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Sunken Gardens: One Of The Oldest Tourist Attractions in St. Petersburg, Florida
By carlvaleri | May 24, 2010
The cool breeze carried the sound of birds chirping as I stood on a low bridge above a babbling brook meandering through a lush tranquil garden path. Shards of light flickered on my shirt as the breeze swayed the large trees from side to side. This tropical oasis is a stark contrast from the city I drove through a few minutes before.
Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg, Florida has been entertaining visitors for over 70 years and provides a tranquil respite from the busy roads. The gardens are “sunken” because a lake was drained and transformed into a tropical paradise.
Much has changed since my childhood visit to this quintessential Florida tourist attraction. Now owned by the city, the wax museum depicting the life of Christ has been replaced by a hands on discovery museum and a restaurant has been built adjacent to the museum. Although changed, the exhibit still has its original charm.
Visiting during the off season we were able to enjoy a pleasant stroll around this bucolic botanical garden. Open year round, you can meander along brick paths and view the brilliant colors from the many plants and flowers. Sunken Gardens is a wonderful place to escape and contemplate life.
One of the volunteers asked if we wanted to see the birds more closely. Of course we responded with a resounding “yes!”. Colorful green parrots, brilliant red macaws, and a cockatoo with snow white feathers. Obviously this bird has been around cameras because he seemed to pose for me while he uttered “pretty bird”.
Sunken Gardens is a must see if you wish to discover a historic Florida attraction. While visiting St. Petersburg, this is s perfect place for a short excursion.
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Topics: Florida, St. Petersburg | No Comments »