Why should kids have all the fun?
Sometimes I want to be a kid again. I see you nodding yes – your inner child wants to play too!
And so, it came to pass that an opportunity to do just that happened recently.
A friend and I visited Bok Tower Gardens. It has been years since I’d walked around this National Historic Landmark near Lake Wales, Florida and this was a first time visit for my friend.
Dedicated in 1929 by Edward W. Bok as a gift to the American people, Bok Tower Gardens sits on Iron Mountain. By Florida flat standards, this ancient limestone backbone ridge is a mountain. It rises a whooping 298 feet above sea level. The views of the countryside are breathtaking.
Designed by the outstanding landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. (his father designed Central Park in New York City) the Gardens do not rest on their reputation for the eye-popping Singing Tower, a 205-foot marble and coquina monument to neo-Gothic and Art Deco creativity augmented daily with music on the 60-bell carillon.
Nor do they rest on laurels awarded for the surrounding lush woodland garden and bird sanctuary with its meandering paths and vistas that make you gasp.
Instead, the Gardens are continually growing, evolving, changing, adding more kudos to their reputation.
Three examples: Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden, the Wild Garden and Outdoor Kitchen were all dedicated on Saturday, September 10, 2016.
The Outdoor Kitchen was closed on our visit, but the Children’s Garden called to our inner child to be set free. For a few hours we got to be kids again! Halleluiah.
Step through the gateway into the Children’s Garden and immediately look down at the stone mosaic pathways. Wonderful wandering patterns of stone undulating like ripples in a stream punctuated with pebble sculptures embedded in the sidewalk.
Both the Ledge Walk and the River Walk have large limestone ledges with places to climb and nooks and crannies for say, hide and seek.
There is a secret button. When you find it (on a post, a green button) push the button and water comes spraying out of jets buried in the rocks.
We resisted the urge to get wet but the sound of kids laughing as their ran through the water was music to our ears.
The music theme continued at the Songbird Music Tree. We played percussion instruments and laughed at our efforts. I’ve heard it said that all music you make, even singing in the shower, gets sent out into the universe and stays there, a positive vibration.
More positive vibrations at the Doodle Bug Art Place where we picked up colored pencils doodled for a while then hung our creations on a clothesline with all the other masterpieces.
Just walking through this garden was a joy. So many ways (17 in all) to be creative, have fun, learn new things, even think about words in the Edward Bok Word Garden where rocks have words painted on them.
Suggestion: Especially if bringing children and/or grandchildren, print out the Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden map ahead of time.
Being kids again tired us adults out. We headed for a yummy lunch at the Blue Palmetto Café right across from the Visitors Center.
Then, refreshed and renewed, we ambled uphill on wide paved paths to the Singing Tower, sitting on a nearby bench to await a 1 p.m. concert.
Bok Tower Gardens are open 365 days a year from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Visitor Center, Museum Blue Palmetto Café and The Shop at Bok are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Most areas of the Gardens are wheelchair accessible. Mobility carts and wheelchairs available at The Shop at Bok.
Prices: Adult admission is $15, Children (ages 5-12) $5, children under 5 are free, Dogs are $5.
Parking is free.
Single day admission includes selected garden areas (the Pinewood Estates & Gardens are currently closed) and access to the 3.5 miles Pine Ridge Preserve Hiking Trail.
Note: most of this trail is open, no shade. Not recommended for mid-day summer hiking (think full sun, high humidity and very hot).
Be sure to get a free visitor map and guide at the Visitor’s Center. History buffs will want to see the short orientation film that gives the Gardens’ history.
When we visited, July 2021, masks were required for any indoor spaces.
The usual Florida outdoor dress code is recommended for your visit – solid walking shoes along with a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a bottle of water. Oh, and a camera or cellphone. Photo opportunities abound.
Check out the Bok Tower Gardens website for upcoming events and programs listed by calendar month. In August there is Yoga for kids on Saturday, August 7 and Saturday, August 21. Also, Yoga for adults on the same day.
For nearby things to do visit the website Visit Central Florida
Concluding with a worthy quote:
“Wherever your lives may be cast, make the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it.” Edward Bok.
©2021 Lucy Tobias.
Photos by Frank Faine and Lucy Tobias