Absolutely the best way to spend an hour or more in this area. I'm so glad we visited. Bridgette is incredibly fun and welcoming. She made our visit that much more fun. She deserves a raise and a vacation! A really great variety of trees, orchids and wildlife. Beautiful view of Biscayne Bay. Highly recommended. Buying in advance is probably a good idea, as parking is limited, and I think it helps them accommodate everyone. read more

Bridgette is the absolute best!!!! Oh yeah great site to visit too! Blown away by guest services and the sideways baobab tree

This is a sister garden of the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, located in Coconut Grove. It's gated and you have to reserve your time and ticket in advance on their website. On the day of my reservation, there was a high chance for downpours. I wish we had had more than 5 minutes to walk around before the heavens opened and it started pouring rain. We did make it over to the water, but didn't really get to see the whole garden other than the area where we parked. You'll only need an hour or less to see this place, it's small. Would I go out of my way to visit? No, but if you're in the area and looking for something new, then go for it. Entry was a bit annoying as I had to get out of the car to reach the buzzer to have the gate opened. No one was answering so we wasted 5 minutes just trying to get in. All in all, interesting little garden, but no where as spectacular as Fairchild. read more

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The Kampong is open by advance reservation to visitors Tuesday through Friday and is a 9 acres (3.6 ha) botanical garden in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami, Florida, United States. It is one of the five gardens of the non-profit National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG). An admission fee is charged,The fee is 18.00 The Kampong was bought as a winter home by the famed horticulturalist David Fairchild and his wife Marian in 1916.For many years he managed the Department of Plant Introduction program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C., searching the world for plants that could be useful and successfully introduced into the United States. Fairchild introduced around 30,000 plant species and varietals into the U.S. At his home in Florida, Fairchild created a garden that contained many of the plants that he obtained throughout his trips. In 1931 Marian's sister Elsie and her husband, Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor, acquired the adjoining property on the north to use as their winter home.Fairchild and his wife made the Kampong their permanent home from 1928 until their deaths in 1954 and 1962 respectively. A year after David Fairchild's wife's death, the land was purchased by Catherine Hauberg Sweeney, a botanist and preservationist.[4] Sweeney maintained Fairchild's garden and was vital in its preservation for future use and study, securing its listing on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1984 Sweeney donated the property to the then Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden (now National Tropical Botanical Garden), and remained its principal sponsor until her death in 1995. The Kampong's first director from July 1996 to February 1998, Thomas Lodge, oversaw completion of The Fairchild-Sweeney House renovations. He also was key in researching David Fairchild's role in the establishment of Everglades National Park. Larry Schokman served as Mrs. Sweeney's superintendent for 11 years, until 1984 when The Kampong became part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG), and Schokman became an NTBG employee. As director of horticulture and then assistant director under Lodge, Schokman maintained a close working and personal relationship with Sweeney until her death in 1995. He became director of The Kampong in 1998 and retired in August 2007. He died in October 2017. Following Schokman, David Lee was director of The Kampong from 2007 to 2009. Lee was formerly the chair of biological sciences at Florida International University, where he worked for 26 years. Lee helped to safeguard The Kampong's southern boundary from development encroachment, and provided guidance for The Kampong's board of governors. In 2009, Ann Parsons took on the role of director of The Kampong. Formerly the director of education at Norfolk Botanical Garden, Parsons, along with curator of living collections David T. Jones, were tasked with preserving the rich legacy of The Kampong while planning for the future. They are doing just that--in 2011, more than 5,000 guests visited the historic estate and garden through tours, educational programs and special events. Michael Maunder was Director from 2013 to 2016. Craig Morell, formerly the horticulturist at Pinecrest Gardens became the Director of The Kampong in 2017, retiring in May 2022. Appealing to a wider spectrum of visitors than ever before, The Kampong is an urban oasis with over 1200 species of fruit trees, palms, ethnobotanical plants and teaching collections for botanical study. These visitors are key in helping spread The Kampong message about the importance of protecting, preserving, and studying tropical plants. Today the Kampong's living collections include tropical fruits including pomelo, 23 cultivars of avocado, and 65 varieties of mango, palms, flowering trees, ficus, aroids, and bamboo.This garden serves as the mainland campus for the NTBG. In addition to the diverse living collections which are the core of The Kampong, there are living quarters for researchers and scientists, as well as meeting facilities for larger groups. The site is also well configured for weddings and outdoor functions of all varieties. The Fairchild-Sweeney House - designed by architect Edward Clarence Dean, constructed in 1928,as a combination of Spanish and Southeast Asian influences. A later renovation to the home incorporated more modern features and added a second floor over a portion of the home, resulting in an unusual blend of styles. Visitors included Thomas Edison and Henry read more

