USA TODAY 10Best
Enjoy a magical night at these 10 botanical gardens with holiday lights
Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights (2023)
Throughout the holiday season, spectacular light shows brighten up botanical gardens across the country. Instead of spring flowers, visitors find twinkling holiday lights, often accompanied by a range of other festivities.
To find the best places to visit this holiday season, we asked a panel of experts to nominate their favorite light displays at botanical gardens throughout the U.S., then readers voted for their top picks. Here are the 10 best botanical gardens for holiday lights this year.
- Lightscape at The Arboretum - Arcadia, California
- Holiday Lights at Florida Botanical Gardens - Largo, Florida
- Enchanted Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens - La Cañada Flintridge, California
- Holiday Lights at Garvan Woodland Gardens - Hot Springs, Arkansas
- Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum - Lisle, Illinois
- Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens - Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
- Illuminations at Botanica - Wichita, Kansas
- Gardens Aglow at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens - Boothbay, Maine
- Galaxy of Lights at Huntsville Botanical Garden - Huntsville, Alabama
- Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden - Richmond, Virginia
Photo courtesy of Marlyn Woo & Joanne Wilborn
No. 10:
Revelers will find this holiday light installation in the Los Angeles suburb of Arcadia. Lightscape at The Arboretum invites visitors to explore the Fire Garden, Arch of Light, Dancing Palms, and the always-popular Winter Cathedral. Food trucks are also on-site for those who get peckish.
Photo courtesy of Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation
No. 9:
A million twinkling multicolored lights have been placed around Florida Botanical Gardens as part of its annual holiday light show. Taking place from late November through the end of December, the event also includes laser lights and other brilliant lighted figures.
Photo courtesy of Descanso Gardens
No. 8:
Situated on the outskirts of Los Angeles, the Enchanted Forest of Light event illuminates Descanso Gardens from mid-November through early January. Visitors can explore a mile-long route with light displays including a stained glass village and a field of flowers made of multicolored, glowing lights.
Photo courtesy of Garvan Woodland Gardens/ Julia Mann
No. 7:
Hot Springs, Arkansas, is where you’ll find Garvan Woodland Gardens and its holiday light installation on display mid-November through December 31. More than 200 acres are decorated with around 5 million lights in the form of holiday characters, dragons, and more.
Photo courtesy of The Morton Arboretum
No. 6:
Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum in the Chicago area lights up each holiday season with a mile-long walking path of dazzling lights and music. Visitors can also enjoy the warmth of a fire as they roast marshmallows for s'mores.
Photo courtesy of Brookgreen Gardens, by Austin Bond Photography
No. 5:
On select nights in December, Brookgreen Gardens celebrates the holiday season in the glow of more than 2,700 hand-lit candles and countless more sparkling lights. Visitors can walk through the display with a warming cup of cider in hand and enjoy the sounds of live holiday music.
Photo courtesy of James Rhodes Photography
No. 4:
Illuminations at Botanica in Wichita, Kansas, features nights illuminated with more than 2 million twinkling bulbs. A 62-foot Christmas tree and their Candyland walk with a lit gingerbread house helps set the scene, and Santa is on-site for visits with young visitors.
Photo courtesy of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Tory Paxson photo.
No. 3:
Gardens Aglow at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay ranks among the biggest and brightest lights displays in New England, with more than 750,000 bulbs illuminating 14 acres.
Photo courtesy of Huntsville Botanical Garden
No. 2:
Galaxy of Lights at Huntsville Botanical Garden features both walk-thru and drive-thru experiences, with walking nights taking visitors through 1.5 miles of light displays and driving nights taking at least an hour. Visitors can bring their four-legged friends on special dog-walking nights.
Photo courtesy of Tom Hennessy
No. 1:
Taking place from late November to early January, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Virginia, lights up with over a million LED bulbs during the Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights. Check out model trains nightly at the Kelly Education Center, and roast s'mores by the Kelleher Warming Fire.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Kristen Lummis
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in... Read More
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in Western Colorado. The mom of two now-adult sons, Lummis broke into her writing career through snowsports, founding the website braveskimom.com in 2010 to provide family-friendly tips across a full range of winter topics. And while skiing is Lummis’ first true outdoor love, she grew up camping, hiking, biking, kayaking and traveling extensively with her family — pursuits that she continues today. She prides herself on unbiased opinions, based on activities and destinations she’s visited and experienced. Lummis is honored to be considered an “expert” for 10Best. Follow her @braveskimom on Instagram and Facebook.
Kristen Lummis
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in Western Colorado. The mom of two now-adult sons, Lummis broke into her writing career through snowsports, founding the website braveskimom.com in 2010 to provide family-friendly tips across a full range of winter topics. And while skiing is Lummis’ first true outdoor love, she grew up camping, hiking, biking, kayaking and traveling extensively with her family — pursuits that she continues today. She prides herself on unbiased opinions, based on activities and destinations she’s visited and experienced. Lummis is honored to be considered an “expert” for 10Best. Follow her @braveskimom on Instagram and Facebook.
