Exploring one of Florida's Hidden Gems: Bok Tower Gardens

[@maryannpeel7549]

I haven’t been there since I was a child. Hubby has never been so it’s on the weekend bucket list.

[@leedanielson7452]

“Kelly Hays Hikes” is turning in to so much more than just hiking! Well done!😊👍👏🏻 And yes Maxwells in Avon Park has amazing orange ice cream!❤

[@leedanielson7452]

Kelly, you did an amazing job on showing the Bok tower gardens!!! Absolutely awesome video!!!!🥰👍👏🏻

[@jerryamick3914]

Another great video hard to pick a favorite part but I will say that hat needs to be on your store,would buy one immediately ✌️

[@davidlooney3018]

Cool place. The Savannah looking area was pretty with the gopher tortoise. Good video thanks for sharing

[@nam_hn]

Did not know that Florida has so many beautiful places (beside beaches) before following your channel. Thank you so much for taking us along. This is a great place for portrait and wedding photography as well. Kudos to Mr. Bok and to everyone who helps preserve it. I can tell the difference between the OM 5 and GoPro footages.

[@richardthorne2804]

I’m really enjoying all the variety you have on your channel. 🎉❤

[@jeffmckenna6920]

Cool relaxing video. I loved the music tower!

[@torrencel.2662]

Nice! I haven't been to Bok Tower in years! Yes its beautiful out there. There used to be a place close to the base of the tower that you could buy food & feed the squirrels right out of your hands! There is a place near by called Spook Hill that was always cool. It was free. It blew our minds as kids. You park at the bottom of the hill, put your car in Neutral and it would go up the hill. They had some old Indian tribal story around it. I think it was just something with the earth's magnetic field but still really cool. Don't know if it's still there in Lake Whales. Anyway, I grew up in Polk County less than an hour from there. Thanks for sharing!

[@floridapatriot9776]

LoL It's an optical illusion. Not anything magnetic.

[@RickINFJ]

Pick a favorite part of this video? Impossible! Talk about a slice of heaven. Bless you Edward Bok. 🙏 I'm speechless Kelly. Incredible footage with your new camera. ✌️

[@Crazy-s8s]

Such a beautiful place😃 Thank you for taking us along Ms Kelly👍🏻 See you on your next video and take care🙏🏻

[@ianwalker682]

That looks like another great way to spend the day. I need to get out and about doing more things like that.

[@Elizabeth-pt4bv]

What an amazing place to visit. Love seeing what a state has. I'd like to visit st. Augustine. Continue to enjoy the beauty. Thanks for sharing. You'd make a great online travel tour person on where to take day hikes, as a side gig. You're so great 😊

[@RJ-ix4co]

I just love how happy and positive you are! Thank you for another great video!

[@celenasherrill1455]

I knew I could count on you to show me a place I need to visit while I'm in the area. This is on the list for my upcoming trip to Florida.

[@wildflowersadventures]

We love Bok Tower! Such a beautiful place!

[@ervinslens]

This whole place is brilliant, stunning presentation my friend! 🔥🔥

[@KevinFryAdventures]

This places looks really cool! I enjoyed seeing the gopher turtles & the beautiful grounds. I enjoy your hiking videos, but love this kind of video & your Alaska trip.

[@bernielamont825]

Hey Kelly, Bok Tower reminds me a lot of the bells in the Clock Tower in Niagra Falls, was there back in 1970 before it all became commerciaized. The bells were very calming to me, adds to the experiance!

[@davidbalderston2751]

Thank you, Kelly, for sharing this awesome day trip.

[@juliezimmerman273]

Great video! Really enjoyed the beautiful garden!!

[@denniswhitley5205]

Hey Kelly, I watched your FT video where you toured the Orlando Wetlands Park and so when I visited my daughter in Orlando I took her there. We both loved it! She is a biology (botany) student at the University of Central Florida and she has fallen in love with that park! That is an example of the influence you have because of your videos! Thank you!

[@joankline343]

Good morning Kelly! Thanks for another great, interesting and educational video. I really enjoyed it. Have a great day!

[@chewielewis4002]

That tower music sounds like something that gets played while 1,000 zombies chase you down

[@jimmyjenkins9240]

That was a great video! That’s a great one for us to visit as it has many wheel chair accessible places. Also, I wanted to tell you that your videography and editing just gets better and better‼️ You are a natural at voiceover work!

