Bellingrath Gardens & Home

One word describes the gardens … Awesome! A must see!!, I always wanted to visit the gardens. This Christmas was my first time ever seeing them, I am so glad I included my family! We thoroughly enjoyed it, and there was a historic event while we were here!! for the first time ever, they had 1 million visitors at the gardens!!

We couldn't believe how many flowers were in bloom on a very cold February day. We very much enjoyed walking round the beautifully landscaped grounds and the tour of the house was really interesting. Highly recommended in any season.

Bellingrath Gardens was beautiful. The tour of the home was really informative and the home and everything in it were just stunning. The surrounding gardens are still blooming this time of year. The Magic of Christmas Lights is quite impressive and as the title states, magical. I highly recommend seeing it. And pictures really don't show how impressive it is.

The garden and home are an Alabama treasure, and they should be maintained for everyone to visit. The Christmas holiday lights throughout the garden have about 3.5 million lights. There is a nice buffet every evening at 4 PM at the Visitor Center. The mansion is full of treasures such as interesting furniture, beautiful porcelain, fine china and all sorts of silverware.

Christmas at Bellingrath is a MUST to get into the Christmas spirit. Love the lights and music. Going in cooler weather helped. They have hot drinks and a s’mores campfire that is fun to visit. Only issue- little kids running around unsupervised. I got hit twice by a kid who was running and had a lovely bruise to show for it. They eventually knocked down an older lady in front of us. The paths are usually wide but sometimes they narrow to one or two people wide. Parents need to help their children to be respectful to others on the path who also paid to “enjoy” the experience. All that said- I would definitely go back because it was such a beautiful place.

Simply amazing! My wife and I went for their annual Magic Christmas in Lights this year, and will certainly be back! The grounds are beautiful, and all of the staff are beyond kind. We enjoyed going on the home tour during our visit, in addition to walking through all of the Christmas lights. Looking forward to returning in the spring for an afternoon stroll through the gardens!

If you love Rags to Riches stories, Love stories, Are a Coca-Cola fan, or love plants and flowers, you should definitely visit Belingrath. We visited only a few days after record breaking snowfall that damaged many of the flowers, bit the gardens were still gorgeous and the house tour was lovely. The gardens are mostly handicapped accessible, although the house is not...lots of stairs. Some of the garden areas are also jot wheelchair accessible as there are stairs. I walk with a cane and didn't have too much trouble except on a few icy spots.. but ice is rare. The gift shop is nice. As is the café, although we did not eat there, we did get a couple of sodas.

The house tour was very interesting and worth the time and ticket. More than I ever anticipated. Tour groups are kept small. Tour leaders are very informative and answer questions. The gardens change with the seasons. The Christmas lights are beautiful. Go early for the Christmas lights because as soon as it's dark, the traffic lines up for miles. Wear your walking shoes. We walked about 4 miles to see most of it.

Really enjoyed this garden however the price on website is not up to date. $19 per person today without the light show. But the experience was good coupled with good weather. I would come back for the light show next year.

Amazing garden! We were there in mid March, so not too much blooming yet but the grounds and plantings were beautiful. Tulips and other spring flowers were in bloom. The house tour was well organized and informative; the home was absolutely beautiful. The price for package- home tour and garden visit was pricey for us as seniors, though, and our only complaint.

Amazing place, haven't been there since middle 70s for my birthday, dad and mom An my grandmother went with me . The flowers and plants were beautiful. Loved the boardwalk over the water .

The only reason for 4 stars is there are parts of the walking path closed that is need of repair. This is a beautiful garden and everyone needs to see the house once. The home tour is a great place to learn some local history if you are from the area.

I came on Presidents Day 2024 for a tour of the house and gardens. The price for both was very reasonable. The only bad part was the portion to include a gratuity. This was at the desk when you first walk in, and it's not like I was getting a guided tour for the gardens, only the house, and it is easy to slip the tour guide of the house a few dollars for a tip. That aside, this was a lovely time. I am glad I came when the temperatures were cool. There is a lot of grounds to cover. If this were the summer time, I would not have done it with the high temperatures of the gulf coast. The seasonal flowers were blooming and beautiful. There were a few gardeners around refreshing the grounds. Everyone was friendly. The house was beautiful. The chapel was quaint, and the pottery was exquisite. I would recommend this for anyone in the area. It is beautifully maintained.

