Atlanta Botanical Garden

"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

"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

"Situated at the edge of Piedmont Park, the Atlanta Botanical Garden has 30 acres of indoor and outdoor gardens — rose, orchid, tropical, edible, etc. — to explore year-round. No matter the season, there’s always an art exhibition, special event, or class to check out. For example, during the winter, the garden puts on an impressive holiday lights display. During the summer, it has hosted concert series and cocktail hours.One of the garden’s most lovely features is its Kendeda Canopy Walk, an elongated suspension bridge elevated 40 feet above the ground that leads guests through a small wood of oaks, hickories, and tulip poplars. After you explore the gardens, have lunch or dinner at its mid-century modern Longleaf Restaurant, which has a wall of windows overlooking the flowers and foliage. Daytime admission to the garden is $23.95 for adults, $20.95 for children ages three to 12, and free for children under three." - MATADOR_NETWORK