(Lake Wales, FL) - While traveling to the Orlando area I came across a beautiful garden paradise about hour outside of the city. Bok Tower Gardens is a National Historic Landmark located in Lake Wales, FL and features beautiful and also some surprising views. On nearly 50 acres of gardens, it features a 20-room Pinewood Estate Mediterranean-style mansion and the 205-foot art deco and neo-Gothic Singing Tower carillon. The gardens are open 365 days a year and is great place for a leisurely stroll, photography and even a wedding. There is also a special Children Gardens named Hammock Hollows where children and families can jump, climb and interact with nature and wildlife.
Bok Tower Gardens was built by Dutch-born Edward William Bok, an American editor and Pulitzer Prize-winning author. He was editor of the Ladies' Home Journal for 30 years (1889-1919). The lush gardens boasts one of the greatest works of famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. It includes 126 different species of birds as well as the threatened gopher tortoise and endangered eastern indigo snake. The grounds of Bok Tower Gardens is a designated site on the Great Florida Birding Trail.
The Gardens consist of paved primary pathways and many mulched secondary paths, some of which have an incline. There are two main pathways that lead into the core Gardens, and many routes to choose in making your way to the Singing Tower. It is about an 8-minute walk to the Singing Tower from the Visitor Center.
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| One of the unexpected expansive Look Outs from Bok Gardens |
Looking up at the 205-foot neo-Gothic and art deco Singing Tower carillon is an experience like no other. Designed by famed architect
Milton B. Medary and ornately crafted by noted stone sculptor
Lee Lawrie, the Tower houses one of the world’s finest carillons. Concerts from the 60-bell carillon at 1 and 3 p.m. fill the Gardens daily. I had no idea a carillon was basically one big musical instrument made of bells that a person could play notes and musical compositions. #themoreyouknow
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| (Picture of the Singing Tower model at the Visitors Center.) |
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| (Picture of the Singing Tower model at the Visitors Center.) |
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| (Picture of the Singing Tower model at the Visitors Center.) |
Pinewood Estate is the other large attraction at the gardens nestled in the heart of seven and one-half lush acres at Bok Tower Gardens. Pinewood Estate is a 20-room Mediterranean-style mansion, originally named “El Retiro,” meaning “retreat” in Spanish. The Estate was built in the early 1930s for Charles Austin Buck, a Bethlehem Steel vice president. It's open for tours which you can purchase during your entry in combination with your general admission.
Check out their visitor information here including their pet and drone policies.
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The Palmetto Cafe was a nice surprise. No problem for me to feed my vegan appetite.
(Delicious Super Food Salad and Black Bean Burger pictured) |
~ safe travels ~
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