alligators, bobcats, eagles, otters, panthers, peacock, and of course, flamingos!

​​Established in 1927, Flamingo Gardens is one of the oldest botanical gardens  and attractions in South Florida. Originally founded by Floyd L. and Jane Wray as an orange grove, the nonprofit botanical gardens is home to 18 “Champion” trees, the largest trees of their species, including the largest tree in Florida. Specialized botanical gardens, including a Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden, Croton Garden, and Bromeliad Garden dot the main Arboretum. 

​The centerpiece of the gardens is a natural hammock of 200 year-old Live Oaks dripping with species orchids and epiphytes. Here sits the historic Wray Home Museum, built in 1933 by Floyd L. and Jane Wray as a weekend retreat. It is the oldest residence in Broward County west of University Drive. The building was restored in 1991 to depict a typical South Florida country home of the 1930's.

Nestled in and around the gardens, the Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary is home to over 90 species of Florida native birds and animals, most of whom are permanently injured or non-releasable.The half-acre Free-flight Aviary boasts over 250 wading birds representing over 45 species, and the Bird of Prey Center houses one of the largest raptor collections in the United States. 

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Flamingo Gardens is owned and operated by the Floyd L. Wray Memorial Foundation, Inc. which was established in 1969 by Mrs. Wray in honor of her late husband. Her wish to preserve the core property for future generations and emphasize the flora, fauna, and history of the Florida Everglades is the core of Flamingo Gardens' mission still today.

Hours of operation: 7 days a week 9:30am - 5:00pm. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Days.

View Trip Map

Online Tickets $19.95

Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands

A Nature Trail right in the backyard

Allmost all South Florida is as flat as the palm of your hand so that if your prefer climbing to the top of the mountain, you can climb a tree or go somewhere else.

However, nothing is more characteristic of the Florida mainland than the so called "wetlands", where there is more water than dry land and where the wild life thrives.

There are many nature parks at a Roseaire short-ride distance. Some of them have convenient walkways. One of the best is Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands, just five miles NW of Roseaire, barely 10 minutes driving!

Green Cay offers 1.5 miles of elevated boardwalk that takes you through 100 acres of constructed wetland. The trails are wheelchair and stroller accessible, and there are benches on the boardwalk and around the outside of the Nature Center for those that would like to sit and enjoy the beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife. Visitors do not have to pay admission to Green Cay Nature Center to enjoy this boardwalk.

If possible go early because that is when the animals are more active.

Practical Tips:

Distance from Roseaire: 5.2mi, 10-15 min drive. Map

Schedule: Boardwalk open daily: 7 am - sunset

Elapsed time: 1-3 hours

Check the Visitors Center schedule. They offer an orientation to the wildlife and the landscape you’ll encounter here.  

Admission: Free

Photo Album Here

Start your walk at the nature center by heading right to walk counterclockwise around the outer loop. The boardwalks pass over waterways of various depths, and this particular section is deep. You might see an alligator drifting along the surface. At the first boardwalk junction, keep right—the boardwalk to the left creates a short loop back to the nature center.

The Botanical Garden

Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden is south of Miami, 62 miles from Roseaire. As the name suggests, it's a very tropical garden that has more than 300 species of palms and cycads on 83 acres of land and ponds with plants and trees that bloom all year round.

It's was named in 1938 after his founder David Fairchild (1869-1954), who travelled all over the world to bring new species to the U.S. and who settled in Miami when he retired. Among other things he brought the cherry trees that now grace Washington DC every spring.

In spite of what's been said, the palm trees are not the most
exciting part of the Garden -they are rather dull and, unless one is a botanist, no much to see. You're free to dissent of course. 

However, the Garden has a nice rain forest which is worth visiting and is the largest one in open air in the US. 

Once you arrive, it's recommended to start the tour with a ride on the tram (it's free with the admission) so that you get a general view in less than half an hour. The tram driver is knowledgeable and gives a good talk on the Fairchild history, conservation, anecdotes  numbers and details of the best specimens. After the ride, walk through the quarter of the Garden that is to the west of the tram's starting point. This area is the most green and beautiful -and plenty of shaded places. In the so called "Low Lands" -to the east- most of the path is rather barren and the sun is merciless.

Also free with the admission is the latest and most popular exhibit, the Wings of the Tropic, a butterfly conservatory where you'll be surrounded by specimens of a number of colorful species typical of rain forests in Central America. 

Practical Tips:

Address: 10901 Old Cutler Rd, Miami, FL 33156

Distance from Roseaire: 62 miles. About 1 hour 30 minutes.  Map

Visit Duration: Two to three hours. More if you really want to walk.

Traffic: 

- Avoid the rush hours when going to and returning. Miami city has lots of traffic.

- You can take I95 or the turnpike. Same distance and in the last 10 miles before Miami they merge into I95. Then I95 ends as well. Old Cutler Road is a very nice drive with big trees covering it like a tunnel. Check Google for traffic conditions.

Hours and Admission

- Every day from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

- Closed: Christmas Day,
- Parking is free.

- Admission for adults is $25 in 2016 and $18 for seniors 65+. 

Lunch

- There are two coffee shops one near the main entrance and another one next to the butterflies. They have tables with sunshades outdoors and have affordable prices for a sandwich and soda. Beware -the sandwich size is half the regular size you would expect.

- If you bring a pack lunch, no food or drinks are allowed in. However, outside the Garden across the main entrance there is a parking lot for the Matheson Park in which there are tables under old oak trees.

Links:

Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden. Official Site

Combos:

- If you want to see as many places as you can during your stay at Roseaire, you can also go 5 miles further south -10 minutes- and visit Deering Estate. Map

- The nicest church in the area is Epiphany. Modern but well built, with an interesting design for the interior. It's just 2.5 miles from the Garden -6 minutes- Map