Just 8 1/2 miles north of Hilo, you will experience the magic of mother nature. The trees and flowers are some of the best in the world. This collection of tropical trees and flowering plants would be difficult to find anywhere else in the world. We enjoyed the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens so much that we took two tours through the gardens. The fragrant smells, rainbow of colors, and exotic flowers and trees will leave you with a new appreciation for the beauty of nature. The founders of these gardens travel around the world to select the right combination of exotic plants to make this one of the must see attractions on the Big Island. Remember to bring your camera with a few extra memory cards. We took over 1,000 photos while we visited the gardens and enjoy them each time we look at them. The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens borders the blue Pacific Ocean where you can sometimes see large green sea turtles playing in the surf. The staff at the Gardens is dedicated to making sure you have an exceptional experience. The gardens provide a nice combination of organization as well as a nice sense of natural order. Wear confortable shoes because you might find yourself walking the path twice because you enjoyed it so much the first time.