Bok Tower Gardens is a magnificent fusion of epically beautiful nature and one man’s vision to create an amazing singing tower and beautiful sanctuary that would sustain and uplift people spirits for the ages.Walking in nature trails is such a happy and Zen moment here and when I go with my family and friends we always end up napping on the lawn to hit a reset and renewal from the rest of our chaotic lives.We’ve started a new family tradition of going to Bok Tower Gardens for Thanksgiving and they have an absolutely fabulous turkey cranberry wrap that makes us super happy on Thanksgiving day!Don’t forget to try the unsweetened ice tea or their cold brew coffee.Being able to bring our pups and spend time in nature for Thanksgiving is delightful every single time.The staff here is so lovely, kind and helpful and their attention to keeping everything sanitized is admirable!I think two of my absolute favorite parts beyond yummy food and beautiful nature is the Amazon lilies are incredible when they’re in bloom and the tower when it’s singing is very uplifting to the spirit.I highly recommend that you experience Bok tower Gardens whenever you get the opportunity!

Bok tower is truly a stunning and marvel to see. To know the tower began construction in 1927 from the idea of Edward Bok and oversight from President David Price. Mask up or down, the extensive gardens, structures, statues, flowers, and open space reminds you how serene nature is.You might want to bring quarters to feed the fish.*Kid Friendly*Pet Friendly*Great for Pinics

NATURE VIBES: Definitely wait for a nice cool day to go exploring here. It’s a huge nature walk with hundreds of different labeled plants and exhibits. Wear comfortable shoes and definitely bring a water bottle and a hat.The views here are incredible. And you really get immersed in nature throughout walking through it. There’s a ton of benches hidden in plain sight around every corner. And you’ll run into photographers every now and then taking wedding pics and couple pics.My favorite is the Bok Tower itself. It is so beautiful and there’s a Koi Pond with giant fish in it. You can feed the fish and they literally come right up to the surface of the water. There’s a couple other park landmarks that are cool to check out. And there’s a cafe and gift shop near the entrance but they close a bit early. If you’re into nature vibes, it’s worth the drive.

Super relaxing and a very nice place. Loved it. Looking forward to my next visit!

Ive been a member of the gardens for over a decade. Ive volunteered and Ive been a guest to many of the lovely events Bok Tower offers.J.R.R. Tolkien couldnt have crafted a more magical fantasy and if heaven was a place on earth, it would look like Bok Tower Gardens

Ive been coming here since I was a child, & its always been a wonderful experience. The gardens are great to see any time of the year, & the bells make a lovely sound you can hear anywhere throughout the park. I wound up joining as a member back in 2013, I like it so much here, even with an hour drive from Tampa. Theyre dog friendly, too, & my pup thoroughly enjoyed herself on our most recent visit. They host events throughout the year, & a number of plant sales, too. All around, a great experience.

The park was beautiful. We decided to take our infant son here for a day trip, just to get away and had a really nice time. We were able to walk around nearly the entire park and see mostly everything. The estate was closed, so we did not even walk up to it. We decided against walking the trails near the orange groves and out in the open since that landscape is all around us every day. We did get to see some new and beautiful plants though. The splash area and the theater were closed due to COVID19. Overall, the $15.00 per person seemed a bit high since we were not able to experience the entire park. We felt like it should have been reduced a bit. The food was decent, a little high priced, but we expected that. The quality was nice however. We enjoyed ourselves, but it is not a place we will return.

I have always enjoyed Bok Tower gardens. It is a serene place to commune with nature. Dont miss the carillon concert at 1 and 3 pm everyday at the tower. Beautiful pod with high koi fish. My favorite is the window on the pond. An amazing place for meditation. The visitor center is beautiful and the gardens around it are beautifully maintained. We always pack a picnic basket and blankets. An amazing place to spend a day with family and friends.

Idk why this place isnt a more popular destination. As someone who has been to monumrnts and gardens and parks all over the US, Bok Tower is one of the most beautiful and refreshing places Ive ever been. Even the cafe and gift shop were excellent.

