The Atlanta Botanical Garden has been named one of the “Top 10 North American Gardens Worth Traveling For.”

The Midtown attraction was honored during the recent North American Garden Tourism Conference where the 2019 Garden Tourism Awards were announced. The awards are presented by the Canadian Garden Council, the American Public Gardens Association and the Mexican Association of Botanical Gardens to individuals and organizations that have distinguished themselves in the development and promotion of garden experiences as tourist attractions and motivators.

“We are thrilled to be singled out for this prestigious honor and to be in the company of other fantastic garden destinations,” said Mary Pat Matheson, the Garden’s President & CEO.

More than 25 million people travel annually in North America to see public gardens, and the global market of garden visitors exceeds 250 million, the council said. Research shows that 46 percent of garden visits result in an overnight stay, and the demographic of garden visitors includes all ages. Gardens not only have a significant economic impact on communities but also enhance the tourism experience of a destination while providing social and health benefits.

In addition to Atlanta, the top 10 gardens include The Butchart Gardens, Victoria, British Columbia; Chanticleer Garden, Wayne, PA; Francisco Javier Clavijero Botanic Garden, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico; Ganna Walska Lotusland, Monticeto, CA; Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA; Montreal Botanical Garden, Montreal, Canada; Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, Lethbridge, Alberta; Red Butte Garden, Salt Lake City, Utah; and Vallarta Botanical Garden, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.