Bok Tower Gardens: worth the hour's drive, if you time it for the bells

What it is

Bok Tower Gardens is near Lake Wales, about an hour south of Orlando by car. At its center is the Singing Tower, a pink and gray marble and coquina tower about 205 feet tall that holds a large carillon, a set of tuned bells played from a keyboard. The tower stands on Iron Mountain, one of the highest points in peninsular Florida, though the "mountain" is a gentle hill.

Around it are landscaped gardens of oaks, palms, azaleas and ferns, plus a reflection pool that mirrors the tower. The whole place is calm and carefully kept. It is a National Historic Landmark and feels very different from anything in the theme park corridor.

When to go

Any time of year works, but late winter and early spring are the prettiest. Azaleas and camellias usually bloom from about January through March. Fall and winter also bring pleasant walking weather.

The key timing is the carillon. Live recitals usually happen daily in the early afternoon and mid-afternoon, and each one lasts around half an hour. Plan your visit so you are at the tower or the pool for one of them. Check the gardens' website for the current schedule, since times can change for special events.

Weekdays are quiet. Weekends in spring and holiday periods get busier but rarely feel crowded.

Summer visits are fine if you go early and accept the heat. Much of the garden is under tree cover, so it is cooler than an open park, but afternoon storms are common from about June to September. In December the gardens often run holiday evenings with lights and decorated rooms in the historic house, which usually need a separate ticket and sell out on popular nights.

A good plan

1. Leave Orlando by mid-morning and arrive in time for a slow loop of the gardens.
2. Start at the visitor center for the map and a short look at the exhibits about the tower.
3. Walk the shady paths toward the tower and stop at the small wildlife-viewing window by the pond.
4. Have lunch at the café near the entrance.
5. Return to the reflection pool or the lawn near the tower for the first afternoon recital.
6. If you have time, tour the historic house on the grounds before you leave.

Getting there

From Orlando, head south on I-4 toward Tampa, then take US 27 south to Lake Wales. From the Disney area, it is roughly 50 minutes to an hour. There is no realistic public transit, so you need a car. Parking is free and plentiful.

Allow at least three hours on site if you want the gardens, a recital and lunch without rushing. With the drive, that makes a comfortable half day, or a full day if you add a stop in Lake Wales or Winter Haven on the way back.

The road is mostly highway through farmland and growing suburbs, with a few slow stretches through towns. Traffic on I-4 near the parks can add time, so leave a buffer if you have a set recital to catch.

Tips and mistakes to avoid

• Do not expect to go up the tower. The inside is usually closed to the public apart from occasional special tours.
• Bring bug spray in summer and plan around afternoon storms, which can pause outdoor recitals.
• Wear comfortable shoes. The paths are easy but there are gentle slopes.
• Keep voices down near the tower. The gardens are meant to be quiet, and many visitors come for that.
• Check the event calendar. Concerts, plant sales and holiday light evenings sometimes change hours or add fees.

Pairing it with other stops

Lake Wales has a small historic downtown with murals and lunch spots. If you have kids who need something louder, Legoland Florida in Winter Haven is about 30 minutes away, though combining both in one day is a lot.

Closer to the city, Leu Gardens is a good alternative if an hour each way is too much. Bok Tower is the grander, more memorable trip, and it fits nicely into a day off the parks when you need a slower pace. If you can only pick one garden on your trip and you have a car, pick this one.