The beauty of the Marie Selby Gardens couldn’t just be contained to one spot, and in 2020, the historic Spanish Point became home to their second campus! Located at 401 N Tamiami Trail in nearby Osprey, just about 10 miles down the road from the downtown Sarasota location, and featuring twice the acreage as their home base, the Spanish Point location is one of the state’s largest waterfront preserves, featuring a glimpse into not just the plant life, but the lives of the people who once made this area their home. History buffs will feel right at home in this historic area, naturalists will be excited to see rare species of plants that they may have read about but never thought they would see in person, and everyone will fall in love with the serenity the gardens provide. This guide to the historic Marie Selby Gardens Spanish Point will help our RentTheKeys guests realize that they need to schedule visits to both locations into their vacation itinerary!
Take a Tour of Marie Selby Gardens in Spanish Point
Although you will enjoy the experience equally well on a walkthrough basis, the tours offered at the Spanish Point campus are full of fascinating information that will give you a deeper understanding of the area, their mission, and the rich history of the people who lived here. For those who really want to delve deep into the entirety of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, on Saturdays they offer a boat tour that takes guests from campus to campus, offering a narration of history and ecology along the way and including a box lunch to enjoy at Old Spanish Point for $140 per person.
Butterfly House
Perhaps the most enchanting part of the Gardens, the Butterfly House, is destined to be a favorite part of your tour. Their butterfly gardens reside next to the butterfly house, the only one in the area, where more than 160 species of the delicate and magical creatures reside. Surprisingly friendly, the butterflies will often mistake visitors for colorful flowers, alighting on hair, skin, or sweater, and adding a colorful accessory to their outfits of the day! The butterfly house does more than entertain, however, being an important tool in the understanding of the importance of butterflies to our ecological survival.
So Much More
Providing special events and venue rentals for your special event, the beauty of both locations of the Marie Selby Gardens will enhance the magic of your Florida vacation and the feeling of peace and wonder will continue into your stay in our RentTheKeys vacation escapes. Reserve your favorite sanctuary today!
