We were looking for other alternatives while staying in Orlando other than going to a Disney or any other theme parks. Some of the locals suggested Downtown Orlando but it was Cypress Gardens that got our attention. We want to try something different and would like to know Orlando better and go to the areas where the locals hang out.
Based on the brochures, it first opened in the 1930's as a botanical garden and regarded as one of the oldest theme park. It garden show cases decades old banyan tree, exotic plants and a topiary trail of various animals such as rabbits, swans and ladybugs.
When we got to the park, it felt like a ghost town. We got there in the middle of the day but the parking lot only has a handful of cars. It has signs that we have to pay for parking but there wasn't any attendant on sight. Only indication of activity was the shrill screams coming from the water park area. By the time we got to the front entrance, we were ushered to wait for the train to drop us off on the north side of the park.
Once we got our ticket, we were told that there is a water ski show in an hour. We chose to walk around the botanical garden to get some photos and hit the topiary trail after the show. I did regret not bringing bug spray. We got mob by giant mosquitoes every time we are at the shade. It is impossible to stay under the sun since we were there mid-day in the middle of summer. It was a toss between the mosquitoes and the scorching sun.
By the time I am writing this post, it was announced that Cypress Gardens has closed its doors indefinitely, it is on the brink of bankruptcy (again!) and it is up for sale. It was unable to keep up with the competition.
Let's hope this park would be available again to the public. It would be a waste if the topiary trail will go on neglected.
Comments