As we drove along and head on to our other destinations, I couldn't think of a more perfect stopover than the Morikami Japanese Gardens at Del Ray Beach. I had this attraction in mind before we even started planning our Florida trip. It was sad to leave the tropical vibe of Key West but we had more places in our list to visit. We left at sunrise and got to our destination in time for lunch as we hoped for. Cornell Cafe, a Japanese restaurant conveniently located by the entrance, welcomed visitors to this popular attraction. Too bad I was too hungry and missed taking pictures of our lunch :-) but I remember it very well though. We had steamed dumplings, pan-seared teriyaki salmon that wasn't too sweet with vegetables and a rice bowl with beef stir-fry. Shown in the pictures above, clockwise, a serene lake view greeted us as we stepped into the gardens. I love traditional Japanese zen garden design with beautiful minimalist landscaping.
Along the winding path, as shown above, more Japanese garden accents and stone accessories can be seen in this well-designed garden. I think I can spend hours just relaxing by the koi pond with the soothing sound of a nearby waterfall. It was also interesting to see small turtles swimming with the fish, sharing the pond and food as well. We had a relaxing time here and if distance is not an issue, it would nice to come back and spend another quiet afternoon here.
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| zen garden |
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| flowers, foliage, bonsai exhibit and Japanese house |
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| waterfall, bamboo bench and garden gate provide a sense of balance and harmony |
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| cute mask at the museum |
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