United States
Florida (FL)
Vero Beach
Things to Do in Vero Beach
McKee Botanical Garden
See all things to do

McKee Botanical Garden

See all things to do
See all things to do
McKee Botanical Garden
4.5
1,090 reviews
#2 of 56 things to do in Vero Beach
Gardens
Read more
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Write a review
About
McKee Botanical Garden, situated on an 18-acre tropical hammock in Vero Beach, Florida, features a diverse botanical collection, award-winning art exhibitions, special events and educational opportunities for all ages. McKee is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is endorsed by the Nature Conservancy as a project of national significance. The Garden also features a one-of-a-kind Children's Garden where children can set out on a whimsical adventure sure to spark their imagination and reveal the wonders of nature. The main Garden and Children's Garden are handicap accessible.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Full view
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
163 within 3 miles
Dunkin'
10
0.2 miBakeries
The Grille on the Green
14
0.6 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Steakhouse • Bar
Mrs. Mac's Fillin' Station
482
1 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Diner • Vegetarian Friendly
Chili's Grill & Bar
101
0.9 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Southwestern • Bar
Pudgy Penguin Italian Ice
3
1 mi$ • Cafe
Arturo's American Grill
17
1.2 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Brew Pub • Bar
Einstein Bros. Bagels
50
1.2 mi$ • Quick Bites • American
Carrabba's Italian Grill
227
1.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Vegetarian Friendly • Gluten Free Options
Starbucks
9
1.2 miCafe
PhoTastic
15
1.3 mi$ • Asian • Vietnamese
See all
Attractions
51 within 6 miles
Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area (ORCA)
39
0.3 miNature & Wildlife Areas
Wildwood Antique Mall
59
1.2 miAntique Shops
VBMA-Vero Beach Museum of Art
469
Art Museums
Round Island Beach Park
341
Beaches • Parks
Indian River County wetlands
24
0.8 miNature & Wildlife Areas
Riverside Theatre
215
Theaters
Humiston Park
96
Parks
South Beach Park
103
2.6 miBodies of Water • Beaches
Goodwill
1
1 miDepartment Stores
Vero Beach Auction
1
0.9 miAntique Shops
See all
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,090 reviews
Excellent
687
Very good
315
Average
62
Poor
16
Terrible
10
Bob Angry
Melbourne, FL1,326 contributions
Nice outside activity for the family
Apr 2021
The girlfriend and I decided to take advantage of the reciprocal agreement with our Bok Tower membership and take a stroll. If you enjoy gardens and museums invest in membership - it will pay for itself. There was a bit of a line when we arrived but the park had a person surveying the line for memberships allowing us to skip the paid check in process!

We decided to head left, do the outer circle and then the inside paths. The garden is lush, green, just full. There is also an interesting Lego statue thing going on. As you travel through the park they have very large statues created with Legos depicting all sorts of wild creatures. The guests were a mix of maskers and not, although for the most part people seemed to be careful about social distancing.

There is a stick sculpture in one section of the park that has to be seen. Huge and intricate. They have a great kids area too. All in all a very enjoyable hour or so visit.
Written April 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
msdet1529
Port Saint Lucie, FL4,307 contributions
Awesome McKee Christmas Display!!!
Dec 2021 • Family
With 17 family members in tow, it was a good time by all to see the Christmas lights here at the historical McKee Botanical Gardens.

Follow the trails through the woods and you will see Christmas lights, figures and dinosaur displays all over the property. The inside train display was one of the best in details.

Tight parking, wear soft comfy sneakers. All trails are open and Sandy. And sometimes uneven. We spent about an hour looking, taking photos and then its off to dinner!!!

Thanks to all the volunteers who help and work there. Without them there would be no McKee BG.

Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!!!
Enjoy!!!
Written December 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stan
Las Vegas, NV597 contributions
It Never Gets Old
Feb 2020
It's been about two or three years since I visited McKee Gardens, and I sometimes forget how expansive a property it is. One could easily spend the whole morning walking though various pathways and spending time at the bonsai pavillion or the various lilly ponds and orchid gardens. It is serene and relaxing, even on a hot Florida day it is quite very comfortable under the canopy of heavy foliage. Anyone who enjoys nature will love this place. The admission is reasonable, I think it was less than $15 per person for the over 65 crowd. There is also a very nice cafe where light sandwiches can be bought and consumed while looking out over the gardens. One can even enjoy a glass of wine there. If you are looking for a pleasant
day outdoors, this would be my top choice.
Written March 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gbell52380
Salisbury, MA2 contributions
Beautiful place for a walk!
Feb 2023 • Family
I came here with my family (husband,daughter 3 years, mother n law and father in law)The grounds were beautiful. My daughter loved the little splash pad. There’s plenty of seating to rest which was especially good for my in-laws. I though there might have been more flowers in bloom to see but not sure if they weren’t in season? We finished our visit at the cafe. The food was delicious even though at 2:00 they ran out of soup and a few other items. We finally got to sit down and talk about house we enjoyed our visit in the cafe with my toddler sitting comfortably in the beautiful wooden high chairs they provided. Fifteenth minutes later one of the cafe workers told us we need to move outside to finish our lunch because they we’re closing the cafe . I was extremely disappointed at this statement as we were very content and comfortable sitting in the ac after walking all through the gardens.
Written February 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
larthurnc
Vero Beach, FL6 contributions
Be sure to go toMcKee Botanical Garden if you visit Vero!
Aug 2021
We loved our visit to McKee, the history is very interesting, be sure to take a few minutes in the Hall of Giants for the story. The gardens are so beautiful, with lovely trails and so many gorgeous specimens. The Water Lillies are my favorite attraction, just gorgeous, and I’d never seen the huge Amazonian lily pads in person, they are amazing. I highly recommend a trip to McKee Botanical Garden, there is even a Children’s Garden that is sure to please the kiddos!
Written August 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheryl W
Columbia, MO47 contributions
Beautiful change of pace from the beach
May 2021 • Couples
Thoroughly enjoyed our morning walk through the gardens. Took lots of photos. We visited on a weekday morning in May, which was not very crowded. It was a beautiful, sunny morning. A great place to visit for a peaceful outing.
Written June 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roving-Saint
Crystal Lake, IL287 contributions
Lovely Botanical Garden
Mar 2020
We recently spent two hours at the McKee Botanical Garden, and it was a pure delight. The garden is small enough to easily be enjoyed in two hours. At the time we were there, they had a children's area that included some water play as well as climbing opportunities. It provides a pleasant shaded walk through a variety of flora native to Florida. Interspersed throughout the garden are man-made waterfalls and bridges for that great Kodak moment. Also, until May 31, 2020, there is an exhibit of 40 marine sculptures made from recycled flip flops that have washed up on the shores of Africa. It is a very colorful display of marine creatures known as Ocean Sole Africa. There is also an on-site restaurant offering a limited menu, although we did not eat there, Admission is $15, $13 for seniors, and $10 for military, including veterans. If you would like to spend a relaxing couple of hours in shaded comfort, check out McKee Botanical Garden. You will not be disappointed.
Written March 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LizAnne814
Indiana4 contributions
Old Florida
Feb 2023
The Gardens is hosting an amazing glass sculpture exhibit through April, 2023. I've been coming once or twice a season over many of the past 15 years. The gardens never fail to amaze. Peaceful. The history is fascinating. The children's section is very well done. Both adults and children were enjoying it. There is so much to take in that I will often walk the paths a couple of times a visit. I don't want to miss anything. Be sure to look up, too.
Written February 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Margo J
Vero Beach, FL28 contributions
Dinosaurs Galore!
Feb 2022 • Family
I took our daughter and our 3 grandsons ages 4, 6, and 9 to McKee Botanical Garden
last month while they were visiting our home in Vero Beach. They had a major exhibit of Dinosaurs which all 3 boys are into. We also toured the Children’s area and had fun doing that. We spent over an hour walking around there.
Written March 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bbbob84
Staten Island, NY1,701 contributions
Beautiful Gardens With a Long History
Aug 2021
Upon arrival mid-week we had no issues finding parking. We approached the greeting area, paid our fee and was issued a park map with a nice explanation of the areas we would want to visit. The Gardens are now only 18 acres, but have a nice maze of interwinding paths with an array of plants, ponds and flowers. It was a very hot and humid day when we visited, but the canopy of the trees provided ample shade to enjoy the walk. We enjoyed the history of the gardens in addition to the plants. A very enjoyable experience and we highly recommend this if you enjoy nature.
Written August 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2
…
Showing results 1-10 of 1,075
Anything missing or inaccurate?
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing

McKee Botanical Garden (Vero Beach) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about McKee Botanical Garden
McKee Botanical Garden is open:
  • Sun - Sun 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Tue - Sat 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Restaurants near McKee Botanical Garden: View all restaurants near McKee Botanical Garden on Tripadvisor

McKee Botanical Garden Information

Excellent Reviews

687

Very Good Reviews

315

McKee Botanical Garden Photos

954