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Top Parks and Gardens in Atlanta, Georgia

Whether you love football or would rather watch paint dry, most of the country’s eyes will be on Atlanta, Georgia this week. Super Bowl LII will take place in ATL’s new Mercedes-Benz Stadium. If you’re lucky enough to be in the 404 for the big game (or find yourself in Georgia for any reason, ever!), we hope you’ll have a little extra time to check out some of Atlanta’s most splendid parks and gardens.

  1. Atlanta Botanical Gardens
  2. Grant Park Atlanta
  3. Atlanta History Center
  4. Lullwater Park
  5. Oakland Cemetery
  6. Grand Hyatt Atlanta
  7. Ansley Park
  8. Swan House Atlanta
  9. Cator Woolford Gardens
  10. Kirkwood Urban Forest

1. Atlanta Botanical Gardens

Happy Gardens - Atlanta Botanical Garden

If you’re a garden lover visiting Atlanta and only have time to visit one cultural landmark, make it the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. This breathtaking, 30-acre garden is located right next to Piedmont Park. The ever-evolving green space offers an interactive guide so you can best plan your visit, whether you’re visiting with children, a significant other or by yourself.

Our favorite features of this world-class botanical garden are the canopy walk and the urban green roof.

2. Grant Park Atlanta

Happy Gardens - Grant Park

Grant Park features 131 acres of green space, and thanks to the Grant Park Zoo it houses, welcomes over a million visitors a year! The park was fully revitalized over 20 years ago and is a great place to spend a day with young children in tow. 

3. Atlanta History Center

Happy Gardens - Atlanta History Center

The Atlanta History Center is a great place to learn, and there’s plenty to do and experience indoors if the weather isn’t great. Since we’re outdoorsy people, our favorite part is the History Center’s Goizueta Gardens. Boasting 22 acres of native plants, romantic gardens and rustic trails, you’ll really experience true Georgia here.

4. Lullwater Park

Happy Gardens - Lullwater Park

Visit Emory University’s enchanting campus and discover one of Atlanta’s most beautiful trails. Whether you prefer to walk or run, the scenic paths here will take you from lake to bridge to Southern ruins. Rich in wildlife and wonderfully preserved, this is the type of trail that makes us fall in love with Mother Nature all over again.

5. Oakland Cemetery

Happy Gardens - Oakland Cemetery

Oakland Cemetery is actually Atlanta’s oldest public park, and many of the city’s most famed residents have been laid to rest there. All 48 acres of this cemetery are enchantingly Southern, with ancient oaks and magnolias, charming Victorian architecture and breathtaking flowers.

6. Grand Hyatt Atlanta

Happy Gardens - Japanese Zen Garden

Image Source: Hyatt

Yes, we put a hotel on this list. No, it wasn’t a mistake. The Grand Hyatt Atlanta actually has a renowned Japanese zen garden smack in the middle of swanky, urban Buckhead. While the garden is steeped in Japanese tradition, many of the materials used to construct it are native to Georgia.

7. Ansley Park

Happy Gardens - Ansley Park

Ansley Park isn’t actually a park, but a neighborhood that’s just as green and gorgeous. Rent a car or a bike and enjoy the romantic, winding roads and Southern estates. One of the first planned suburban neighborhoods in Atlanta, take time to explore the lush landscape and great shops and dining.

8. Swan House Atlanta

Happy Gardens - Swan House Atlanta

Image Source: Atlanta History Center

This gorgeous mansion is one of the most desirable spots to get married in Georgia, and it’s well worth a visit if you’re in town. A part of the Atlanta History Center, the Swan House is breathtakingly beautiful and a great place to snap some pictures. If you love Southern architecture, you might want to pay for a guided tour.

9. Cator Woolford Gardens

Happy Gardens - Cator Woolford Gardens

The Cator Woolford Gardens are another natural, romantic and perfectly Southern city landmark. Seemingly frozen in the 1920s, the well-preserved grounds and architecture are made even more beautiful by gardens, meadows and sprawling open spaces. 39 acres of true Georgia forests give the grounds a woodsy vibe that you won’t find in other parts of the country.

10. Kirkwood Urban Forest

Happy Gardens - Kirkwood Urban Forest 

This forest, which is great for trail lovers, is another well-kept ATL secret. Less crowded and touristy than most Atlanta destinations, visitors here will enjoy peace, quiet and the Great Outdoors. Dogs are welcome, so if you’re traveling with Fido, feel free to bring him for a family adventure.

About Us:

Happy Gardens is the premiere online destination for beautiful, unique garden decor and gifts. We hand-select high-quality products that are sure to be cherished by you, your family and your guests for years to come. We’re also pretty obsessed with gardens, and love to explore every city’s greatest outdoors spaces whenever we travel.

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