5 Reasons Why the Parthenon in Nashville Is Amazing!

Chris Boothman
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8
5 Reasons Why the Parthenon in Nashville Is Amazing!

Athens may be home to all the infamous Greek architecture that we love, but did you know that Tennessee was home to a replica of the Parthenon? As a fond lover of architectural designs from around the world, I was intrigued to explore the Parthenon in Nashville. Following several visits to this iconic landmark in Music City, I want to share why I consider this to be one of the most attractive designs not only in Nashville but throughout the United States!

Please feel free to share your reasons why the Parthenon is a must-see attraction in Nashville, but here are my top 5 that I am convinced will sway you to add this to your itinerary, especially if taking a trip to see the original Parthenon is a little unrealistic right now.

1. Location, Location, Location

Located in the heart of Nashville, the Parthenon provides a full-size replica of the original. Dating back to its construction in 1897, this is a unique and different representation of Nashville given that most associate this city with country music and the Grand Ole Opry. Standing as a focal point in Centennial Park, after visiting here you will have countless reasons to justify a return trip.

nashville centennial park

The beauty of having the Parthenon inside Centennial Park is that it provides visitors with the perfect backdrop to explore this attraction. You can quite easily spend a full day relaxing inside this park with so many intriguing things to see and explore. Centennial Park was also created in 1897 as part of Tennessee’s Centennial Exposition.

parthenon in nashville

Aside from the Parthenon, the impressive sight of Lake Watauga is a perfect companion especially when you are taking pictures of the Greek masterpiece from a distance. Although the water quality of this lake is a shadow of years gone by, I am encouraged to hear an improvement plan is in place to make this an even more attractive landmark for visitors.

centennial park nashville tennessee

Centennial Park may never hold the same heritage as the Acropolis in Athens, but it does offer a pretty viable alternative for visitors interested in Greek architecture.

2. Pinnacle of Classical Architecture

When you think of classical Greek architecture, the Parthenon has to be on the tip of most people’s tongues. Taking a trip to Athens is not necessarily a realistic option for everyone around the world, so to have a perfect replica in Nashville offers an alternative opportunity to learn about the intricate design that went into this construction.

parthenon in nashville

Exploring the Parthenon has to start with those giant concrete pillars that represent the original Pentelic marble that was used in the make up of the original design.

parthenon in nashville

The building was rebuilt in 1929 as it was initially deemed unsafe given that lack of quality construction that went into the original Nashville design.

parthenon nashville

Do the names Ictinos and Callicrates sound familiar? These are the architects that constructed the original in Athens alongside the sculptor, Phidias. Nashville’s construction may not have the infamous architects but what it does possess is a longevity that creates an awe-inspiring view even to this day.

3. Athens of the South

Nashville has been renowned as both the ‘Athens of the West’ and the ‘Athens of the South’ depending on where you are located geographically. Known to be one of the most refined and well-educated cities around the United States, Nashville was a roaring success until this all ground to a halt at the beginning of the Civil War.

nashville athens of the south

Following years of struggle and hardship, the Parthenon typified the revolutionary rebuilding of Nashville. Not only through the development of such an iconic design, but the symbolism behind the Parthenon and what this represents for the overall society played an important role in determining how Nashville was portrayed at the turn of the 19th Century.

The Parthenon was an expression and embodiment of Athenian wealth

Just as the original Parthenon was used to represent the wealthy individuals throughout Athens, Nashville was able to incorporate a similar philosophy while promoting this attraction. Throughout the last century, this has become a landmark that Nashville is proud to own and every time we return to Nashville we ensure that we have time set aside to experience this.

4. Nashville Art Museum

The Parthenon is also home to an impressive collection of artwork inside the art museum. While we all may be astounded by the gorgeous exterior of the Parthenon, why not head inside to explore the ornate designs and amazing masterpieces that are on display. A permanent collection of over 60 paintings dating back over the past two centuries are available for your perusal.

parthenon ornate design

Of course, a true replica of the Parthenon would not be the same without the inclusion of the Elgin Marbles and Nashville can proudly boast these very artifacts, even though they are made out of concrete rather than the original marble design.

