Sunken Gardens — Attraction in Saint Petersburg

We were in town to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. Among the destinations we wanted to visit were Sunken Gardens since we are intrigued with "Old "Florida" which is rapidly disappearing. It was officially opened as "Turner's Sunken Gardens" in 1903 when George Turner, a plumber and gardener, "drained a shallow lake which had filled an ancient sinkhole and dropped 15 feet below street level to provide a rich soil to grow fruits and vegetables from all over the world."

One of Florida's oldest family-owned roadside attractions is now a restored botanical garden. After three days of being downtown and "museumed-out," we spent our last day in this quiet, shaded oasis not far from the noise of downtown. We had a B1G1F coupon from the Discover Downtown Guide and Map which when combined with a senior discount we paid $12 for both of us. After three museum days, this was the most reasonably priced attraction we visited. In 1924, visitors paid $.25 for a stroll through the lush gardens.

Check-in is efficient; you are given a map of the gardens with the number of stickers attached to the back of the guide indicating how many are in each party. I would suggest using the restrooms at check-in before heading out. No restrooms are available in the 24-stop self-guided tour.

Educational programs, workshops, special events, and tours are available. The gardens are also a favorite setting for weddings and receptions.

The map shows shaded ADA accessible paths and picnic tables. Some of the meandering walkways are uneven; good walking shoes are recommended. Lots of benches are available for sitting.

Plants and trees from around the world grace the gardens. Madagascar, Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, Africa, New Guinea, South America, Australia and other countries are represented. Geriatric exotic birds have a safe haven at Sunken Gardens when their owners can no longer care for them. Among them are macaws and an endangered Umbrella Cockatoo. The Chilean Flamingos were having a grand time finding morsels in the water while squawking at each other; they are identified by their pink joints and unusual, black-tipped bills. We waited for a few minutes for the Laughing Kookaburra from Australia to call but he wasn't having it.

Hours are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. and Sunday Noon-4:30 p.m. Parking is free in the large lot also shared with Carrabba's Italian Grill. We got takeout after our...

What an amazing garden tucked away in the heart of St. Petersburg. An easy trip off I-275, Sunken Gardens is definitely a treasure of a find and a must visit for those living in the Tampa Bay area. Sunken Gardens is arguably a Tampa/St. Petersburg staple for visitors that would love to see what the local area has to offer aside from beaches.

For starters, you can find some neat deals for the Sunken Gardens on value sites such as Groupon, although the general admission fee is relatively reasonable compared to the aquariums, zoos, and other parks in the area. We found an annual family membership on Groupon which is pretty neat considering the perks that come with it - free admission to some popular museums during certain months, as well as reciprocal admission at other gardens (you can find a list of those on the website, while a more accurate list of this program is available with the main kiosk).

There is free parking on site; the lot is also shared by the children's museum, Great Explorations. While there appears to be plenty of parking, I would recommend getting to this venue earlier to get a prime spot and to be able to stroll at your leisure without feeling too crowded in.

Sunken Gardens is one of the smaller gardens we have been to as we travelled across the nation, but do not let it's small size fool you. There is plentiful flora that grows on this piece of real estate that will amaze you with their natural beauty. What makes Sunken Gardens unique is that it showcases a vast variety of palms, leveraging the temperate weather of Florida for the growth of these specimens (you won't find these up in the Northeast).

Aside from the palms, there are various areas that are gorgeously arranged and curated to bring out the best in each plant. We definitely took our time to enjoy the trails that looped through the garden - there are also unimproved paths that are also accessible for viewing. Sprinkled throughout the garden are also a variety of beautiful birds to include a sanctuary for some flamingos. There are several bridges that cross some bodies of water, one of which hosts gigantic and marvelous koi.

All-in-all, there are plentiful areas and spaces to explore within the garden which makes it such a wonderful garden. I highly recommend Sunken Gardens...

February, 2022: If you are visiting the Tampa area, take a trip across Tampa Bay and visit the Sunken Gardens located in St. Petersburg, FL. The Gardens were originally a small, shallow lake which was purchased by George Turner, Sr who was a plumber by trade. George purchased the 4 acres, drained the "Lake" which was actually an ancient sink hole. The sink hole was full of rich soil and nutrients and was the perfect place to start a Garden. The Gardens opened to the Public in 1924, almost 100 years ago. We took a tour of the Gardens for a 2nd time during a recent visit to Tampa and enjoyed the meandering pathways filled with lush tropical, trees, plants and flowers. The Flamingos and the Koi are a pleasant interaction along the way. Buy the Groupon for 2: $16 and you will save yourself some $. The Gift Store is filled with adorable items. Spend your savings there ;) Parking is FREE. On a weekend it gets crowed, you may have to park across the street. December, 2018: Sunken Gardens offers a pleasant 1-2 hours strolling thru 4 acres of pathways, gazing at 100+ year old tropical plants, flowers, bushes and trees. First off, watch for the Sunken Garden sign entrance as you can drive by it and miss it. It is located in the historical section of St. Pete's and it shares a parking lot with 2 restaurants so, parking can be hard to find. If you can't find any parking, you can try parking in the strip mall across the street. Usually someone is leaving so, you can grab their parking space. Having Sunken Gardens near a variety of restaurants makes it a perfect family, vacation or 1st date destination! Enjoy a meal and then stroll over to the Gardens to walk off some of those consumed calories. Be sure to bring your smart phone or cameras, cause you will want to take photos of the exquisite floral selection. The Gardens offer different vignette's including bright pink Flamingos, smokey brown turtles and a creative flower pot family of Minions ;) As you weave your way around the paths which are clearly marked, you will come to a bridge with a wood life saver ring; perfect for a photo opp. Before you go, check the local Visitor Guides for a coupon or check Groupon, totally worth the $12.50...