Trip planning: Desert Botanical Garden

I’ve written before that I’m a big fan of taking the kids to botanical gardens. I really like to do this when we visit ecosystems that are vastly different from where we live because it gives them the chance to explore the contrast in very specific ways. Plus it’s relaxing and fun for the adults.

I’m looking this week at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix for our trip in April. It looks like they’ve got lots of trails that would be very walkable for everyone in the family and displays that highlight everything from medicinal plants to wildflowers. There’s also a butterfly exhibit. And there seems to be a visually stunning exhibit of glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly throughout the garden (see the photo above). I’m thinking that this will make for a very fun I Spy game, as well as offering some sketching opportunities for Tommy. And we can use that light rail I’m so enamored of to get there if we want (although a shuttle ride is required).

If we do decide to visit, it won’t be spontaneous, as the garden seems to require visitors to make reservations in advance. And if we don’t bring the kids here, Matt and I are planning to get away on our own for a few days while we are in Arizona and might pop over here – they have a Thursday evening cocktail party that might be just the thing for a little grown-up time.

My next travel planning project is figuring out which resort in Scottsdale Matt and I will stay at, if anyone has any suggestions or knows of any deals.

Photo courtesy of Indyagent.