23 beautiful Central Florida gardens everyone should visit at least once

Harry P. Leu Gardens

1920 North Forest Ave., Orlando FL (407)-246-2620
Estimated driving distance: 14 minutes
With over 50 acres of gardens to explore, you’ll never run out of roses, camellias and azaleas to sniff. It might be difficult to see all of the garden’s 12,000 plants in one visit, so it’s definitely worth a second trip.

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Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens

633 Osceola Ave. Winter Park, FL 32789, (407) 647-6294
Estimated driving distance: 15 minutes
If you fancy any of the architecture featured throughout the Disney masterpiece, ‘Hercules,’ then this museum and the step into ancient Greece it offers is right up your alley. Fifty of Albin Polasek and other sculptor’s works can be found strewn across the beautiful landscape that sits only fifteen minutes from downtown.

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Bok Tower Gardens

1151 Tower Blvd, Lake Wales, FL, (863)-676-1408
Estimated driving distance: 1 hour 9 minutes
Certainly worth visiting for the architecture alone, this little Florida gem can be found hidden away in Lake Wales, Florida. Along with their unique landmark, the ‘Singing Tower,’ visitors can also enjoy bird watching, geocaching and trail hiking.

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Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens

3755 US-17, Sanford, FL, (407)-323-4450
Estimated driving distance: 30 minutes
This little zoo right outside of Orlando has a variety of plants and animals to discover and is a great way to spend a some time outside the city for the day.

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Dickson Azalea Park

100 Rosearden Dr, Orlando, FL, (407)-246-2283
Estimated driving distance: 8 minutes
One of Orlando’s oldest landmarks, Dickson Azalea Park is a hidden treasure in Winter Park that offers plenty of peace, quiet and most importantly, shade.

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Central Park Rose Garden

W Morse Blvd. Winter Park, FL 32789, (407) 599-3334
Estimated driving distance: 16 minutes
Another adjacent pearl of the Orlando area can be found a short horse ride north of downtown Orlando where the Central Park Rose Garden sits neatly tucked away in Winter Park. An oasis surrounded by more oasis, this location should take up one of your days off sooner rather than later.

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The Florida Botanical Gardens

12520 Ulmerton Rd. Largo, FL 33774, (727) 582-2100
Estimated driving distance: 2 hours
With 12 gardens that range in theme from butterfly to cactus, the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo overflow with ways to serenely fill your off days with decompressing nature walks and seating. Three formal gardens also provide the public the opportunity to showcase their event in one of the finest natural settings Florida has to offer.

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Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

4700 SW 58th DR, Gainesville, FL 32608, (352) 372-4981
Estimated driving distance: 2 hours
With indoor and outdoor venues aplenty and one and a half miles of paved trail, Kanapaha Botanical Gardens provides the Gainesville area with 24 themed gardens. Their primary crowd pleaser is the Chinese royal bamboo and Victoria water lilies. The provided Moonlight Walk is a must see, if lasers and over a thousand luminaries peak your interest.

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Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

900 S. Palm Ave. Sarasota, Fl 34236, (941) 366-5731
Estimated driving distance: 2 hours 30 minutes
Lush and overwhelmingly full of life, these Sarasota based gardens have provided the scientific world with ample opportunity to further gain ground. Here you can also find an elevated rainforest display that offers visitors the chance to experience what historical figures, like George of the jungle, had to go through on a daily basis. You can also hang around the tropical conservatory or feed the hungry Koi in their natural habitat, the pond.

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McKee Botanical Gardens

350 US-1, Vero Beach, FL, (772)- 794-0601
Estimated driving distance: 1 hour 47 minutes
Revered for its preservation of Old Florida charm combined with beautiful native and exotic plants, McKee Botanical Gardens is a historical masterpiece filled with endless water lilies and palm-paved pathways perfect for a relaxing day in nature.

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Mead Botanical Garden

1500 S Denning Dr, Winter Park, FL, (407)-599-2800
Estimated driving distance: 12 minutes
Nestled in the heart of Winter Park, Mead Botanical Garden offers a variety of flora and fauna to discover in its three areas, which include a butterfly garden, the legacy greenhouse, and a native plants garden.

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Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach, FL 33446, (561) 495-0233
Estimated driving distance: 2 hours 50 minutes
Providing a glimpse into far eastern botanical manipulation, Morikami gives Florida a chance to learn more about the Japanese Culture while providing breathtaking galleries and access to the museum’s surrounding garden called Roji-en: Garden of the Drops of Dew. The museum gives workshops on topics ranging from calligraphy to haikus with exhibits themed around aspects of Japanese culture like Origami.

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Nehrling Garden

2267 Hempel Ave Gotha FL 34734-0884, (407) 445-9977
Estimated driving distance: 20 minutes
It makes sense to see the old home of Florida’s godfather of botany, Dr. Henry Nehrling, beyond adequately cradled by one of Florida’s best examples of botany.  This garden hosts continued research in the relentless struggle to understand the plant genome that Dr. Nehrling started in the 19 century.  

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Palmer’s Garden & Goods

2611 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL, (407)-896-5951
Estimated driving distance: 14 minutes
Make sure to keep on the lookout for this little oasis next time you find yourself driving through Audubon Park. Here, you can find (and purchase) many unique and beautiful plants and garden accessories made to brighten up anyone’s day.

Photo via kinzieriehm/Instagram

Sunken Gardens

1825 4th St. N. St. Petersburg, FL 33704, (727) 551-3102
Estimated driving distance: 1 hour 43 minutes
Having recently restocked their famous Flamingo flock, Sunken Gardens now has one of the most unique and eye opening exhibits offered to the central Florida area. Flamingo’s aside, the guided tours and various workshops that they provide are still more than enough of a reason to venture down south for this local treat.  

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UCF Arboretum

4312 Scorpius St. Orlando, FL (407)-823-3583
Estimated driving distance: 22 minutes
One of many creative learning communities at UCF, the Arboretum is a truly unique feature that can be found right on campus. With winding trails lead you through hidden paths around Lake Claire; the Arboretum is the ideal place for a much needed study break.

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University of South Florida Botanical Gardens

12210 USF Pine Dr, Tampa, FL 33612, (813) 974-2329
Estimated driving distance: 1 hour
Providing both an educational tool for the students as well as being an adequate outreach program to the Tampa area, University of South Florida’s Botanical Gardens houses thousands of animals and plants. With 16 acres at your disposal, the gardens are more than capable of providing you with a day of exploring and learning in Florida’s vibrant greenbelt

Photo via USF Botanical Garden/Facebook

Hollis Garden

702 E Orange St., Lakeland, FL (863)-834-2280
Estimated driving distance: 1 hour
The neo-classical architectural design of this garden makes it a popular wedding venue, but the precisely manicured trees and picturesque view of Lake Mirror make this the perfect spot for anyone looking for that perfect Instagram shot. Admission is free, just don’t come on Mondays when the garden is closed.

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Kraft Azalea Garden

1365 Alabama Dr. Winter Park, FL 32789, (407) 599-3334
Estimated driving distance: 30 minutes
Sitting on the Shore of Lake Maitland is the most consistently used setting in dreams also known as Kraft Azalea Garden. Framed by overwhelming cypress trees, this 5 acre plot of elegantly floraled land is a more than capable of providing the perfect backdrop for those memory making wedding photos.

Photo via ciararoutly/Instagram

Florida Tech Botanical Gardens

150 W University Blvd. Melbourne, FL, (321) 674-8038
Estimated driving distance: 1 hour 19 minutes
Winding through Florida Tech’s campus, this natural gem provides the area with a plethora of palm trees that are sure to encourage a leizure of an evening.

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