Discover Pinecrest: Tropical Gardens, Parks and Culture

Pinecrest combines tropical garden art, nature watching and diverse parks with a varied cultural program. At the heart of it all is Pinecrest Gardens: The 14-acre botanical garden is located at the southwest corner of Red Road and Killian Drive and is home to more than 1,000 varieties of rare and exotic tropical plants and palms. Native tropical hardwoods and cypress trees shape the surrounding landscape. Those choosing a vacation apartment or vacation home for their trip can therefore regard Pinecrest as a starting point for a wide range of vacation experiences – from botanical discoveries to outdoor activities.

Tropical Plants and a Garden with History

Pinecrest Gardens is interesting not only because of its plant collections. On October 17, 2011, the property was classified as historically significant when the National Park Service added it to the National Register of Historic Places. In the Upper Garden, the pathways preserve patterns from the original tilework of Parrot Jungle. From the terrace of the Upper Garden, visitors can look out over a lake where resident swans and various wading birds can be found.

For a more in-depth exploration of the garden, guided botanical tours focusing on its history, botanical collections and ecology are held on selected Saturdays. In addition, the Pinecrest Farmers Market takes place every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pinecrest Gardens. This combination makes the garden a place where nature, local atmosphere and history can be experienced through different types of visits. Free parking is available for visitors.

Walking, Cycling and Nature Watching

Red Road Linear Park offers a 2.5-mile, illuminated path for walking and cycling along the Snapper Creek Canal. The area along Snapper Creek also provides opportunities to observe birds, wildlife and aquatic life. This makes the park suitable for anyone who wants to spend time outdoors between cultural activities. Coral Pine Park complements this offering with a 2.9-acre pineland preserve, illuminated walkways, pickleball and tennis courts, and a playground.

The other parks also focus on different activities. The three-acre Flagler Grove Park features illuminated artificial-turf fields for lacrosse and soccer. The ten-acre Suniland Park has baseball and football fields, batting cages, basketball courts and a playground. Evelyn Greer Park offers a walking and jogging path. Those traveling with a dog will find Pinecrest’s only off-leash dog park at Pawcrest Park, with separate areas for large and small dogs.

Culture and Trip Planning in Pinecrest

Pinecrest Gardens’ cultural offerings also include the 17th annual season of Jazz at Pinecrest Gardens. Pinecrest’s annual Veterans Day ceremony takes place on November 11 at Veterans Wayside Park. Depending on the desired travel pace, peaceful garden experiences, sports activities, nature watching and events can be combined. Since the places mentioned appeal to different interests, it is worth considering the desired mix of gardens, walking paths, sports facilities or cultural experiences when searching for accommodation, without having to combine all activities into a single itinerary.

For more travel ideas, you can also explore Bal Harbour, Miami Beach, Hialeah, Florida City, Kendall, Glenvar Heights, Key Biscayne and Bay Harbor Islands.

For the main travel overview: Miami-Dade.