South Florida is a great place to live for many reasons, but it isn’t easy to feel like you’re anywhere else but in the tropics when you’re here. And that can get old after a while. This week I discovered for the first time that there is indeed one place to get away from that Florida feeling - Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach.
The 200-acre gardens, designed by Hoichi Kurisu, are breathtakingly beautiful and mind-altering peaceful. It’s virtually impossible to feel stressed out here, as these gardens are seemingly in perfect harmony with the universe. All of the elements of a classic Japanese garden can be found: borrowed scenery; bridges; flowers; islands; lanterns; paths; pebbles; plants; ponds; rocks; shrubs; shoreline; streams; trees; and waterfalls. And you can get an up close view of each of these elements as you follow along meandering paths that take you through distinctive gardens representing many different periods from the eight through twentieth centuries. Although each garden is unique, Kurisu designed them beautifully to flow seamlessly into one another. This is the place to linger; surely you’ll not want to be in a hurry to leave. The thought of what it takes to plan, design, build and continue to care for these gardens is mind-boggling.
Deep inside the garden is a building housing an open-air exhibit, Japan Through the Eyes of a Child, containing a classroom, Japanese House, Street of Shops and a Train Station.
When you finish your walking tour of the gardens, head to the Cornell Café and sit on the patio overlooking the gardens. The Japanese menu offers everything from sushi to tempura, and it’s all delicious and well-priced. Be sure to order the eggplant appetizer and the red bean ice cream. The staff is ultra friendly too, and you’ll get great service.
You’re sure to be stuffed when you’re done with lunch, but that will be a perfect time to stroll through the museum to view the rotating art and history exhibits. This summer’s highlight is the Kaiju Monster Exhibit, featuring colorful Japanese toys inspired by Japanese tokusatsu films and TV shows from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Inside the museum building is also an authentic Tea Room where you can participate in a tea ceremony. The gift shop is worth a visit for its many garden items, paper crafts and collectibles. There are also classes you can take here such as Bonsai Gardening, Nature Photography, Japanese Flower Arranging and more. You can even have a wedding in the spectacular gardens.
The best time to visit Morikami is during the cooler winter months, as it is too hot to be outside in the summer. If you do go during warmer weather, stroll through the gardens in the morning as soon as the museum opens its doors; you don’t want to be outside during the midday heat.
If you find yourself in South Florida any time soon, make an effort to visit Morikami for a day. You’ll be so glad you did.
Morikami Museum and Gardens
4000 Morikami Park Road
Delray Beach, Fl 33446
561-495-0233
http://www.morikami.org/
Debbie Glade is the Geography Awareness Editor for Wandering Educators.