Day 1 You'll See:
- Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden
- Beach Time - Smathers Beach, Sombrero Beach, Higgs Beach
Day 2 You'll See:
Day 3 You'll See:
Spend three blissful days soaking up the sun and all the education you can handle with this fun 3-day educational Florida Keys trip. You will see all the Key's key nature and wildlife hotspots and get plenty of beach time!
1
Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden
Nancy Forrester is an artist, teacher, environmental activist, and plant and animal lover. She created this playful haven for rescued parrots so that guests can picnic, play music, creat art, and interact with these colorful birds. She has been rescuing and rehoming orphaned parrots for 30 years now! The garden is open 10-3 pm daily. You can join in on the Parrots 101 demonstration each day at 10 am and have the opportunity to hold, take pictures with, and ask questions about the birds presented. One of each of the 8 species of Macaw in Central and South America will be represented. You will meet Ara Ara, the Blue and Gold Macaw, and Babyblue, the Hyacinth, which is the largest macaw in the world.
BEACH TIME!
Choose between Smathers Beach, Sombrero Beach, or Higgs Beach.
2
The Turtle Hospital
The educational center and gift shop portion of the hospital is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm, with the 90-minute hospital tour/ educational programs running until 4 pm each day. This guided tour allows you 90 minutes jam-packed full of sea turtle information, including a behind the scenes look at the rehab areas, presentation on the creature's habitat, and a chance to feed the permanent residents. See all the up-to-date equipment for surgeries such as flipper amputations or shell damage, as well as various turtle ailments to fix internal issues, such as the viral tumors that around 50% of the species get, over 1500 treated here. This is Loggerhead, Kemp Ridley, and Green Sea Turtle heaven!
Dolphin Research Center
The DRC has a total of over 30 years of history in this community, featuring over 90,000 square feet of gorgeous and unique saltwater lagoons set into the shorelines. This entire dolphinarium is considered to be one of the top research and care centers of its kind, being a top attraction in southern Florida for many students, researchers, and marine life enthusiasts alike. While visiting the Dolphin Research Center you will have several learning options that are really fun and interactive, including observing and interacting with resident animals such as AJ and Cayo, dolphins, or Karen and Kilo, California Sea Lions.
3
Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
Over 50 species of international butterflies are in attendance as are a number of tropical birds and a veritable jungle of plants in the stunning conservatory. Your group will have the opportunity to tour the conservatory at your leisure or on guided tours to learn more about the butterfly farming process, the variety and biology of the butterflies and birds, and all about the plants found in the conservatory gardens. The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory also maintains a gallery of butterfly related artwork, a learning center with informative exhibits, and a gift shop full of interesting, beautiful souvenirs. The Conservatory is open to visitors daily from 9 am to 5 pm with the last tickets sold at 4:30 pm.