Norfolk Botanical Garden

Frommer's Review

The grounds of this botanical garden, on Lake Whitehurst about 4 miles northeast of downtown, are brilliantly abloom with one of the East Coast's largest display of azaleas from early April to mid-June -- the best time to visit. This quiet beauty can be seen by 25-minute tram tour, by 45-minute canal boat tour, or by foot over more than 12 miles of floral pathways. The Statuary Vista is a beautiful setting for Moses Ezekiel's heroic-size statues of great painters and sculptors -- Rembrandt, Rubens, Dyrer, and da Vinci, among others. Notable, too, are the rose garden, with more than 450 varieties among its 3,000 bushes; a classic Japanese hill-and-pond garden; a fragrance garden; and an Italian Renaissance garden with terraces, statuary, a fountain, and a reflecting pool. Behind the pool is the Hofheimer Camellia Garden and Renaissance Court, where April's Azalea Festival queen is crowned. Garden lovers can easily spend half a day here. You can grab a bite at the Azalea Café and browse for gifts in the garden shop.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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