Peek Inside the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden {VIDEO}
The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is one of many amazing things to do in Charlotte with kids. Check out this fun peek inside the gardens and plan a visit with your family soon.
One of my favorite things to do with the kids is take them to the Daniel Stowe Conservancy, which used to go by the name “Daniel Stowe Botanic Gardens.”
When my girls were just babies, I strolled them through the Chicago Botanic Garden for hours and hours in every season possible. Walking through the stunning grounds gave me so much peace as a new mom and gave my kids the opportunity for fresh air and sunshine.
So of course the first thing I did when we moved to Charlotte was to hunt down a similar spot to enjoy with my little girls.
We maintained our membership to the Stowe Conservancy for many years and I enjoyed each and every visit throughout the changing seasons. If you’ve got small children, this is one of the best family activity memberships you can buy.
Map It
The Daniel Stowe Conservancy is just outside of Charlotte in Belmont, NC:
6500 South New Hope Rd.
Belmont, NC 28012
Why We Love It
We’ve been members of the Daniel Stowe gardens since our move to Charlotte and have enjoyed a visit during each of the seasons. There’s always something new to explore as the garden changes throughout the year.
- We’ve met Santa at Christmas and enjoyed the holiday light display
- Peeped for fall leaves in November
- Enjoyed blooming crocus in spring
- Packed picnics in the summer
In fact, our picnics there are loved so much by the Peanut she requested it for a birthday adventure! And Little Pea insisted on copying with her birthday date right after.
Peek Inside Our Visit
Explore the Children’s Garden
Just last fall they opened a brand new children’s garden called Lost Hollow that is based on a pixie garden theme.
The girls are enamored with the all the details of the structures in this space.
They are currently fundraising to break ground on Phase II so it has been wonderful watching this space grow during our time here. I can’t wait to see what they do next!
Editor’s Note: Lost Hollow Kimbrell Children’s Garden is now complete!
Run Through the Fountain Tunnel
But the absolute highlight of each of our visits is a run through their water fountain:
I remember the first time the girls ran through this very spot with their friends right here.
This is exactly why I love having a space like Daniel Stowe to take my girls. It is so fun watching them grown and change over time while the backdrop stays mostly the same.
Our Tips for Your Visit
1. Pack a picnic: We love to stop by Publix on our way to the gardens and bring sandwiches, chips, fruit, and a cookie to enjoy at their lovely picnic tables. If I don’t feel like carrying the picnic bag, it’s easy to run it back to my car since the tables aren’t too far from the entrance.
2. Visit the greenhouse: It would be easy to miss, but don’t skip one of our favorite spots. There’s a lovely white greenhouse that hosts exotic plants and gorgeous orchids.
3. Spot the birds: There’s a bird house deep in the garden that hosts a colorful parrot. My girls are tickled pink every time.
4. Beware the bugs: We’ve never had a problem with bees or other bugs at the gardens until our most recent visit. There were so many bee-friendly plants in full bloom that enormous bees were all over some of the pathways. If anyone in your family is allergic, I’d skip this spot in the summer but definitely try it during the winter or early spring.
5. Check their events calendar: The gardens host several seasonal and holiday events throughout the year. Their Santa is one of the best we’ve ever met and Peter Rabbit comes at Easter time. They have costume events at Halloween and learning opportunities for the kids all year long. If you want to see what’s next on the calendar, check it out here.
