Cold outside? Warm up at Garfield Park Conservatory
I don’t know about you, but too many dreary days in a row start to really drag me down. Since my next warm-weather trip isn’t planned until March, I began searching for local outings that could tide me over.
One of the first places that popped up was Garfield Park Conservatory. Many cities boast a conservatory (we have several options in the Indianapolis area), and that seemed like the perfect way to forget about the cold and rain for a while.
Last week my Facebook Live tip was to try something or someplace new on your lunch hour – create a quick and easy everyday adventure. If you missed it, check it out here – it’s less than a minute:
On this particular lunch hour, I drove down to Garfield Park Conservatory which is located just south of downtown Indianapolis. The park is a lovely way to warm up and spend some time enjoying GREEN plants and nature even in December.
As a bonus, it’s beautifully decorated for Christmas right now, so there is a fascinating train track as well as a Christmas village at the entrance.
The conservatory isn’t large, but there are many interesting and unique plants packed into the area along with various waterfalls and benches perfect for enjoying the flora. I also discovered a few ponds with koi lazily swimming along.
Next time I’ll be sure to bring along a book and sit on one of those benches for a relaxing lunchtime break.
Most kids aren’t into gardens, but Garfield Park Conservatory has a fun Scavenger Hunt with about twenty different items to look for while walking along the paths. They provided lists and pencils to make it easy to check off items as they are discovered.
My kids LOVE scavenger hunts so I know they would be thrilled to complete this – and it would keep them entertained! There is also a self-guided tour pamphlet with information about some of the more interesting plants, and a guided tour is offered for free a few Saturdays each month.
Admission is a very reasonable $4 with kids 2 and under free and a maximum of $10 per family. The conservatory is open Mon-Sat 10 am – 5 pm and Sunday 1-5 pm. There are also regular kids and adult programs such as storytimes, crafts, etc. Most have a minimal cost, but some are free.
Do you have a conservatory in your area? Have you ever visited one? I’d love to hear about it in the comments – I found my experience to be a relaxing and rejuvenating break in my day.
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Garfield Park Conservatory; 2505 Conservatory Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana; (317) 327-7183
Pin for later to remind yourself to visit a conservatory this winter:
