Return To Cypress Gardens

A lot can change in Florida in just 6 short years.

Our second visit to Cypress Gardens was in December 2006. It was very unlike our first visit for two major reasons.

For one thing, this time we had a curly haired 5 year old who we never would have imagined was only 11 months away the first time we were here.

The other reason? Cypress Gardens in the middle of January 2001 was where we got married.

Our wedding was a really amazing day. Fuelled with a few glasses of champagne we climbed aboard a sleek white stretch limo which carried us smoothly from our hotel to our destination at Cypress Gardens.

It was a beautiful hot winter day with a refreshing breeze, like the perfect summer day back home in England. Jude looked amazing in her simple off the shoulder wedding dress and I guess I scrubbed up OK in my penguin suit too!

We exchanged vows in the centre of a sugar white gazebo surrounded by our close friends and family and presided over by the friendliest minister ever who seemed as happy for us as we were and brought so much joy to the occasion.

The whole of this within the panoramic splendour of Cypress Gardens of which unknown to us at the time, we had only seen a small fraction.

Afterwards we had the most amazing photos taken as we explored the rest of the gardens with ever more fabulous backdrops of fountains, lakes and waterfalls, romantic bridges and lush tropical foliage everywhere.

Our lasting impression was the warmth of the local Floridians we passed who without exception came over to offer their congratulations. We felt like Royals for the day.

There was more champagne and the traditional feeding each other with wedding cake (think custard pie fight) before we said our goodbyes to Cypress Gardens and were whisked off in the limo to our wedding meal.

A truly special day.

Fast forward nearly six years, several trips to Florida and the one impossibly energetic aforementioned 5 year old later and we had the urge to return to Cypress Gardens to see what memories it evoked

In the interim years we had been saddened to hear that Cypress Gardens had closed and wondered what would become of the beautiful scenes which held such a special place in our hearts.

When we heard not only that it was open again, but also that it had been much further developed as a theme park, we decided the time had come to see what transformation had taken place and if it had been at the expense of the gardens themselves.

Getting there involved a short drive, unfortunately no chauffeur this time, and almost immediately although we recognised the “Welcome To Cypress Gardens” sign, everything else seemed to be unfamiliar. Was everything erased to make way for roller coasters?

As far as theme parks go, the entrance fee was very good value and our immediate impression was how empty the place was. There were so many rides for young children and customers were so thin on the ground that the attendants were falling over themselves to help our little boy go on ride after ride of his choosing, often over and over again without getting off. He had the most incredible day and we both agree that if you want a day less frantic than the usual parks, Cypress Gardens is well worth a visit.

Still, after this we were still searching for something familiar. Something that had survived from our first trip.

We left the rides behind and headed for an area that we’d passed by earlier that day but not really noticed, ……. and there it was. Every memory, every wedding photo suddenly sprang to life. Every single thing was just as it was and just as it should be.

We took our time and revisited every place we had been to, reflecting on so many forgotten moments. If anything the gardens felt a little wilder but better for it. Everything was just the same, but time had not stood still and there was a more natural feeling.

Appearing suddenly as we passed beneath overhanging shady trees and rounded a final bend was “our” little white gazebo. Perfect.

We do recommend Cypress Gardens to you if you have younger children and if you need a change of pace from Disney and Universal. If you get the chance explore the gardens too and if you happen to come upon a small white gazebo, say hello from Al & Jude.