242 Best Sights in USA

This air-conditioned refuge for butterflies, birds, and humans gladdens the soul with hundreds of colorful wings—more than 45 species of butterflies alone—in a lovely glass-encased bubble. Waterfalls, artistic benches, paved pathways, birds, and lush, flowering vegetation elevate this above most butterfly attractions. The gift shop and gallery are worth a visit on their own.

For over 65 years, the Key West Garden Club has maintained lush gardens among the arches and ruins of this redbrick Civil War–era fort. You can see the impressive collection of native and tropical plants while meandering past fountains, sculptures, and a picture-perfect gazebo on a self-guided tour. The garden hosts art, orchid, and flower shows February through April, and volunteers lead private garden tours one weekend in March.

Established in 1935, this unique habitat is the only frost-free botanical garden in the continental United States. You won't see fancy topiaries and exotic plants, but you will see an ecosystem that is unique to this area and the Caribbean. Paved walkways take you past butterfly gardens, mangroves, Cuban palms, and ponds where you can spy turtles and fish. There are herons, ibis, and other birds here, too. It's a natural slice of Keys paradise that offers a nice respite from sidewalks and shops.

If you've visited any of Oahu's other botanical gardens, Koko Crater will stand in stark contrast. Inside the tallest tuff (a type of volcanic rock) cone on Oahu, in one of the island's hottest and driest areas, the garden showcases dryland species of plants, including baobab trees, cacti, plumeria, and bougainvillea. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a hat. Though it's close to Oahu's more lush windward side, this is a scorching spot.

The Eden Park sanctuary houses thousands of species of flora from all corners of the world. Krohn is divided into several environments, including a desert with cacti and a tropical rain forest. The palm trees and indoor waterfalls are a welcome sight come winter. Seasonal exhibits include a Christmas show with poinsettias and model trains, and a summer show with live butterflies and the plants that attract them.

About 20 minutes south of the International District by car, sit 20 serene acres of streams, waterfalls, ponds, and rock outcroppings created by Fujitaro Kubota, a 1907 emigrant from Japan. (Other examples of his work show up in the gardens on the Seattle University campus, and the Japanese Garden at the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.) The designated historical landmark of the city of Seattle is free to visitors, and tours are self-guided, though you can go on a docent-led tour on the fourth Saturday of every month, April through October, at 10 am (reservations required).

This picturesque garden has assimilated itself naturally into its precipitous 8-acre habitat. More than 2,500 plants and trees fill the enchanted garden, including native koa (prized by woodworkers) and kukui (the state tree, a symbol of enlightenment). A flowing stream feeds into a koi pond, where nene and ducks meander, and a paved, stroller- and wheelchair-friendly pathway winds through the grounds. The carved tiki exhibit, aviary, and Jackson chameleon exhibit entertain the keiki (children).

The Ladew Topiary Gardens displays the life's work of Harvey Smith Ladew. The trees and shrubs are sculpted into geometric forms and lifelike renditions of animals such as a fox and hounds, swans, and even a sea horse. The 15 formal gardens cover 22 acres. Besides the amazing topiary displays are rose, berry, and herb gardens, and a tranquil Japanese garden with pagoda, lily ponds, and lush flowers. In summer there are special events such as concerts and polo matches. The 18th-century manor house is filled with English antiques, paintings, photographs, and fox-hunting memorabilia. The café serves lunch and light snacks.

This 284-acre site of beautiful botanical gardens and nature trails, located 10 miles south of downtown, was founded in 1982 by Lady Bird Johnson and actress Helen Hayes, and is the legacy of the former First Lady's commitment to the natural beauty of Central Texas. The gardens boast extensive plantings of native Texas wildflowers that bloom year-round; although spring is an especially magical time. The grounds include a visitor center, network of trails, observation tower, elaborate stone terraces, flower-filled meadows, and rotating outdoor art installations and exhibits. Seasonal calendars include various family-friendly and educational events, from yoga and meditation retreats to gardening workshops.

The Lamberton Conservatory, built in 1911, houses arid desert species and lush tropical vegetation. It's incredibly popular on snowy winter days.

Although Omaha’s sunny summer days are perfect for visiting this lush botanical garden on the west bank of the Missouri River, its large selection of four-season plants makes it a popular attraction even during cooler months. It’s a good place to learn about flora, and it offers a number of different adult and children’s courses throughout the year on everything from floral arranging to nature crafting. You can take a tram ride through the 100-acre park from May through October.

