Spending a Day at McKee Botanical Gardens will put you in an 18-acre lush botanical garden in Vero Beach, Florida. The garden is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a historic Florida landmark. Here in its jungle landscape, you will find one of the largest outdoor displays of water lilies in the United States, with lilies blooming in lagoons, streams, and around waterfalls.
The Gardens History – McKee Jungle Gardens
McKee Gardens has been here since 1932. That’s when a Cleveland industrialist named Arthur McKee and his partner, Waldo Sexton, opened “McKee Jungle Gardens.” They filled it with monkeys, elephants, lions, tigers, and alligators. McKee Jungle Gardens instantly became one of the state’s most popular tourist attractions. More than 100,000 people annually come to see this “wild” jungle just off the highway, and the wildlife inhabiting it.
As you enter this tranquil environment, be prepared to take your time and relax. Yeah, you could breeze through in under 30 minutes if you are in a hurry, but don’t be in a rush. Be prepared to catch your breath in this crazy world. This is the perfect place to forget about things for a while.
Waterways
There are streams and waterways that you will follow along on your journey. As you follow the paths and trails, you will see unique flora, plants, and trees such as orchids, palms, oaks, and bamboo among many other species. The Stone Bridge that overlooks the water lily pond is perfect for that Instagram photo.
Waterfalls
There are several waterfalls located in the gardens. If you look closely in the water, you may see small fish.
Changing Garden Exhibits
Brenda and I have visited McKee Botanical Gardens several times. On one visit, artist Seward Johnson was displaying his life-like statues. We had fun posing and taking pictures with them as if we were in the scene. As a past teacher, I posted the book photo every summer. It is one of my favorites. This a perfect example of how lifelike these figurines are.
On another visit, there were dinosaurs to pose with. Exhibits change periodically from classic cars to colorful glass sculptures, so check their website to see what they are offering on the day you want to explore.
Royal Palm Grove
Soaring to heights 80 feet tall, the Royal Palm lives up to their name. If you look up, you will feel a sense of wonder as you wander through the Royal Palm Grove at McKee. As you enter this enchanting shaded palm hammock you will immediately be in amazement at the mammoth size of these trees.
Stick Work Pavillion
This amazing piece of artwork is made from sticks. The structure is woven through the Royal Palm grove forming rooms and spaces to explore. Internationally acclaimed artist Patrick Dougherty and his son Sam designed and built by hand this artwork with the help of a few dozen McKee volunteers. The structure took three weeks of climbing on scaffolding, weaving, bending, trimming, and shaping willow saplings into a one-of-a-kind sculpture made exclusively for McKee Gardens.
As you wander through the gardens, you never know what blooms will show up.
Bamboo Trail & Pavillion
As you walk along the Bamboo Trail you will see many types of Bamboo along the way. The grounds at Mckee are pristine. Once you pass through the trail you will come to a Pavilion entirely made from Bamboo and surrounded by a lush tropical forest.
The Children’s Garden
McKee has recently added a large children’s garden that offers an awesome play area for the kiddos. First, you enter through the Monkey Bridge, a rope bridge that takes you on an adventure.
Once you have crossed into the park you will find a huge pirate ship named the Scorpion where you can pretend you are a real pirate!
There is also a Splash Garden to cool off in. There is so much to do here! The cool thing for parents is that the entire area is fenced for safety. There is only one way in or out. You can allow your kids to explore this magnificent playground and go back and forth to the many activities it offers families.
The Hall of Giants and Spanish Kitchen
If you have visited the Driftwood Inn at Vero Beach, then you will see the resemblance as Waldo Sexton must have gotten a great deal on cypress back in the day. Made from mostly wood with Pecky Cypress walls, it houses a single 35-foot magnificent mahogany table. The Hall of Giants is a rustic wooden building with huge, rusty ship bells at the entrance. Inside are stained glass windows and cathedral ceilings.
McKee Botanical Garden is located at 350 US Highway 1 in Vero Beach. Regular business hours are Tuesday-Saturday (10 am – 5 pm), and Sunday (noon – 5 pm). The last admission ticket is sold at 4 pm.
Another garden of interest is Heathcoat Botanical Gardens in Fort Pierce. Heathcote Botanical Gardens is St. Lucie County’s first botanical garden. Visitors enjoy five acres of a beautiful subtropical wonderland.
If you are planning to take a trip to Indian River County and Vero Beach, then I invite you to click the link below to explore other options for Places to Stay, Places to Play, and Places to Eat in Vero Beach, Florida.
