Alabama Garden Trail

Gorgeous, immaculately-maintained landscapes are on display all across the state, and thanks to the wide range of climates and types of soil in Alabama, you will find a variety of stunning settings as you travel. These pristine gardens are certainly beautiful, but for many visitors, it’s the fragrance of the blooming flowers that makes the biggest impact. Later, when you show your friends the photos you took, be sure to describe the smells, too…or just bring everyone with you.

Huntsville Botanical Garden
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Mobile Botanical Gardens
Bellingrath Gardens and Home
Aldridge Gardens
Dothan Area Botanical Gardens

Huntsville Botanical Garden

Huntsville

Galaxy of Lights –

The gardens are illuminated from mid-November to January each year, and visitors can enjoy walking or driving tours.

Southern Heritage Garden –

Limestone columns that once graced the Madison County Courthouse are a focal point.

The Garden Railway –

This G-scale display is popular with all ages and is open from mid-March to December.

Nearby Road Trips

Alabama Road Trip No. 7

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville is the largest and most comprehensive space flight museum in the world.

Alabama Road Trip No. 48

Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains on 69,000-acre Lake Guntersville, Scottsboro is a treasure-trove of adventure. Here you can tour a quaint museum that chronicles the early history of the Civil Rights Movement in America, see the courthouse where the Scottsboro Boys Trials took place in the 1930s, and enjoy premier outdoor recreation, such as bird-watching, boating, camping, fishing and golfing.

Alabama Road Trip No. 20

Located on the banks of the Tennessee River in North Alabama, Decatur is called “The River City” and is known for its great outdoor recreation.

Alabama Road Trip No. 46

From history and food to Southern hospitality, Athens has it all. Athens is a small city in North Alabama with a charming downtown square full of history.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Birmingham

Horticulture library –

It’s the largest such public library in the U.S.

Southern Living Garden –

This area has been carefully curated and planned by the editors and experts behind the magazine.

The Gardens Café by Kathy G. –

Stop in for a fresh, local lunch at this eatery directed by Kathy G. Mezrano, a well-known Birmingham caterer.

Nearby Road Trips

Alabama Road Trip No. 6

Get ready to travel to Birmingham, Alabama's largest city, for a stroll through historic downtown. On this walking tour, you will go to the place where hot peanuts have been sold for more than 100 years and stroll through shops filled with memories.

Alabama Road Trip No. 19

Birmingham is home to great neighborhoods that are filled with a spirit that comes alive when you walk down the streets and step inside the boutiques and quaint restaurants.

Alabama Road Trip No. 53

From the first crank of an engine, America fell in love with the automobile. Throughout Alabama, testimonials to our devotion abound in museums, on racetracks and in manufacturing facilities.

Alabama Road Trip No. 18

In Alabama, you can go for a drive on the RTJ Golf Trail, but these driving skills don’t require a steering wheel.

Mobile Botanical Gardens

Mobile

Millie McConnell Rhododendron Garden –

Over 300 species of azaleas, which are in the rhododendron family, grace this spot.

Longleaf Pine Forest –

The 35-acre expanse of woodland offers trails perfect for walkers and runners.

Fragrance & Texture Garden –

This sensory exhibit was designed to enhance the garden experience of blind or other physically impaired visitors.

Nearby Road Trips

Alabama Road Trip No. 45

From the grand Bragg-Mitchell Mansion to the simple Portier House, the historic house museums of Mobile are sure to provide a memorable experience for those who love history, architecture and a good story.

Alabama Road Trip No. 3

If you're considering a romantic getaway, put Mobile at the top of your list.

Alabama Road Trip No. 16

Experience a girlfriends getaway on Alabama’s Eastern Shore where the charming small town of Fairhope offers boutiques, bistros, art and the highest rated Marriott spa in the world just down the road. As you cruise along Scenic Highway 98 to Fairhope, you’ll drive under canopies of oak trees draped with Spanish moss.

Alabama Road Trip No. 39

This road trip takes you to Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast region for fishing, parasailing, hot air balloon rides, scuba diving and exciting dolphin cruises. Down along the Alabama coast, where 32 miles of sugar white sand beaches offer fun 365 days of the year, you’ll discover adventure at every turn – on land, by sea and in the air.

Bellingrath Gardens and Home

Theodore

The Bellingrath Museum Home –

The 15-room, 10,500-square-foot home was built in 1935 and is available for tours.

Bayou Boardwalk –

Stroll down this winding trail and catch glimpses of fish, turtles, waterfowl and other wildlife native to the bayou ecosystem.

Live Oak Plaza –

Situated at the center of the gardens, this landscaped area is home to several tranquil water features.

Nearby Road Trips

Alabama Road Trip No. 17

Eight miles north of the white sand beaches of Alabama’s Gulf Coast sit two small towns rich in culture and heritage, Foley and Elberta.

Alabama Road Trip No. 9

Alabama's Gulf Coast is a stopover point for birds as they return from Central to North America in the spring, so it's the perfect place to see herons, seagulls, pelicans and more.

Alabama Road Trip No. 50

Dauphin Island is the perfect destination for a relaxing getaway. A natural environment surrounded by the beautiful turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico, this small barrier island is set apart by white sand beaches, walking trails, bountiful wildlife and lots of history.

Alabama Road Trip No. 25

Beautiful beaches, authentic downtowns, wildlife preserves, historic sites and the freshest of seafood are all yours to enjoy on Alabama’s Coastal Connection, a nationally designated scenic byway.

Aldridge Gardens

Hoover

“The Guide to Native Birds at Aldridge Gardens” –

Pick up this resource created by the late Dr. Dan Holliman who spent more than 18 months visiting the gardens daily and walking as a form of physical therapy.