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Stunning, beautiful place!!! The service is incredible. Bridgette in guest services is really that girl! She makes every visitor make sure to feel welcome and informed on all the events occurring onsite. This is a very special part of the city with many beautiful gardens and sea views. read more

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What a delightful little garden to stroll through!! A short walk takes you to a breathtaking view. read more

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Right here in our backyard you find true beauty. Keep walking down towards the water for a breathtaking view. So many different species. Definitely worth a visit. read more

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Before entering the gate you have to buzz in. There are parking to the end and walked down to the bldg. to pay for entrance fee. It's $17 per person. The Kampot is beautiful garden. We walked around and there are edible trees that you can picked the fruits from. We loved reading all of the plants and flowers along with a view of the ocean and mangroves. read more

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One of my favorite find in Miami . What a beautiful place to just relax & collect your thoughts! Stuff were very nice , knowledgeable! Some history behind this beautiful, peaceful hidden gem: The Kampong, a botanical garden in Coconut Grove and known now as the National Tropical Botanical Garden, dates back to the 1800s and is entered in the National Register of Historic Places. The first settler to live on the property was Jack Peacock--related to the Peacocks who opened the first hotel in the area (Bay View Inn). The land then changed hands multiple times until Dr. David Fairchild and his wife Marian, daughter of Alexander Graham Bell( ring a bell.? ) purchased the property in 1916, naming it Kampong, a Malaysian word for village. Dr. Fairchild was a horticulturist and dedicated his career to the research of plants. He traveled to Asia, Egypt, China, Japan and other places where he collected plants that were suitable to bring back to the U.S. In total, he brought about 30,000 different species of plants to the country and planted some of them in the Kampong. The garden also has a house on the land, where the Fairchilds welcomed many famous friends, such as Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Though the land was used primarily as their winter residence (he and his wife lived in Washington D.C. for most of their lives), it eventually became his permanent home. It was also here where Marjory Stoneman Douglas and Ernest Coe met to plan the establishment of the Everglades National Park..! The Kampong later became the property of Dr. Sweeney, a botanist who transformed the land into the botanical garden it is today. The nine-acre historic garden is used as an educational resource for the study and conservation of plants. Visitors will find a laboratory and education center on-site, as well as a herbarium. Guests can book a tour of the gardens and the main house and see historical documents that detail the creation of the Everglades National Park. There are also self-guided tours so that visitors can explore the lush, tropical gardens at their own pace. Amidst the tropical oasis, visitors will find an 80-year-old baobab tree from Tanzania, fruit and flower trees, and scenic views of Biscayne Bay--ideal for a picnic. ( thanks for the historical info) read more

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We had a great time exploring the Kampong! The view of Biscayne Bay was beautiful. There were so many trees and plants to enjoy. We did a self guided tour and used the map as we walked around, most of the plants are labeled. Remember to wear bug repellent. I forgot mine and by the end of the walkthrough I was done (because of the mosquitos) otherwise I'd have elected to stay more. Parking seemed a bit limited but we went at a good time when it wasn't too busy. There is a gate at the entrance so you just need to ring and someone let us in from there. Everyone we interacted with was friendly and kind. I'd love to come back to see more blooms coming in. read more

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Beautiful garden! The owner was a botanist and the variety and amount of plants shows his passion for plants. They have a tiny gift shop and they also sell plants. The park is big, so if you're a plant lover, it will take you several hours to go through the entire property. At the end of the property you can sit and look out onto the ocean. The house has an outdoor sitting area and a roof balcony where you can see the entire property, A peaceful, relaxing place right in the city! Bridget is super friendly and helpful. I called her Beautiful Bridget because she had so much energy and personality. Will definitely visit again. read more

Lovely botanical garden, you have to call at the door. It's small but has many plants and flowers and peacocks. Free for military personnel. read more