Visit any time of year to witness the beauty of 50 acres of gardens while exploring the historic property's various dining and shopping options. The domed conservatory, referred to as the "Jewel of the Garden," is the only one of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic, and houses ever-changing displays, tropical plants, and more than 200 orchids in bloom. The rose garden, one of the many themed gardens on the property, features 80 varieties, with more than 1,800 roses and a pavilion for special events, including wine tastings and evening jazz concerts. A Children's Garden offers a wheelchair-accessible tree house—fun for kids and adults—an Adventure Pathway, sand and water play areas, as well as the "International Village," with playhouses modeled after homes from around the world, like the traditional Ethiopian tukul. The Dominion Gardenfest's annual light display is a holiday tradition. Dining options include the Garden Café and the Tea House. The Garden Shop offers unique botanical gifts.

Designed to honor Hawaii's first Japanese immigrants and named after Hawaii's last reigning monarch, Liliuokalani Gardens' 30 acres of fish-filled ponds, stone lanterns, half-moon bridges, elegant pagodas, and a ceremonial teahouse make it a favorite Sunday destination, or any day of the week for that matter. You'll see weddings, picnics, and family gatherings as you stroll. The surrounding area, once a busy residential neighborhood on Waiakea Peninsula, was destroyed by a devastating 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people.

The tranquility and abundant greenery inside this 1892 conservatory offer a refreshing respite in the heart of a bustling neighborhood. Stroll through permanent displays in the Palm House, Fern Room, and Orchid House, or catch special events like the fragrant Spring Flower Show. Free, timed reservations—available on the conservatory's website—are required.

While technically in the Lakewood neighborhood, this beautiful destination is just a 12-minute walk from the Mid-City streetcar stop. Fourteen separate gardens are arranged throughout the 8 acres, embellished with fountains, architectural flourishes, and gorgeous pathways of hand-laid Mexican pebbles and rough-cut marble. This city estate, now a National Historic Landmark, was fashioned in the 1940s after the great country houses of England, and the villa-style mansion is decorated with its original furnishings of English and American antiques, priceless tapestries, modern art, and porcelain. Longue Vue is open every day, and guests can visit the house by guided tour or explore the gardens at their own leisure. Themed gardens include the formal Spanish court, modeled after a 14th-century Spanish garden, as well as a Discovery Garden, which introduces kids to the intricacies and wonders of horticulture.  While the verdant gardens are open year round, March and April see the amaryllis, daffodils, azaleas, spring snowdrops, tulips, and poppies in full bloom.

Wander through a re-created tropical forest, a South African landscape, or the Australian outback at this family-friendly arboretum. One highlight is the tropical greenhouse, with carnivorous-looking orchids and a pond full of brilliantly colored goldfish. The house and stables of the eccentric real-estate pioneer Lucky Baldwin are well-preserved and worth a visit, along with the fairy-tale Queen Anne Cottage built for his 16-year-old fourth wife, which has been painstakingly renovated and is now open for docent-led tours. (It's best known as Ricardo Montalbán's Fantasy Island house.) Kids will love the many peacocks and waterfowl that roam the property, and an abandoned 1890 train station built using Baldwin's own brick yard. The most recent additions include a new forest pathway and the Garden of Quiet Reflection, filled with contemplative quotes, a sundial, and East Asian flora.

Renowned horticulturist Luther Burbank lived and worked on these grounds and made significant advances using modern selection and hybridization techniques. The 1.6-acre garden and greenhouse showcase the results of some of Burbank's experiments to develop spineless cacti and such flowers as the Shasta daisy. Use your cell phone on a free self-guided garden tour, or from April through October take a docent-led tour (required to see the house).

Tucked all the way back in Manoa Valley, this is a gem of an arboretum operated by the University of Hawaii. Reservations are required to visit its almost 200 acres, where you can hike to a waterfall or sit and enjoy beautiful views of the valley while having a picnic. You'll also see an ethnobotanical garden, a Hawaiian hale (house) and garden, and one of the largest palm collections anywhere—all within a parklike setting. The arboretum's educational mission means there are often regular talks and walks, plus classes on lei-making, lauhala weaving, Hawaiian medicinal arts, and more, which you can take for an additional fee.

A stroll around this whimsical, plant- and sculpture-studded 2-acre preserve designed by artist Robert Dash reveals why HomeStyle magazine once described it as one of the 10 most beautiful gardens in America. Many adult and childrens' educational programs are offered here. Photographs are permitted, but dogs and strollers are not.