Such a great Alabama treasure! If you've never visited, it's well worth the time. The holiday light show is really top notch and on a cold winter evening, it really helps bring out the holiday spirit. The walk is easy, maybe a mile at the most, but a great time with lots of beautiful scenes and lights. They have hot chocolate as well as other drinks and snacks if you'd like to partake. Sad to say, but I've only visited at Christmas time, but I'm sure it's also fantastic in the spring. If you're anywhere near during the holidays, Bellingrath Gardens should be on your list!

Is a very nice place to visit any time of the year. Beautiful when the flowers are blooming and beautiful christmas lights during the holidays. A very nice gift shop with lots of unique gifts too!

Wonderful place to visit...seemed every corner was "Jaw droppingly" gorgeous! Highly recommend visiting!

This place is pretty spectacular! We had a weekend of adventure lined up and this was one of the places at the top of our list. We arrived a little after 1:00 pm late July 2021. Why is this significant, well, I'd probably recommend showing up when they open if you can - especially if it's in the heat of summer. The humidity was off the charts while we were here and the green house was another level of insane when we went inside. Now that the humidity conversation is out of the way, this place is pretty awesome. The grounds are immaculate! Love how they have paths that wind through the property and the different gardens that they have. If you are a fan of flowers, lush green lawns, bamboo (really cool how much they had) and those types of things, this is a great place to carve out some time to explore. On the top of the hour they give tours of the home. The guided tour takes about 30 minutes (I'm guessing kind of, I really didn't look at the time when we were done). The tour gives great perspective of the time and what it was like to live in Alabama during those days. Also, great job on the history of the family. I would have actually preferred being able to go through the home at my own pace - not guided, but I totally understand the reason they don't want people to go through without a tour guide - if you go you'll understand. Price of admission was $22 and included the gardens and home. There is a less expensive option that is just for the garden. If you're limited on time, that would probably be the way to go. I think that option was $15. Staff were really friendly and the grounds were kept spotless. A small cafe and gift store are available at the exit. They have some really nice pieces you can get as a souvenir of your visit. Prices aren't bad - especially for some of the plants. We would recommend checking this place out if you get a chance.

Have always wanted to go and did not disappoint! Beautiful even in 110 degree heat! Great tour guid of home!

Anne was our tour guide through the house and she was fantastic! Because there were only 2 of us and her last tour of the day, we took advantage and asked all kinds of information! The gardens were beautiful and we could imagine how much more amazing they'd be in season!

Such a beautiful spot. Definitely a highlight of Alabama. We went for the blooms and brews festival. The music was amazing and views marvelous. Highly recommend.

Bellingrath Gardens is one of the most recognizable places to spend a few hours if you're visiting the city of Mobile, Alabama. Although technically it's about 23 miles away from Mobile...still if you're interested in getting away from reality for a little while...then I think this place is great. For my first time ever coming to the Mobile area...what I actually did was head to the coast of Alabama and explored around Dauphin Island and historic Fort Gaines. Then I drove north for 17 miles to here at Bellingrath Gardens, and then back to Mobile to the famous USS Alabama Memorial and Park. So...if anyone's looking for a fulfilling way to enjoy a Saturday or Sunday in the fall or springtime, I'd recommend this little day itinerary... 1. Dauphin Island and Fort Gaines 2. Bellingrath Gardens 3. Mobile - USS Alabama This way you sort of get the best of everything. The Gulf Coast and beach shores, beautiful flowers, gardens, nature and then finally enjoying some history about the United States and the famous battleship. Back to why Bellingrath Gardens was so worthwhile. Well...while I was here...they were hosting a wedding ceremony. So, as you can imagine...the setting was wonderful. The surroundings offered plenty of moments to enjoy colorful flowers and walking trails...all set among ya know...that old fashioned, picturesque, southern charm feel. I am originally form New York. So just being at Bellingrath Gardens...and appreciating what makes Alabama so special (because I haven't really seen much of Alabama) I enjoyed my time walking around and breathing in the fresh air. Plus...who doesn't love terrific photo opportunities of flowers, gardens and strolling the walking paths? I stopped on by in early October on a Saturday and it was very sunny and warm outside...the perfect day for touring among the gardens. I couldn't have asked for a better day to be here! It's $22 admission for both the Gardens and Bellingrath Museum Home Package. But for me...I simply chose walking along the grounds at my own leisure, which was called the Gardens-Only Package for $14! During this virus pandemic, they just asked me to wear a mask whenever possible, which was understandable. When it came time to take a picture, I took my mask off and put it back on in respect for others. I was very excited to be here, ready for ample picture opportunities with my selfie stick and tripod, lol. Upon walking around, there were so many different directions to go towards. There were signs leading me around and I just went with the flow. For this Saturday, it wasn't even crowded or busy. This place was like a therapeutic getaway. I truly had no worries in the world and just got lost among the tranquil setting. Starting out right away there's a Greenhouse and Garden to explore. From there, some other interesting areas included.... - Rose Garden - simply a chance to browse around an abundance of roses and flowers. - Boehm Gallery - Bellingrath Home - in the $22 package, but you can still appreciate the surroundings without going inside. - River Front - walking along the banks of the waters was very scenic. - Mirror Lake - here, yeah, mirror says it all...on this clear day I was here, the trees reflected perfectly onto the lake's waters offering a magical mirror image...ideal for good pictures! - Pedestrian Bridge - this walking bridge allowed for a photo showing how pleasant the overall scene was. - Boardwalk - not photogenic here but good for spotting wandering animals and birds. Finally, as you leave towards the exit there's a cafe and gift shop. They were both open (during this pandemic) if you wanted to grab a bite to eat and or souvenir. Overall, Bellingrath Gardens was a fantastic way for me to spend a few hours of my weekend getting away from the "hustle and bustle". Hanging out in the southern part of the state of Alabama for the very first time was memorable for me...sort of getting out of my comfort zone where I'm so used to hiking and exploring mountains in the national parks. This was an entirely different element to being outdoors. Now I better understand how being a nature enthusiast can include visiting all different parts of the country. Ultimately having time to walk around without distractions just witnessing flowers, gardens, grass, trees and lakes set among calm and charming surroundings makes Bellingrath Gardens as good as it gets. It is justifiable as to why it is so recommended when visiting the area outside of Mobile.

We went during Christmas season and the gardens were decorated with beautiful light decorations and it was beautiful. We plan on going back now to view the beautiful gardens with spring and summer flowers are in bloom.

What an amazing and beautiful estate. I can't even fathom the gargantuan task of taming these acres of swamp and forest into the serene and beautiful Gardens we strolled through. An English rose garden, an incredible waterfall feature on the path to the boathouse, a Japanese garden, a hidden rock pond, a wandering boardwalk over and through the wild edge river, massive oak trees wearing shawls of Spanish moss, and seemingly miles of hydrangeas and hibiscus and other plants of every color and hue. The greenhouse would be worth the entrance fee alone ... the tropical plants - succulents and palms and pineapples and bromeliads - were thriving and absolutely stunning. We also loved touring the grand historic home and learning about Mr. and Mrs. Bell (and it definitely gave us a welcome break from the heat and humidity outside). Luckily most of the gardens are shaded so that helped make the South Alabama summer heat more bearable. The gift shop made me feel like a kid in a candy store: there were souvenirs like magnets and coffee cups, but also home decor, live plants, jewelry, books, candles, and so much more! If you have some gifts to buy this would not be a bad place to pick them up! I would highly recommend a stop at beautiful Bellingrath Gardens to anyone in the Mobile/ Dauphin Island area, including up to an hour drive out of your way... just find a lunch stop nearby and make it an afternoon! PS - I have been advised to come back for an amazing Christmas light festival during the holidays!

I really have a mixed review for this place. Although the Christmas lights were all gorgeous and did not disappoint, we waited in traffic into the entrance for 2 hours! This is not an exaggeration. There was no one controlling traffic and we ended up parking on the road and walking the last mile which was significantly quicker than waiting in the car to reach the entrance. Prepare for long waits if you go for Christmas lights and bring snacks for yourself.

