Pinecrest Gardens

A village garden in Pinecrest with a splash pad, playground, mini zoo and lakes, and an $8 ticket.

Vérifié octobre 2026

Pinecrest Gardens is an easy, affordable morning for kids from toddlers to about 8; the trade-off is that it is a 25-minute drive from downtown, food and coolers are restricted, and the splash pad area gets busy on hot weekends.

Why you go

This former Parrot Jungle site is now a botanical garden with banyan trees, lakes and walking paths, plus a splash pad, a playground and a small viewing zoo. Toddlers and preschoolers can spend a whole morning moving between the water, the swings and the animals. It rates 4.8 from 3,529 Google reviews. Plan two to three hours. Much of the garden is under big shade trees.

When to go

Google lists it open every day from 9 am to 5 pm; the garden sometimes closes early for evening events, so check the calendar. Arrive at 9 am in summer to beat the heat and the crowds at the splash pad. Sunday brings the weekly farmers market, which adds parking pressure. On rainy days there is little indoor space, so pick another plan.

Know before you go

The garden's site lists admission at $8 for ages 2 to 64 and $5 for seniors 65 and up, with kids under 2 free. Outside food, drinks and coolers are generally not permitted, but a personal lunchbox-size container is allowed; no rolling coolers. Do not feed the zoo animals. It is in Pinecrest, about 25 minutes south of downtown. Bring swimsuits or a change of clothes for the splash pad, towels and sunscreen.

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