One of the highlights of our trip to Kauai was visiting the botanical gardens. These two gardens, the Allerton and the McBryde Botanical Gardens, are side by side, so you can purchase a ticket to see them both. There are several options. We took the bus tour version, but I would have liked to return and take the tour where you have more time to explore on your own.
The Allerton Garden is a rich man’s folly. He considered himself a failed artist, so he poured all of his creative energy and a sizable chunk of change into creating a stunning garden full of architectural elements. The McBryde Garden is more of a landscaped garden with a wide variety of plants.
It turns out that we saw part of these gardens (as trespassers … shh!) when we found the secret beach a few years back. That portion was not on our tour. I believe we were in the Allerton garden.
These Botanical Gardens, as part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, also offer watercolor classes. This is on my bucket list! The Botanical Illustration class looks particularly enticing!
p.s. Related posts:
Food for the Future: Salt Makers in Hawaii
Queen’s Bath Hike in Kauai Hawaii
Best Family Resort EVER: Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort
APALA Awards and Aloha Everything!
Place of Refuge in Hawaii: Learning about Native Hawaiian Culture
Maui: Kapalua Coastal Trail Hike
Mythology behind Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii
To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.
My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación
- ⭐ Starred review from Kirkus
- ⭐ Starred review from Publishers Weekly
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal
- Kirkus: The Most Anticipated Children’s Books of Spring 2026
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Gold Award
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
The Traveling Taco:
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Silver Award
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
- ALSC Notable Children’s Book
- 2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Middle Level Honoree
- Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
- 2024 Julia Ward Howe Prize for Children’s Literature Winner
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025
- Recommended Reading for the Social Justice Literature Award 2025 (International Literacy Association)
- Pennsylvania Mountain Laurel Book Award Nominee 2026-27
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
- Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bank Street College’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
