Garden Travel Experiences

The goal for the day was 600 miles on the road towards a Florida beach. But an alternate route avoiding Atlanta traffic went near the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and The Freedom Monument Sculpture Park in Montgomery AL. By days end I had experienced blooms, smiles, conversations, sketches, a boat ride on the Alabama River, 300 miles, and 10,000 steps.

The Hilton app offered a downtown Montgomery hotel for less than sporadic rural interstate hotels on my route. So I walked to Ravello Ristorante, where I savored handmade ravioli and a glass of wine on a terrace. I will still get morning walks on the beach, just need to get on the road at 6 am to get there. That worked out too because my muse woke me up at 4 am to write.

I had visited both gardens last year, so I could enjoy an hour or two at each in a different season. Are two gardens and downtown Montgomery better than an interstate hotel and a few more hours on a touristy beach? Oh, my goodness -yes. This why I love solo road trips –spontaneity, doing what makes my heart sing, waking up at 4 am to write if I want, indulging in a nice restaurant one night and slicing an apple to dunk in peanut butter the next.

The Legacy Sites

Sometime you have to travel to remind yourself of the treasures at home.

Designing for Art and Wellness: Moshe Safdie, Marlon and Ati Blackwell, and Wesley Walls | Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Planning a visit to Crystal Bridges? Check out our seasonal visitor’s guides, browse our event calendar, or use our Plan a Visit page to learn about hours, parking, and what to expect while you’re here.