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The Kampong, meaning "village" in the Malay language, is a small but lovely garden, created by Dr. David Fairchild (yes, the creator of the famous Fairchild Gardens, not very far away), when the property served as his family home. It is not a place you just happen upon. It sits on 9 hidden acres deep in Coconut Grove. It takes some doing to get there, especially if you are coming from somewhere other than the immediate area. There is a small admission fee, and they do have materials to help you do a self-guided walk, BUT, their website suggests there are scheduled tours (it's a bit confusing, so you should call to confirm, which you need to anyway to secure a spot in the small parking lot) which seems very worthwhile if you can arrange for one. In short, it's an interesting collection of tropical plants, collected by a famous botanist, for his own enjoyment, but I'd think twice if I was 30 minutes away. read more

Great little piece of Florida History! A beautiful landscape with a lot of plants to enjoy viewing. If you have a car you should make a reservation online for it with your ticket. As it is limited. But buying tickets and arriving were a fairly easy, quick, process. read more

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This garden is a very special, zen like place. We had to book a reservation time and access in thru a gate. I appreciated the privacy and gated setting. The walk thru the gardens was breath taking. So interesting to see all the fruit and flowering plants. We have Indonesian heritage so extra special for us. Truly a hidden Gem! read more

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The Kampong -- a word that means small village -- is part of the NTBG. The National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) is dedicated to "discovering, saving and studying the worlds tropical plants and sharing that information". It includes 5 botanical gardens/preserves covering some 2000 acres in Hawaii and Florida. The Kampong is one of those 5 properties. I never had heard of this place nor do I imagine have most people. Thanks to Ariel W for introducing me. It's off of Douglas Road hidden behind a locked gate. You have to call and reserve when you are coming. When you enter, you ring a buzzer and let them know you are there and they open the gate. We happened to enter as another vehicle was leaving so we arrived unexpectedly. Once inside you park and follow signs to check in. There's an entry fee of $15 for adults; $10 for seniors. They provide a map for your own self guided walking tour. The most famous owners of the property were Dr and Mrs Fairchild. They named it Kampong. They planted many of the tropical horticulture that he collected during his world wide travels, especially from Southeast Asia. They bought it in 1916 and resided here until her death in 1962. After that the house was bought by the Sweeney's who made some improvements. Mrs Sweeney got the property to be included on the National Historic Register and deeded the property to the NTBG. As you walk around, you get to see many of the trees and plants. The map shows you where some of them are. Many are marked with small tags or have signs in front of them. There is a mangrove preserve, many types of palms, various fruit trees, different gardens, et al. A giant water lily reflecting pond is quite beautiful. You can walk to the edge of the property right up to the Biscayne Bay. You can see the Miami skyline -- the high rises in the distance. There is a bench strategically placed at the the point. Unfortunately it was very occupied by a young romantic couple who were not in any hurry to move. We also saw some wild life as we walked around -- iguanas and a colorful peacock. In addition to the main house, there are a number of other structures on the property including a cottage built from Sears and Roebuck plans before the main house was built. One of the most interesting buildings on the property is the Galt Simmons building -- not only because it is the oldest at the Kampong and one of the oldest in Miami-Dade, but because of its resident. Dr Simmons was the 1st woman physician in the Miami area in the 1890's. She had her office on one end; and a stable on the other end. This place is a nice hidden surprise. It requires quite a bit of walking, but it's a lovely way to spend an afternoon. It is well worth the effort if you have any interest in learning about flora and fauna and Florida history. read more

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Lovely botanical garden with emphasis on trees. The Kampong is beautiful, and the visitor's guide has interesting information about a number of trees. The view from the point is stunning, and it's definitely worth relaxing at the point for a few minutes. We saw a plethora of lizards of different sizes and a few interesting waterfowl too. The collection of different tropical trees is impressive, and we enjoyed how many different trees were planted in a relatively small space. If you enjoy wandering through natural settings, then I would recommend the Kampong. read more

This was not my favorite botanical garden. It was smaller than I was expecting and pricey to get in. I'd rather go to Fairchild any day of the week. read more

The place is pretty but the signage and "maps" could be a lot more informative. Okay for a quick stop - less than an hour. read more

