Marjorie Post, heir to the General Foods fortune, bought this stunning mansion in 1955 and soon decided it should be a museum open to the public. She filled the house with beautiful furniture and art from 18th and 19th century France and Russia. She landscaped the estate's 25 acres with beautiful gardens and woodland paths.
Located 74 km (45 min) outside of Paris, Giverny is known for Monet. He lived in the tiny village from 1883 until his death in a house surrounded by gardens. Here you'll find the Maison et Jardins de Claude Monet (and the bridge seen in his Japanese bridge series). It makes a perfect day trip from Paris. Reach it from the Saint-Lazare Paris station to the Vernon-Giverny station. From the station grab a taxi, the bus shuttle or walk (1 hour-7km).
Wurzburg's prince-bishop's palace was built in the early 18th century. It's an opulent, lavish, 360 room palace. It's basically a German Versailles. While there you must visit the famous chapel and garden. Sites not to miss: Vestibule and Garden Hall, Tiepolo Fresco, White Hall, Imperial Hall, and the North Wing. After you finish the rooms head to the Baroque Court Chapel (Hofkirche) Chapel and Baroque Residenz Garden. Chapel and gardens are free.
One of the prettiest castles in Europe, Chenonceau sits in the Loire Valley along the river Cher. You'll instantly recognize it for its beautiful arched bridge. The wonderful setting, formal gardens, and lovely architecture makes this chateau a highly enjoyable visit.
This is a giant neo-gothic country mansion built in the 1860's. Later it became a boarding school run by benedictine nuns until the school closed in 2010. You can visit some open rooms downstairs (nuns still live upstairs). The main reason to visit however is a view from the lakeshore, Pollacapall Lough, and possibly a stroll through the gardens and to see the Gothic Church.
This is way the heck up in the Bronx at the New York Botanical Gardens. However, if you choose to make the trek you'll be privy to a Christmas tradition. Over 20 miniature trains, ferries, and trollies wind through 175 NYC landscapes and the 5 boroughs. Finish your visit with a stroll through cold, and often snowy gardens on the Winter Wonderland Tree Tour. It's open late November to late January.
Spanning 52 acres, the BBG is a green escape from Brooklyn. It offers numerous plants and gardens (Shakespeare, Japanese, Discovery, Fragrance, Flowering Cherry).
Central Park is NYC's biggest green space and one of the prettiest city parks in the world. It offers up 843 acres of meadows, fields, tree lined paths, a lake, resevoir, outdoor theatre, and castle.
This palace and garden duo was built in 1606 by Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich and remodeled in 1721 in Baroque style. The interior of the Palace is lavish with enough stucco, marble, and frescoes to appease anyone, however it's only open as a concert venue. Luckily this is where we recommend you head at night to catch an evening chamber concert in the Marble Hall.
