The Atlanta Botanical Garden is a stunning 30-acre oasis featuring diverse plant collections, serene meandering paths, and enchanting seasonal light displays.
"Adjacent to Atlanta’s verdant Piedmont Park, it’s easy to see why this 30-acre oasis in the heart of Midtown welcomes more than half a million visitors each year. In 2010 it nearly doubled its size when it opened the Canopy Walk, a 600-foot walkway suspended in the trees. Guests can visit the steamy orchid house, walk through the edible garden of native plants (though they are edible, resist the temptation!), and stop for an upscale meal at Longleaf, one of the few restaurants in the world to be housed in a botanical garden. Installations and special exhibits like a holiday light show further the wow factor. You’ll want to take your time and meander around, taking in the different themed gardens—Japanese gardens, native plants, ponds of water plants, dwarf and rare conifer, and hardy palms to name a few—at a leisurely pace. It’s also incredibly family-friendly with a dedicated children’s garden filled with interactive elements including a playground and splash pad." - Lia Picard, Jennifer Bradley Franklin
"The mission of the Atlanta Botanical Garden as a non-profit is to develop and maintain plant collections for display, education, research, conservation, and enjoyment. Their nature conservation program focuses on habitat and wetland restoration of native plants and pollinators. As a visitor, you can explore woodlands, native flowers in bloom, an interactive children’s garden, and a distinguished orchid collection. The Atlanta Botanical Garden curates top-notch exhibitions, such as the famous “Chihuly in the Garden” that included 50 original glass sculptures by internationally renowned glass artist, Dale Chihuly, as well as their annual “Garden Lights, Holiday Nights,” one of Atlanta’s brightest (and twinkliest) holiday traditions. A great place to host an event or to wander and get lost in with friends and family." - Son&Sons
"Features 30 acres of dazzling plant displays including the Canopy Walk, and nature-themed art installations like the 25-foot Earth Goddess sculpture." - Elizabeth Rhodes Elizabeth Rhodes Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure, covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina,
"Every year you drive down Piedmont, notice all the colorful flickering between the trees, and say to yourself, “Self, this year we’re going to Garden Lights, Holiday Nights.” But you never go. The Atlanta Botanical Garden is doing everything in its power to change that this year with a luminescent festival (through Jan. 12) filled with train rides and millions of LED lights. And with posh onsite restaurant Longleaf accepting dinner reservations, you can pair the show with wine and dinner. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - Team Infatuation
"Every year you drive down Piedmont, notice all the colorful flickering between the trees, and say to yourself, “Self, this year we’re going to Garden Lights, Holiday Nights.” But you never go. The Atlanta Botanical Garden is doing everything in its power to change that this year with a luminescent festival (through Jan. 14) filled with train rides, massive origami-inspired sculptures, and millions of LED lights. And with posh onsite restaurant Longleaf accepting dinner reservations, you can pair the show with wine and dinner." - demarco williams, juli horsford, nina reeder
