Bok Tower Gardens

The tower with a carillon of 60 bronze bells at the top. Photo: Adrienne C. Wilson

Spring is officially here and if it makes you feel as good as it makes me feel, clap your hands three times and scream hallelujah! Or — if you are in the mood for something a little more mellow and less soulful, let me suggest a visit to the Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, FL. The garden is a national historic landmark and home to one of four carillons in the state of Florida. Carillon music at Bok Tower Gardens is played daily at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The sound is quite whimsical to the ear when matched with a picnic lunch for the mouth while laying out on the grassy spring green lawn. In short, every sense is bound to find pleasure when ambling along the pathways.

Photo: Adrienne C. Wilson

Sadly, I didn’t get enough time to check out the place which is why there are so few photos as evidence of a totally amazing time, but in the short while there a few things occured for which I am grateful: I met some really awesome and active couch surfers. (Thank you Polk County CS for hosting this event.) I sampled a super tasty tropical turkey salad in the Blue Palmetto Cafe. Lastly, I got out and about and explored a part of Florida I had never seen.

Photo: Adrienne C. Wilson