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Gardens at Vizcaya

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens

The grandiose home of industrialist James Deering may be the star attraction, but the gardens of Vizcaya, set along Biscayne Bay, rival those of any formal estate.

Miami (25.747030, -80.210496)   1.2 miles  

Designed by Paul Chafin and Diego Suarez, the gardens of Vizcaya are set with a sweeping view of Biscayne Bay.

These Italianate formal gardens incorporate classical elements such as labyrinths, grottoes, reflecting pools, narrow pathways, and a waterfall.

Although they provide the most appeal for those who love nature, they were simply ornamentation for the over-the-top winter home of industrialist James Deering.

Labyrinth hedges in the formal garden
Labyrinth hedges in the formal garden

Resources

Resources for exploring the area
South Florida Explorers Guide book cover 50 Hikes in South Florida book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover The Hiking Trails of Floridas National Forests Parks Preserves book cover
 
Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.

Overview

Location: Miami
Parking: 25.747030, -80.210496
Address: 3251 South Miami Ave, Miami
Fees: $25 ages 13 and up, $10 ages 6-12. Free for disabled visitors and one accompanying caregiver. Free for veterans and active duty military (ID required). Free for EBT/SNAP cardholders with up to three guests. Additional $6 for guided house tours, provided four times daily.
Land Manager: Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Trust
Phone: 305.250.9133

No food or drinks allowed as they are sold on site. No pets. A photography permit may be necessary, check ahead.


Directions


 
Vizcaya is just off Biscayne Blvd south of downtown Miami. Follow the signs to 3251 S Miami Ave, Miami.

About the Gardens

It’s a joy to lose yourself in the complexity, to find hidden treasures like seashells embedded in grotto ceilings with faux stalactites at their mouths.

There are classical statuary and lush beds of native ferns. On the north side of the house, the David A. Klein Orchidarium presents the finest in blooming orchids.

Garden Man in coral
The Green Man in coral

The remnant tropical forest through which you enter the estate includes tropical trees at the northern extent of their range.

Some have grown to champion size, including the National Champion redberry stopper and spicewood.

Between the entrance trail through the natural tropical hammock to the elegant waterfront walk and the many garden paths on the south side of the home, ramble a mile or more through cultivated tropical beauty.

Vizcaya
The Italianate waterfront at Vizcaya


Explore More!

Slideshow

See our photos from Vizcaya


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Crandon Park Crandon Park With two miles of oceanfront on Biscayne Bay, Crandon Park melds a classic Miami beach experience with an immersion in nature.
Palms along an atoll Matheson Hammock Park A tropical retreat along the coast of Coral Gables, Matheson Hammock Park has two distinct sides: a wild slice of the ancient Miami Hammock and a waterfront with a man-made atoll on Biscayne Bay.
Palms framing large rectangular ponds Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Established in 1938 as one of the world’s largest collections of tropical plants, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is an integral part of the history of Florida botany and of Coral Gables.
Parade grounds around pond with tropical plants Pinecrest Gardens Established in the 1930s as a tropical tourist attraction, Parrot Jungle, this tropical forest in Pinecrest has deep roots, if you will, showcasing both native and exotic tropical species.

Official Website

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Sandra Friend
Sandra Friend
Author of 45 books, Sandra Friend established FloridaHikes.com in 2006 to expand on the field research she'd completed for her first six hiking guides. She has been honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Florida Trail Association and the Florida Outdoor Writers Association.
Sandra Friend
Latest posts by Sandra Friend (see all)
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Category: County Parks, Gardens, Hikes, Museums, Nature Trails, Southeast Florida, TrailsTag: Accessible, Biscayne Bay, Botanical, Coral Gables, Historic Sites, Key Biscayne, Mangroves, Miami, Tropical Forests

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CENTRAL FLORIDA: Altamonte Springs. Apollo Beach. Apopka. Astatula. Astor. Auburndale. Bartow. Babson Park. Bayport. Belleview. Bithlo. Brandon. Brooksville. Bushnell. Canaveral National Seashore. Cassadaga. Christmas. Chuluota. Citrus Springs. Clearwater Beach. Clermont. Coast to Coast Trail. Cocoa. Cocoa Beach. Cross Florida Greenway. Crystal River. Dade City. De Leon Springs. DeBary. Deland. Deltona. Dunedin. Dunnellon. Edgewater. Enterprise. Eustis. Ferndale. Fort Meade. Frostproof. Geneva. Gibsonton. Haines City. Hernando. Hernando Beach. Holopaw. Homosassa. Inverness. Kenansville. Kissimmee. Lake Mary. Lake Wales. Largo. Leesburg. Lithia. Longwood. Lutz. Maitland. Malabar. McIntosh. Melbourne Beach. Merritt Island. Merritt Island NWR. Mims. Mount Dora. Narcoossee/Lake Nona. New Port Richey. New Smyrna Beach. Nobleton. Oak Hill. Oakland. Ocala National Forest. Ocklawaha. Ocoee. Oldsmar. Orange City. Ormond Beach. Osteen. Oviedo. Paisley. Palm Bay. Plant City. Poinciana. Polk City. Ponce Inlet. Port Orange. Ridge Manor. Riverview. Ruskin. Safety Harbor. Silver Springs. Sorrento. Spring Hill. St. Cloud. Tarpon Springs. Thonotosassa. Titusville . Umatilla. Viera. Walt Disney World. Weeki Wachee. Weirsdale. Wimauma. Windermere. Winter Garden. Winter Haven. Winter Park. Winter Springs. Withlacoochee State Forest. Withlacoochee State Trail. Yeehaw Junction. Zephyrhills. WATERWAYS: Alafia River. Halifax River. Hillsborough River. Lake Apopka. Little Manatee River. Ochlawaha River. Rainbow River. Tampa Bay. Wekiva River. Wekiva River Basin.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA: Alva. Boca Grande. Cape Coral. Charlotte Harbor. Ding Darling NWR. Ellenton. Englewood. Estero. Immokalee. Marco Island. North Port. Osprey. Palma Sola. Palmetto. Pine Island. Port Charlotte. Sanibel Island. Venice. WATERWAYS: Caloosahatchee River. Manatee River. Myakka River. Pine Island Sound.

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FLORIDA KEYS: Big Pine Key. Islamorada. Key Largo. Key West. Marathon. Overseas Heritage Trail.


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