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Growing a vegetable garden in your backyard is child's play—a flamingo garden is a different beast entirely. Today's deal takes the hardship out of growing animals from dry spores: for $8, you get one admission to Flamingo Gardens, a $17 value for adult admission. Children's admission is normally $8.50, so you can even save 50 cents per youngin', a great reason to de-age yourself with some manner of ray. This animalian sanctuary is about 40 minutes from downtown Miami in Davie, far enough from the hustle and bustle to keep menagerie residents at ease.

Despite the specific nature of the park's name, there is an ark's worth of animals to be observed on the 60-acre grounds. The Gardens feature numerous houses and areas to explore, each housing its own set of creatures. Step inside the 25,000-square-foot open-air aviary to be whisked away to a time when birds ruled the solar system. It's one of the largest collections of wading birds in America and is home to five ecosystems, just like your shower. The diversity and care given to replicating each species' natural environment is enough to make Captain Planet weep spring-fed tears of joy.

Other habitats house Florida natives such as river otters, bobcats, and panthers. Difficult and foolhardy to find in the wild, these majestic beasts will open a window into nature. Share your dirty secrets with the river otters, which are reputed to be great listeners. Pop by the alligator lagoon and ponder what it would be like to chew things by raising your skull instead of lowering your jaw.

For flamingo lovers tired of the lawn variety, there is a mystical pond full of these stoic avian philosophers, complete with sparkling waterfalls and lush tropical vegetation. Grab a bite to eat at the nearby café while beady bird eyes stare on in envy of your tasty hot dogs, sandwiches, and snacks.

There are many attractions to see after your snack break, such as beautiful green houses, butterfly and hummingbird arenas, arboretums, and more. You also have the option of taking a 25-minute tram tour for an extra $4 to avoid painstaking walking and auto-didacticism. Spend the day exhibit hopping with your kids or someone else's kids on loan at the Flamingo Gardens.

Reviews

Unique Travel Stories highlighted Flamingo Gardens as a great place to visit in South Florida, TripAdvisors give Flamingo Gardens four owl eyes—making it the #2 attraction in Davie on the site—and three Yelpers give it 4.5 stars:

• Don’t let the name “Flamingo Gardens” fool you. It’s much more than just a collection of those elegant, long-necked pretty pink birds. In fact, the flamingos are almost an aside in this tropical paradise and wildlife sanctuary. – Anna Collins, Unique Travel Stories
• Set beautifully in a former citrus grove, this lushly-landscaped sanctuary rescues wildlife - particularly birds - who've been abandoned or injured, and cannot be returned to the wild. They do have a breeding program so that offspring can be released, and the sanctuary biologists are friendly and knowledgeable. – ShowAndTell, TripAdvisor
• I remember comming [sic] here as a kid, this place is amazingly fun. Now I take my nephews here and its cool to get to see their faces filled with excitement! Brings back memories. Check out the DE LI CIOUS Juice they have. – Andres V., Yelp