Franklin Park Conservatory is a premier horticultural and educational institution showcasing more than 400 plant species and special exhibitions. The Conservatory offers beautiful and diverse climates including an arid Desert, a tropical Rainforest, a cool Himalayan Mountain, and a lush Pacific Island Water Garden. Franklin Park surrounds the Conservatory and provides 88 acres of landscaped gardens and green space. The Conservatory owns a signature collection of Dale Chihuly glass artwork and its annual exhibits include Blooms and Butterflies, the Orchid Forest and Holidays at the Conservatory. The Conservatory also offers a gift shop and café and parking is free.
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Excerpt from the February 2009
edition of OhioTraveler
A TROPICAL
WINTER VACATION
SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF OHIO
(PLAY VIDEO)
Summer is found under glass in Columbus, Ohio all winter long.
As winter drags on seemingly getting colder and grayer, many of us yearn for the warmth and color found just about anywhere in the vicinity of the Tropic of Cancer. But the economy has drifted so far south that such a vacation may only be a pipe dream this year. Therefore, more of us are exploring staycations. A staycation is just a fancy way of saying daytrip.
A daytrip to Columbus is convenient for any Ohioan. But why go in the middle of winter? To find summer of course. And summer is found under a glass house known as the Franklin Park Conservatory. Only this house is 83,000 square feet. And it has 400 species of plants.
No need for a travel agent, you can roam the Himalayan Mountains, Tropical Rainforest, desert, Pacific islands and other hot spots and be home for dinner. The beauty of this world-renown conservatory isn’t just the splash of color from Mother Nature’s unique botanical collections; it also has hints of artistic flair subtly worked into the mix.
The most photogenic part of the Conservatory, both inside and out, is the Victorian Palm House which was built in 1895. But that’s by day. It gets even better at night! Your senses will be illuminated with an inspiring display of light complements of internationally award-winning artist James Turrell. This is a permanent installation that is seen every evening at dusk …so maybe that reservation for dinner at home can be pushed back a bit.
Other points of interest at the Franklin Park Conservatory include trains, food and shopping. A model railway is visible from the second floor or up close. It features a western town with a waterfall, steam locomotive and miniature landscapes. Cam’s Garden Café offers sandwiches, soups, salads and baked goods. A wide variety of items are available for purchase at the gift shop & greenhouse.
Tours of the conservatory come with a few options. Self guided tours are most popular but tour guides are available for groups of 10 or more as long as a reservation is scheduled in advance. Then there’s the cross-over tour that is self-guided but provides narration through your cell phone. Just dial the phone number posted and hit the number seen at the exhibit for which you want in-depth information.
Franklin Park Conservatory is located at 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43203. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (open until 8:00 pm on Wednesdays). Special hours or closings may apply for various holidays. The Conservatory is handicapped accessible. Admission is $7.50/adult, $6/senior or student and $4 for kids age 2-12. More information is available at www.fpconservatory.org.
By Frank R. Satullo, The OhioTraveler