5. A Piece of History

Given that the Parthenon in Nashville is the only ‘true’ replica of the original in Athens, it’s a pretty cool feeling to know that you are standing in front of a piece of history. There have been attempts to create similar looking pieces of architecture, such as the Walhalla Memorial located in Regensburg, Germany but to this day Nashville’s construction is the only version that is directly comparable to the ancient original.

nashville parthenon

Each time we have visited the Parthenon in Nashville, I take a moment to just stare at the magnitude of this design and I think about the original Greek architects that spent years developing the original.

parthenon in nashville

There is rarely a substitute for exploring the original and I hope that one day we will have the opportunity to climb Acropolis to experience the Athenian Parthenon, but for now the Nashville equivalent is an awesome alternative.

Summary

A trip to Nashville wouldn’t feel quite right if you didn’t take time to visit Centennial Park and explore the Parthenon. I will reiterate that visiting the original in Athens has to be the ultimate experience, but this is a pretty good alternative and kudos to the architects that inspired the recreation of this gorgeous structure in the early part of the 20th century.

parthenon nashville tennessee

Visiting the Parthenon in Nashville is more than just a historical look at this Greek masterpiece. It is an experience that you will cherish and want to recreate each time you return to Music City. Given that Nashville is so close to home for us (ok a 4 hour drive along I-40 is pretty close when you live in Arkansas!), we never get tired of relaxing by Lake Watauga with the beautiful reflection of the Parthenon creating a perfect setting.

I hope you are inspired to add both the Parthenon and Nashville to your list of must-see destinations in the southern part of the United States.

How to Find The Best Fall Creek Falls Hiking Trails

Chris Boothman
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5
How to Find The Best Fall Creek Falls Hiking Trails

Always follow your passion because more often than not you will appreciate the end result. But what about those times when you make every effort to see something only to be disappointed at the outcome? Unfortunately this is exactly what we experienced when we visited Fall Creek Falls State Park to pursue my passion of waterfalls!

The myriad of Fall Creek Falls hiking trails may provide some spots of breathtaking scenery but I am now considering whether our expectation levels were too high prior to visiting this spot in the heart of Tennessee. The trip was not all negative and there are a number of memorable experiences to take from this encounter that warrants a positive review of this state park.

During one of our weekend trips to Nashville, we made the decision to rise early on Sunday morning and take the 2 hour drive to Fall Creek Falls. Our research suggested that a number of impressive waterfalls and a variety of hiking trails to explore were available at Fall Creek Falls, so we had enough ammunition to justify the additional 4 hour round trip to see what all the fuss was about.

fall creek falls tennessee

Where is Fall Creek Falls State Park?

Located in the heart of Tennessee, about 2 hours east of Nashville is Fall Creek Falls State Park. Accessing this state park from any location is not the easiest, so be prepared to take your time driving through some pretty scenic Tennessee countryside until you reach a pretty obscure sign advertising Fall Creek Falls State Park.

fall creek falls state park

There are a couple of routes you can take if driving from Nashville but we opted to drive south through Murfreesboro and then head across US-70S through a myriad of bustling towns such as Centertown and McMinnville.

where is fall creek falls state park

Gorge Scenic Drive Trail

If you start out at the Nature Center, there are a variety of trails available to you depending on how adventurous you want to be.

fall creek falls overlooks

The Woodland trail is the most popular as it passes over the Cane Creek Cascades via a swinging bridge, but this trail also provides an opportunity to experience other connecting trails.

fall creek falls gorge scenic drive

The Gorge Scenic Drive Motor Nature Trail is a great alternative to capture many of the highlights available throughout this state park if you have little interest in hiking through the Tennessee wilderness.

fall creek falls hiking trails

Be sure to check out all the overlook spots, some of which are easier to access than others but all are worthy as you take in the breathtaking views across Tennessee’s landscape.

fall creek falls state park

But of course, you don’t visit Fall Creek Falls State Park without experiencing one or two of the many hiking trails available, so here are a couple of our favorites that we encountered along the way.

fall creek falls scenic drive

Fall Creek Falls

The highlight of Fall Creek Falls State Park is the waterfall that goes by the name of the park. Fall Creek Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in eastern USA, standing at 256 feet. We focused our attention on finding this natural beauty and I will admit that this is one of the easiest tasks we faced throughout the trip.

fall creek falls hiking

The winding road through the park takes you directly to a parking lot and a short walk from here leaves you at the Fall Creek Falls scenic overlook. With high hopes I peered over the edge only to be left in disarray as the waterfall was almost dry. A faint trickle was visible, ok so maybe it was a little more than that but it certainly was not what I expected.

