Fairchild Membership Is a Fair Deal

it had been years since I visited Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, so when I went a few weeks ago I walked around the whole time smacking myself for going so long without visiting this magical place. I know "magical" is kind of a buzzy word right now, like "vibe," but Fairchild actually is kind of magic. Seriously - look at that iguana in the photo above.

I decided, about five minutes in, that I would buy a yearlong dual membership (that get's in me and a guest for free) for the year to force myself to visit on the reg. At just $110, it was a deal. The $25 single entrance fee hit me with a bit of sticker shock, which is why I let so long lapse between my last visit (an early date with my boyfriend of 5+ years, so it's been a good handful of years), but the membership turns out to be a steal. I plan on incorporating weekly Fairchild walks into my "workout" plan - which really gives you the hint about how hard my "workout" plan is. Moreover, I'm really into the horticulture classes (and classes in general - here's a roundup of other classes I recommend) that they offer at a discounted rate to members and have already finished my first class on Vanda orchids (post coming soon!) - I'm going full Grey Gardens ASAP.

It's unfair to pick a favorite part of Fairchild, but for me the nicest parts are the Spiny Forest Madagascar (first image below) and the very dense center of the park where the little river flows through and you really feel like you're in a rainforest somewhere far away.

I've always wanted to visit for the Mango Festival, so now I have a reason to finally get around to what I imagine will be the nicest day of my life.

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10901 old cutler road

CulturePatricia GuarchFebruary 23, 2015classes, coral gables, flowers, gardening, old miami