Bellingrath Gardens is beautiful! I love stuff like this and the gardens and house did not disappoint. Admission fee is $22 per person and parking is free and plentiful. I definitely recommend the combined gardens/house ticket (it was cheaper for just the gardens) as the house is beautiful and the tour is only 30 minutes. I visited in the spring when the azaleas were in bloom. I would love to visit during the fall and winter months as well, I hear the Christmas lights display is amazing!

Awesome light display. We made the trip over from Pensacola and it was well worth it. I can't imagine the amount of work that went into putting this whole thing together. Be sure to do the garden/mansion combo. That said, this is not an inexpensive trip so be prepared for a bit of sticker shock upon arrival. I recommend you make a day of it and spend the day on Dauphin Island and then hit Bellingrath Gardens as the sun goes down. Much fun to be had for the whole family.

The foliage is glorious, walkways well maintained, house tour well organized and no flying teeth or mosquitos. If you walk for your health, I recommend an annual membership.

As beautiful as your Christmas lights display is, I would give 0 stars if I could considering the absolutely appalling, prison quality food that you are trying to serve at your Magnolia Cafe. Due to the gardens being located in a rural area with very little food options, we arrived with the intention of having dinner after seeing there were some holiday selections being offered. We thought we would be treating our family to a nice, holiday meal before going out on the lights tour. I wish I would have taken some photos because it was truly shameful and downright disgusting. It's not that hard to buy some decent food and give your customers some dignity. When your mac and cheese is actually inedible then you know there is a problem. It's about 20 grades lower than off-brand, value store mac and cheese if that says anything. I never knew food like this actually even existed, which truly shocked me! We spent a lot of money to feed everyone in our family and it was truly embarrassing and disgusting. Shame on you! I can't support a place that has this type of disregard for its patrons.

The Christmas lights are always amazing. We go every year. Perfect outing for the family.

We were looking for a way to kill some time one morning of our trip and I am so great full we choose to do that at Bellingrath Gardens!!! This was absolutely my favorite part of our trip! Even though we visited in early November there was still plenty of plants blooming. It was absolutely gorgeous and so peaceful. I hope to come back here some day! A must do stop!

Place was great for my wife for her birthday week. This is her kind of thing and she loved it. House tour was informative and very good. I personally like the history of the place and how Mr Bellingrath lost his man cave to his wife to spend much money on this place. The gardens were unbelievable. His wife placed much thought into the entire place and it also is a great walk. My learning experience was to save your money early and you can purchase a franchise like he did. Paid $1,500.00 and made a ton of money. This kind of stuff should be taught in schools. He was a great man and his wife had great taste. Great way to spend the morning. You will have to watch the weather. We made it back just before the weather hit the place but all was good. Wife spent time in the gift shop and enjoyed herself.

Heaven. I must have died and gone to heaven. That's what I kept thinking when I went to visit Bellingrath. Out loud I kept saying, "I'm so happy I'm here. I'm so happy to be here. Oh look at how pretty that is. And that. And that!" I know, I'm bit overly enthusiastic. But you guys. This place totally deserves all the overly enthusiastic reviews it can get. It is jaw dropping beautiful. I mean just sinfully gorgeous. 65 acres of gorgeousness. When I came the roses were in bloom which just so happens to be the first area you walk into after paying for the admission price...which, by the way, was super reasonable. ($12.50 for the self guided garden tour.) As I was walking around the rose garden, I knew all that I had envisioned this place to be would even exceed my lofty aspirations. And it did. It just kept getting better and better. I cannot tell you how perfect this place is. The flowers, the trees and the little paths. The koi pond, the waterways, fountains and little waterfalls. Perfection. If this tells you nothing else, know this. I live three hours away from Bellingrath and fell in love with it so hard that I became a member just now just so that I can go as often as I like this summer with my kids. Plan to spend at least two hours there. Don't forget water, sunscreen, a camera and good walking shoes. Also, prepare to fall head over heels in love.

