McKee Botanical Gardens — Attraction in Vero Beach

My 1 year old daughter and I went there with some of our family on Tuesday(3/18). I wish we felt more welcomed than we were. It was our first time there and we had already bought tickets online. My daughter and I asked someone working the members line if we needed to stand in line even though we already have tickets. She said that we could go inside and they’ll scan it for us in the gift shop. We waited a few minutes for the rest of our family to get there. My daughter was newly potty trained, so I took her to the bathroom. When we came out, the rest of our family(Caucasian) were there. I asked them if they needed to stand in line and they said no because the lady told them that their tickets can be scanned at the gift shop. They got their tickets scanned.

My daughter and I went into the gift shop. I asked them if they could get my tickets scanned because the other lady working the membership table told me I didn’t have to stand in line and I could get my tickets scanned here. One of the ladies by the register had such a bad attitude towards me when I was only asking her a question. She raised her voice, was very rude, and irritated. She said “When did she say that? We already corrected her!…you have to stand in line.”

It wasn’t my fault that I was told the wrong information. I could have stood in line and gotten in by the time our family got there if I was told the correct information in the first place. Our family had to wait for us while we stand in the long line. They could have just as easily scanned our tickets like they did for the rest of our family.

Other than the negative entrance experience, it was a magical and fun trip for our family. My daughter and her cousins loved everything about the garden especially the children’s play ground.

I just wish they had better customer service at...

What a horrible experience this place put me through. I’ve never been so humiliated and so anxious. My service dog quickly picked up my anxiety which is just one of the many jobs she performs. They claim they allow service dogs. I arrived with my service dog and they asked about a million questions about my service dog and about my health. I answered the only two legal questions they’re allowed to ask but they kept pushing me to share more about my health. This is a very illegal practice. You are legally allowed to ask only 2 questions. They need to learn what a service dog is and that not all disabilities are obvious to the naked eye. My dog does NOT wear a service dog vest that other people buy from amazon, because my dog is a legitimate service dog. You are NOT allowed to ask about a person’s disability or health issue either. The lady at the register was very rude and wouldn’t accept my reply to only the two legal questions. She wanted a more detailed explanation of my health issues. She seemed to be on a power trip and a busybody, and was visibly upset I wouldn’t give her any information on my health. She didn’t even pull me to the side, she expected me to share my health issues in a public setting with many people behind me in the line to pay for our entrance fee. They completely dropped the ball by mistreating a veteran, a disabled person and a service dog. In this time and age, it’s pretty crappy not to allow dogs in such a natural setting as a garden to begin with. But, misjudging a person’s health conditions and not allowing service dogs is wild. DISCRIMINATORY AND DISGUSTING! There were kids running, bumping into people (my daughter was bumped into) and screaming yet nobody said a thing. A disabled lady with her working service animal was their...

What an immaculate garden! Certainly a must-do for “old-Florida” enthusiasts, roadside travelers, and residents alike. If you’re familiar with Florida’s Botanical Gardens, this spot was designed by the same folks that did Bok Tower Gardens (Lake Wales) and Fairchild Gardens (Coral Gables) - and it undoubtedly measures up to both. Not only featuring a diverse array of flora, this park boasts one of a kind “garden features“ like the Spanish kitchen, Hall of Giants, garden folly kaleidoscope, and giant mushroom just to name a few. The park blends grassy open areas with a winding canal and a thick tropical hammock. There’s a café on site with an education building that makes this spot ideal for adults and children alike. You could easily spend, two hours on site just walking through the gardens.

We went on an afternoon that allowed us to experience the gardens both in sunshine and in rain and frankly, both produced a special type of magic. I think you’d be hard pressed to feel stressed or anxious in this space; it’s so serene and peaceful. The aroma of plants and flowers complimented by a towering tree canopy make the stroll through the gardens one of tranquility.

A few notes to prepare you for your visit: 🅿️ Parking is free on site; there is only one lot in the front of the complex ⏰ You can get through the park in about an hour if you’re walking rather quickly, but I’d suggest allowing 2-3 hours to have the full experience - especially if you have children! ➡️ Gates inside the park close at 4:55 PM and gates to leave the parking lot close at 5:00 PM. The staff here is VERY strict about this rule. If you’re looking to have an uninterrupted visit and avoid feeling rushed, I’d be intentional about wrapping your visit up no...