COCONUT GROVE GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Walk David Fairchild’s Living Library: A Docent-Led Stroll Through The Kampong
A 90-minute, docent-led garden tour that traces David Fairchild’s influential plant collections, visits the Fairchild-Sweeney House museum, and leaves time to explore the Biscayne Bay shoreline.
Walk David Fairchild’s Living Library: A Docent-Led Stroll Through The Kampong.
Set on the shores of Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove, The Kampong is a compact but historically rich botanical garden where a guided walk unspools the story of David Fairchild and the plants that reshaped American diets. On this docent-led tour you move through legacy plantings, enter the museum that once served as Fairchild’s study and laboratory, and learn how Kay Sweeney preserved the property before taking free time to explore the waterfront and grounds.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Legacy plantings that tell a botanical history
Stroll with a knowledgeable docent through plantings assembled by David Fairchild and hear how his introductions influenced American foodways and horticulture.
Fairchild-Sweeney House: study, laboratory, museum
Visit the museum that once served as Fairchild’s study and laboratory and learn the preservation story of Kay Sweeney, who saved the property from development after Fairchild’s death.
The Point on Biscayne Bay
After the guided portion, enjoy unstructured time to meander to The Point on Biscayne Bay and explore the garden’s shoreline settings at your own pace.
What the day feels like
What the visit feels like
The pace is deliberate and conversational: a docent walks the group through concentrated beds and specimen trees while narrating Fairchild’s plant-collecting legacy and the house’s transformation into a museum. The guided portion runs 90 minutes, after which visitors are welcome to continue wandering the grounds and the bayfront on their own.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who gets the most from this visit
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Tours run 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., with a guided duration of 1 hour and 30 minutes and an option to explore the grounds afterward.
Closed-toed shoes are required for safety; bring a refillable water bottle (water bottle filling stations are available onsite).
Advanced reservation and payment are required before attending the tour.
Check in with guest services at the meeting location in Miami, FL prior to the tour start.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the guided tour?
The guided tour is 1 hour and 30 minutes, with the option to explore the gardens on your own afterward.
When does the tour run?
Tour times are 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Where do I check in?
Please check in with guest services at the meeting location in Miami, FL before the tour.
Do I need to reserve or pay in advance?
Yes — advanced reservation and payment are required.
Are water or restrooms available?
Water bottle filling stations are available onsite.
Is there a footwear policy?
Closed-toed shoes are required for your safety.