I will never, ever get tired of coming here. Bellingrath Gardens and Home was once a private residence that has been welcoming visitors since the 1930's (I learned that on the tour of the home). Some of the sights here are just stunningly beautiful. The gardens still feel to me almost like a well kept secret because they are more than a little off the beaten path. Once you get to the town of Theodore, Alabama and turn onto Bellingrath Road you've still got eight more miles to go. During that drive you will think more than once, "Where am I??" The foliage you'll see depends on the time of year that you visit. I've never been able to make it for the annual Christmas light festival, which I deeply regret. If you take your time and appreciate what you're looking at you could spend hours here. The greenhouse is filled to brim with exotic plants. One of my favorite parts is the area around the private home. There are little streams that have been constructed from stone and they snake through the area past statues and flowers until the water eventually goes downstream into the river. Obviously it wasn't there back when the Bellingraths were alive, but I enjoy walking on the (surprisingly long) boardwalk that circles into the woods and over the body of water near the gardens. The tour of the Bellingrath's private home was really interesting. You couldn't help but wonder what a dinner party would be like here back in the day. We purchased a tour of the house separate from the garden admission ticket. I enjoyed the tour but wouldn't have a reason to do it again. I thought that it was brilliant that they signs throughout the gardens with a number you could call on your cell for more information about what you were looking for. It felt like our private tour of the home continued even after our tour guide left us. My only complaint was that this time the area around Mirror Lake seemed pretty barren. I've seen it many times where it was amazingly decorated, but we could have just hit at a bad time when things weren't blooming yet.

This was a beautiful experience. The grounds are immaculately kept and the flowers are stunning. We spent the day there and also toured the house. The only way to see the house is by tour which is fine but if you like to wonder around on your own you can't in the house. Everything inside is original and interesting to see. Would definitely go back. The staff was friendly and everything was clean so plus plus in my book.

If you are looking for a beautiful return to the splendor of yesteryear, Bellingrath Home and Gardens is designed for you. With its well-manicured gardens; French, Southern, and British inspired architecture; estuaries; and lakes; your imagination quickly takes flight. Take a tour of the 10,000 square foot mansion constructed from historic pieces from Mobile and the South, as well as Philadelphia made iron lace; for an insight into the generous people who lived there. A peaceful escape from modern life. This is our second visit- I definitely recommend it!

Went for the Magic Christmas in Lights. Stayed for almost 3 hours walking the grounds and taking pictures. The crowds we're moderate, considering this was one of the few dry nights to go see them. The whole grounds we're handicap accessible and my husband was able to take pictures. Had to wait for folks to pass, on occasion, to take some pics and had to go back and retake some but all in all we had a great time and will try to go again next year.

I have waited years to get to visit here. We are in Gulf Shores for a week and the azaleas are so gorgeous right now I knew it would be perfect timing. We took the house tour as well and it is fabulous. I really enjoyed her collections and decorating style. The only negative was that the ferry was down and we had to drive a lot to get there.

This is one of the best places to see Christmas lights. This has been a tradition for our family over the past 10 years. We drive from Louisiana on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and spend the day shopping local. Around 4, we head to the park even though there is still some light we beat the crowd. The lights turn on for try which is perfection and we have a great parking spot. We begin our walking tour and we are out in enough time to drive home. We are home by 9, and sometimes we even stop in Mississippi and see the light show on the coast there on the way home if the weather is nice enough. Great for families, couples, or singles. Altogether a great place to go

Magic Christmas in Lights is an annual tradition for our family. It's not cheap ($16 Adults and $8 Kids) but is a really nice walk. The gardens are large, and the walk is well marked. There are nightly concerts from local schools and groups. The displays are the same from year to year. In fact, I was comparing photos I took five years ago to this week and could not tell a difference. The greenhouse is pretty. I'd like it if all the plants were labeled since we walk through saying, "Oh, that's lovely...whatever it is." If you have little ones, you may consider a stroller since if they get too tired to walk, you don't want to carry them the whole way. The gift shop is crowded but not too expensive, and Santa is there every night, I believe, without a long line.

We drove all the way from Orlando, FL for the Christmas light event. It was worth every mile driven and every penny spent! We hope to come back next year and bring family! Such a wonderful event! Would love to see it during the day sometime!

Genuinely such a fun place. Everyone is so kind and every piece of history in there is so interesting. You won't regret going during the Christmas season or even in the spring to see the gardens in full bloom.

My family and I always love going here for Halloween, for Christmas to see the lights, Easter, ect.

