Online poll: Longwood Gardens has best restrooms in U.S.

Children who know they are visiting Longwood Gardens can be forgiven for not going to the bathroom before they leave the house.

After all, going to the bathroom is one of the highlights of visiting Longwood. So it was no surprise Wednesday when Longwood's lavatories were named America's best restrooms.

In an online vote, the public chose the gardens' domed restroom pods - which are tucked into a Green Wall hallway of more than 47,000 plants - from a group of 10 finalists.

Tens of thousands of people throughout the country voted for the East Marlborough Township gardens in the 13th annual contest by Ohio-based Cintas Corp., which provides basic supplies to businesses, including for their lavatories. Longwood was honored for its creative and memorable comfort stations.

The news conference announcing the achievement started, of course, with a potty pun.

"We are thrilled, truly flushed with pride," said Danny Rubin, survey editor of Cintas' contest, stopping for laughter, "about our most recent winner."

John Engel, senior manager of marketing at Cintas, congratulated Longwood for having "the best loos in the land."

Cintas recognizes public restrooms for their design, hygiene, and usability. Longwood, now in Cintas' America's Best Restroom Hall of Fame, gets a $2,500 credit for Cintas services.

The journey to the top of the water-closet world started with the practical need for more bathrooms for more guests. In October 2010, Longwood completed its curved, 4,072-square-foot Green Wall.

"It's really more complicated than it might appear," said Sharon Loving, director of horticulture.

Caretakers use computers to water and regulate the temperature of the plants, which have been carefully placed in 3,590 panels in the wall based on each type of plant's light preference. The wall produces as much oxygen as 90 14-feet-tall trees, Longwood says.

"I didn't think they were bathrooms at first," said Joanne Vinciguerra of Whitehouse Station, N.J.

"It looks like a spa in Hawaii," said Robert Nonni of Cleverdale, N.Y.

His wife, Lona, said she had not been to Longwood in 30 years and looked forward to nature's call so she could experience the restrooms.

Sunlight pours through domed glass at the top of each of 17 individual toilet pods. Workers at Longwood said they often heard some of the gardens' more than one million annual visitors gushing about the convenience rooms and showing them off to newcomers.

"Usually, you're rolling the dice when you go to a public restroom," said Nancy Neary of Randolph, N.J. "You think, how badly do I really have to go?"

The gardens' guests often say they have never seen anything like the bathrooms at Longwood.

Among the places defeated by Longwood Gardens were American Girl Place in Chicago; two tiki bars, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Pittsburgh; and restaurants in California, the District of Columbia, and Texas.

The toilet-bowl-shape Bowl Plaza in Lucas, Kan., won second place. Third place went to the Fabulous Fox Theater in St. Louis.

Marnie Conley, Longwood's chief marketing officer, said visitors showed their passion for the public gardens through their votes.

Pam Tabery of Saylorsburg, Pa., a retired professor, said she visits Longwood Gardens every year. She voted online for its restrooms.

Said Tabery: "It deserves this No. 1."

Her friend Margaret Stish tried to suppress a smile, but could not. In fact, the retired East Stroudsburg University professor giggled.