Such a peaceful place. Make sure to listen to one of the concerts at 1pm or at 3 ...we laid on the grass and just enjoyed it for the entire time . Very relaxing .

It was lovely. People wore masks and it wasnt crowded. There was plenty of shaded parking.

It was wonderful place for a day picnic. Childrens playground is amazing. Even adults can enjoy it too. Restrooms are neatly maintained. There is a cafe inside & also a shop, it has wonderful collections, especially the plants. Entry fee $15 per adults is totally worth if you like to enjoy the nature. You can see plantation on the way to visitor center. Plenty of parking area. Maps are available at visitor center. You can book online or on spot ticket available at entry. Victoria, the Amazon Lillys are fun to eyes. You can feed the lovely fishes, while enjoying the architecture beauty of Singing Tower. But while its raining always take a shelter. If it heavy rains, you can able to feel very closely thunder & lighting, i just felt like some crackers, it was scary for me. Shelters are well maintained. I am in love with the backyard of Pine estate. You have overlooking spot which is Floridas highest point.

So much to enjoy! Loved listening to the carillon bells at 1 & 3pm. Absolutely beautiful scenic views with benches everywhere. I was pleasantly surprised to see charging stations for EV. Will be back to enjoy the Sunset Lookout and the hiking trails.

Really beautiful and zen place. A great place to reconnect with nature. There is a fee to get into the gardens which is 15 for adults but it is well worth it. Been here 4 times and was never too busy. There is a great area to have a picnic by the singing tower.

It was a lot of fun! Lots of ground to cover! The tower was very cool! Do NOT wear white shoes! Lol, lots of red clay.

A lovely chill spot. Caught a jazz show followed by a carillon concert, plenty of lawn space for covid-19 safety. Beautiful well maintained gardens. Gift shop and restaurant on premises.

Bok Tower Gardens is basically an amusement park for plant lovers, naturalists and history enthusiasts. There is something for everyone here, even kids. The gift shop had an amzing variety of products (including typical collectable stuff like lapel pins) and the CAFE--omg. We only got sweet treats (ice cream and cookies) to refresh ourselves from the heat and I wasnt aware that this was going to be the best ice cream I ever had. We saw a surprising amount of native wildlife. A lot of animals tend to be crepuscular, but somehow we saw a native hare, a black racer snake, skinks, sandhill crane, woodpeckers and plenty of butterflies. By the tower there were koi and cichlids you could feed. I could talk forever about the amazing plants that were there but lets talk about the piece de resistance: the tower. Driving towards into the park, the tower sticks out of the canopy like a lord of the rings scene. As a matter of fact, we played lord of the rings music as we drove up. It is HUGE. It was also built on a hill. When you walk up toward it, you can see a magnificent panoramic view that you cant ignore. The tower itself plays beautiful music and will ring the time. Its not gaudy and if you visit the museum before seeing the tower, you will be able to understand the influence behind its building. Bok is someone i feel like if i studied, i would be able to relate to him. This visit was worth the 3 hour drive but i cant wait to go again. Maybe next time i will get a vacation rental because i think this deserves more than a 3 hour visit.

A slice of heaven and respite from covid. The singing tower can be heard throughout the garden, its like a giant wind chime. People having picnics and enjoying nature, what more can you ask for.

Bok Tower Gardens is a beautiful place to visit. It is a very well maintained garden which has become home to many birds. The day I was there I was able to get some great photos of some Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.

Great place to social distance & still have fun. Beautiful gardens. Bring a picnic! Lots of shade & fun for kids and adults. Great place to take visiting family/friends.

Had a great time last night! Music was wonderful, and the food was reasonably. My only suggestions are to those who want to go is the following.Portable Table and chairs helps outAnd bring bug repellent!Besides that. It was a great time and worth the effort!

A beautiful serene place. Relaxing place to absorb nature or perfect for a first date. Enjoyed the new kids section. Innovative nature activities for kids and kids at heart.

Heaven on Earth! This place is an absolute photographers dream! Its so peaceful and scenic AND huge! Theres so much to explore it would take an entire day. Its most definitely a hidden gem tucked away in Lake Wales FL. I couldnt say enough great things about this location, more than worth the 20 bucks it cost to get myself and daughter in. A must see for sure.