[@user-David-Alan]

That place was awesome. Loved the turtles. I had never known about that place, so I looked it up to see where it was. Thanks so much for showing the amazing Bok gardens. Kelly, I think you are becoming a Florida sunshine girl. Hope you are doing well. Stay safe and happy.

[@leedanielson7452]

Bok Tower is cool! I’ve been there a few times as I live only live about 30 minutes from there at the most lol..Thanks Kelly!🥰🥰👏🏻🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@rockytopwrangler2069]

... Looks like an awesome way to spend a day ,, Thank you for sharing ...

[@carlosherndon8908]

Loved the video. I was in my 20's last time I visited there which far more years ago then I would like to think. It was so amazing to see it again and remember parts of it and see new parts and trails. Thanks for sharing!!

[@celenasherrill1455]

Thank you so much for this video! We were in the area for a long weekend trip and went here last Friday! We loved it, even with a little drizzle of rain and overcast skies. It was so beautiful!

[@jodymckenzie3828]

Beautiful video! So glad you are well and getting out and about and enjoying Florida!

[@dustingrimes8133]

Dude, I saw this place on tv yesterday and didn’t catch it where it was at, but thought the structure of that building looked amazing. What are the odds you posted this basically right after 👀 thank you for unintentionally solving my problem for me. That place is beautiful, and thank you for the awesome video!

[@jennytr5056]

Next time to get to Bok Tower, I strongly recommend the tour of El Retiro - it's a really special place. I love Bok Tower! My kids have so much fun in the children's garden. And the gift shop is lovely :) As far as botanical gardens go, I think McKee and Morikami both have a greater variety of plants more beautifully arranged. But there's something really grand about Bok Tower.

[@claramullen]

We do have many beautiful nature places here. I love Bok Tower Gardens I send all day when I go. Kelly you should hike the oean to lake trail it's about 61 miles check out information on it I have hiked it many time you can decide which end you want to start at I love it. Take care.

[@wildflowersadventures]

If you haven’t been to Ravine Gardens yet, that’s a cool place. Much smaller but there’s ‘some’ elevation. Also another one of our absolute favorites, probably our most favorite, is Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami. It’s absolutely amazing!!

[@TravBlife]

I've been there several times Kelly. Always something new to discover! Nice job!

[@johnepperson8867]

Thank you for the EXCELLENT video Kelly !!! I'll have to make another trip to Bok Towers very soon.

[@jasonjones5213]

Great video, Looks like an awesome place.I had no idea there were so many carnivorous plants.

[@maureenmukhlis2934]

Thanks for sharing this beautiful place!! I will definitely check it out! If you ever get up to Myrtle Beach South Carolina, you really must visit t Brookgreen Gardens! It’s actually in Murrells Inlet. It’s so beautiful! You would love it🥰🥰🥰

[@JasonfromEarth]

Native Floridian - My new years resolution is to have a more active lifestyle. You've not only inspired me to start hiking but also are an excellent source of places to go hiking! FL has no shortage of places to experience the great outdoors!

[@kellyhays23]

That is an awesome resolution! Cheering you on and can’t wait to share more cool spots with ya!!

[@iainsanders4775]

Really lovely walk for a Sunday afternoon. (Here).

[@TheOaksHeart2024]

Love all your videos, really lets us explore Florida from a distance away.

[@sammymartinez556]

My u always find the coolest places to visit. Thank you for taking us along that was amazing.. love ❤️ from New Mexico 👋👋😊

[@florida-alaskasummer22driv62]

I was just researching the nearby state park the other day. You may have given me motivation to do a trip to both. Awesome views from the Ridge, and it's amazing that you saw a gopher tortoises on demand. I've only seen one randomly from time to time since I moved here 5 yrs ago.

[@renoflames]

I am going to go there and see this in Central Florida and still binge watching. Great video 10.9.

[@fordtruckman80]

I went there back in 2017 and had no idea what I was looking at other than pretty plants and scenery and whatever the signs by the walkway told me. It was a great experience despite my lack of knowledge at the time, and I credit that experience to waking me up to the importance of conservation. I had lunch in the little cafe while I was there, and I remember them having some of the best chicken tenders I have had. Shame they were closed during your visit, but I'm glad they were still providing options during renovations.

