{"id":2679,"date":"2017-09-15T09:00:53","date_gmt":"2017-09-15T14:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/daytripper28.com\/?p=2679"},"modified":"2023-07-23T07:22:58","modified_gmt":"2023-07-23T12:22:58","slug":"the-everglades-wonder-gardens-needs-your-help-after-irma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daytripper28.com\/the-everglades-wonder-gardens-needs-your-help-after-irma\/","title":{"rendered":"The Everglades Wonder Gardens Road Side Stop"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Millions of people visit Florida each year, but most don\u2019t venture out of Orlando. The further you get out of town roadside attractions start to pop up everywhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things like Alligator Encounters and the World Largest Bowling Pin are common sites. But there is one, in particular, that is must-see: The Everglades Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Everglades Wonder Gardens History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We found the Everglades Wonder Gardens<\/a> off the old Tamiami Trail in Bonita Springs Florida. As one of the first roadside attractions in Florida it flourished. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But since the newer highway has diverted traffic away, it has become a forgotten treasure. For me, just getting back from a Disney Park<\/a>, it was a dream come true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They opened in 1936 as a roadside attraction with something for everyone. Between the botanical jungles, national history museum, birds, and reptiles, it grew into something magical. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2014, a group of local residents transformed it into a nonprofit organization<\/strong>. They have restored the exhibits and added educational programs into the mix. They also take in rescue animals from failed roadside attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Flamingos<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Visiting the Wonder Gardens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From the outside, you knew this place has something special inside. It is like walking back in time. Walking in you are welcomed by a very friendly parrot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After exploring the welcome center and exiting the doors to the gardens, you enter a world of wonder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The gardens spread out in every direction, filled with mature plants. In-between the gardens, was home to different types of birds and reptile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest draw for many visitors is the alligators. These alligators were rescued from a different roadside attraction and were not being well taken care of. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Everglades Wonder Gardens brought them back to full health and they are now thriving. They even have their own lagoon, with a bridge for visitors to walk over and get a little closer.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Alligator<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The gardens are absolutely magical. The walking path is made from crushed seashells. The pathways wonder in out between the different foliage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between the textures, colors, and vines, I was in heaven. It probably didn’t help that I had just come back from a few months of a Minnesota Winter<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best part about the adventure is how well the Everglades Wonder Gardens did at integrating the reptiles in with the gardens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You would be enjoying at some amazing plant life and stumble upon the tortoise enclosure. After a while, it became an adventure to see where the next one was hiding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only thing it was missing was Burrowing Owls<\/a> that are all over southern Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Tree<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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\"Large<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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\"Cactus<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Hurricane Irma<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Due to Hurricane Irma, the Everglades Wonder Gardens suffered massive damage. All their animals are safe but the trees and gardens took heavy damage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the help of the community and following on their Facebook page<\/a>\u00a0they were able to replant a lot of the uprooted trees. Today it is back and better than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Everglades Wonder Gardens still depends on donations, membership, and admissions fees to stay in operation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what is so amazing about the Wonder Gardens is that no matter what gets thrown at them, they bounce back better than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had such a good time hanging out at the Everglades Wonder Gardens and seeing a different side of Florida. I hope that it will be around for years to come! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure to stop in on your visit to Bonita Springs Florida. While in the area, make sure to check out the 28 Things to do in Marco Island<\/a> and some of their amazing beaches<\/a> and vacation rentals<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Millions of people visit Florida each year, but most don\u2019t venture out of Orlando. The further you get out…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2681,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"MSN_Categories":"Uncategorized","MSN_Publish_Option":false,"MSN_Is_Local_News":false,"MSN_Is_AIAC_Included":"Empty","MSN_Location":"[]","MSN_Add_Feature_Img_On_Top_Of_Post":false,"MSN_Has_Custom_Author":false,"MSN_Custom_Author":"","MSN_Has_Custom_Canonical_Url":false,"MSN_Custom_Canonical_Url":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[566],"tags":[979,293,974],"apple_news_notices":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":566,"label":"Florida"}],"post_tag":[{"value":979,"label":"Bonita Springs"},{"value":293,"label":"Outdoors"},{"value":974,"label":"Zoos"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/daytripper28.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/EvergladesWonderGardens-1024x683.jpg",1024,683,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Jenn S","author_link":"https:\/\/daytripper28.com\/author\/admin\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":566,"name":"Florida","slug":"florida","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":566,"taxonomy":"category","description":"