Had a blast today! The experience was unexpected. The area is filled with beautiful gardens and Bok Tower was astounding. We got there in time to hear the bells. Amazing!

Wow! I can’t believe it took me this long to visit this place. Absolutely worth the trip! The quality of food at the Cafe was impeccable and they even pack it to go for you to enjoy as a picnic in the park. The Brunch special (served until 1pm) was a great value. The park is also dog friendly. We ended up upgrading our passes and becoming members.

This place is absolutely gorgeous! The grounds are expansive with lovingly-maintained gardens containing a wide variety of native Florida plant life. The layout of the preserve has many points of interest, including lakes, secluded forest paths, and rolling fields with beautiful vistas. The carillon tower is an architectural marvel, surrounded by the natural beauty of the forests and gardens. A truly spectacular sight! Well worth the trip!

Lots of new stuff to see if it has been a few years. Lovely area and worth every penny. Be careful of reciprocity for other parks you may be a member of. They do not tell you! You have to tell them. Other than that - lovely time was had by all.

This National Historic Landmark is breathtaking from the beautiful landscape to the eclectic flowers to the spectacular singing tower. The tower is 205 feet and houses a 60-bell carillon. There is a visitor center, museum, cafe, and gift shop. For kids, theres the childrens garden where they can dig, explore, and climb. Seasonally, you can visit the Pinewood Estate which is a 1932 home and requires a separate ticket.

Beautifully maintained grounds provided needed Covid break. Would have enjoyed visit anyway. Well worth it.

We had a fantastic time. The gardens are beautiful and the nconcert was amazing. We even got to meet the player of the bells. It was a great day!

Wonderful and beautiful. Far exceeds other Florida gardens. Make it a must to visit. Beautiful gift shop with unique and reasonably priced items including plants.Also the food on site was excellent, service great and prices reasonable. Overall entirely worth while. We will go again

We attended the Christmas bells show. It was superb! Highly recommend.

Four stars because I spent more time waiting for food than walking around the complex... But it is beautiful, definitely worth the 15 bucks and spend the afternoon just chilling. Great photo opportunities, plenty number of benches to sit. The map they provide makes the complex look way bigger than what it is, so dont be scared, its way smaller than it looks.

Gorgeous!!!! Beautiful flowers koi fish to feed and the Beautiful Tower as well as cute little cafe, absolutely gorgeous grounds would come back in a heartbeat.

Beautiful, had to buy a membership so I could come back.

Had a nice afternoon stroll through beautiful landscape at one of the highest points in Florida. Really a beautiful place.

Lovely grounds, dog friendly. I wish they would better label their specimens. Youll for sure leave knowing the Japanese Camellia.

A really beautiful, relaxing walk through a well organized beautiful garden. Flowers in bloom, and the tower was magnificent! Nice sounding bells, gorgeous structure. Nice gift shop, excellent cafeteria, good food, friendly staff nice museum. A really relaxing and enjoyable day! Special thanks to Whitney for the guided tour and the beautiful Italian young lady in the cafeteria.

This is an amazing place for family and kids. Nature lovers should visit. Lots of different kind of trees and flowers get to see on the either side of trials. Around tower there is a amazon Lilly leaf which is amazing to watch and also beautiful spot for photo shoot .

Gorgeous garden. A lot to see. Feels 5 degrees cooler here with all the shade. Tallest point in peninsular Florida.

Bok tower is open and still as beautiful and peaceful a place as it has been for almost a century. The best natural setting to bring friends of all ages or the grandkids.

Beautifully maintained gardens & trails. Fun play garden for kids. Nice spot for fresh air family fun.

Well worth the trip to find this out of the way treasure. The childrens garden is a wonderland. The historic gardens and tower a spectacular sanctuary of beauty and nature.

