The 10 Greatest Travel Destinations for Flower Enthusiasts

Although most people won’t think of flower watching as a tourist attraction, any flower enthusiast knows that there is plenty of exciting flora you just can’t see in your own backyard. Let’s look at a few of the most interesting vacation destinations that are enhanced by mother nature.

1. Bridge of Flowers – Massachusetts, USA

In the quiet town of Shelburne Falls lies the century-old abandoned trolley bridge that was converted into a garden by one of the local Women’s Club in 1929. Maintained by the locals today, this beautiful nature scape features 500 varieties of flowers that bloom from April to October every single year.

2. Cherry Blossoms in the Mountains – Yoshino, Japan

The beautiful cherry blossom trees that sprout throughout Japan are a sight to behold, but one of the most famous spots to see them is in Yoshino in the Nara Prefecture. You’ll see a carpet of blushing blooms cascading the mountainside from up high. The peak viewing season for these flowers ranges from March 14 – March 28.

3. Oman Roses – Yemen, Saudi Arabia

Between March and May every year, the Oman rose harvest takes place. I personally backpacked it in Tail in Saudi Arabia. The entire mountainside will spout with a sea of pink roses, which locals use in rose-petal baths and spa treatments. If you can’t visit Oman for their roses, you can purchase a bouquet online instead. You can discover more here to learn how to revive a wilting bouquet to extend your Valentines’ present.

4. Green Animals Topiary Garden – Rhode Island, USA

At the summer cottage built for Cornelius Vanderbilt II in 1895 lies the impressive Green Animals Topiary Garden. Since 1970 the estate has become open to the public, so you can explore the outside of the property, which is alive with sculpted topiaries and wildflowers. You can also explore the nearby forested area.

5. Tulip Festival – Amsterdam, Netherlands

Every spring Holland is the best place to admire endless colorful fields of tulips. Keukenhof in Holland is one of the largest gardens on the planet, where you can enjoy hyacinths, tulips, and daffodils across 32 hectares. The peak blooming season is in April, which is the perfect time to explore the cycle routes that wrap around these gardens.

6. Jardim Botânico – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Jardim Botânico in Brazil was founded by King John IV of Portugal in 1808, who wanted to use the garden as a research site to acclimatize spices from the West Indies. Now, the 140-hectare nature scape holds over 6,500 plant species and is home to rare animals and birds like the white-necked hawk. You can view this spectacle any time of the year.

7. Haleakala Summit – Maui, Hawaii

If you are interested in rare flora, you may be able to spot the elusive silversword at the Haleakala summit. This volcanic area is difficult to reach by foot but contains one of the most endangered plants on earth. Silverswords live for many years before they flower in mid-June to November, and they die shortly after.

8. Yellow Fields of Joy, Kokoszkowy, Poland

The little known Polish village of Kokoszkowy is superb for beautiful yellow fields. These fields are mostly in Poland’s Kociewie Province and the edge of Starogard Gdański at Kokoszkowy is a marvellous place to check them out. I backpacked it a few years ago while visiting a friend nearby. The flowers are used for rapeseed oil.

9. Lavender Fields – Provence, France

One of the icons of the French countryside is the rustic Sénanque Abbey in Gordes, Provence, because of its farm of beautiful purple lavender blooms. Be sure to take a trip here between June and August to explore the grounds and church. Lavender’s soothing and relaxing properties make them one of the best flowers to keep in your home. 

10. Tafraout Almond Trees – Anti Atlas Mountains, Morocco

Around the Anti Atlas mountains blooms multiple almond blossoms on trees that light the hills and valleys with a fizzing white and pink. Almonds are an essential ingredient in Moroccan culture, and the harvest in February marks the start of the almond bloom festival featuring Berber music, dance, and theatre showcases.