When my oldest son was a toddler, we had to make several trips to the airport in Norfolk (Virigina) to either pick up or drop off his father during the summer months for work. Some days, if we didn’t have much else to do, we would stop to the Norfolk Botanical Garden next to the airport. In fact, during one of our trips, we actually watched his father’s airplane land on the runway!
Since moving up here, there are quite a few gardens that I’ve wanted to explore. The Daniel Stowe Conservancy in Belmont has been at the top of my list. This property spans over 380 acres. It contains walking trails, a garden center, coffee shop, play area for children, and so much more. Formally known as the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens, about 90 acres is simply gardens.
I knew that we wouldn’t be able to explore the entire grounds on our trip. But that’s part of the fun. Every visit can be a little different. Which almost makes me wonder if I should have labeled this post “part one”.
The Daniel Stowe Conservancy participates in several programs that offer discounted or reciprocal admission. At the time of writing, discounts or reciprocal admission may be available to members of the American Horticultural Society Garden Network, seniors ages 60 and older, active-duty military, reservists, veterans and their families, and AAA members. The Conservancy also participates in Museums for All, providing free or reduced admission to participating museums and cultural institutions for individuals receiving food assistance. The program includes more than 1,500 participating locations across the United States.
Having studied the map the evening before, I had a general idea of what path we would take. Our ultimate goal was the large castle playground toward the rear of the garden. I knew that once we made our way there, our next stop would be the car. So I took them on the long way there. That way, we could check out some of what I wanted to see.
The Williamson Conservatory was our first stop. It is the only 8,000-square-foot, five-story glass house in our area dedicated to a display of orchids and tropical plants. My oldest son was particularly thrilled to spot the vanilla orchid. We had been discussing lately on how to grow one ourselves.
I was excited to spot the fruit of a Monstera deliciosa. Though I’ve never tried it, it resembles a green ear of corn before it ripens. The flavor is said to be creamy, tasting like a mixture of banana and pineapple. The unripe fruit is incredibly irritating to your mouth/throat, however. My oldest son in particular enjoys trying a variety of unique fruits. One of our favorite ways to do this is through a variety box from Miami Fruits. If this is something you would enjoy as well, use this link to get $10 off.
The Conservatory was one of the highlights of our visit. I desperately wish I could build something similar on my property.
Maybe one day.
We wandered a little more, then made our way through the Perennial Garden. The Tunnel Fountain was a big hit on this hot summer day. While the day had initially started out cloudy on our drive up, the sun came out in full force once we arrived. Feeling those droplets of cool water as we walked through the tunnel was heavenly. But you can walk around if you prefer not to get wet.
Pro tip: Wear a hat and possibly even sunscreen. There are some shaded areas, and if you are careful, you can mostly stay in those areas, but you do miss out on a lot of the garden. I also picked up a bottle of water from the gift shop, which was essential for our long trek.
Our final destination was the Prairie Castle Playground. On our next visit, we will make our way to the castle through the Lost Hollow (the main children’s trail). But, like I mentioned earlier, we took a different path to explore some of the areas I really wanted to see.
I have to say, this playground is amazing.
And huge.
It’s hard to really grasp the scale of this castle through photos alone, so I highly encourage you to check it out. Almost as soon as you enter the gardens, you can glimpse it off in the distance, rising above the grasses in the prairie area. There was only another kid there when we arrived, and they didn’t stay long. I don’t know if that’s typical, but it was pretty cool to have an entire castle to ourselves.
Sweaty, tired, and a little bit ill, we trudged back to the car, stopping in the gift shop once again to pick up a popsicle for my youngest son. My oldest son and I held out, as we wanted to stop to The Trailhead Store. Located outside of the botanical garden, in “The Village of Stowe” (another part of the property that is accessible without paying), The Trailhead Store offers lattes, tea, wine, beer, N/A beverages, pastries, snacks and grab-and-go meals.
My oldest son ordered a matcha with caramel while I ordered the horchata cold brew. He and I both agreed that our drinks were some of the best we’ve had in a while.
One thing that was pretty cool was that while dogs are not allowed in the gardens, they are welcomed to explore the rest of the trails on the property. There was even a dog park located behind The Trailhead Store.
While our trip was shorter than I anticipated, we look forward to returning once the weather is a little cooler. But I highly suggest putting this beautiful green space on your list for a visit.
Daniel Stowe Conservancy
6500 South New Hope Road
Belmont, NC 28012
Hours vary depending on what park of the property you are visiting. Check out their website for the latest information.