4.5Balboa Park(13.0k reviews) - A gorgeous park that is a must-visit Friday: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Parks • Gardens • Playgrounds
This 1,200-acre nature park comprises 17 museums, gardens, musical theaters, a sports complex, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The park’s Spanish-Moorish architecture and 19 distinct gardens (some require admission fees) attract both tourists and locals. Don’t miss the San Diego Air and Space Museum, the Spanish Village Art Center for unique handicrafts, and the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, where free concerts are hosted in the evenings. Travelers recommend putting aside the whole day to explore the park. To make the most of your time, hop on the Balboa Park trams (they’re free!) to get around. – TripadvisorSee more..
A popular tourist stop, this 207 acre complex houses a library, art collection and stunning gardens. The library and art gallery contain rare books and one of the most complete collections of 18th century art outside of London.See more..
4.5California State Capitol Museum(1.390 reviews) - Free guided tour Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Gardens • History Museums
This 19th-century granite building, modeled after the U.S. Capitol, is home to the California Legislature and houses a public museum and a surrounding garden. We are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.See more..
5.0Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens(1.347 reviews) - Flowers and more! Friday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Gardens • Scenic Walking Areas
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens offers everything from colorful displays to thunderous waves. The mild maritime climate makes it a garden for all seasons, attracting gardeners and nature lovers. With manicured formal gardens, a dense coastal pine forest, native flora and habitats, fern-covered canyons, camellias, rhododendrons, magnolias and conifers, heaths, heathers, and flower-filled coastal bluffs overlooking the blue ocean, the garden is a jewel on the Pacific Coast. Your visit is a show of support for our non-profit botanical garden and its mission!See more..
Over 1,200 tropical and flowering varieties of plants are to be found beneath the domed, wooden-lath structure of the Botanical Building.See more..
4.5San Francisco Botanical Garden(1.020 reviews) - There is a lot to see here Friday: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Gardens
Welcome to San Francisco Botanical Garden, one of the most diverse gardens in the world. The Botanical Garden is a living museum within Golden Gate Park, offering 55 acres of both landscaped gardens and open spaces, showcasing over 8,500 different kinds of plants from around the world.See more..
Open in Spring from March 1st through Mothers Day. For over sixty years, Mother Nature has transformed the rolling hills of North San Diego County into one of the most spectacular and coordinated displays of natural color and beauty anywhere in the world. The nearly fifty acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers that make up The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch® in Carlsbad, California, are in bloom for approximately six to eight weeks each year – from early March through early May – literally bringing the famous fields back to life. This annual burst of color, which has become part of the area’s local heritage, also is one of nature’s official ways of announcing the arrival of spring here in Southern California.See more..
4.5Forestiere Underground Gardens(817 reviews) - $45 for two people BUT worth It!! Friday: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites • Gardens
Take a tour off Highway 99 and visit Fresno's best kept secret. *A hand-built network of underground rooms, courtyards and passageways reminiscent of the ancient catacombs. *Unique fruit producing trees, shrubs, and vines growing underground - some over 90 years old! *Ancient Roman architecture - arches, vaults and stone-built walls. *Underground micro-climates - temperature variations of 10 to 30 degrees! *Underground home of Sicilian visionary and self-taught artist/builder Baldassare Forestiere.See more..
4.0Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden(657 reviews) - Travel to the Gardens Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Monuments & Statues • Gardens
The Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden is located at the top of Avalon Canyon - just a short 30 minute stroll up from town! The Garden features a collection of native plants from both Catalina Island, and the surrounding Channel Islands. The Garden also features a collection of succulents from around the world. The park is also home to the Wrigley Memorial. This iconic island landmark was built in 1934 in honor of Catalina Island patron William Wrigley Jr. The unique structure incorporates a variety of native rock and stone, as well as the famed "Catalina tile."See more..
4.5Municipal Rose Garden(613 reviews) - Wonderful rose garden open to the public to enjoy Gardens
We visited the rose garden over Memorial Day weekend 2021. Covid restrictions were being lifted so this outdoor space was popular. The rose bushes were covered with roses in bloom - a beautiful diversity of colors and styles. We spent about an hour walking around the different plantings and just enjoying the scents and sights. There are a couple of rose arches - one was being repaired so not accessible, but these were a popular spot for photographs with people. There is a fountain with a few benches in the middle of the garden to relax. My three adult children and I spent a wonderful hour there. If you are in the area, it is a lovely spot to stop in especially when the roses are in full bloom.See more..
Located inside Joshua Tree National Park, this small area contains awesome man-sized cacti that grow in profusion.See more..
4.5San Diego Botanic Garden(557 reviews) - Beautiful, Well Maintained Garden Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Gardens
Explore four miles of garden trails, enjoy restful vistas, flowering trees, majestic palms, and the nation’s largest bamboo collection. Thanks to our mild climate, plants from all over the world thrive here. Our diverse topography provides a variety of microclimates giving the visitor a sensation of going from a desert environment to a tropical rainforest, all within 37 acres.Located 30 minutes north of San Diego in Encinitas, California, San Diego Botanic Garden features numerous exhibits, including rare bamboo groves, desert gardens, a tropical rainforest, California native plants, Mediterranean climate landscapes, succulent gardens, an herb garden, firesafe landscaping, a subtropical fruit garden, and native coastal sage natural areas. In June of 2009, we opened the Hamilton Children's Garden, the largest interactive children's garden on the West Coast.See more..
Saw some pictures on trip advisor and added it to our agenda. May have been the most beautiful gardens and ocean views I have ever seen.See more..
4.5Filoli(511 reviews) - Please support this great local piece of history. Friday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites • Gardens
At Filoli we create inspiration in everyday life by welcoming all to experience the House, Garden, and nature preserve. Located 30 miles south of San Francisco, Filoli is nestled on a slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains and surrounded by the protected Peninsula watershed.See more..