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Located in Coconut Grove the Kampong is a 9 acre tropical garden that was once the winter home of David Fairchild and his wife Miriam who was the daughter of Alexander Graham Bell. In 1916 David and Miriam purchased the property from the "Duke of Dade" J.W. Ewan who homesteaded the property and had been living on it since 1882. David Fairchild was a world wide plant explorer and he created Fairchild Gardens in Coral Gables. He wrote for National Geographic as well as many books about plants. He filled his gardens with plants he collected from around the world when he worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington D. C.. He is responsible for introducing 30,000 plants into the U.S. including soybeans, pistachios, mangos, nectarines, and bamboo. In 1926 the Kampong became the permanent home of the Fairchild's andtThey named the property for a Malay word meaning village. After the deaths of the Fairchild's the property was then purchased by botanist Dr, Catherine Hauberg Sweeney. She had the property placed on the National Register of Historic Places and in 1985 donated the land to the National Tropical Botanical Garden. This is the only garden outside of Hawaii to be part of the National Tropical Garden. There are several structures on the Kampong property. The Fairchild Sweeney House which is a mixture of Spanish and Asian architecture . This was the Fairchild's home and is where you check in and pay. You can only tour a small portion of the home as it is mainly used as offices. They are several wonderful pieces of art work inside including the Garuda, carved from the roots and trunk of a lychee tree. Famous visitors to the house include some of the greatest inventors of the day, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford. The Schokman Education Center is an outdoor pavilion that was added in 2007. The Scarborough Dormitory built in 2006 provides 12 beds for visiting researchers and students who come to study the plants. The Barbour Cottage was built in 1926 to provide the Fairchild's guests a place to stay when they visited. The Sausage Tree Cottage was built in 1964 to house guests and is now used by researchers. The Explorers Cottage was the home of curator David Jones and now hosts education and business groups.The Kampong also contains the second oldest building in it's original location in Miami. It's a cottage that belonged to Dr. Eleanor Galt Simmons who was the first woman doctor in Miami. She purchased the property in 1896 along with her husband Captain Albion Simmons in 1892 and sold the property to the Fairchilds in 1916. Dr. Simmons treated troops in Miami stationed during the Spanish American War, white and black settlers, and members of the Miccosukee tribe. She traveled by horse or boat through land filled with panthers, rattlesnakes, and alligators. The grounds of the property contain the plants Fairchild acquired from around the world. You can find rare tropical fruits, cocoplums, over 50 kinds of mango as well as palms and cycads. As you tour the property you can visit the Fairchild's lovely swimming pool with water lilies, waterfall, and coral stone boulders submerged in it. If you walk past the tennis courts you can make your way to the point which juts out into Biscayne Bay. Surrounded by Royal Palms, it is the exact spot that Miriam gazed at her husband and said "We've got to have this place, David.'" When you gaze at the same view today you will see the high rises of Miami across the water to Key Biscayne. While Fairchild Tropical Gardens is a popular tourist attraction not many people know about the Kampong. I held off on visiting because I wasn't sure how it worked. All you need to do is call during their operating hours and make a reservation. The reservation does not need to be a precise time, it's okay to ball park it but they need to know you are coming. Once you arrive call them on the intercom and they will open the gate. Park and walk up to the house to pay your entrance fee of $15. They will take card or cash. If I came back I would make a point of arriving for a guided tour. You can tour on your own but there is so much to see that I think you will get more out of the visit if you walk with a guide. read more

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Gorgeous place for a long walk! We called ahead of time and they put my name down for the day (no need to specify the time), and we drove in (there's parking inside) without issue. We were greeted with information and given pamphlets, and from there on, we could walk around and look at plants, buildings, and the water view to our content. It's a very pretty place with a lot of historical meaning (both in the plants and in the buildings), and plenty of places to just sit and look at nature, as well as many winding paths through the jungle-y areas. read more

The Kampong - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Coconut Grove, Florida

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Beautiful and historical. Highly recommend it! We saw a Manatee right next to shore at the "Point"! read more

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I'm pretty sure that most people, even those who have lived here for a decent amount of time, have no idea that this place even exists. Driving to/from the Grove on Douglas, there's no hint of anything special, just a rock wall. One would be forgiven for thinking it's yet another multmillionaire's bayside compound. So what is the Kampong? Well, it's a pretty cool Asian-inspired old house (David Fairchild's old house, to be exact) situated on a bayside plot that Fairchild transformed into a very serene garden with an array of exotic greenery that you won't find too many other places around here ouside of Fairchild Tropical Garden a few miles south. There are several exotic fruit trees and wildly colorful, interestingly-shaped flowers, many of which, if ingested, would cause you to writhe around on the ground in nauseating torment by evil ancestral spirits three hundred thousand years old. So if you go, please try to avoid eating the datura flowers. The Kampong's gardens, though smaller than those found at Fairchild, are more manicured and have an even more serene, peaceful feel - so even if you've been to Fairchild, I would say that this little slice of serenity is still worth the trip. Self-guided tours for adults are $15, guided tours for $20. The only catch is that you do have to make advance reservations in either case, so coming here requires a bit of planning. read more