Nicky Omohundro
Nicky Omohundro is the founder and editor of Read More
Nicky Omohundro is the founder and editor of LittleFamilyAdventure.com, the popular family travel & lifestyle website that inspires families to leave no child left inside. Since 2013 LFA has been providing inspiration to get families outdoors, eat well, and travel everywhere from their own backyard to around the world. Always up for a family adventure, she has traveled to 37 states and 6 countries to zip-line through a Costa Rican rainforest, see Finland’s Northern Lights, and go camping throughout the US. Nicky is the co-founder of Tourism WorX a travel consultancy group. Connect with her Twitter and Instagram.
Nicky Omohundro
Nicky Omohundro is the founder and editor of LittleFamilyAdventure.com, the popular family travel & lifestyle website that inspires families to leave no child left inside. Since 2013 LFA has been providing inspiration to get families outdoors, eat well, and travel everywhere from their own backyard to around the world. Always up for a family adventure, she has traveled to 37 states and 6 countries to zip-line through a Costa Rican rainforest, see Finland’s Northern Lights, and go camping throughout the US. Nicky is the co-founder of Tourism WorX a travel consultancy group. Connect with her Twitter and Instagram.
Nikky J
NikkyJ is a theme park super fan, Author of The... Read More
NikkyJ is a theme park super fan, Author of The Solo Theme Park Traveler’s Guide, the founder and owner of ThemeParkHipster.com, a wishful Food Critic, coffee enthusiast, and a lover of life! She currently resides in Orlando, Florida where she enjoys spending time with her husband and two little girls while discovering the beautiful attractions of Florida. You can watch her on YouTube or listen to her podcast.
Nikky J
NikkyJ is a theme park super fan, Author of The Solo Theme Park Traveler’s Guide, the founder and owner of ThemeParkHipster.com, a wishful Food Critic, coffee enthusiast, and a lover of life! She currently resides in Orlando, Florida where she enjoys spending time with her husband and two little girls while discovering the beautiful attractions of Florida. You can watch her on YouTube or listen to her podcast.
Robb Alvey
Robb Alvey is the owner of ThemeParkReview.com,... Read More
Robb Alvey is the owner of ThemeParkReview.com, started in 1996 and one of the longest running and largest theme park fan sites with over 3 million followers. Robb travels to theme parks all over the world each year including Europe, Asia, Australia, and all around the Americas, has visited hundreds of different parks and ridden about 2,000 different roller coasters. His background in theme parks started as a cast member for Disneyland when he was 17 years old and has continued more than 30 years later.
Robb Alvey
Robb Alvey is the owner of ThemeParkReview.com, started in 1996 and one of the longest running and largest theme park fan sites with over 3 million followers. Robb travels to theme parks all over the world each year including Europe, Asia, Australia, and all around the Americas, has visited hundreds of different parks and ridden about 2,000 different roller coasters. His background in theme parks started as a cast member for Disneyland when he was 17 years old and has continued more than 30 years later.
Skye Rodgers
Skye is a freelance writer that adopted Tampa as... Read More
Skye is a freelance writer that adopted Tampa as her hometown over a decade ago and never looked back. As a native of Canada, Skye has happily embraced the no snow climate, and in her spare time enjoys nothing more than basking on the white sand beaches of the Gulf with rum runner in hand. Living in such a dynamic and up-and-coming city as Tampa provides plenty to write about, and Skye spends much of her time exploring new attractions and discovering hidden treasures for her readers. You can connect with Skye via her Facebook page @BestofTampa.
Skye Rodgers
Skye is a freelance writer that adopted Tampa as her hometown over a decade ago and never looked back. As a native of Canada, Skye has happily embraced the no snow climate, and in her spare time enjoys nothing more than basking on the white sand beaches of the Gulf with rum runner in hand. Living in such a dynamic and up-and-coming city as Tampa provides plenty to write about, and Skye spends much of her time exploring new attractions and discovering hidden treasures for her readers. You can connect with Skye via her Facebook page @BestofTampa.
Wendy O'Dea
Born and raised in western New York, Wendy O'Dea... Read More
Born and raised in western New York, Wendy O'Dea moved to L.A. to attend the USC graduate School of Journalism and stayed for the innovative and creative lifestyle the city offers. Other than the traffic, there's not much about California she doesn't love. You can track her gallivanting ways on Instagram via @WendyTravels .
Wendy O'Dea
Born and raised in western New York, Wendy O'Dea moved to L.A. to attend the USC graduate School of Journalism and stayed for the innovative and creative lifestyle the city offers. Other than the traffic, there's not much about California she doesn't love. You can track her gallivanting ways on Instagram via @WendyTravels .
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
