Florida, Bok Tower Sanctuary in Lake Wales
Music is to the mind
just as air is to the body. - Plato
Not only must the carillon be in tune,
the hearers must be in tune with the carillon. - Edward W. Bok
Want to get away from all the hustle and bustle of central Florida and have a day of quiet and rest in a magical, beautiful setting? Bok Tower Sanctuary, in Lake Wales, is the best place to be. I first visited Bok Tower when I was a child in the 1950's. Returning there in 2003, the tower looked smaller than I remembered, but the beauty of its art deco style was lost on me as a child. The tower is 205 feet high and constructed of pink and gray Georgia marble and Florida coquina (shells) stone. There is a frieze of Florida wildlife that includes flamingos and swans, and there are heron finials at the top of the tower. The stunning 60-bell carillon tower is just one of the attractions of the sanctuary.
The land is on the highest point of the Florida peninsula and looks out over typical Florida landscapes and orange groves (the smell of the orange blossoms was heavenly the day I was there). You can begin your visit at the exhibit hall where you can watch a 9-minute introductory film about the tower and see what it looks like inside. There is also a museum that give you a perspective on the life of Edward W. Bok and the story of the Sanctuary's creation, the art forms of its famous craftsmen and an overview of the topography of the unique Lake Wales Ridge.
There are meandering paths from the parking lot and visitors center that lead through lush gardens to various sites around the tower - reflection pool in front of the tower, the white garden, round garden, Japanese lantern, Mockingbird walk, Pine Ridge 3/4 mile nature trail, endangered plant garden, and window by the pond (sit in a cabin and look out over the pond and you could spot an alligator, turtles and many kinds of birds). Plants, ferns, trees, flowers and benches line the gentle inclined walkways creating tranquil resting places and picturesque vistas. You can see bird nest, leather, and Australian ferns, stag horns, azaleas, bougainvilleas, royal and sago palms, Florida pines, gardenias, magnolias, bromeliads....the list goes on.
You can also visit Pinewood Estate and Gardens - a classic luxurious Florida winter home in Mediterranean style. Of course there is a cafe to enjoy a leisurely lunch or have some ice cream, and a gift shop where you can purchase recordings of the famous carillon.
Recorded music of the carillon is played every half hour.
To hear the real thing, be there at 3:00 pm (this may have changed, so be sure to check).