Our family walked the Bellingrath Garden Christmas Lights last night and were stunned by how beautiful and creative the event was presented. I can't imagine anyone attending that will not be enchanted by its beauty. The event was well organized and reasonably priced. If haven't seen it, take your children or grandchildren to a truly "Magical " place.

Stop and smell the roses. Unless they're all dead. In October 2013 during one of my trips to Mobile I decided to stop by Bellingrath. It was not too far from the hotel I was at and was (kind of...not really) on the way to Gulf Shores. The day I went was exceptionally hot, so I kind of ran through in about 45 minutes, but this could definitely be a longer tour. The gardens are stunning and very well kept. With many flower varieties, a sexy mermaid pool, large sparkling Mirror lake and large gorgeous trees, Bellingrath definitely ranks high on my list of gardens I've visited. There were many spots that I would have loved to just sit and read, have a picnic, or take photos. If I lived in the area this would probably be the ultimate wedding venue. It's no wonder the gardens is home to many of natures creatures (creepy crawlies all over the place marked by magnificent and fascinating spider webs...yucky and glorious all in one). Be sure to have your camera ready to capture azaleas, roses, chrysanthemums, hibiscus, live oaks and copper plants, just to name a few. Obviously, what you may see will vary depending on the season you visit. I believe a cruise also runs along the lake. I wish I had obtained more information on that. 4 stars instead of 5 because I think this time of year, they should discount the tickets. One of the main attractions here is the rose garden, and of course in October there wasn't much to look at (definitely no aroma to enjoy). Also, along the path it would be nice to be able to purchase a bottled water or other cold beverage. I failed to being my water bottle and was actually not far off from passing out when I made my way back. Again, it was a very hot day, but I'm surprised there wasn't a snack shop or vending machine half way in. Maybe there was and I just couldn't locate it. At the end, there was a very large gift shop (where thankfully I did grab a cold beverage) with some nifty gifts. Overall, the gardens were well worth the detour to the beach.

Beautiful gardens and lakes spread across around 100 acres with light displays set up for Christmas. You can also buy tickets to get a tour of the main house. I have had several friends get engaged here so that says something about the atmosphere. It's off the beaten path but definitely worth a visit if you have the time.

This place was pretty. It was walking only and they provided great wagons for the children. They even had free ice. The dock in the boardwalk and the zen garden were not well maintained at all. There was a smell near the boardwalk that smelled like tires burning. I also noticed that there was a lot of reddish oily substance seeping out of the ground in places and all in the water of the small ponds, are they drilling for oil here??

I had my rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception here. We did the rehearsal on the back steps by the water. We rented tables, chairs and tablecloths from Port City. And, we had Naman's cater both the rehearsal and the reception. They did a fantastic job. The rental cost for the venue was a great value. But you do have to organize rentals (I had a chart for where I wanted the tables to go) and catering. We had the wedding in October on the Great Lawn. And, we had the reception in the courtyard beside the house. There were plenty of flowers and butterflies! We also left the wedding on a boat. It was pretty romantic! I couldn't have chosen and more perfect venue!

Just stopped in for a stroll the gardens/grounds ($10 ticket), which for a medium paced walker would probably take an hour. The beginning part of the grounds wasn't particularly impressive, but it gets better as you walk through them. Maybe it's different later in the season; I went in early April and a lot of the flowers looked they still had a few months to go. But by the time you get to the house area things start to pick up. Some nice big open lawns and spaces. The very last part of the park is this kind of funny faux-Asian garden. Cute if not quite authentic feeling. Seems like a very healthy schedule of events at Bellingrath also. The day I went there was an antique car show; a couple of sweet Model-Ts lined up on the grass. A pleasant place, though I was a little bit disappointed in the lack of flowers. Something nice to see if you happen to be in the area, but not a place I'd drive hours and hours just to visit.

Breathtakingly beautiful in the spring. One of the true gardens of America. Exquisitely maintained and managed. It is not to be missed.