Mesmerizing, calming effect, breathtaking. Also has a mysterious vibe to it, the tower plays very low demonic notes originating from the 1800’s almost like Count Dracula music. The tower itself it’s symbolic to freemasonry/Illuminati. The top of the tower shows Adam & Eve eating talking to the snake (devil) on the tree. Not to mention the logo in the tower with the surrounding zodiac? Most definitely a spiritual site where things used to go down (or still does). Check it out

The gardens here are so nice. My girlfriend and I had a picnic, which you can do anywhere in the grounds. Bring bug spray! The tower music is nice. There are lots of great photo spots. They have concerts outdoors regularly. The cafe is nice. You should definitely check this out.

The drive was worth it. A magical place takes you to another century. You do have to buy a ticket for your dogs which I dont understand but it is dog friendly. Everything very handicapped accessible. Alttle paranoia about masking and social distancing but seemed anyone who needed to did. Really beautiful.a fair bit out of the way but lots of places along the way to grab food or stuff for a picnic which alot of people were doing. One of the best cups of coffee I have had in along while.

We have a membership to Bok Tower it is so beautiful and peaceful to walk the gardens and its history..I truly recommend you visit this awesome place

Absolutely beautiful. On a cool and pleasant day, its a wonderful place to be, especially on the hill top. Two complaints of mine are the slow café and the admission fee. Otherwise, I enjoyed it. If you wanna see some Florida hills and hear some bells, stop by there and enjoy the walk up the hill surrounded by nature.

This place is fantastic. The friend are well maintained. The folage is beautiful. The town is magnificent. Well worth the trip. Will go again.

This place exceeded my expectations. I had an idea that it would be nice but, our family really enjoyed the beauty and tranquility. Our party ranged in age from a 78 year old grandmother, an 11 year old boy and a couple aged in between. We all loved the place. We spent about 4 hours touring the grounds and admiring the nature. Highly recommend!!

Bok Tower Gardens is a feast for the mind and the spirit! Absolutely recommend!They even have EV chargers!

What a beautiful site. It was so peaceful, everyone we saw was friendly. The bathrooms were very clean. This was easily our favorite adventure since moving to Florida only 4 months ago. It was absolutely breathtaking!! We will certainly be back many more times. There is a lot of walking which we were fine with, but if you cant walk it all seemed very wheelchair accessible.

Tower is cool and on a really pretty lot. Lots to see, although the gardens could be a little better in some places in my opinion. Definitely worth seeing!

Beautiful, beautiful place. Easy to get to it, plenty of parking space, wheelchair access everywhere and well maintained. Museum, Coffe shop and plant shop opened. Teather closed at the present time. Beautiful trails and plenty of spots to rest and take awesome pictures. The tower its amazing and the sites are breathtaking.

This place has beautiful gardens and is a pleasure to visit. Lots of cool plants and scenery. Its very relaxing and I highly recommend it for a day trip to just walk around and enjoy some nature. Definitely be sure to check out the restaurant too. They have delicious food and ice cream! The plant shop is also really cool and worth a stop. Overall highly recommend.

A wonderful park. The tower is absolutely gorgeous. The signing is beautiful. The trails and scenery are so grandiose. Well worth the cost of admission. The most spectacular part was probably the childrens garden. So incredibly well down wow. Would love to come back. Bring a water bottle. Bug spray advised in summer

Beautiful place to visit. Definitely make sure youre there long enough to hear the bells. Lots of beautiful photos to be taken during your garden stroll. Nice gift shop and plant store.

We had a wonderful time with our kids. The garden was much larger than I expected. The social distancing rules were in place and I felt very safe. I would highly recommend getting quarters before going to the tower so you can feed the fish.

Got lost w some friends but it was good. Goofed around a lot and it was fun. Also the Cafe has mango sherbet so thats pretty good. Would definitely recommend.

Its beautiful. The scenes are amazing, I love the way the made the paths. However, there are a lot of mosquitos. So, I would strongly advise being mosquito repellent. They didnt sell it in the store when we went.Other than that, I would definitely recommend going there.

So beautiful and fun! It was very relaxing. There was so much green and nature, it was wonderful being outside. The bells sounded very lovely! The visitor center had information on the tower that was very interesting. The café food was delicious . Would love to go again!