fall creek falls

Don’t get me wrong, the waterfall at Fall Creek Falls is a highly impressive natural attraction and I can only imagine how cool this looks in the Fall or Winter when water is pouring down the mountains and over the edge. But don’t you just hate it when you visit somewhere and you are left slightly disappointed!

fall creek falls hiking

Perhaps taking the hiking trail to the base of Fall Creek Falls would provide a more appealing attraction. Although we didn’t hike all the way to the pool where people were bathing, we started out on the steep trail that passed through a gorgeous collection of ancient rocks while still providing views of the falls and distant dense forest.

fall creek falls hiking trails

The Base of Fall Creek Falls Trail is a steep trail to the bottom though at only 0.4 miles (the return trip will certainly be a workout especially in the heart of summer!) it is well worth the trek.

fall creek falls tennessee

Piney Creek Falls Bridge

After leaving what I can now admit to being a disappointment at the so-called major attraction, we headed around the scenic road before arriving at the parking lot for Piney Falls. Visitors are presented with a number of intriguing hiking trails, all dependent on your interests and how long you plan to stay inside the State Park.

piney falls overlook

I heard rumors that the Piney Creek Falls Bridge trail was worth the short hike so we opted for that one first. The trail is narrow and steep in parts though again it is one of the shorter trails available here. At only a quarter of a mile one way, it is hardly going to take your breath away but in the searing heat of almost 100 degrees, any further may well have been a little daunting.

Walking through the undergrowth which in parts is a little tricky, makes you wonder whether you are taking the right trail because you can hardly imagine a scenic bridge appearing. But never fear, as you turn the final corner and are presented with an opening, a rickety rather than scenic suspension bridge is right in front of you.

piney creek falls suspension bridge

It may not have the presence or size of a bridge like the Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver that we have previously visited, but it certainly adds a quirky feel to the scenery.

piney creek falls bridge

Do you have what it takes to walk across the bridge, despite the pretty serious drop below you? Why not! I decided to walk across while Heather was content to take pictures of the bridge, the scenery below and of course my careful steps across what I can now say was a pretty stable construction.

Be careful how close you get to the edge of the rocks because there is nothing to prevent you from taking a pretty serious tumble. Imagine the views over the edge of Horseshoe Bend in Arizona…ok so the comparison is hardly the same but if you have been to either my point is that there are ZERO safety barriers, so be sure to watch every step you take or it could be your last.

Piney Creek Falls Overlook

Experiencing the Piney Creek Falls suspension bridge will likely give you the desire to take the alternative trail starting at the parking area to the Piney Falls overlook.

piney creek falls overlook trail

Another short trail makes this relatively stress-free though there are a couple of spots where you should be careful with your footing.

piney creek falls overlook trail

Arriving at the overlook, you may be left a little disappointed with the obstructed views that are available of the waterfall. Piney Creek Falls is located deep inside the gorge which for the most part is inaccessible, though the more adventurous travelers may see this as an opportunity to clamber through the rugged landscape on a 5+mile hike through the gorge starting out at Fall Creek Falls.

piney creek falls overlook

If you are serious about trying to get a closer look, I recommend reaching out to a local or even a park ranger at the visitor center who may offer a hidden trail that takes you to a more scenic view of Piney Creek Falls.

piney creek falls

Summary

Fall Creek Falls State Park is a difficult location to summarize because there are so many positive and negative aspects that we experienced here. From the disappointment of seeing Fall Creek Falls itself having very little water (I understand this would be very different if we visited in Spring, Fall or Winter) and Piney Creek Falls having obstructed views, just being out among the natural Tennessee environment made this a worthwhile excursion.

fall creek falls state park

I would encourage you to pay a visit here if you are passing through Tennessee along I-40, but whether it’s worth taking a 4 hour round trip from Nashville is highly debatable.

Perhaps driving here, parking somewhere near the Nature Center and then donning your hiking boots is the best option so that you can explore ‘off the beaten path’. I will leave the decision to you as to how worthy your time can be spent at Fall Creek Falls State Park!

You can explore more images of our experience in the heart of Tennesssee here: Fall Creek Falls State Park

How to Explore Downtown Nashville Attractions in a Day

Chris Boothman
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16
How to Explore Downtown Nashville Attractions in a Day

Are you ready to head out and start exploring downtown Nashville attractions? Did you know that it’s possible to experience a lot of the downtown metropolis in just one day? Don’t be fooled though, Music City is more than just a ‘one day’ wonder and you will be ready to come back for more after taking time to explore everything this gorgeous city has to offer.

