10 Best Gardens to Visit in Georgia

One of the most beautiful places in the city, the Atlanta Botanical Garden is constantly changing - from what's blooming to special exhibits. Kids will adore the award-winning Children's Garden, and the summertime Cocktails in the Garden events are the place to be for adults. The Fuqua Conservatory features the foremost collection of species orchids in the U.S., and the canopy walk gives visitors a unique perspective of the native plant life within the city. Don’t miss their satellite location in Gainesville.

Visit Atlanta Botanical Garden

Thomasville is known as the City of Roses, and the public Thomasville Rose Garden contains 1,500 rose bushes on five acres near downtown's Cherokee Lake Park. The garden is planted in four themed beds: Heroes, Holidays, Love & Cherish and Famous People. The park has restroom and picnic faculties, too, so plan to bring lunch to eat among the fragrant flowers.

The city celebrates the popular flower each April with the annual Rose Show and Festival. Visit then to experience all the festivities, including the special rose-inspired food and drinks at many of the city's great restaurants.

Visit Thomasville

Callaway Resort & Gardens is just more than one hour south of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and contains more than 2,500 acres of gardens, trails and natural beauty. No matter the season, there is a reason to visit. Winter and early spring bring holly, camellias and daffodils. In late spring and early summer, Callaway's signature azaleas burst onto the scene, some reaching heights of 15 feet. In summertime, the butterflies come out. In fall, the maples, sweetgums, sourwoods, hickories and Japanese maples make for spectacular fall foliage.

Visit Callaway Resort & Gardens

This treasure is "hidden" about an hour north of Atlanta. Gibbs Gardens is a 292-acre estate, 220 of which is the house and gardens, making this one of the largest garden estates in the nation. The garden is full of surprises from a "Monet" bridge to waterfalls (there are 19), ponds, trees sculptures and more. Don’t miss the springtime daffodils and the summertime daylilies.

Visit Gibbs Gardens

Another grand estate is located southwest of Atlanta in LaGrange. The Hills & Dales Estate was built by Fuller Callaway. You might be familiar with one of his sons, Cason Callaway, who opened the nearby Callaway Resort & Gardens.

The Hills and Dales gardens include 175-year-old boxwood, a maze garden, greenhouse, herb garden and much more. Children under 6 years old are not permitted within the home, but families can visit the gardens for special events throughout the year, such as an annual picnic in May and stories in the garden in fall.

Visit Hills and Dales Estate

There is more to Athens than just UGA football. In fact, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens was named one of the best botanical garden in the United States by USA Today. And best of all, this 313-acre horticultural conservatory is free for kids and adults. So, grab a coffee at Café Botanical and stroll the many walking paths.

Visit State Botanical Garden of Georgia

You may have seen the rural barns that extoll See Rock City, and they would be right. A true marvel of nature, the giant rock outcroppings at Rock City Gardens are a beautiful backdrop for more than 400 different native plant species.

Visit Rock City Gardens

In addition to the museum and historic homes, the Atlanta History Center's 33-acre campus also boasts six distinct gardens among its 22-acres of green space. From the Swan Woods to the Sims Asian Garden, budding botanists and outdoor lovers will delight in the trails, trees and sheer variety of plant species (most native to Georgia) that abound. You'll love the views of the gardens from the Quarry Bridge, too – especially for photo ops.

Visit Atlanta History Center

This historic public garden is located 15 miles from historic downtown Savannah. One of the most unique offerings at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens is the historic bamboo plantings, many brought back from plant collecting trips to eastern China in the 1920s, '30s and '40s. Some species are the first of their kind ever planted on North American soil.

The gardens are also known for their camellias. Peak flowering starts in October with tea and sasanqua camellias and continues through March with various hybrids. It is one of the most diverse and unique collections of species camellias in North America.

Visit Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens

This meticulously kept garden in the middle of the state is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and has a Christian theme. Whatever your religion, you can enjoy the beautiful plants at Guido Gardens situated among natural water features like flowing fountains, and winding streams.

Visit Guido Gardens