Sunken Gardens

Sunken Gardens is a historic botanical garden on 4th Street North, started in 1903 when George Turner Sr. drained a shallow lake and began planting tropical species in the low ground. The Turner family ran it as a roadside attraction for decades until the City of St. Petersburg bought it in 1999, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors walk shaded paths past dense tropical plants and a flock of flamingos, and the garden hosts plant tours, yoga, a Flamingo Festival, holiday events, and weddings.