When anyone references the city of Miami, the initial thoughts that many folks think about are the beautiful beaches and the active nightlife. Nonetheless there are many more attractions available to those who need to experience something unique during their stay in Miami. These are the numerous botanical gardens in Miami, Miami public parks and nature preserves which will delight both travelers and locals.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

This is one of the floral gardens Miami is celebrated for, especially its palms and other tropical plants. The Windows to the Tropic section brings an example of a rainforest to the visitor, together with the plants, rainfall and humidity found in those areas. The plants range all the way from indigenous plants from Florida to rainforest species from South America. This garden can also include the Lisa D. Anness Butterfly Garden, a garden that has plants used to attract over 30 different species of butterflies. Also incorporated in the Fairchild Gardens are the Arboretum and an area for succulent plants.

The Kampong

The Kampong garden is an oasis set in the Miami metropolitan area. Here, patrons can view many plants not generally found on our continent. These include the Sausage Tree, named for its long fruits, as well as a one hundred year old Baobab tree from Tanzania. Collections include plants from the Caribbean, Southeast Far East and Central and South America. Thanks to the large range of plants here, many researchers use this garden to enhance their experience in their botany and horticulture classes. If a visitor is looking for something unique, the Kampong Garden is the one to visit.

Miami Beach Botanical Garden

This garden, though comparatively little, is packed with many examples of maximizing space with plant exhibits. Assembled in 1962, it is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Here, one will find a Japanese garden together with collections of orchids. There are examples of vertical landscaping, occasionally more popularly known as a living wall. Water is also a very important ingredient here, and therefore there are many water gardens. This is another example of the botanical gardens Miami has to offer to its patrons.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

The gardens and museum here have been honoured as a National Historic Landmark. The gardens are a combination of French and Italian designs. They are composed of outdoor areas or rooms with focal points such as raised islands, elegant statues, fountains and a centrally located pool. The 10 acres of gardens include sub-tropical forests as well as a enormous Orchid Garden.

Fruit and Spice Park

This unique site, part of Miami public parks is found in the center of gigantic areas of tropical farming. Here, one will find more than 500 differing kinds of exotic fruits, spices, nuts and herbs. These include 70 kinds of bamboo, 80 kinds of bananas as well as many variances of grapes and mangoes. There is not any other garden of this type in the US. Visitors are welcome, and may try the items grown here that have fallen off plants naturally.

Parrot Jungle and Gardens

When walking through these gardens, travelers might forget that they are only a short way from a big city. The gardens, along with a lake, streams and waterfalls, are home to 1200 sorts of exotic plants including bromeliads, bananas and orchids. Many tropical animals live in Parrot Jungle, for example indigenous mammals, tropical birds and even some endangered baby apes. In addition to the gardens and animal exhibits, a reproduction of the Everglades is also available. This exhibit utilizes the plant and animal life of the Everglades, including alligators.