Nashville has become our go to spot for a weekend getaway. A short four hour drive makes this a perfect distance for us to take a weekend trip from Arkansas, either leaving after work on Friday or rising bright and early on Saturday. Despite all of our trips to Nashville, we have neglected to explore the downtown Nashville attractions and finally we decided that it was time to head on down to Broadway and see exactly what all the fuss is about!

Downtown Nashville Stereotype

I will be perfectly honest…I associated downtown Nashville with the home of the Ryman Theater and a bunch of country bars scattered along Broadway. Whether this is a stereotype that others follow or perhaps just an ignorant Brit, I don’t know but I will be the first to hold my hand up and say, “How wrong could I be!”

downtown nashville attractions

Ok, so yes downtown Nashville is home to the Ryman and yes there are a number of interesting looking bars (more of that later), but there is a lot more to explore than you may first notice. Hopefully this post will give you a brief insight into exactly what you should be on the lookout for during your next visit to Music City.

Nashville is a town that fosters creativity, and is a place where musicians have great respect

Thanks to Neil Portnow for this inspirational quote because this is so true! Once you have explored downtown Nashville, I am sure you will agree.

Here are the attractions we are going to take a look at in this guide, though as you begin to explore downtown Nashville for yourselves, perhaps you will add one or two more to this list (let us know if you do because we are always raring to head back to Music City to explore more!):

  • Batman Inspired Skyline
  • Broadway
  • The Goo Goo Shop
  • Schermerhorn Symphony Center
  • Country Music Hall of Fame
  • Customs House
  • Printer’s Alley

The first two on this list are fairly generic but I think it’s a great way to begin exploring Nashville. Below is a map that will hopefully help you identify the locations of all these recommended attractions.

Batman Inspired Skyline

Although there are countless places to start your self-guided day tour of all the downtown Nashville attractions, I highly recommend taking a step back and viewing the gorgeous skyline that Music City has to offer. A great place to see the skyline is from across the Cumberland River beside LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans.

nashville downtown skyline

If you are an early bird, you can park your vehicle by Cumberland Park and capture some amazing shots of the sun rising alongside the Nashville skyline. Of course Nashville has a fairly unique skyline because of one structure in particular – the AT&T building!

downtown nashville attractions

Ok, so AT&T may not mean much but when you hear the more commonly referenced name, ‘the Batman building’ many of you will know exactly what I am referring to. This colloquial reference is known among locals but of course word gets out and just peering into the sky at this gorgeous skyscraper…well you just can’t help but think of Batman with those two spires pointing out!

at&t building downtown nashville attractions

The Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge offers a stunning viewpoint of Nashville and the Cumberland river. We walked about halfway along this bridge and peered across the river as we contemplated our game plan to explore the downtown area.

shelby state pedestrian bridge nashville

I will add that Sunday mornings are usually a great time to experience downtown Nashville, though our time here was disrupted a little given that the Music City triathlon was taking place! 7:30AM on Sunday morning and seeing thousands of swimmers fighting against the current upstream in the river…not exactly what we anticipated but it was entertaining to watch the competition.

nashville cumberland river

Broadway

After soaking in the beautiful scenery, you will be ready to head across the Cumberland river and explore. In hindsight, you may want to leave your car on the other side of the river and walk across the pedestrian bridge to explore all of what downtown has to offer.

broadway downtown nashville attractions

We opted to drive downtown and were extremely fortunate to find a parking spot on the side of the road on Broadway. Parking is of course limited as with any downtown district, but there are a number of parking lots available for a small surcharge if you are not fortunate enough to find a spot along the road (metered parking is only Monday-Saturday, so Sunday’s are free!)

Nashville, man. That’s the place to be

Broadway epitomizes everything that makes Nashville ‘the place to be’. Willie Geist may have spoke the above words, but I’m sure many of us are thinking the exact same thoughts.

