Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center

It admittedly took me far too long to visit this indoor wonderland. The sprawling, climbing, towering, blooming array of plants within the glistening atriums at Gaylord Opryland is enough to take your breathe away. There are over 50,000 tropical plants, rare international blooms and Southern species across the sprawling resort.

My first thought: who cares for this?! The answer, Hollis Malone, the 73-year-old Horticulturist. Water loops feed the plants with valves, controls and timers. And yes, some watering is done by hand. His staff works from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and 16 people water the plants by hand for up to 90 minutes each morning.