Designed by Paul Chafin and Diego Suarez, the gardens of Vizcaya are set with a sweeping view of Biscayne Bay.
These Italianate formal gardens incorporate classical elements such as labyrinths, grottoes, reflecting pools, narrow pathways, and a waterfall.
Although they provide the most appeal for those who love nature, they were simply ornamentation for the over-the-top winter home of industrialist James Deering.
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Overview
Location: Miami
Parking: 25.747030, -80.210496
Address: 3251 South Miami Ave, Miami
Fees: $25 ages 13 and up, $10 ages 6-12. Free for disabled visitors and one accompanying caregiver. Free for veterans and active duty military (ID required). Free for EBT/SNAP cardholders with up to three guests. Additional $6 for guided house tours, provided four times daily.
Land Manager: Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Trust
Phone: 305.250.9133
No food or drinks allowed as they are sold on site. No pets. A photography permit may be necessary, check ahead.
Directions
Vizcaya is just off Biscayne Blvd south of downtown Miami. Follow the signs to 3251 S Miami Ave, Miami.
About the Gardens
It’s a joy to lose yourself in the complexity, to find hidden treasures like seashells embedded in grotto ceilings with faux stalactites at their mouths.
There are classical statuary and lush beds of native ferns. On the north side of the house, the David A. Klein Orchidarium presents the finest in blooming orchids.
The remnant tropical forest through which you enter the estate includes tropical trees at the northern extent of their range.
Some have grown to champion size, including the National Champion redberry stopper and spicewood.
Between the entrance trail through the natural tropical hammock to the elegant waterfront walk and the many garden paths on the south side of the home, ramble a mile or more through cultivated tropical beauty.
Explore More!
Slideshow
See our photos from Vizcaya
Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring while you’re in this area.
Crandon Park With two miles of oceanfront on Biscayne Bay, Crandon Park melds a classic Miami beach experience with an immersion in nature.
Matheson Hammock Park A tropical retreat along the coast of Coral Gables, Matheson Hammock Park has two distinct sides: a wild slice of the ancient Miami Hammock and a waterfront with a man-made atoll on Biscayne Bay.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Established in 1938 as one of the world’s largest collections of tropical plants, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is an integral part of the history of Florida botany and of Coral Gables.
Pinecrest Gardens Established in the 1930s as a tropical tourist attraction, Parrot Jungle, this tropical forest in Pinecrest has deep roots, if you will, showcasing both native and exotic tropical species. 
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