Walking along this sacred street where many of the world’s all-time musicians have strolled is a memorable experience. Just off Broadway is the Ryman Auditorium, home of the original Grand Ole Opry between 1943 and 1974. Imagine watching the country legends performing live on stage at the Opry and then taking a walk along Broadway before heading inside Ernest Tubbs’ Record Shop for a ‘Midnite Jamboree’.

ernest tubbs record shop nashville

Now what about these country bars and clubs we all hear about. Welcome to Honky Tonk Highway! Names such as Tootsie’s, Legends Corner and Layla’s Bluegrass Inn are popular spots along Broadway offering a wide variety of beverages and of course live country music.

tootsies orchid lounge nashville

I would highly recommend popping in to one or more of these bars because you never know who you may see in here. Legends such as Kris Kristofferson and Dierks Bentley have been seen plying their trade in these spots before their careers blossomed.

legends corner downtown nashville

One other awesome place you have to visit is Mike’s Ice Cream shop which is located on the heart of Broadway. The butterscotch shake was amazing and Heather tried the banana shake which equally as good.

mike's ice cream nashville

With a wide variety of flavors to choose from, this is a great spot to cool off before exploring more of downtown Nashville.

mike's ice cream shop broadway nashville

The Goo Goo Shop

If you haven’t already experienced enough sweet delights after sampling Mike’s Ice Cream, head across the street and down 3rd Avenue to find the home of the infamous Goo Goo Cluster.

goo goo shop downtown nashville attractions

The Goo Goo Shop is located across from the Johnny Cash Museum, so there is plenty to see along this street.

goo goo shop nashville

We succumbed to the temptation of buying Goo Goo clusters and if you have never tried them, where have you been! A delicious concoction of marshmallow nougat, caramel, and roasted peanuts covered in milk chocolate is what you will be tempted by. They are well worth the price and we bought a box of twelve for $16.99.

goo goo cluster nashville

Schermerhorn Symphony Center

It’s time to burn some of those calories after sampling ice cream and chocolate delights, so head on down 3rd Avenue after leaving the Goo Goo Shop and you will come across one of Nashville’s gorgeous, ornate buildings – the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. This symphony center is a relatively new construction, and although we were only able to capture a glimpse of the exterior, that was enough to imagine how beautiful this is inside.

schermerhorn symphony center nashville

The Harmony Fountain captured our attention as we wandered around the Nashville Symphony and is a delightful accompaniment to the center. If you are interested in impressive architectural buildings, I have to say that this is one of my favorite designs throughout the city so be sure to check it out.

harmony fountain nashville

To put the location of the Schermerhorn into perspective, this is directly accessible from the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge so perhaps this is the perfect starting point for your day tour of downtown Nashville attractions!

Country Music Hall of Fame

A short walk from the Schermerhorn takes you to the iconic Country Music Hall of Fame, and what an impressive building it is! I have heard stories about the Hall of Fame but I was in awe when I saw the magnitude and size of this place. Initially I thought this was probably the Nashville Convention Center but I soon realized that this was the Country Music Hall of Fame.

country music hall of fame nashville

The design of the Hall of Fame is modern and with a distinctive look that makes this a building you will never forget. But you may be asking, what exactly is the purpose of the Country Music Hall of Fame? I asked this very same question so I had to find out the answer.

country music hall of fame nashville

Essentially it is THE place that all country musicians strive to be inducted into. It is a way of recognizing notable key figures in the world of country music. In addition, it serves as a location to educate audiences on the evolution of country music, of course with Nashville being the heart of this tradition.

country music hall of fame downtown nashville attractions

Customs House

Looking for a building with a lot of history and character? Look no further than the Customs House that is also located on Broadway. Leaving the Country Music Hall of Fame, head back towards Broadway and after walking past the Bridgestone Arena you should be familiar with your surroundings. Take a left on Broadway and after a short incline (less than a 5 minute walk), the Customs House is located on the left and what a gorgeous attraction this is.

customs house nashville

I decided to keep this separate from Broadway because I want to emphasize the beauty of this building and encourage you to see this for yourself. This building is a typical example of Victorian Gothic architecture and the intricate details are clearly visible throughout the exterior, from the design of the lancet windows to the entrance with triple arches.

nashville customs house

But in my opinion the key aspect of this building is the gorgeous, ornate clock tower that stands proudly looking down on Broadway.

