Daniel Stowe Conservancy

Just outside Charlotte in Belmont, the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden offers 90 acres of cultivated beauty and natural landscapes perfect for a peaceful retreat or a family day out. Make sure to explore the Orchid Conservatory, an incredible 8,000 square feet exhibit dedicated to the display of 5,000 succulents, ornamental tropical fruits, delicate miniature orchids, aquatics and even rare orchids — the only one of its kind in the Carolinas. Kids especially love the Lost Hollow Kimbrell Children’s Garden, where imaginative play meets nature in whimsical spaces made for exploration. With wide walking trails, seasonal blooms and interactive exhibits throughout the year, it’s a place where plant lovers, photographers and young adventurers alike can dig into something delightful. HGTV named it one of the nation’s "20 Great Gardens", and USA Today proclaimed it one of the nation's top 10 places to "welcome fall with a flourish.”