Beautiful, Peaceful place! There is a small but nice museum when you walk by guest information. The staff is very friendly and helpful and the gardens are beautiful. You feel a sense of tranquility while walking through these trails. Most trails are either paved or have gravel to walk on. The tower itself is magnificent and has sort of a Fantasy/Lord of the Rings-esque vibe to it. I enjoyed sitting there and listening to the carillon. Recommended, especially if you like gardens or botany.

They were very beautifully decorated for Christmas inside their house. There’s not a whole lot of walking and the views are picture worthy. I found it to be costly but they had a little variety of options. They also have a cafe and a shop but the prices for those were also above average. It’s a good option when you’re in the Lake Wales area. I’d be interested to do the historic tour to see how it differs.

Beautiful place! Peaceful, you can spend around 3 or 4 hours. I went in summer so, it was very hot, we needed a lot of water ( be prepared).

Worth the trip to go if you can go. Its very quiet and quaint

Great Place to go to and escape the business of Central Florida. Very relaxing to walk, explore, and enjoy the scenic gardens. Highly recommend for people who need a day to unwind.

Pretty place full of exotic flowers. Tower is a very beautiful building.

Beautiful landscaping and gardens. This is a great place to bring your dog.

We were really disappointed that the grounds were not kept up. Plants were dying. Ponds on the grounds were dried up. The house and tower were closed. Water Fountains were not operating and had still water and moss growing inside of them. There was no veteran discount. It definitely was not worth the entrance fee. Will not recommend and will not go back.

Gardens is located on hill. It is amazing place to spend time.

Bring a ball or frisbee for the kids great relaxing place. Beautiful lots of butterflies and flowers. Also had lots of places with benches to relax in the shade.

Fun, outdoor-based local experience with beautiful scenery and horticulture. Great experience for local residents, as well as visitors. The location is remote, but it’s an amazing view from the gardens.

We got the season passes its a great deal and our 3 year old never gets tired of the activities at the childrens area.The gardens are well kept and there are miles and miles of beautiful trails.

A lovely experience although it was fall. It will likely be best in the spring or summer. The tower was beautiful

Visit 08/22/20. Plenty of walking paths, but needed more foliage. It appeared some of the plants were dying or dead. What was there was nice. Tower was beautiful but would have been better if we could visit inside the tower. The ac was out on the days of our visit and the Pinewood Estate was closed off to public also. Honestly not worth the 15 per adult. Would not recommend or revisit.

Its amazing place. Now its gonna be one of my favorite. Me and my husband was 2 days ago, and we fell in love with this park. If you like a peaceful place and not crowded, were you can meditate and refill your energy this is the place you should to go. And the staff also is nice. Thank you guys for this expirience.

The gardens are beautiful and the experience its always wonderful!

Great place. We spent about 4 hrs here in the wonderful gardens. They have great childrens garden. Drop the children off with babysitter and they will be entertained for hours

Amazing place. Very peaceful and the bells make the time in nature even more magical. Dont be afraid to stray down the dirt paths. Theres always something new to discover

This place was absolutely breathtaking...the tower bells were beautiful to listen toA hidden gem for sure

I always enjoy visiting here. The gardens are beautiful. So much variation. The Bell Tower is like something out of a storybook.I enjoyed each section of the Gardens. Each time I go, I see something different. I learn something new. I stopped in the cafe and got the avocado toast with some tea. Delicious!

Bok Tower Gardens was a real surprise for me. I assumed it would be pretty, but it was absolutely stunning, and extremely well organized. Its priced well for the attraction, does a great job providing clear direction, and really makes you stop and appreciate the beautiful grounds. The tower is in amazing condition, and all the grounds are immaculate. Definitely stay for the bells, and plan to spend about 2-3 hours wandering, or more depending on pictures etc.The food in their cafe was good, fresh, and not expensive at all. The gift shop had a good selection, and the plants sold are nice.Definitely a great little trip to take you out of typical Florida. We will definitely go back.