The Kampong - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Coconut Grove, Florida

This place is fairly unknown to locals, which is a shame, as it is incredibly beautiful. I am glad I took advantage of a special LivingSocial offer that provided a guided tour but I actually stumbled upon The Kampong when reading a touristy brochure; otherwise, I probably would have never known about it. Ask many locals and even true Miami natives about it and chances are, they won't even know what you're talking about. Most people who drive by probably think it's a historic residence in the Gables, as there's a rock wall that gives passersby no hint as to what lies inside. There's so much to see here, that it will take hours to tour the entire grounds. I was privileged to have a guided tour narrated by Mr. David Jones, the horticulturist in charge of The Kampong. Not only was Mr. Jones very knowledgeable about the house and its history, but obviously, about the plants as well. He made the tour very interesting and it was fascinating to hear about all the plants. We even got to sample one of the fruits, which had a bit of a bitter parmesan cheese taste to it. Little known fact: there is a celebrity tree, known as the Ylang Ylang, which is where Channel No. 5 is derived from. Other little known fact: there's actually an amazing view and many people come here to have a picnic by the bay. The view is lovely, Biscayne Bay beyond the house. If you enter The Kampong, you'd never guess there's such a lovely view, and you could even be forgiven for not known a house lies beyond the exotic gardens. If you pay for the membership, it automatically gives you access to the Hawai'i location. Whether you go in the wet season or the dry season, you're bound to find different plants, considering some flower in the wet season and some do in the dry season. If you plan to go, you need to make reservations. I suggest trying to get Mr. Jones as your guide, as he's very knowledgeable and friendly. PS: There's a wedding tree in the back of the house. It is said that everyone that gets married under it has a successful marriage. The guide told us that one of the people who got married under it was on his third marriage and so far, so good, even though people thought it'd end the tree's streak of happiness and luck if they allowed him to marry there. So there you go, a beautiful place to have a wedding and at the same time, have lady luck on your side for a happy, successful marriage! read more

There aren't words to describe this historic gem of Miami. But, trying anyway, and always informative, this is the historic home of Dr. David Fairchild, world botanist extraordinaire. After a lifetime of exotic travel and managing the Office of Seed and Plant Introduction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C, this was his private planty little respite. Among other things, this guy you've only probably heard of is responsible for the cherry trees on the Washington Mall, as well as the introduction of soybeans, pistachios, mangos, nectarines, dates, bamboos, wheat, and cotton, and a bunch of other things you like having in your life. After his death, the house and gardens--where he did some serious tinkering with mangos, avocados, and other plants--were preserved mostly whole by a wealthy botanist named Dr. Catherine Hauberg Sweeney. Without her wise intervention, this place would be just another three million dollar home lining Biscayne Bay near the Grove. But luckily for us, it's a beautiful historic slice of tropical heaven. For god's sake go, and get lost for a while. My pictures speak for themselves. ***Note: But read directions on the website--they are open by appointment only. And don't let me catch you one starring this place because you're an idiot. read more

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This place is beautiful! Peacocks, mangoes and many other plants give this place lots of life and color. There is also a bay area next to the botanical garden. read more

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A great venue for live music and concerts for families and grown-ups! Not many people know that the beautiful botanical garden, The Kampong, hosts wonderful concerts in its Shokman Education and Performance Pavilion. The tropical atmosphere, intimate setting, and great acoustics make The Kampong a hidden gem for music lovers. From live jazz to classical music, the great acoustics and lush surroundings are amazing, as is the quality of the artists who perform there. Truly the perfect way to spend the day with your family at a Kampong Kids concerts, or a memorable evening listening to fine music. Don't miss April 9th., a day of opera: " An Excellent Opera Adventure for Kids at The Kampong " and "@ The Kampong: Opera in the Tropics" coming up next week-end. . read more

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The garden is by appointment only. This should be listed in the website. Don't bother to go unless you call first. The person who answered the phone at the entrance doesn't seem to care about people visiting the garden, They would prefer to keep it closed. read more

