Bonfante Gardens is a "family oriented" theme park, with less in the way of thrill rides but more scenery and educational value. It is built around a bunch of "circus trees" — trees coerced to grow in a remarkable variety of strange shapes. It also is full of odd topiary, flower gardens, a greenhouse with tropical trees like banana and coffee, etc. Even my 13-year-old nephew was impressed. We spent a full day there, and thought it worth the $29 admission.

Bonfante Gardens is run by a 501(c)(3) educational organization (that's an educational charity if you are not familiar with American tax laws), and there are four "learning sheds" throughout the park that have short features about aspects of the area's history, geology, biology, the circus trees, and so forth. The park owners are keen on conservation and include a lot of information about how they recycle as much as they can from the gardens.

The main way to get to BG is by car, although there appears to be some sort of tour bus operation (at least the driveways had signs that said "buses left lane"). I wouldn't recommend it in place of a day at ConJosé, but for those people planning to come to the area a few days before the convention for a vacation, I think a day at BG would be time well spent.

Kevin Standlee

For more information about the gardens click here.

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