Fruit and Spice Park in Homestead, Florida, boasts over 37 acres of gardens, orchards, event space and an historic home site that houses a visitor center and cafe. Each year Fruit and Spice Park hosts the International Orchid Festival, Mango Festival plus many more, drawing in vendors and buyers from around the world. Fruit and Spice Park is a perfect location for outdoor events, botanical roadshows or an exciting educational stopover on your way to the Keys.
Best way to get to Fruit and Spice Park
Fruit and Spice Park is located in rural Homestead, south of Miami. There is no public transportation in the area so a car is needed but plenty of free parking can be found in the fields surrounding Fruit and Spice Park.
Best time to visit Fruit and Spice Park
A great time to go is during the International Orchid Festival which draws thousands of orchid enthusiasts and features the displays of exotic orchid vendors from around the globe. While winter is great for the mild weather, it is better to go during the growing season of spring, summer or fall when there is an abundance of fruit to sample.
Admission to Fruit and Spice Park
Admission is between $2 and $10 for children and adults and kids under 6 are free. Open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Christmas.
Must see sights and activities at Fruit and Spice Park
Mango Row is a must see at Fruit and Spice Park, rows of mango orchards featuring 160 different varieties of mangoes. The International Orchid Festival is usually in May or June which makes a great day trip. During the spring and summer months vegetable gardens with fresh seasonal bounty are grown and harvested for sampling along with the native and exotic plant species that can be found on the premise. Tastings of the seasonal fruits and vegetables from the gardens are available at the tasting counter in the Park Store including mangoes, 70 varieties of bananas, dragonfruit, guava, and many more exotic offerings. Classes such as Intro to Beekeeping, horticulture, and orchid maintenance are available, visit their website for a full class list and availability.
Other places to visit near Fruit and Spice Park
On the premise of Fruit and Spice Park is the Mango Cafe to grab a refreshing smoothie, salad and wrap. Smoothies are made with many fruits and vegetables grown on site and picked at the peak of freshness. Nearby Fruit and Spice Park in Homestead is the huge nursery RF Orchids which is worth stopping by if you're going to be in the area.
Insider tips for Fruit and Spice Park
Unlike most botanical gardens or orchards, you are actually allowed to eat the fruit straight off the trees and bushes, sampling anything your heart desires. In fact, tasting is encouraged. Guided tours of the park include samples of exotic fruit that mostly likely you haven't come across anywhere else.
Author's bio: Wesley Slack is a freelance writer in the South Florida area.
