Flamingo Gardens

Hop aboard the narrated tram ride for a journey through native Florida wilderness, which appears unchanged since the days when Seminole tribespeople occupied these lands. See black bears, panthers, bobcats, and gators at the Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary, visit the free-flight aviary, and stop by the onsite Wray Home Museum, which illustrates how the property progressed from a simple garden to the major attraction it is today. Tickets to Flamingo Gardens are available online and can save valuable time once you arrive.

• The onsite Flamingo Cafe and Garden Grill serve snacks and meals.

• Flamingo Gardens makes a great day trip for kids; admission prices are reduced for children under 11 and free for kids under 2 years old.

• Onsite wheelchair and stroller rentals are available.

Flamingo Gardens is located in Davie, Florida, off I-595. Several shuttle services operate in the area and free parking is available.

The gardens are open year-round and sometimes host special events such as SwampFest Bluegrass Festival and local art installations. South Florida is very hot and humid in summer, so arrive in the early morning or evening to avoid the worst heat. Fall is hurricane season, while winter and spring are typically pleasant.

Originally founded as a citrus grove in the 1920s by the Wray family, Flamingo Gardens evolved into a botanical garden and wildlife habitat. It has stayed true to its roots by focusing on native Floridian plants and animals, featuring a robust educational program with live demonstrations daily to teach visitors about the unique local ecosystem.

No, you can’t bring food or coolers into Flamingo Gardens, but you can buy a wide selection of hot and cold food and drinks at Flamingo Cafe or the Tropical Marketplace. For an extra memorable experience, you can book a Lunch on the Water package to enjoy a picnic lunch on a dock overlooking Flamingo Lake.

Yes, parking is free at Flamingo Gardens. The parking lot has accessible parking spaces right beside the ticket hall. On arrival, you can also rent single or double Scooterbug strollers and manual or electric wheelchairs to help you easily get around the gardens.

While the paved paths throughout most of the gardens ensure you can explore smoothly with a wheelchair or stroller. There are ramps throughout and accessible toilets and parking spaces. Both the restaurant and snack bar are also wheelchair accessible.

The best days to visit Flamingo Gardens are Tuesday through Thursday when crowds are much smaller than that at the weekend. For an even quieter experience, head to the gardens on a weekday outside the Florida school holidays from late May to mid-August.

The Everglade Wildlife Sanctuary at Flamingo Gardens gives a second chance to injured and non-releasable animals native to Florida. You can admire alligators, more than 250 different birds representing 45 species, including birds of prey, black bears, otters, panthers, bobcats, turtles, and, of course, flamingoes.

Yes, you can take photos at Flamingo Gardens. In fact, with such a colorful array of flora and fauna, it’d be a shame not to. You can take as many personal photos as you like and even use tripods if they don’t get in the way of the walkways. However, you’ll need to pay professional filming and photography fees.