Printer’s Alley

Once the home of the local publishing industry, Printer’s Alley in Nashville is a quintessential narrow street that typifies the local entertainment and dining scene.

printers alley nashville

It may not be the easiest alley to find in downtown Nashville, but after passing by the Ryman Auditorium on 5th Avenue, keep walking until you reach Commerce Street and you won’t be able to miss the sign advertising Printer’s Alley.

printers alley downtown nashville attractions

I may be a little biased here given that this alley is home to the Fleet Street pub (don’t you just love the sign advertising this restaurant/bar with the London Underground feel to it!) but walking along here during the day offers a perfect opportunity to scope out some hidden spots possibly worth returning to at night when it’s a little more lively.

printers alley nashville

Printer’s Alley is a street with real character, so be sure to keep this on your list of must-see attractions while walking around downtown Nashville.

printers alley downtown nashville

Summary

Downtown Nashville is more than just the country music stereotype many of us are accustomed with.

Nashville, Tennessee moves beyond its country roots and embraces a new, multifaceted role as one of our country’s leading arts-and-entertainment cities

When featuring Nashville in the American Way magazine, the author depicted Music City has moving away from ‘its country roots’ and after experiencing everything downtown Nashville has to offer, it is fairly obvious this city is now a haven for a variety of dimensions.

downtown nashville

The beauty of downtown Nashville is that everything is so easily accessible on foot. You don’t have to worry about hiking miles and miles to see all of the key attractions, and you don’t even need to think about finding the nearest public transportation station. The downtown metropolis is designed to be seen on foot and I hope this guide introduces a few of the ‘not to be missed’ spots along the way.

Weekend Wanderlust


Dallas Arboretum – Why Its One of the Best Botanical Gardens

Chris Boothman
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5
Dallas Arboretum – Why Its One of the Best Botanical Gardens

To grasp a greater appreciation of nature, we all need to be prepared to explore the inherent beauty that lies within protected gardens around the world. This is the sole purpose of botanical gardens around the world, to allow visitors the opportunity to further their knowledge and understanding which will hopefully encourage them to appreciate the natural environment surrounding them.

We are incredibly fortunate to have a multitude of natural gardens that are equally amazing, but having recently visited the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, I want to make a pretty bold statement and say that this is certainly one of the best botanical gardens around (at least in this part of USA).

Best Botanical Gardens – Beauty of Nature

Frank Lloyd Wright’s quote about the study and appreciation of nature has an inherent truth to it because I truly believe that by following this ideology, we will in turn have a much better environment to live in.

Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.

Is there anything better than waking up to the sun shining through your window, the birds chirping away outside and an array of floral beauty to inspire your day ahead?

best botanical gardens

I can only imagine what it is like for people that live in the immediate vicinity to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, and after reading this review I hope you too are convinced that this is a pretty spectacular haven of nature.

Admission Details

I want to start this review with what potentially may be the only negative aspect of this botanical gardens in Dallas. Admission prices are a little on the expensive side and parking in particular is a little pricey, though there are ways to save on both of these…so please keep reading!

  • Adult General Admission – $15
  • Seniors General Admission (65 & over) – $12
  • Children General Admission (Age 3-13) – $10 (Under 3 are FREE)

Of course, I would strongly recommend considering the CityPASS Dallas experience which will not only give you HUGE savings on the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, but also allows access to a variety of other amazing attractions in the area.

As mentioned, parking is arguably the most expensive because on-site or in the parking garage directly opposite the botanical gardens is $15. However, discounted parking is available on-site for $8 if you book online in advance. More details can be found here: Save Now for Parking! 

A printed copy of the confirmation is NOT required, so as long as you have a copy of the e-mail on your phone or other device, you will be eligible for the discounted parking.

Dallas Botanical Garden Highlights

With 66 acres of natural beauty, it is no surprise that the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a location that you could quite easily spend a full day here exploring. Dating back  to the grand opening in 1984, this has become a nature lover’s paradise and after visiting here on our recent trip to Dallas, I can attest that there are a myriad of highlights worth exploring.

dallas botanical gardens

But where do you even begin when you have 66 acres to explore? Fortunately there is a very useful map with a self-guided route mapped out for you. There are 19 named gardens located throughout the acreage, and even the most active of travelers will find this a pretty good workout to walk around all of these exhibits.

Whether you decide to follow this route is entirely your choice, but I want to bring your attention to some of our favorite spots.

dallas botanical gardens

Despite the searing temperatures that we endured during our visit, the gorgeous floral arrays made us quickly forget the heat and created a perfect environment to relax and listen to nature’s finest species pass us by.