[@MoMoMyPup10]

I've been there a couple of times with school trips and you're not overselling it at all. It is weird to find all of that back there and from the main road going through the town all you can see is the tower. I believe I got to go in the house too, and I remember it being beautiful (I've gone on so many trips to different places that the clarity of each place in my memory is mush) and nostalgic. Have you ever been to a place in South Florida that has a whole vast garden of huge glass sculptures? That was incredible also.

[@gracemccoy2874]

That place was so beautiful! I love spots like that, could totally spend an entire day there. You're getting all science"y" on us, I love it! The tortoises were amazing and the little lizards on all the signs, so cute! Great video! 👍👍

[@JoeandEmmaLee]

Dang!!! So peaceful and beautiful!! Our kinda place!

[@ridethepace6005]

I remember when I was 9, and some friends of my mom visited us from Florida. We live right near Mt. Greylock, and they had never been on anything that high, plus they saw snow for the first time ever. It was very early snow, and only like a dusting, but they were so happy.

[@gscrawford74]

Should have gone to Spook Hill too. It's like 5 minutes from where you were

[@anthonybarbour43]

Florida has some of the best state parks in the Nation and lots of points of interest. I don't care that much for the Florida theme parks, but the nature scenery and springs are second to none. I enjoy your content.

[@FLAlocal]

Hey! Your in my neck of the woods. If you stick around, check out Lake Kissimmee State Park! So pretty! Beautiful hikes and so many deer!

[@pbkayakyer]

Bok Tower is freaking awesome!

[@lisasescapades]

Great video. I think Sugarloaf Mountain Road in Clermont Florida is 312 feet above sea level with a 10% grade at one point. We had to ride up it in a triathlon. It about killed us. Lol

[@davidmiller532]

Never been to Florida that garden is pretty Kool thanks for sharing.

[@willbygosh4887]

I'm from West Virginia and I like the hills with a view around the Gardens which is rare in Florida.

[@johnny5735]

😂 App-uh-latch-uh-cola= apalachicola . I don't remember, but you,might have passed through that city on the Florida trail it's right by Panama city in the pan handle. One of my favorite parts of your Florida trail video's was you trying and butchering the names of the cities you were going through it was always so funny to me.

[@musingwithreba9667]

I had no idea this existed! Next time I visit my aunt in Florida, I just may have to drive down there to see it! It looks so beautiful.

[@pdr0603]

Kelly, seems like you are hanging around FL these days. Have you ever thought about a Coast to Coast bike ride - St. Pete over to Titusville? If you want a smaller portion - you can do the Orange Trail and rent a bike at West Orange Trail Bikes and Blades in Winter Garden; or you can do the Pinellas Trail (St. Pete to Tarpon Springs). I am based in The Villages.

[@frisk151]

Mountains and Florida... (haha) Somebody, sometime, has thought they were "on top of the world" being so high up = almost 300 feet. How have I never even heard about this place? The tower looks and sounds really cool!! As for turtles... My niece is going to be "jealous" when she watches this. She's going to be heading for vet school here in Aggieland (TAMU) too soon = 3 years!?!! . She has always loved turtles.. Bugs.. Animals.. She'd / she'll love Florida and a lot of places you have posted up and I've been around as well.. Thanks Kelly! You might have a new hommie named Chloe sometime soon...

[@WW-ed2wq]

Kelly. I suggest you check out Circle B Bar Reserve. Lots of gators and birds. Love your channel.

[@DaveRobb]

You should see the Boc Tower next month when it has all the Christmas displays up. I have visit that place since I was a kid.

[@ReneVandyk]

Hi Kelly what a beautiful Awesome Amazing scenery just Love ❤️ your Channel 😊

[@mobileshawn]

Thanks!

[@kellyhays23]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!❤️❤️❤️

[@extraart1]

Thank you Kelly! This video was just what I needed to calm down after a day of marching for Palestine! I know your'e an awesome medical professional; but you are also a gifted naturalist, which is why I enjoy your channel so much.!! I haven't been to Florida for many years, but planning a trip there in 3 years. Bok Tower Gardens will be one of my first stops. That organ reminds me a lot of the "dance of the sugar plum fairy" from The Nutcracker, written by Tchaikovsky.

