Travel guide voters: Miami botanical garden is tops in North America

Thanks to tropical climate, South Florida stop is lush year-round.

MIAMI — The voters have spoken: Miami’s garden is the greatest.

The 83-acre Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables, Florida, won in the “Best botanical garden in North America” category in a “10 Best” list, beating out similar attractions in Cincinnati, California, Arizona and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and other places.

“The warm climate of Coral Gables allows tropical plants to be grown outdoors year round at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden — one of the only places in the continental United States where this is possible. Exotic butterflies fly freely within the Wings of the Tropics Conservatory, while the Rare Plant House displays 450 species of rare and endangered tropical plants from around the globe,” a statement by the voters said.

The garden, which was created in 1938, is also well known for its rotating exhibits, like the current Nature Connects by Sean Kenney, which includes 30 sculptures made of giant Lego bricks, and special events, like the annual Mango

Festival, which runs July 9 and 10 and celebrates all things mango related.

One Thursday each month, the garden hosts a Sip & Stroll — an evening that includes live music, specialty cocktails and food.

“We’re so proud to, yet again, be named the best botanical garden in North America,” said Nannette Zapata, Fairchild COO. “The support of our members, scientists, countless volunteers, and our friends, who we call the Fairchild Family, reinforces the important work we do, the beauty of our plant collections, and the joy of being Miami’s garden.

“The fact that we’re now back-to-back winners tastes as sweet as our delicious mangoes.”

JILLIAN CAIN/DREAMSTIME/TNS The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in the Coral Gables area of Miami includes plenty of exotic butterflies and rare and endangered plants from all over the world.