The combination of a long weekend and our unseasonably warm weather led my kids and I to Lauritzen Gardens last weekend. I thought we'd stay one hour, maybe one and a half hours and then we'd go to the zoo. We ended spending over four hours there and we were all so tired that we drove home once we left. It was a great day and my only disappointment is that I haven't gone there before.
Our main reason for going to Lauritzen Gardens was to see the Lego exhibit, Nature Connects. It is worth going just to see this exhibit. The Lego creations are unbelievable. One artists built massive hummingbirds, spiders, and flowers with hundreds and of thousands of legos and they are displayed in the botanical parts of the garden. The Lego exhibit would be a good rainy or snowy day activity when you can't get outside. The sound of the water, the warmth of the green houses and the colorful flowers will leave you feeling rejuvenated.
The above pictures: the bumble bee, the corn spider and the peacock are all made of Legos!
After exploring the Legos for 1.5 hours, we headed out onto the grounds of the Gardens. All I can say is this, if it is this lovely in the middle of winter, I wonder what it looks like in spring and summer! There aren't many trees so a brisk spring day or chilly winter day is not too cold with the sun. It would be very hot in the middle of winter with the lack of shade. During the warmer months a tram runs through the gardens if you don't feel like walking or little legs get tired.
The outdoor area is broken up into many gardens and there are winding pathways going through the grounds. We loved the children's garden where the kids used the baskets to collect rocks, pretended to water plants and imagined themselves the caretakers of therounds. I really enjoyed my time there. There is so much room to roam. I soaked in the sun while my kids ran and explored and climbed.
We paid $15 in admission costs (for myself and three kids) and brought all of our food in and enjoyed a picnic. It is $10 for 13 and up, $5 for ages 6-12, and FREE for under 6. Lauritzen Gardens are near the Henry Doorly Zoo, it took us an hour door-to-door. I would suggest visiting, if only to see the Legos but I think you'll stay to enjoy nature. We had a great morning.
