Many of Florida’s once famous tourist destinations have disappeared. Fortunately, Sunken Gardens near downtown St. Petersburg has been preserved. A historical treasure, Sunken Gardens is one of few remaining examples of a typical 1930s Florida attraction. The park is a botanical wonder with more than 50,000 tropical plants, trees and flowers.

Great Explorations, the popular children’s hands-on museum, has recently taken up residence in the Mediterranean Revival building next door. But the main draw will always be the bromeliads, orchids, hibiscus, water lilies, royal palms and bougainvilleas, the waterfalls, flamingoes and butterfly garden, the peaceful green beauty this urban oasis provides to visitors from around the world. The amazing size of many of the specimens is a testament to the age of the attraction, where most of the plants originally were planted over 100 years ago!

Considered one of the finest botanical gardens in the United States, Sunken Gardens is historic, exotic, tropical, and lush … and it’s only in Pinellas.