Jonsson Color Garden

A short walk from the visitor center and entrance to the garden leaves you very much feeling that you have been welcomed to a breathtaking location! The Margaret Elisabeth Jonsson Color Garden features a variety of stunning flower beds that offer an abundance of color as you explore the area.

best botanical gardens

When the sun is shining, there is no better spot to explore the seasonal flower arrangements ranging from azaleas in Spring to banana plants in Summer. The moment we stepped into this part of the botanical gardens, I knew that we were in for a real treat.

dallas arboretum and botanical garden

The beauty is magnified of course with the careful nurturing and cultivation of the flowers, but another intriguing part of this garden is the towering agave plant that leans predominantly towards the sunlight – a great example of phototropism taking place!

azalea plant dallas botanical garden

Palmer Fern Dell

If you are looking for a secluded location away from other visitors wandering around the botanical garden, take a stroll into Palmer Fern Dell which is a real enchanting spot with opportunities for gorgeous photos. Among the camellias, ferns and azaleas, this tranquil spot has a bench which is at the perfect angle when the sunlight shines through the trees.

dallas arboretum

The micro-fine mist that is frequently present here creates an eerie atmosphere but one that is relaxing and a perfect spot to just ‘getaway’ before exploring the rest of the botanical gardens.

Imagine a setting from ‘The Secret Garden’ and this is exactly what Palmer Fern Dell reminds me of.

A Woman’s Garden

Overlooking White Rock lake from the ‘Majestic Allee’, the stunning sight of the reflection pool typifies the beauty presented throughout A Woman’s Garden which is an iconic landmark at the Dallas Arboretum.

a woman's garden dallas arboretum

Whether you are male or female, you will appreciate the intricate details that have been added to this part of the gardens.

dallas arboretum and botanical gardens

The infinity pool is just one of many reasons to visit this garden. Standing directly behind this pool and looking across the lake, I had to look twice to realize that this was not flowing directly into the lake.

infinity pool dallas arboretum

I love the symbolic representation as you enter this secluded location. Water flows from one pool to another through beautiful miniature waterfalls. This design was done to represent women helping each other through generations of hardship but fighting through and creating equality.

a woman's garden dallas

A Woman’s Garden actually has two phases – the above describing phase 1 and phase 2 being implemented more recently in 2006. Features such as a quaint bridge and a hanging garden make this a perfect accompaniment to what I consider to be ‘the real’ attraction – the infinity pool (sorry but when you see this for yourselves, you will realize why I emphasize the beauty of this!)

a woman's garden dallas

McCasland Sunken Garden

Home of the Chico y Chica de la Playa sculpture and a gorgeous fountain that provides the perfect backdrop to just sit and relax, the McCasland Sunken Garden is another attraction worth visiting. The Mexican/American inspired sculpture is a popular setting for weddings but there is much more to this secluded garden than first meets the eye.

mccasland sunken garden dallas

We took our time strolling around the McCasland Garden because this offered a brief respite from the searing temperatures due to the number of shaded spots around this garden. This is also a really great spot to capture some cool pictures, with the fountain and staircase directly behind leading down to the central aisle.

mccasland sunken garden dallas arboretum

The water feature may be the focal point of this garden, but you will not be disappointed at the beauty of everything else on offer here.

best botanical gardens dallas

Nancy Rutchik Red Maple Rill

Do you a passion for waterfalls? I do!! Approaching the Nancy Rutchik Red Maple Rill, I was delighted to see a man-made (of course natural are always better but some of the man-made designs are really cool!) waterfall that provided a perfect opportunity to use our new neutral density filter that creates a really neat effect.

Nancy Rutchik Red Maple Rill waterfall

A stone bridge is located about halfway downstream and provides a perfect intersect where you can enjoy the waterfall flowing from the top or perhaps follow the meandering stream down the brook.

dallas botanical gardens

Summary

Heather and I both have wonderful memories from our morning visit to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. Regardless of the length of time you plan on spending here, you can see from the recommendations that there are plenty of attractive gardens built into the 66 acres of stunning natural landscape.best botanical gardens

There are so many reasons to support my claim that Dallas potentially has one of the best botanical gardens in USA. I think the elaborate and careful attention to detail that each of the individual gardens are designed make this a hugely impressive attraction for visitors.

walls of water dallas botanical gardens

Of course there is so much more…I didn’t even mention the Water Walls which are really cool or The Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden which was designed as a perfect way to connect nature with children.

But I want to turn over this experience to you and encourage you to pay this gorgeous part of Dallas a visit the next time you are in the Lone Star State. You can also head over to our photo gallery to check out more inspiring images from our time at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

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