Sarasota Children's Garden

An enchanted land for children sits hidden in Sarasota, Florida. It's a land where petite woodland fairies dance in harmony alongside pint-sized, rogue pirates. Snuffy, the buck-toothed, polka-dotted dragon surveys the scene and grins with approval. It's not a chapter from a Harry Potter book, but one played out at the Sarasota Children's Garden.

"I wannabe a princess."
My Mother and I treated Kat and Karl, my three-year-old niece and five-year-old nephew visiting from Upstate New York to the Children's Garden one Sunday, March afternoon. The whimsical journey began in the "Dress Up Room" where wannabe princesses and wizards select a wardrobe from a room full costumes ranging from frilly gowns to sparkly capes and regal crowns to comical hats.

"I don't wannabe a fairy. I wannabe a princess," Kat fussed at me as I tried to strap delicate, pink wings to her back.

As her thirty-something-year-old aunt, I thought it would be nice to have fairy wings and was trying to enjoy the experience vicariously through her. Kat had other ideas, finally settling for a pink, puffy gown, silver slippers and a diamond-like tiara.

I fitted Karl with a cute jester hat, but he felt he was "too big" to be playing dress up. Truth was, my nephew was anxious to explore the garden.

We followed the "Yellow Brick Road" to the green and lush tunneled entrance, which led to a round-wooden door. It was as though Kat and Karl knew something mystical stood behind that door. Together, they slowly pushed it open, peaking their heads around the side to see what awaited them. With wide, wandering eyes, they gasped in unison.

"...smells like a candy bar."
We immediately saw the "Black Pearl Lagoon" complete with a wooden pirate ship and over-sized lily pads. Kat took a whiff of one of the white, flowering plants sitting on the lagoon's bank. "Hmmm, it smells like a candy bar." One of the staff members indicated it was a chocolate-scented orchid.

Wandering through the Sarasota Children's Garden, we took our time to play and wonder. Themes vary throughout the 1.5 acre attraction and encourage young visitors to use their imaginations through the senses of touch, sight, sound and scent.

Signs are brightly colored and written in big, fun letters. Sculptures created from recycled items dot the lush settings. A Barbie-eating dinosaur is made from old car parts. Toy dinosaurs, a metal teapot and a rusted fan are randomly stuck on a vibrant orange archway which announces the entrance to the "Lamb of Od." Bowling balls dot a lime-green bench, an ideal location to soak up the atmosphere.

Snuffy the dragon, named after owner Joan Condon's grandmother, is the matriarch of the Garden. Karl was fascinated with its massive wings and spent most of the visit climbing and conquering the three parts of its body.

Other highlights of the attraction include the A-mazing Maze, where "in is out and out is in." A purple octopus stands guard of the sandbox and colorful butterflies flutter throughout the Garden.

And those seeking their favorite fairy tale will not be disappointed. The Three Little Pigs have built their twig, straw and brick homes here. Members of the Seven Dwarfs anxiously await the return of Snow White in the quaint, wooden cottage called the Caterpillar House. Inside, a crooked tree stands in the corner, adorned with shiny apples and laced with mini-white lights. A reading nook is tucked away in the corner, where children can select their favorite fairy tale from the cabin's library.

"I was a princess and I was pretty."
All fairy tales have happy endings. But this is the real world. Heading out of the Garden, Kat thought we were returning to the Dress Up Room so she could change into another costume. To say she was disappointed is an understatement. Both she and Karl did not want to leave and according to the Garden staff, this is an everyday occurrence.

After much coaxing and a promise of ice cream, we exited the Sarasota Children's Garden. With Karl and Kat holding each of my hands, we walked to the car and reflected on the day. My niece summed up her experience with "I was a princess and I was pretty."

And that says it all.

The Sarasota Children's Garden is available for private parties and is especially popular for birthdays. The garden is a nice treat for visitors to Sarasota who need a retreat from the beach.

The Children's Garden
1670 10th Way
Sarasota, FL 34236
Tel: (941) 330-1711
www.sarasotachildrensgarden.com

Open:
Tuesdays - Sundays 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving and Christmas

Admission:
13 years - Adults: $10.00 plus tax
Children 3 - 12: $5.00 plus tax
Children under 3: Free