I visited the Kampong with my coworkers to learn more about the different species of plant life. It turned out to be a beautiful experience. Our tour guide was very educated on the history of the land, and walked us through the changes it has undergone over the years. The kampong is absolutely stunning. I would definitely recommend having a picnic here with someone special, or bringing a mat & doing yoga in the midst of all the nature. read more

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The Kampong has a variety of trees and tropical plants: fruit trees; palms; flowering trees; ficus; aroids; bamboo. If you love tropical plants, and have already been to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, The Kampong might be a good place to spend an hour. It's a small garden - not nearly as famous as Fairchild - but The Kampong can brag that it's the only location outside of Hawaii that's included in the National Tropical Botanical Garden (and if you really care about that, then you're definitely a plant geek). Advance reservations are required. read more

LOVED IT! So happy I purchased the Living Social for The Kampong. I had no idea this place even existed, but what a great surprise. The Kampong is the former home of David Fairchild (famous horticulturist). Fairchild collected plants from all around the world making the Kampong the home to thousands of different plant specimens. During the two hour tour you learn about a few different type of trees, plants, and fruits, walk around the grounds, visit the museum, and learn a little bit about Miami's history. I would have to say that the most amazing tree was the banyan tree. So massive! Oh and the cactus tree by the pond was possibly the coolest tree I have ever seen! I want to get one for my own garden. The view is also amazing! The tour is only available Wednesday and Saturdays 10:30 am for when you are planning to go. The only down I would say is that the tour guides didn't seem very knowledgeable. I'm guessing they were volunteers. Overall great experience and I would definitely recommend going! read more

Wow! I love The Kampong. I drive past it all the time, and I've been meaning to go see it. It took a Living Social deal to get me off my butt and finally go. This is the former home of David Fairchild, the renowned horticulturist. He collected plants from around the world and some of his original collections are still on the property. The grounds are beautiful and on the tour, you'll learn more about the different types of plants. I found this part interesting since I'm always trying to learn more about how to make things grow in South Florida. I have yet to find my green thumb. The house is a unique blend of Art Deco with Asian influences. You don't get to see much of the house - just the first floor. I loved the patio and they were setting up for a wedding while we were touring. Which brings me to my next note - if you are looking for a great spot for a wedding - this is it! You can have your ceremony on the water and then have the reception up at the house. A perfect spot to get married. And from what I learned, it's about half the price of Vizcaya. Score! If you want to visit The Kampong, you must make reservations in advance and they only do tours on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Please go, I promise you'll love it. Final note: you will be walking through grass, mulch, sand, etc. If you don't like your feet to get dirty, wear covered shoes. read more

Don't eat the fruit. No matter how interesting, tempting, luscious, or shiny the fruit is, they said don't. For legal reasons, of course. The Kampong is a great hidden gem. One of 4 National Tropical Botanical Gardens (the other 3 in Hawaii), it's certainly a place worth visiting with friends and SOs. Maybe not the best for visiting family members, due to needing reservations and limited spaces, but the staff are knowledgeable about the history of the space. According to the guide, it's a great place for a wedding because of a lucky wedding tree near the main house! Heyyyy. From the volunteer-led tour, we learned about Fairchild's quest to bring foreign seeds and agriculture to Miami. Who knew that mangoes and pineapples aren't native to South Florida? Certainly not this California transplant. We were given some background information about one of the first female physicians in Miami, and toured the many different houses/offices on the grounds. The structures are mostly in the process of being remodeled, whether to be up to code or to make it a working replica of Fairchild's office. But at the time we went, most spaces were used as storage. I'm excited to see it complete though! The main house is very Asian inspired from Fairchild's travels and Dr. Sweeney's (who purchased the place when it was on the brink of becoming an unremarkable millionaire row house) preferences, complete with a gorgeous lotus pond, but on the inside, the guide was telling us that Junior League ladies had an interior designing competition? The insides did not match the peaceful exterior, and they locked the library behind glass doors. As a bibliophile, I found that disheartening. But what they did have on display were dozens of research charts from students projects that detailed the growing cycle of hundreds of native plants and vegetation. It's great to know that the Kampong invites programs and students in to their grounds for both learning and giving back. The guide mentioned that FIU was in the talks of creating a partnership building on the grounds for their horticulture/agriculture/some sort of program. We were lucky that we called an hour before the noon tour on a Saturday, and the woman said they had a cancellation - the website limits tours to 20 participants, which was good because between traffic on Douglas and the guide's quiet voice, we couldn't be closer to hear him. The guide said they were working to get more than just Saturday and Wednesday tours, which is a good thing for the general public, but I hope they also receive funding to create a better sign for the parking entrance. I drove past it the first time, and had to make an awkward U-turn in the secondary entrance's driveway. If you're coming from US 1, take note - it's the driveway right before GPS tells you to turn left. No clear signage outside, but once you turn in, you'll see arrows pointing you along to the grassy section where cars were haphazardly lined up. But the grounds facing the Bay. That was everything I had hoped for. Utterly silent, save for the waves lapping against the concrete foundation, sun reflecting off blue waters and Key Biscayne off in the distance (and what looked like Vizcaya a couple outcropping to the left), I was so happy. It called for a few cartwheels of celebration. TL:DR; if you're searching for a nature walk, that's not overrun with tourists with selfie sticks, this is it. But plan ahead and arrive early. read more

