Activity Houston, USA

Two Hour Garden Tour

2 hours Free cancellation Private tour

The 1952 Rienzi Mansion has lovely gardens and pathways to walk. — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Centennial Garden Illuminated Waterfall — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

The ideal time of the year for comfort and flowers for such a tour is in the last half of February, March, April, and October. The environments are tranquil, relaxing, full of flowers and you will see ducks, koi fish, squirrels, and more and sit in one or more of the pagodas. These are good sites to take photos. Be prepared to sweat in May, June, July, August, and September and dress warmly from November through the first half of February.

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At a glance

Duration: 2 hours
Confirmation: Confirmed within 48 hours
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–5
Guide: English
Operated by: Houston Historical Tours - Day Tours

Ages: Infants (0–2 years) · Adults (3–90 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Entrance fees: Entrance fee
Included: Guided Services

Itinerary

Stop 1

30 min

Allow 25 to 30 minutes. Rienzi was built in 1952; however, we do not enter the house. Landscape architect Ralph Ellis Gunn designed the gardens in the 1950s. It has 4.4 acres. Two steep ravines that lead to Buffalo Bayou slice through the area that has a variety of native plants as well as a reflecting pool. A bayou is a slow moving river whose movement is so slow that it may be imperceptible to the eye. Closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Stop 2

30 min

Allow 30 to 45 minutes. The site is The John P. McGovern Centennial Gardens in Hermann Park. This redesigned area opened in December 2014. It has 8 acres. This includes seeing the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr, Confucius, approximately one-dozen busts of Latin American revolutionary leaders, rock formations, fountains, a waterfall, a Chinese pagoda, and more. You can climb a ramp that wraps around a hill with the waterfall that you will cross 3 times to the top which serves as an observation deck.
Stop 3

30 min

Allow 25 to 30 minutes. This is the Japanese Gardens. This was dedicated on May 4, 1992. It is on 5 acres. World recognized landscape architect Ken Nakajima designed the gardens. It is built in the Daimyo style. It has a small pond and waterfall, stone lantern, winding stone paths, crepe myrtles, Japanese maples, irises, a grove of pine trees, peach trees, and more. Twenty cherry trees were planted in 2012. A rarely used tea house is in the center.
Hermann Park

15 min

Walk through Hermann Park from the Centennial Garden to the Japanese Garden. See the replica of the Washington Monument, reflecting pond, Kinder Lake with its peddle boats and large fountain, Miller Outdoor Theatre, statue of General Sam Houston, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, children's train, and more.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

We meet inside the rotunda of the Houston City Hall at 901 Bagby Street, Houston, Texas 77002 on Monday through Friday. City Hall is closed on weekends. On weekends, we meet at a park bench on the east side of City Hall.

End point

We meet inside the rotunda of the Houston City Hall at 901 Bagby Street, Houston, Texas 77002 on Monday through Friday. City Hall is closed on weekends. On weekends, we meet at a park bench on the east side of City Hall.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
If parents or grandparents bring their own infant seats, the children can sit in them after they are secured.
If the customers want to walk to the top of the waterfall and take photographs, and or want to take many photos of the numerous statues and structures in the Centennial Garden, we will NOT have time to go to Rienzi.