Pinecrest, FL

Pinecrest is a residential village in south Miami-Dade County, known for large wooded lots, well-regarded schools and a calm pace just minutes from Dadeland. For visitors, the reason to come is Pinecrest Gardens, the original home of Parrot Jungle, now a village park with tropical gardens, a banyan grove, a children’s area and a busy calendar of concerts and markets.

Where is Pinecrest?

Pinecrest sits about 11 miles southwest of downtown Miami in Greater Miami. US 1, signed here as Pinecrest Parkway, forms its western border, with South Miami to the north, Coral Gables to the east and Palmetto Bay to the south. Red Road and Old Cutler Road are the main north-south routes through the village. Metrorail’s Dadeland North and Dadeland South stations are just over the line, and Miami International Airport is about 20 to 25 minutes away by car. The village incorporated in 1996.

Things to do in Pinecrest

Pinecrest Gardens, on Red Road at SW 111th Street, began as Parrot Jungle in 1936. When the attraction moved to Watson Island, the village bought the land and opened it as a public garden in 2003. Expect shady paths, ponds, old banyans and cypress, a petting zoo and splash area for kids, and an outdoor stage that hosts concerts and festivals. A farmers market runs on Sunday mornings. The village also has smaller neighborhood parks, including Coral Pine, Flagler Grove, Evelyn Greer and Suniland parks. Pinecrest is mostly residential, so plan it as a half-day outing combined with shopping or dining nearby.