McKee Botanical Gardens
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| The entrance to McKee Botanical Gardens |
350 US Highway 1
Vero Beach, FL 32962
772-794-0601
Vero Beach, FL 32962
772-794-0601
Closed on Mondays.
AT A
GLANCE: McKee Botanical Gardens
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Parking
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McKee Gardens has a
decent sized parking area. It can fill
up, however, when special events are held in which case you’ll need to park
in the overflow lot. Occasionally, you
can catch a ride on a golf cart that cruises the parking areas for those who
have trouble walking.
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Amount of time needed
to peruse exhibits:
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60-90 minutes
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Amount of time needed
for gift shop
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20-30 minutes
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Dress code
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Dress
respectfully. You will feel
conspicuous wearing beach wear.
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Be sure to…..
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Have fun with the
Whisper Bench, located by the Royal Pal Grove. Take the opportunity to take gorgeous
photos. Wedding pics are normal at
McKee Gardens.
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Nearby/other
establishments to visit
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Vero Beach is an
upscale town with many restaurants. Live
on the edge and have lunch at one situated in a mini-mall. I have yet to be disappointed.
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Walkability, general
downtown area / amount of traffic
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You will need a car to
get around. The McKee Gardens are
located just off the highway, but nothing is in walking distance from here.
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Safety, in terms of
type and number of crimes committed in general area
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Generally safe, but
realize that this place can get busy.
Keep the honest people honest and lock your car.
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Scholars agree to five independent
steps to a vacation, or trip, away from home:
1.
Planning, through the Internet, word-of-mouth, brochures
2.
Traveling from your home, either by car, train, bus, plane
3.
Experiencing your destination, for example, through shopping,
eating at local restaurants, hiking, swimming
4.
Returning home
5.
Remembrances of your trip, enough so that you will plan a return
visit
Gift shops are a major
part of steps 3 and 5, and give us a scholarly reason to be interested in
shopping. In terms of gift shops, I add
the following:
·
The gift shop
should support the identity, or brand, of the attraction in which it is
located.
·
Gift shops allow
visitors to engage in the second most popular vacation activity: shopping.
·
Souvenirs
reinforce the pleasant time experienced while on vacation, and reinforce the
notion of returning.
That’s why shopping is important!
With that said, let’s
visit the McKee Botanical Gardens located near the Atlantic Ocean in Vero
Beach, Florida
The McKee Botanical
Gardens Mission:
To nurture and enhance a historic garden in a unique
tropical setting for the education, enjoyment and enrichment of all.
I admire a place that
states its intentions up front. They let
you know what to expect, and The McKee Gardens is delightful in fulfilling
their mission. McKee Gardens are
appropriate for all ages, genders, cultures, or walking ability. I add that last part as this was one of the
first places I visited after knee replacement surgery. The Gardens have a plethora of shady spots to
sit and contemplate things. It could
take up to 60-90 minutes to see it all, depending on the amount of leisure in
your walking ability.
Like so many things in
Florida, McKee Gardens have an interesting history. It was a top tourist attraction in the 1940s,
covering 80 acres at that time.
Unfortunately, it became a target of the burgeoning theme park movement
occurring in central Florid, and what we see today is a small percentage of the
original gardens, since 62 acres were sold for the development of condos and
golf courses. The remaining 18 acres are
stunning. Stop by the Hall of Giants
located along the left-hand path once you enter the grounds. There, a 15-minute video shows images from
the Garden’s heyday, in black and white, with voiceover. As a society, we have made substantial
improvements in how we care for animals.
No, no…nothing bad. We don’t try
to “humanize” animals the way we did some decades ago, dressing them in outfits
and teaching them to eat with a fork.
The Hall of Giants houses an extraordinary table at which you can’t help
but marvel when you realize it was made from a single piece of wood. Unless you are lighter than fairy dust, don’t
sit on it.
McKee Gardens often
hosts special events and days. For
example, they’ll send a notice to members when the wisteria covering the
entrance way trellis is blooming, because it is lovely. The Fairy and Pirate Festival in mid-May is a
big hit with the children. They’ll dress
up and run and play with other children.
This is one of those times where parking could be scarce. In Mid-June, the waterlilies bloom, and the McKee
Gardens are busy. They hold a
photography contest, and it’s hard not to trip over budding photographers at
the ponds with the waterlilies. Prepare
to park in overflow. Speaking of
photography, McKee Gardens have so many perfect spots for photo opportunities
such as the Sleeping Tree or the Bamboo Pavilion. It’s a beautiful and serene space, and it’s
best to take your time.
McKee Gardens have a
small café, where you can get beverages and light snacks. Please note that it is open October through
May, because the searing summer heat prevents a good deal of the public from
visiting the Gardens. Sit, sip, and
prepare for shopping.
* The restrooms are to the right of
the McKee Gardens entrance, between the gift shop and café.
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| A bumblebee watering can |
Technically, you can
exit McKee Gardens via the wisteria-covered trellis that serves as the
entrance. Seriously, what fun would that
be? You’d miss the gift shop. Whimsical wind chimes and bird houses greet
you as you step inside the Garden’s gift shop from the rear door. Children’s souvenirs of all prices are on your
right, and some of them are downright cute:
a bumble bee watering can, gardening gloves, seed packets, and a frog
umbrella are some of the children’s items on display. Books are to your left, and t-shirts are
straight ahead. Check out the display of
waterlilies on the right, against the wall.
I have often felt that these would make a cute souvenir to put on your
desk at work, or on your counter at home (psst….they’re not real). You’ll pass spoon rests, drinking glasses
boasting a starfish design, platters that look like giant silver leaves,
butterflies (not real), and refrigerator magnets.
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| A coffee cup |
The McKee Gardens gift
shop offers quaint knick knacks for your home or garden, all carrying the vibe
of a lazy afternoon spent in the garden.
If you poke around, you’ll come across sets of charming measuring spoons that would make a unique
gift for any of the bakers in your life.
Keep walking toward the front (toward the ticket-takers), and discover
beach-themed items. They’re nice items,
but in my opinion, don’t support the brand (personality) of McKee Gardens. Still, they make wonderful gifts. Try on a few fashionable straw garden hats,
because it’s not at all unusual to see ladies wearing hats like this when you
are out and about. I am guessing you’d
rather look like a local than a tourist?
I have two such hats, yet there’s a white fedora-style hat here in the
gift shop that I would love to add to my collection. Most of the jewelry is near the front; the
good stuff is behind the glass counter.
Peaceful nightlights are on display at the same glass counter. Treat yourself before you leave and buy a
McKee Garden coffee cup. It’s shaped
like a small clay pot (for small plants, seedlings, et cetera). If you see something you like, buy it. McKee Gardens don’t have a shopping area on
their website.
Time for lunch. Vero Beach is a chic and fashionable town,
and there are many great restaurants.
Try some of the seafood places that are located within mini-malls. I have found these types of restaurants
surprisingly good. If you are in the
mood for something touristy, the McLarty Treasure Museum isn’t far away. Head north on Highway 1, to the land of tiki
bars.
If you’d like to read
about the McKee Botanical Gardens, try these additional websitess:
I’m including a link to
the photos posted on the Internet:
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