The garden features winding brick pathways that snake through the foliage, running alongside and bridging across streams, fountains and waterfalls, The name seems increasingly applicable as you near the middle of the garden, where the path dips below sea-level to a large koi pond. Though you’re in the heart of the bustling city, the Sunken Gardens are incredibly peaceful and quiet. 50,000 plants from 50 different species are found here—palms, fruit trees,  bougainvillea and waterlilies. Portions of the garden are dedicated to butterflies, cacti, and Japanese formal arrangements. Chilean flamingos wander the grounds while parrots of various species are found in cages along the path.

And while enjoying nature on your own is always great, there’s more to the gardens than just the greenery. You can take yoga classes Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 and Sundays at 12:30, practicing your poses while surrounded by tropical plants. Various horticultural workshops also regularly occur, with one every week or so. Depending on when you’re in St. Petersburg, you can learn basic gardening techniques, beekeeping, how to grow bamboo, or even how to start your own koi pond. If you like guided group tours you can even arrange one of your own, complete with bus transportation and lunch at one of several nearby restaurants.

The gardens can be found at 1825 4th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33704.

Today there’s a designated viewing center, complete with a boardwalk pier, that’s free to visit and open to the public 10am-5pm between November and mid-April. And while your chances of encountering a manatee in the wild are fairly slim elsewhere, here you’ll likely see not just dozens but hundreds of the aquatic mammals enjoying the toasty water. Manatees are friendly and curious, and will often approach the pier and even emerge from the water for a close-up photo. And Trichechus manatus isn’t the only species that likes the warmth, either—there’s a good chance you’ll see eagle rays and spinner sharks leaping out of the shallow water, as well as Atlantic tarpon, sheepshead, jack, fiddler crabs and assorted birds.

There’s a 900-foot birding trail just a little ways away that makes its way through a coastal berm, and is lined with mangroves and all the flora and fauna they support. A butterfly garden further enhances the nature experience. If you can’t handle free, there’s the gift shop and concessions, and a tiny museum that educates visitors on both manatees and the power station, including not only the usual informational displays but hands-on exhibits like an assembleable manatee skeleton, video games, and a hurricane simulator.

The center can be found at 6990 Dickman Road, Apollo Beach, FL 33572.