This glass conservatory glitters with more than 4,000 butterflies. Kids love the butterfly nursery, where newborns first take flight. Outside is a three-season garden filled with plants that attract local species. There's also a snack bar and gift shop.

Orchids make up nearly a third of the 20,000 species of flowers and plants here. You can stroll through the Tropical Display House, home of orchids and colorful bromeliads gathered from rain forests, and wander the garden pathway past plantings of bamboo, ancient banyans, and mangrove forests along Little Sarasota Bay. Although spring sees the best blooms, the greenhouses make this an attraction for all seasons. A bonus is a spectacular view of downtown.

There are rotating exhibits of botanical art and photography in a 1934 restored Southern Colonial mansion. Enjoy lunch at the Selby House Cafe. The Historic Spanish Point campus in Osprey is home to the region's only butterfly experience.

For picnics, bird-watching, or launching kayaks and canoes, visit Mariners Memorial Park, overlooking secluded Long Cove. There is a half-mile walking loop and a small garden maintained by the Evergreen Garden Club. Educational events (including scavenger hunts for kids) are regularly offered in the summer.

Hawaiian and Polynesian species are cultivated at this fascinating 7-acre garden, including Hawaiian bananas; local varieties of sweet potatoes and sugarcane; and native poppies, hibiscus, and anapanapa, a plant that makes a natural shampoo when rubbed between your hands. Reserve ahead for the weekly ethnobotany tours. Self-guided tour booklets and an audio tour wand are included with admission (docent tours must be arranged online in advance).

On this 100-acre Victorian estate, one can explore the lavish Maymont House museum, a carriage collection, and elaborate Italian and Japanese gardens. A true family attraction, Maymont's complex includes the Nature Visitor Center, native wildlife exhibits, and a children's farm. Kids love the pair of playful otters in the aquarium and the waterfall above the Japanese garden. A Bald Eagle Habitat and Raptor Valley are popular additions to the wildlife areas of the park. Take the hop-on, hop-off tram for $3 to see this huge park and its exhibits. Guided mansion tours are on the hour and half hour until 4:30 pm. A café is open for lunch. Carriage rides are also available for $15.

More than 750 varieties of azaleas bloom in the 5-acre McCrillis Gardens from late March through July, and usually peak around May 1. Ornamental trees and shrubs, including a remarkable collection of rhododendrons, bloom in the warm months. The Brookside Gardens School of Botanical Art and Illustration classes are held inside the home.

The 53-acre Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens contain more than 1,500 native and hybrid species of rhododendrons and more than 100,000 spring bulbs on 10 acres of display gardens with 2 miles of nature trails. The flowers are in full bloom in April and May; summer flowers and fall color provide interest later in the year. The 43 remaining acres are kept wild as a nature preserve. Leashed pets are permitted on the gravel paths.

In East Memphis, the 96-acre Memphis Botanic Garden has scores of species, from camellias to cacti. The grounds are superbly kept, making this an idyllic getaway.

This active Trappist monastery overlooking the Cooper River is on the site of the former plantation owned by Henry Laurens, a slaveholder whose wealth came from the transatlantic slave trade. It was later the home of noted publisher Henry Luce and his wife, Clare Boothe Luce, who commissioned renowned landscape architect Loutrel Briggs to design a sprawling garden in 1937. That garden remains a stunning place for a serene walk or contemplative rest on a waterfront bench. You can take a guided tour of the church or even stay here for a spiritual retreat in the sleek, modern facility with individual rooms and private baths. Hearing the monks sing during their normal daily routine is a peaceful, spiritual experience. The gift shop sells mushrooms from the abbey's farm as well as candies, preserves, and creamed honey from other Trappist abbeys. Church tours are offered at 11:30 am on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

As part of a process to create a cultural corridor in downtown Jackson, the Mississippi Museum of Art now represents the "open door" philosophy of the arts community. You'll feel welcome in light-bathed galleries flanked by a huge outdoor garden, where dancing fountains, outdoor sculptures, and a performance stage liven the green space. As a symbol of the museum's commitment to hospitality, admission to "The Mississippi Story," a part of the permanent collection, is free. Be sure to see photography by Mississippi literary giant Eudory Welty.

Known locally as Shaw's Garden for founder Henry Shaw, the garden is a 15-minute drive southwest of Downtown. Highlights include a Japanese garden; the Climatron, a tropical rain forest housed in a geodesic glass dome; an Ottoman Turkish style garden; and a 2-acre children's garden representing Missouri's major ecosystems.