Best Florida Botanical Gardens to Visit with Kids
As we journey to with our kids around our home state, I will be adding all of the Florida botanical gardens we visit to this list! The goal? To help you know what to expect and how to engage your young kids in these beautifully curated outdoor spaces. Suprisingly, many of the botanical gardens have activities and areas specifically for kids and families – you just have to know where to look!
Leu Gardens in Orlando
Garden Overview
Leu Gardens is a botanical gem right in the middle of Orlando. Located on 50 acres, there are so many different types of plants and gardens to explore – tropical, butterfly, herb, and rose gardens just to name a few!
Highlights for Families
The scenery is constantly changing- meaning there are new types of plants to discover around every turn! We also love that they have visiting exhibits with art throughout the botanical garden. Our most recent visit included giant metal origami statues!
Navigating the Garden with Kids
Parents rejoice! There are wide, paved paths throughout Leu Gardens, making it easy to navigate with a stroller (even our double!).
While much of the garden is shaded, some is in direct sun. Depending on the time of year, you’ll want to be prepared with sunscreen and water bottles.
Our favorite spot to stop and rest is by the entrance, on the wide grassy lawn under the sprawling oak trees. It is perfect to pack a picnic blanket (and a snack!). If mom needs a little extra energy, grab a coffee from Foxtail just inside the building.
Tips for Your Visit
Leu Gardens, like many Florida botanical gardens, offers free admission days. For Leu, it’s usually the first Monday of each month! They also have storytime for the littles, with different times for different ages.
If you are visiting on a free day, be prepared to arrive early or after lunch, as it’s very popular with local moms! The parking lot fills up quickly.
Don’t Miss…
Don’t miss the herb and butterfly gardens! These are great opportunities to tie to your own home gardens, whether through planting an herb or two or raising your own butterflies!
Mckee Botanical Garden in Vero Beach
Garden Overview
McKee Botanical Garden in Vero Beach is a tropical escape – with its jungle path dating back to 1932. If you love palms, orchids, waterlilies, and the jungle scrub of “old Florida,” you’ll love McKee!
Highlights for Kids
The Children’s Garden is truly a highlight – with water play, a rope bridge, a pirate shipwreck for climbing, and even a fairy garden. I would recommend the playground area for ages 2 and up, but even toddling little ones will enjoy exploring the water features and climbing on the large crabs in the Blue Crab Reading Circle.
If you ask at the front desk, you can check out a Garden Discovery Backpack! (You’ll just need to leave someone’s ID at the desk to collect once you’re through.) There are 5 different themes to encourage kids to explore the gardens, from “Things with Wings” to “Plantastic!”
Navigating the Garden with Kids
You’ll definitely need to plan your potty stops. There are only 2 bathrooms – one by the entrance gift shop and cafe, and the other near the children’s fountains.
Also, note that most of the paths at McKee are pea gravel. Easy enough with strollers, but with our Zoe Twin, there were a few tricky spots, especially getting up onto the wooden bridges (where I needed a helping hand to lift while I pushed!).
We love that the garden is almost entirely shaded! Even if the day is hot, it’s the perfect place for a stroll.
Tips for Your Visit
Before you go, check their calendar! There are often activities held in the Children’s Garden – from Creativity Corner (with arts & crafts) to Music and Storytime! A great addition to add a scheduled activity with your toddler or preschooler.
If your little one loves to splash in the water, it might be worth it to pack a change of clothes.
Don’t Miss…
Don’t miss the Hall of Giants and the Spanish Kitchen – part of the original historic botanical park and beautifully restored. The Hall is also home to a 35-foot-long mahogany table from the Philippines.
