Last week I had the pleasure of not only attending A Longwood Christmas, but being invited to become one of their Star Bloggers for the upcoming year. Exciting stuff! I still remember my first trip there over 30 years ago, it was a bus trip with my Girl Scout troop. We have lived here since 1998 and we have been there many times over various seasons. Christmas is still my favorite, with the Fireworks and Fountains coming in second.

They are so perfect they look fake, don’t they?

Longwood Gardens was always a must-do activity that we would do with my Nan when she would visit us and being there still reminds me of her. One year we even went the week before Thanksgiving and the Conservatory was still under construction, but she was still in awe of it’s beauty (we all were). But that’s how wonderful Longwood Gardens is–even when it’s under construction it’s breathtaking!

The dining table set up in the Conservatory.

The Christmas display is a must-do activity for area families. You really should go at least once every few years if it’s not your annual tradition. It is quite manageable for families. When is the best time to visit Longwood Gardens at Christmastime? Go on a Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday when there are fewer crowds. Weekends are the busiest and most crowded times, as is the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Weekdays are also $5 less per person, which is a significant savings!

Even after seeing Longwood dozens of times, I’m always amazed at how perfectly bloomed everything is.

Since the days are getting shorter, the lights start coming on around 3 or 3:30 so that it is fully lit by the time it’s dark. That’s a great time to go because it’s also not crowded. That is also the perfect time to visit the Conservatory, late afternoon. I’m not opposed to pulling my kids out of school a bit early for a special occasion and this would definitely qualify as a special occasion. I also like having fun things to do mid-week because it breaks up the monotony of the week.The whole place is just very peaceful mid to late afternoon.

You can also plan for the weather better this way–if you have it set to go on a weekend, what if it rains or we have a really cold spell? Being flexible and going mid-week means if we have a 60-degree day (like tomorrow), then you can go. The average length a family visits Longwood at Christmas is about 2-3 hours, and that is plenty of time. Depending on your location, this is totally do-able for a mid-week activity and you won’t be out too late for kids that have school the next day.

One of the main outdoor walkways.

If you are local, consider a membership which is a great deal. Like most other places that offer annual memberships, it usually more than pays for itself with two visits. You also will get discounts on restaurants, the gift shop and special events. They have a full events calendar for the entire year, not just the Christmas season. They have several different types of dining, from cafeteria style to formal sit-down dining.

A “Star-tini” for the #StarsAtLongwood Christmas display.

I cannot wait to take my boys there. We haven’t been there since Brian was born (3 years) and Kevin only went as a baby/toddler. For the blogger event I was just with other bloggers, so I am very excited to take them again. My youngest (3) is really enjoying even the most rudimentary lights displays that we pass on the road, I can’t wait to show him this! You can be sure I’m do another post, so stay tuned.

Longwood Gardens is on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, if you wish to learn more or follow them.

Put Longwood Gardens in your holiday plans, you won’t be disappointed!

Note: As a part of the Longwood Gardens Star Blogger team, we receive free admission in exchange for these posts. All opinions are my own.