September 2023

Scott and I have lived in South Florida about a year and a half now and we finally visited the infamous Flamingo Gardens in Davie, FL. Flamingo Gardens, is a captivating botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary that beckons visitors into a lush, tropical oasis. Nestled amidst 60 acres of natural beauty, it offers a mesmerizing blend of serene landscapes, vibrant gardens, and diverse wildlife. Of course the main attraction are the flamingos, but visitors can also encounter a variety of native and exotic animals, from alligators to birds of prey. The garden’s dedication to conservation and education shines through interactive exhibits, informative tours, and an enriching educational center, making it a delightful destination for nature enthusiasts and families alike.

Botanical Gardens

The botanical garden is a verdant paradise that beckons nature enthusiasts and admirers of lush landscapes alike. Towering trees, vibrant flowers, and exotic foliage create a captivating tableau, offering a feast for the senses and a tranquil retreat from the bustling outside world. From the fragrant blossoms of tropical flora to the diverse array of native plants, the garden showcases the beauty of nature’s tapestry and educates visitors about the importance of plant conservation and sustainability. It’s a place where one can stroll amidst the greenery, appreciate the diversity of plant life, and gain a deeper appreciation for the intricate relationship between plants and our environment.

Flamingo Gardens History

Flamingo Gardens, was founded by Floyd and Jane Wray in 1927. Floyd Wray was an aviator, horticulturalist, and photographer, and he purchased the land that would become Flamingo Gardens to cultivate citrus trees. Over the years, the gardens expanded and evolved into the botanical garden, wildlife sanctuary, and educational attraction that it is today, showcasing a diverse array of plant life and animal species.

The original house of the Wray’s sits in the center of the gardens and has been preserved to showcase what it looked like when they lived in it.

Aviary

Birds take center stage at Flamingo Gardens in Davie, FL, enriching the sanctuary with their vibrant presence and contributing to the garden’s multifaceted mission. These avian inhabitants, including the iconic flamingos, symbolize the essence of biodiversity, providing visitors a unique opportunity to connect with the natural world. Their captivating behaviors, colors, and interactions serve as powerful educational tools, fostering an understanding of avian ecology and inspiring a sense of environmental stewardship. Additionally, Flamingo Gardens offers a safe haven for injured, rehabilitated, or rescued birds, providing a nurturing habitat for their well-being and enhancing the conservation efforts essential to safeguarding these majestic creatures for future generations to appreciate and cherish.

Endangered and Injured Animals

Flamingo Gardens is a sanctuary that not only showcases the beauty of wildlife but also takes an active role in the conservation of endangered animals. The sanctuary provides a safe haven for various endangered species, offering a chance for these remarkable creatures to thrive and potentially contribute to their species’ recovery. We were able to see a black bear, Florida panther, bobcat, two alligators, sea otters and a variety of turtles and tortoises.

Flamingo Gardens has a large sea otter habitat and it was fun watching the sea otters jump in their pool, wave to us and then take the slide back into the water.

Where are the Flamingos?

The grounds are covered with all kinds of birds ranging from peacocks, peahens, snowy egrets to name a few.

Finally, we found the flamingo pond and there were far more other birds than there were flamingos.

Lego Land

Throughout the gardens, you will find sculptures made completely out of Legos. This award-winning exhibit from Artist Sean Kenney featuring 44 sculptures made from more than 800,000 LEGO® bricks was only on display thru September 4th, so we got lucky.

All in all, we’re glad we took the time to visit this historical spot. It is just another reminder of why we moved to Florida – so we could enjoy outdoor activities all year round. Be sure to check out our YouTube episode (link below) for a full tour of the grounds.

As always, thank you for following our journey! Please be sure to subscribe to our channel and blog. You can also follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.

Cheers, Scott and Ally

Last month, Scott and I headed north to attend the Palm Reach RV Show. This was only the second RV show we have ever attended and it was eye-opening. The show was actually put on by La Mesa RV at the Palm Beach Fair Grounds.

Sprinter Vans

Since the weather has been so hot and rainy, we wanted to find an activity indoors and this was the perfect way to spend a Sunday! First we started with the Sprinter or Class-B vans.

These are the type of vans that most van life YouTubers are living out of. It may look glamorous on YouTube, but after looking at these, there is no way I could live in one.

Scott and I looked at the largest sprinter van and it had an unique set-up. The head (is that what you call it on an RV?) was located in the rear of the rv. This one just seemed very long and didn’t have a lot of storage. The pull down sink was pretty clever.

Revel RVs are rugged and meant to go off-roading. The interior is made to simply get you to your destination with the minimal comforts inside. Surprisingly, the can run over $200k!

Class-A RVs

We only toured a few of the Class-A buses as they were popular and pretty crowded. Honestly, after touring a few, we realized we probably would not want one, as they are really long and could be hard to park. But we found a few that certainly had the comforts of home!

This RV had an island and a dining table! Keep in mind, these Class-A buses had the slide outs completely out, making them look really roomy. However, when they are compact, it would be hard to move past the island.

Class-C Rvs

Next we ventured onto Class-C RVs and these seem to be more of our type. They are not too big to maneuver and you can still easily park them. Here are a couple that were interesting, but not necessarily our type.

The RV below has a murphy bed, so you would have to make the bed every day and put it away. It did have lots of counter space however.

The RV below here, had a premade bed, but you will notice, there was no privacy between the bed and the kitchen.

Our favorite Class-C RVs

After touring a few, we stumbled upon two RVs we really liked: The Entegra and the Thor Motor Coach. These were both around 25′ long and they had lots of comforts in side, plus outdoor entertaining outside. Below is the Entegra Odyssey and it had a price tag of $127,000.

The Entegra RV also had a murphy bed behind the couch and it faced a large tv and fireplace. However, there was no privacy for the bed, so you would have to install some kind of curtain.

Our favorite of all of the RV’s was the Thor Motor Coach 25′. This retailed for $122,000 and it had all of the comforts we love. The bed was a full walk around, it had movie theater seats facing a large tv.

I think buying an RV when we retire could definitely be something we would do, if we don’t buy a boat. It would allow us to travel and enjoy the adventure, just on land. Plus we were surprised by how affordable they are compared to yachts.

As always, thank you for following our journey! Please subscribe to our blog and share your comments. You can watch the full episode on our YouTube channel (see link below) and please follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney. Coming up we tour some famous sites in South Florida and we’ll bring you along!