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Orlando Gardens to Visit with Kids

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Do your kids just love being outdoors?  Now that the summer heat is starting to dissipate, the days do not seem as hot and toasty.  It is the perfect time to check out some local gardens in the area and enjoy the fresh air.  My daughter loves being outside and amongst the flowers and butterflies.  She always happily goes along with any plans we have to visit local gardens.  Hopefully your child will enjoy a trip to the gardens as joyful as my little one does.  Here are some of the beautiful and lush Orlando gardens and just beyond to visit with your kids.

*Tip for visiting the gardens:  Dress your child in a cute outfit and bring your camera for a fun photo shoot.  It is always nice to update your child’s pictures and you will certainly find lots of gorgeous backgrounds to choose from!

Orlando Gardens to Visit with Kids

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Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens

The Albin Polasek Sculpture Garden is an absolute beauty as far as gardens go.  Visitors to the garden seem to agree that the Sculpture Garden is simply breathtaking!  This is the former home of a fascinating man and amazing artist, and the gardens at this estate make for the perfect setting to enjoy with your kids.  Picnics are encouraged here so feel free to bring one and overlook the lake with your littles while you eat.  To make the gardens a bit more interactive for your kids, try having them practice counting the statues of similarity or have them find certain colors of flowers to spy.

Hours: 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday to Saturday, 1 pm to 4 pm Sunday, Monday Closed
Location: 633 Osceola Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789
Admission: $10 per adult, Students (k-12) $3, Children 4 years and younger Free

Bok Tower Gardens

If you haven’t been to Bok Tower Gardens yet, you simply must take the drive out there.  Located in Lake Wales, Bok Tower Gardens is a magnificent way to spend the day.  Not only are their grounds incredibly beautiful, you can easily be outside in the fresh air while social distancing.  They do require a mask to be worn at the admission gate when you drive up and anywhere indoors or close to others.  At the holidays, the beautiful old Estate on the property offers guided tours, as the home is decorated incredibly at Christmas, which is my favorite time to visit here.  Though the Estate is currently closed due to the pandemic, there are still the beautiful gardens to roam and tower to explore.  The bell tower is another favorite to see, as it looks like it could be right out of a fairytale.  Perfect for anyone bringing their little princess along.  Due check their admission page for purchasing information and other necessary information in regards to their updated policies.

Hours: 8 am to 6 pm, daily
Location: 1151 Tower Blvd, Lake Wales, FL 33853
Admission: Adults $15, Children $5 (ages 5 to 12 years old), Children under 5 years old free! Dogs $5

Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens

This 116-acre zoo is perfect for those wanting to experience the serenity and beauty of gardens while ensuring your kids are going to have a lot of fun too!  The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens combine lovely pockets of plant and floral oasis mixed in amongst the lands of the zoo.  While strolling the park, you can encounter little sanctuaries of flowery bliss.  Do make sure to check their website for information regarding ticketing.

Hours: 9 am to 3 pm, daily
Location: 3755 W Seminole Blvd, Sanford, FL 32771
Admission: $19.50 per adult, children (ages 3 to 12 years old) $13.75, children 2 and under free

Hollis Garden

These gardens are located in Lakeland, a bit outside of the Orlando bubble, but if you have a day free you need to fill, take a drive to see the lovely Hollis Gardens.  These well-kept gardens pipe in classical musical to give you all the feels as you explore this garden.  Be on the lookout for some fun and exotic plants and vegetables as they change with the season.  It is not the largest of parks, but the garden is stunning and would make a fantastic backdrop for some photos of your child, as I am always one to be ready for a photo op of my daughter.

Hours: 10 am to 6 pm Tuesday to Sunday, Closed Mondays
Location: 702 E Orange St, Lakeland, FL 33801
Admission: Free

Kraft Azalea Garden

Located along the shores of Lake Maitland, Kraft Azalea Garden is a magnificent and stunning park.  If you want to take some glamour shots of your kids, you will have the perfect back drop here!  Often referred to as Winter Park’s secret garden, Kraft Azalea Garden is a well shaded park thanks to its ginormous cypress trees.  Though the park is small, it is beautiful and perfect to enjoy with your family.  Back your picnic basket and a blanket and enjoy a lovely lunch under the breeze of the trees.

Hours: 8 am to 7 pm, daily
Location: 1365 Alabama Dr, Winter Park, FL 32789
Admission: Free

Leu Gardens

Leu Gardens make for a wonderful day out.  The gardens here are a favorite of many people who call Central Florida home.  There gardens seem massive as you can just keep roaming.  My favorite is the Rose Garden as it smells absolutely heavenly!  At Leu Gardens there is a lot to see, making this a great opportunity to get your kids moving while tiring them out.  From now until the end of October, they currently have their Enchanted Fairy Doors, which make for a super fun day of spying for these amazing little doors through out the gardens.  The kids will absolutely love it!

Be sure to wear your mask as it is mandatory for admission.  Also be advised that payments are to be made online in advance or in person by credit card only as they are not accepting cash at this time.

Hours: 9 am to 5 pm, daily
Location: 1920 N Forest Ave, Orlando, FL 32803
Admission: $10 per adult, $5 per child (4-17 years old), Free for children 3 years and younger

Lukas Nursery and Butterfly Encounter

Though Lukas Nursery is not necessarily a garden per say, it is a lovely place in which you can buy a vast variety of plants and flowers in Oviedo.  The main attraction for kids here is the Butterfly Encounter.  In this 4,000 square foot observatory, you can mingle amongst the butterflies and even try to feed them from your fingers.  Not only will you see the most beautiful of butterflies, but you also can see some exotic birds too.  You could also build your very own butterfly garden for home too!  Definitely a great place to take your kids.  Make it educational by discussing the life cycle of caterpillars before you go, check out their youtube page for their virtual field trip to see the life cycle up close.

Hours: 9 am to 4 pm
Location:  1909 Slavia Rd, Oviedo, FL 32765
Admission: $6 (kids 3 years and younger are free)

Mead Gardens

At Mead Botanical Gardens, you can enjoy a nice morning out in these lovely gardens right in Winter Park.  You could even pack a little lunch and enjoy while you are here as they have covered tables to dine at within the gardens.  They even have a butterfly garden here which will probably be a huge hit with your kids, as its always my daughter’s favorite.  Try wearing bright colors to help attract the butterflies to you for fun!  This park is not usually very crowded so it makes for a great place to be outside while still social distancing.

Hours: 8 am to dusk, daily
Location:  1300 S Denning Dr, Winter Park, FL 32789
Admission: Free!

Nehrling Gardens

The beautiful and historic Nehrling Gardens were once home to a botanical collector and famed horticulturist.  Now a non-profit organization, the land is well maintained and kept by volunteers.  These lands were Dr Nehrling’s prized experimental gardens in which he planted both tropical and subtropical plants year-round.  Private tours are available for $5 per person with a minimum of $30 per tour on the first two Saturdays of the month.  With an amazing variety of plants, you will be wowed by this impressive collection of greenery.  You and your kids can enjoy the interesting history while learning about horticultural and environmental conservation.  If you do not opt for a tour, you can roam the trails and explore at your leisure.  A hidden gem in Gotha!

Hours: 10 am to 3 pm Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 am to 3 pm the first two Saturdays of the month
Location: 2267 Hempel Ave, Gotha, FL 34734
Admission: Free, donations accepted

Where are your favorite gardens to visit with your kids?

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