Close your eyes and picture the most massive musical instrument you can imagine… if you thought of a bassoon or a double bass, you’re thinking too small! One of the largest musical instruments in the world is so huge that it requires a 20-story building — and you can see it during your next vacation in Orlando!
Bok Tower Gardens is a 250-acre garden and bird sanctuary situated on Iron Mountain in beautiful Lake Wales, Florida. It’s less than an hour’s drive from the majority of our vacation homes, and it’s best known for its carillon, one of the world’s most complex musical instruments. While visiting this National Historic Landmark, you can tour one of the world’s most beautiful natural landscapes and catch a glimpse at over 100 unique species of birds.
We’ve created this guide to help VillaKey families make the most out of their visit to one of the area’s most breathtaking attractions. Keep reading to discover what Bok Tower Gardens has to offer!
The Singing Tower
When Edward W. Bok commissioned the Singing Tower on the grounds of Bok Tower Gardens, he hoped it would be the most beautiful tower on earth. He also built it on one of the highest points of peninsular Florida. The building is stunning, crafted from striking Georgia pink marble and native coquina stone from Florida. The magic, however, is in the structure’s interior—it houses a 60-bell carillon, a complex, fully-mechanical musical instrument, one of only 185 such instruments in America.
You can hear a demonstration every day at 1:00 and 3:00 PM for no additional charge. You’ll be able to listen to the carillon music from anywhere on the property, so there’s no need to pause your exploration! If you visit the building, your family can say hello to the koi fish in the tower’s moat.
Visitors with special sensory needs may find the noise challenging. Luckily, sensory kits are available at the visitor center, including noise-canceling headphones that can make the visit easier.
The Gardens & Nature Trails
Put on your comfortable walking shoes and prepare to explore! These gardens were designed by famed Landscape Architect Fredrick Law Olmsted Jr. You will experience a colorful array of carefully curated blossoming plants year-round in the gardens. They are also a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail, and visitors can expect to spot over one hundred unique birds, from screeching owls to wood ducks.
All of the primary pathways in the garden are paved, making it stroller and mobility-aid friendly. Some paths are mulch-covered and easier to explore on foot. It takes the average visitor about eight minutes to walk from the visitor center to the singing tower, making the grounds accessible for sightseers of all ages.
Within the gardens themselves, your family can experience the following:
- Pollinator garden
- Endangered plant garden
- River of stone
- Outdoor Kitchen
- Wetland Boardwalk
- Window by the Pond
- Reflection Pool
- Exedra & Overlook
- Peace Lanterns
Touring Bok Gardens is a self-guided and self-paced experience, so you’ll never need to rush or stress. There are plenty of places to sit, stretch out, relax, and bask in the natural beauty.
Hammock Hollow
Are you worried that your little explorer might get excited and dig up some priceless native plants? Take them to the hands-on, interactive children’s garden, Hammock Hollow! The dedicated space is full of Bok Tower Gardens activities, and offers the littlest adventurers lots of room to climb, play, dig, explore, and perform on a child-sized stage!
There are eighteen distinct areas to uncover in Hammock Hollow, including spots for art and music-making, running, rolling, and hunting for fairy houses. Kids of all ages will find something to keep them busy. There’s even a river walk splash park, so don’t forget to pack the swimsuits and towels!
It’s part natural escape, part children’s museum, and it’s all included in the price of admission!
El Retiro
El Retiro is a 1930’s era mansion on the site of the gardens, and it’s part of the natural registry of historic places. Visitors can tour this stunning Meditteranean home for an additional fee, although it is not stroller or wheelchair friendly.
If you’re heading to the gardens without the kids, this is an educational addition to your day. Guides are available to answer questions while you browse the stunning estate.
Dining & Shopping
If you’re hungry, grab a bite at the Blue Palmetto Cafe, located next to the visitor center. Bok Gardens is picnic-blanket friendly, so choose your favorite spot and chow down on a selection of sandwiches, soups, and salads, including a children’s menu. You can also take your food and sit at one of the five picnic table areas throughout the grounds.
If you’re in the market for Bok Gardens souvenirs, you’re in luck! The Shop at Bok is a charming gift shop offering everything from music CDs to books to apparel. Their Bok Gardens Christmas ornaments are some of their best sellers and make beautiful gifts.
Annual Events
If you’re making your Orlando vacation schedule now, you’ll want to keep the following annual events in mind as you plan. Wawa Summer Fun Days are free admission days! You can take advantage if you visit on the first Thursday and Friday of the month, May through September.
Bok Outdoor Family Adventures are a series of family-friendly programs held on Thursdays and Saturdays in June and July. They include hands-on learning activities planned around a theme.
Everything Else You Need to Know Before You Go
Ready to head to Bok Gardens on your next visit to Orlando? Here’s everything else you need to know.
Tickets & Admission
Bok Tower Gardens are open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM 365-days per year, though most attractions close at 5:00 PM. Admission is $16 for adults, $5 for children 5-12, and $5 for dogs. Children under five can enter for free.
Location
Bok Tower Gardens is in Lake Wales, Florida. If navigating by GPS, the best address is 1151 Tower Blvd, Lake Wales, FL 33853. It is approximately 33 miles from Walt Disney World (or about one hour by car).
Explore Bok Tower Gardens on Your Next Orlando Adventure
While a day at a theme park is magical, sometimes stepping away and reconnecting with nature is the best way to appreciate the chaos! That’s why we recommend that our guests take the time to bathe in the natural beauty of Bok Tower Gardens when they visit Orlando. It’s the perfect local getaway for guests with or without little ones in tow.
After a relaxing day, the brood will love returning to a family-approved, fully-equipped Villa Key vacation rental. Every property has all you need to work and play, so you’ll leave every source of stress behind! Browse our properties and learn why adventure-loving families choose Villa Key.
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