So beautiful, plan plenty of time to explore the expansive garden

One of the most tranquil, amazing places...Edward Bok was a visionary that left behind a Central Florida treasure! We purchased membership the first time we went in support of the Tower and have brought many friends here!

Gets more beautiful and important as time marches on. A must see while in Florida.I first saw it in 1986. Since then it has been enhanced even more than I couldve imagined. Just goes to show you there are considerate people on this earth that foster goodwill to humanity. Great work.

I have been visiting Bok Tower Gardens for over 40 years. Sad how it changed from free for all forever to $17 per person parking fee. We went as a large group and had a very knowledgeable guide. Before our tour started we were given the get your membership now this deal is only available today spiel. We were told we would be able to go into the bottom room of the tower. Then, as another group was coming out of the tower, she said the carillion was starting and she left. Very confusing and disappointing.In addition to the huge welcome center, big gift shop and lunch room built several years ago, most of the trails are now paved and ADA accessible. There is a new childrens area. Must have cost a fortune. Upkeep of the plants was noticeably lacking. Many palms and shrubs were diseased. Very few annuals as in past years.Seems like this place has become more focused in money making and less on maintaining a beautiful garden.

This is one of most beautiful gardens. The staff take pride in keeping these grounds clean and lively. I love how they have a special in August . To where it is half off for Florida locals. The singing tower goes off at three . Very relaxing chimes. They have a cafe here with fountain drinks. There are many adventures on the hikes with such beauty that mother nature has to offer.

Really would have loved more flowers, mostly trees, but makes a great place to go for a walk in nature. Price is a little high to walk around in the trees, but still nice

One of Central Floridas best-kept secrets, this property is both historic and tranquil beyond belief.The gardens themselves are stunning, but the tower itself is an absolute marvel. You can easily spend hours wandering around the gardens, taking in the scenery, and visiting the various mini-attractions on property (a butterfly/bee garden, various seasonal exhibits, a boardwalk, an all-ages area with various activities and instruments, etc).Make sure you catch one of the recitals while there. Though it may not seem it, the tower itself is not just an architectural feat, but also a musical one. It houses a carillion, and (at least) twice a day a live human is up there playing it. Theres a viewing area to the right of the tower (as you approach) where you can actually watch a live video feed of the performer. The whole experience is really magical.Also, try out the café while there. The prices arent nearly as high as I feared, and the menu is actually impressive.

I am born and raised in Tampa and this was my first time to this place!!! WOW!!! this place is well kept and a true gem tucked away in central Florida!!! peace,tranquil,melodic, at one of the highest elevations in Florida!!! The trails are so nice and if you get there early enough..... your alone in a paradise of floridas nature!!!! GO NOW!!!! why did it take me so long!???

I was not expecting this place to be so massive and so beautiful! Its like an amusement park of plants. So much to see and do. I fell in love!

This is my absolute favorite place to bring my kids any day of the year! Fun for all ages!!! And who doesnt love these beautiful gardens that they take such good care of. Do I even need to mention the tower

I went on an adventure to these beautiful gardens yesterday. I paid the extra 7.00 to tour the Pinewood Estates when I entered the park. I ventured around looking at the gardens and al the different plants. This place is truly beautiful. The Pinewood Estate was huge and it takes you back to a long forgotten era. The park workers were friendly and answered all my questions, it was a great visit.

Beautiful garden. Really nice place to take some pictures for a special occasion like engagement photos.

Go there every few years but it has been about 6 since our last trip. What a VAST improvement! The grounds are in much better shape, excellent pathways, better information and the kids area is great! It looks as though a lot of money and energy was put in.

One of my favorite central Florida spots hands down.

Beautiful gardens on top of a hill... Yes... A hill... In Florida... Who would have thought...

Great place to stroll and take in the beauty of Central Florida! We couldve easily have spent a whole day there. Great spot for professional photo shoots as well- saw lots of groups taking pictures all over the garden grounds.

Beautiful, I am a native Floridian, and this was my first visit. Tower and carillon beautiful. The gardens and trails both beautiful and well kept. It is worth the visit .

Cant wait for my next visit