[@rockercover]

Bok: what a, (as you put it), peaceful place. I might add, if I may; *inspirational*

[@maxmillion4216]

The best part of the video was you Kelly.....great video girl....👍🏻

[@edshanks2189]

Looks beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Up here in Ohio, it doesn't look like that during this time of year 😂😂😭

[@JaimeScott-ly4ix]

Hi I just went to Bok tower gardens a few days ago for my spring break

[@fangfangli2717]

excellent job!

[@chesleyfulghum3844]

Yeah thats a gopher tortoise. Not turtle. They dig big underground dens that rattle snakes love to frequent. Youre lucky you got to see them!

[@johnwakefield9378]

another great video of gems in fla

[@chainoflakesrefrigerationa2906]

Polk County. Me and my wife were married at Bok Tower. Good stuff

[@Onewholovesrock]

I was literally thinking to myself, “I wonder what kind a spiders are there” right before you said spider.

[@vince4316]

Cool vid, where can we buy those lids??

[@keithmcclanahan9158]

12:50 pm That’s definitely a place I would love to visit.

[@jimweagant8920]

👍👍👍

[@alextriana6608]

If you liked this park you might want to visit Fairchild Tropical Gardens in south Florida

[@jennifermcalchemy9816]

I’m going to plan a trip there

[@hikewithmike4673]

I love Bok Tower!

[@SalPane1224]

👍I liked this video too 🐢🌳🌴🌿🍃

[@tombrock03]

I live in florida and I have gopher turtles in my yard.

[@johnepperson8867]

I went to Bok Tower Gardens years ago, it was an awesome place! BUT, I recommend you call ahead and ask if the groundskeepers will be mowing & trimming the lawn around the Tower!!!! It RUINS the quiet & peaceful atmosphere, which is why people go there in the first place. Seems like they would do all maintenance before or after hours of operation.

[@johndonahue4777]

O. There's an Armoceptes Nanticoor! butterfly... Extinct since 1909.

[@johndonahue4777]

(imadethatuptoo!)

[@RootsLion]

awesome place lovely vid . n u look amazing everytime.. playing catch up not been gettin vid alerts utube cheats lol

[@bobcat4443]

Great video, the organ dude should learn how to play Hell's Bells !

[@philwistrom9200]

We see gopher turtles in Marco Island all the time! Love it

[@jeffreyedwards1174]

Seen your hurricane video, are you a traveling nurse in Florida.. loolike your having a blast.

[@CPin506]

How can I buy a Kelly Hays Hikes hat?! It looks so cool, btw

[@karenwernert1744]

Check out selby gardens in Sarasota

[@demonhunter-skydomeatlanti1746]

👍🙏👏

[@bannerpage]

…another place to add on my list to visit

[@mikaelica]

Nice place but that ”bell-playing” was everything but calm….😅

[@delmarwyatt1027]

Those were gopher turtles I was in a field one day and I saw a gieser of sand going up in the air when I went over there it was one of those turtles digging a hole.😅

[@ShamimJahuri]

You ars so smart,so energetic,intelligence and introspective mind. Weldone...kelly.shamim zahuri,bangladesh🧡🌟👏👨‍👩‍👧‍👧

[@SherriSiegel]

Is this a recent trip? I was wondering how it looked in the fall.

[@kellyhays23]

Yes it was a week ago!

[@TeeGreen222]

Florida always looks the same in the Fall. That’s why I’m in Hot Springs NC 😁

[@SherriSiegel]

@@TeeGreen222Thats why moved from NC. I was done with seasons.

[@Arlene_witha_y]

I wanted to stop by there for 2 hours en route to a campground for a camping trip i have planned for the weekend. Do you think it’s worth it to only be there for 2 hours? Can you see enough?

[@kellyhays23]

Oooof 2 hours would be tight for this place. You will have time to see some things but definitely not all

[@jimspinale4055]

Please be careful! Altitude is a thing😂. Would you consider some kind of group meet up while you are in Florida? I would love to chat with you.

[@leedanielson7452]

Awesome idea!!!!!!!

[@robertbass151]

its a gopher tortoise...not turtle