Visiting Bellingrath Gardens and Home is a delightful respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. It's a serene stroll through nature and has a conservatory, nature walks and water features. Plants and flowers galore! I like to go to Bellingrath before I go to the nursery to get ideas for my annual planting and landscaping renewal. I find flowers and plants that I love and then specifically target them at the nursery. (There is a very good nursery nearby, Shore Acres Plant Farm). A must do is to visit Bellingrath Gardens from November 27th to January 2nd for The Magic of Christmas Lights, it is really a knockout with many planned activities around it. Whenever you go, prepare to have your blood pressure lowered and to say "ahhh" a lot. :)

Filled with Southern charm. Very welcoming. Enjoyed every minute.Reasonably priced considering what the up keep must be. One of Mobile's jewels.

While in search of yarn during my visit to Mobile, we traveled down to Theodore. On the way to Wellslee Markeplace, we came across signs for Bellingrath Gardens. Thanks to the technology of the iPhone, we learned that it closed around 5 p.m. and our yarn excursion would be the adventure for the day. The next day, the bf and I headed to Bellingrath Gardens and Home. Both of us had never been there, so I didn't know what to expect. It definitely wasn't a plantation house where I could reenact my Gone with the Wind fantasies, instead, it was a cool house and gardens experience that I throughly enjoyed. After paying the reasonable admission fees by Chicago standards ($18 person for gardens and home), we ventured through the gardens. The gardens are well marked in directing you where to go. First, we encountered the rose garden which I can only imagine how beautiful it will in the spring. We then walked into the greenhouse filled with neat plants. The gardens are huge and expansive while lining the surroundings of the house. After touring the gardens and the porcelain gallery, we had the best tour ever given to us by the housekeeper. She showed great enthuasism for her job and the house's history. The house is amazing. I fell in love with the lush linens that Mrs. Bellingrath adorned her home with. The modern bathrooms showed Mr. Bellingrath's love of technology. My favorite room of the house was the kitchen. It's such a dream kitchen, white with German nickel countertops. The cabinets are lined with amazing cookie jars that Mrs. Bellingrath won in an auction lot. I wish that the gift shop would reproduce it because I really liked them. I also wished that they reproduced some of the neat prints that lined the walls of the home especially the one near the bedroom of a camellia or magnolia with Mrs. Bellingrath's signature on it. So cool. After our great tour, we continued to walk the gardens for another hour or two. The different gardens were great to explore and admire. I had so much fun spending a lazy day touring the gardens and home. I would recommend to anyone to visit Bellingrath Gardens because it's a fun time with some history, flowers, and a beautiful setting.

I've come here yearly since 2003, either with my husband, my spouse or a friend. My husband and I were just there yesterday, the day before Easter, and while the azaleas were past their peak and the flowers weren't quite as abundant yet as other times, it was peaceful and still so beautiful. I have never ever regretted coming here! Look for the chrysanthemums in November--breathtaking! The Christmas Lights in Nov/Dec, the azaleas in early to mid March--all so lovely!

3/8/2013 me and the wife stopped here and this was amazing. The place took us all day to walk and look around and take photos. This place gets a solid 5 stars.. the staff was great. we did a tour of the house and took the boat ride. I would recommend this place to every one who has never been here or who loves gardens.

Bellingrath is pure beautifulness. Great romantic spot, and lovely flowers and scenery everywhere. It huge and will take a long while to walk the entire grounds, but it is stunning. Very calm and relaxing. Very cute little gift shop and friendly staff. Can't wait to go back and explore the parts we missed.

When we came here, I had no idea what I was in for. I can't say anything bad about this place. I call it Heaven on Earth actually. The place is HUGE, very clean, the smell of the flowers just enlighten your mood. The tour inside of Mr. Bellingrath's home takes me back to the early 1900's. They were installing the Christmas lights when I went, but I saw photos days later and they looked spectacular. The food they have in the little dining area near the gift shop is really good. I got a roast beef sandwich with cheese, a coke of course, and cheesecake. I think all for under $7? It was really good. I can't wait to go back!

I can't 5 star it just because this is well off of the beaten path, but what an experience! This was a private home in the '30s to a cola executive and it is lovingly maintained. The Christmas lights are amazing and rated one of the best in the U.S. Don't miss it! The grounds are on the River and the plantings are well-maintained. Any month of the year you will have sensory overload. There is plenty of walking/strolling to be done and photo opps at every bend. The house tour is separate and worth it if you are not already pooped out. This is a Mobile area must-do. Just know it is a bit secluded and plan accordingly.