What can I say about this hidden gem in Miami!?! I have been to Fairchild botanical gardens many times and I had no idea about the Kampong until my nieces had an art exhibit for Art Basel at this location! It is a really peaceful and beautiful place. There are historic vibes and tranquility all in one place. It's a must see place in Miami. read more

I did yoga with Sam here last Saturday, and it was incredible! My boyfriend found it on eventbright and we have never had such a great experience. If we lived closer we could spend every Saturday at her yoga class. It was so beautiful being surrounded in nature and Sam's positive energy was contagious! If you ever want a day to get your mind right, join her on Saturday's in the Kampong! read more

My mom and I came here today and had a really good time. The woman who greeted us and checked us in was extremely kind and nice to talk to. There are a bunch of benches around that you can sit and relax on. The area by the bay is a great view with a lot of grass you can sit on as well. They have tons of fruit trees and you are able to take whatever you want as long as you can reach it or it's on the ground. Personally, I am obsessed with mangos. They have so many different mango trees on the property so we took some of every type we could find. It was a little buggy, but it's the summer in Florida, so what do you expect. Overall, this place was beautiful. If you like outdoor activities this place is good for you. Entrance in the summer is $10 a person. Regularly I think it's $15, but $10 for seniors and students. read more

The place is kind'a hard to find with the gps but it's worth a visit for sure, beautiful house decorated in Bali style and amazing gardens. There is an awesome view to the bay too from the backyard. I went there for a private event so I'm not sure how much it costs to go visit. Sorry :( read more

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Took my wife here for her birthday today. She liked it a lot. Good stuff to see. Don't miss down by the water. It's breezy and quiet. There are manatees in the river. I learned some things about tropical plants and trees and also what a garuda is. The website says open 9:30am - 4pm Guided tours are only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Best time to get there is 10:45 for the 11am tours. The tour and wandering the grounds after is about 2 hours total. Afterward, we went north up to the marketplace in Miami (Exit 2a off I95) where all the new stores, restaurants and bay cruises are. We had lunch and went on the Island Queen cruise. Great combination. read more

This is one of the jewels of Miami and a special place to visit again and again. The garden is magnificent - full of mature species of trees and plants both native to South Florida and those brought here from other subtropical locations around the world by Dr. David Fairchild himself. Winding pathways lead to magnificent vistas and contemplative corners. The house is being restored and is a favorite location for weddings and special events. There is very serious scholarship conducted here and now more programs for general public are being offered. Note: The Kampong sustained extensive damage during Hurricane Irma. Call first for hours and availability. read more

This place is absolutely gorgeous. While I was at Fairchild Tropical Gardens I heard about The Kampong, so when a Living Social deal appeared I snapped it up. I ended up taking my abuela (you know how abuelas love plants), and we spent the afternoon roaming the grounds. First there was a guided tour, which took us from the street, through the gradens and the house, all the way back to the bay. The tour was really interesting - but I tend to like that stuff. My grandmother loved seeing all the plants, and pointed out all of the ones that she recognized from her childhood in Cuba. I wish there had been an option to do the tour in Spanish, because I really think that would have blown abuela's mind, but either way it was fun. If you've never been, go and spend the afternoon. This is a small place, so bring your own food and snacks if you need them! read more