McBryde and Allerton Gardens

Is it possible to do both the McBryde and Allerton Gardens in one morning, or is that too much?

McBryde and Allerton Gardens

Um, I think you could do both in one DAY, but probably not one morning. We spent about 2 hours in McBryde - the tram (it was a van when we were there) only comes around every 1/2 hour to take you back to the visitor center, so you can%26#39;t just up and leave when you decide you%26#39;ve seen everything. I haven%26#39;t been to Allerton but I understand it is more structured as you take a tour. According to the website, tours leave at 9 am, 10 am, 1 pm and 2 pm, and you should allot 2 1/2 hours.

It would also be an expensive day - McBryde is $20 pp and Allerton is $40. Take sunscreen, water and bug repellent.

www.ntbg.org.

McBryde and Allerton Gardens

Thanks blueflamingo.

Do you think an 11 and a 12 year old would enjoy McBryde?

McBryde is BIG, and you have to walk a lot to see it all (it%26#39;s a one mile loop). That said, you also have the freedom to loiter in areas that you like, and stretch your legs more than on a guided tour (i.e., if they were driving you nuts and there weren%26#39;t a lot of other people around, you could send them on a scavenger hunt for ';the most alien like plant you can find'; or just have them race up to the next giant palm tree, or play ';count the mosquito bites'; if you%26#39;re like me).

Here%26#39;s the link to my KodakGallery album (I know, I need to switch to Picasa!): www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp鈥?/a>

Photos 11-42 are from McBryde.

Beautiful photos, blueflamingo! Thank you for sharing with all of us. You know I lurk in these forums to vacation vicariously with all of you. Kauai is my favorite destination and I wish I could go more often. Reading these posts and seeing pictures like that helps to ease the wanderlust...

McBryde it is.

You have a good eye for a great photograph!

Allerton Garden Tours is the one we chose...it was very informative and beautiful...This is the one with the Jurrasic Park trees!

McBryde is self-guided...we did not do that one..but I heard it was nice too.

Not sure if a kid would like either one though...

Blueflamingo, thank you for sharing the link to your photo album. Beautiful pictures! You do have a great eye for capturing the flowers.

DH showed me how to use the macro feature on the camera and I was off and running. I think I took about 100 pictures that day! I love tropical gardens, so we go to one on each visit. The botanic garden near Hilo on the Big Island is gorgeous.

I think it%26#39;s always hard to tell someone else if their kids will like something - I know kids that would be bored to tears in two seconds if you took them to either garden, where others would spend hours exploring. We don%26#39;t have kids but I personally have a 10 minute attention span (in any activity) and DH gets antsy if he has to sit still for any period of time (you should see us on the plane!), so for us to enjoy the gardens so much may tell you something...

Thanks, blueflamingo.

My niece and nephew are 11 and 12 and while they might prefer being at the beach to the gardens, I think I will encourage them to go to one of the gardens. They%26#39;ve always enjoyed nature walks with 2 of my brothers (who will be going with us) and who are experts on Calif. native plants and edible plants (I%26#39;ll encourage them not to eat the plants as we walk along - they have been known to ';graze';). I%26#39;m always amazed at their knowledge. One day I went to the U.C. Berkeley Botanical Gardens with one of them and we wandered through it while he told me about all of the plants, and the medicinal, culinary, and ceremonial useages of the various plants and herbs by the Chinese, American Indians, etc. After a while I heard some noise behind me and turned around and there were about 20 people following us and hanging on every word - they thought he was the guide!

Anyway, as a child I was always a little bored by garden tours, but I still remember them all to this day and I am glad that I went. I think seeing the local gardens when you travel gives you a wonderful sense of where you are. And the hawaiian plants in particular are so spectacular! I think it will be something we will all remember.

How about Limahuli Garden%26#39;s by Kee? Although I did enjoy wandering around McBryde, I actually enjoyed Limahuli more. I believe kids 12 and under are free there, too. Adults were only charged $15 when I went there. The views of the mountains are pretty amazing there. I have a few pictures of each in my album 鈥oogle.com/slabeaume/KauaiPicturesFromTrips鈥?/a>