4.5UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley(484 reviews) - Spend a day among trees and flowers. Friday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Gardens
Past Strawberry Canyon is the 34-acre Botanical Garden, which holds about 13,000 species of plants. The species are organized according to regions of the world, and the garden has a great collection of native Californian plants. Bring a picnic basket and enjoy the collections, Garden Store, and Plant Deck. Be sure to check out the glasshouses, Chinese Medicinal Herb Garden, and Redwood Grove. The Garden is open from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. every day of the year except the first Tuesday of each month, Thanksgiving Day, December 24 and 25, December 31, January 1, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Online advanced admission tickets are required for all visitors, including Garden Members.See more..
We visited this beautiful showcase of Chinese lanterns at night during the Christmas/New Years holiday. Just happened upon a flyer and thought we'd give it a try. It was a stunning showcase of culture. Some of the exhibits are interactive. There is a stage with Chinese acrobats performing. I don't know about the Botanic Garden, but if you're in or near Arcadia during this event, I recommend going!See more..
4.5Ganna Walska Lotusland(470 reviews) - Felt like a different world Friday: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM Spent 2-3 hours Gardens
Lotusland is considered to be one of the top 10 botanic gardens in the world. Situated in the foothills of Santa Barbara, California, this 37 acre botanical wonderland is home to more than 3,000 different types of plants from all around the world. The estate gardens were created by Madame Ganna Walska, who owned the property from 1941 until her death in 1984. Lotusland is home to several extraordinary plant collections and around each corner there is the unexpected - a surprise of unique garden design and plant species. The collections include rare cycads that are extinct in the wild, an unparaleled cactus garden, palms and euphorbias like most people have never seen. Additional gardens feature ferns, aloes, lotuses (bloom only in the summer months), water lilies and bromeliads. Lotusland horticulture philosophy is organic, using no chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Reservations are required. Tours are Wed - Sat at 10 AM and at 1:30 PM. Open Mid February through Mid November.See more..
Located 20 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, Descanso Gardens is a botanical garden and place of year-round natural beauty, with internationally renowned botanical collections and spectacular seasonal horticultural displays. Accredited by the American Association of Museums as a museum of living collections, Descanso Gardens welcomes 250,000 visitors annually. The principal collections include California native plants and oak woodlands; one of the largest concentration of camellia plants in the Western Hemisphere; a rose garden with specimens from all corners of the globe; and significant presentations of lilacs, maple trees, cherry trees and iris. It has been designated an International Camellia Garden of Excellence by the International Camellia Society.See more..
4.5Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park(456 reviews) - Excellent experience for the whole family for a fair price Amusement & Theme Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Gardens
An extraordinary combination of nature preserve and theme park that comprises more than 75 acres of trees, plants, water and rocks combined with rides, picnic grounds, miniature golf and spectacular gardens.See more..
4.5Turtle Bay Exploration Park(456 reviews) - Worth Every Penny Friday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Science Museums • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Gardens
Turtle Bay Exploration Park is a fun, non-profit 300-acre gathering place featuring the Sundial Bridge, a museum, forestry & wildlife center, arboretum and botanical gardens. At the gateway to the Sacramento River Trails, Turtle Bay celebrates far Northern California as part of the world we share. We envision Turtle Bay Exploration Park as a vibrant gathering place where our community is strengthened through education, cultural engagement and economic growth.See more..
The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden spans the campus’s 5300-plus acres and includes the historic Arboretum – a 100-plus acre campus and regional amenity comprised of demonstration gardens and scientific collections as well as the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve – a rare stream and grassland ecosystem managed for teaching, research, wildlife and habitat protection.See more..
4.5Sherman Library & Gardens(313 reviews) - Delicious dining with a beautiful garden view Friday: 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Gardens
Horticultural retreat that features a museum of living plants, walking paths, bubbling tile fountains and a library devoted to the study of the Pacific Southwest.See more..
4.5The Gardens of the World(257 reviews) - Absolutely gorgeous! Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Gardens
The Gardens of the World is privately owned and operated by the Hogan Family Foundation, Inc. The Gardens exist not only as a cultural contribution to the community, but as an educational tool. Volunteer docents lead guided tours and assist with school tours throughout the year.See more..
4.0Hakone Gardens(229 reviews) - Beautiful Japanese Garden Friday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Gardens
Took the family here because we were looking to do something different. You pay the entrance fee at the shop across from the entrance. We ended up paying $75 for the membership because we live close by and it pays for itself in 3 trips (we have been twice so far). The grounds are beautiful with a variety of plants, trees and flowers. The paths are very well shaded and there are stairs as there are multiple elevations. It’s not big as the one in SF but better maintained than the one on SJ. It was just the right size and had enough to capture the interest of our girls (5 & 7) for ~1 hour. Its very relaxing and a great place to take pictures.See more..
Enjoyed our visit to the Gardens. It's a relaxing journey through various areas. A very nice employee helped us with directions and facilities when we were there. I will say as someone who has minor mobility/flexibility issues the hike was a challenge, and may be more challenging for people with accessibility needs. (If there are other options I didn't see them)See more..
5.0The Huntington Desert Garden(168 reviews) - Cactus in full bloom Friday: 12:00 PM - 4:30 PM Deserts • Gardens
Conveniently located, the Huntington includes the largest collection of mature cacti and succulents in North America.See more..
4.5UCSC Arboretum(163 reviews) - Beautiful collection of Australian and South African plants Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Gardens
Large arboretum with excellent display of Australian and South African plants. The arboretum has its own entrance off of Empire Grade/High Street. There is a large free parking area. You can buy admission tickets online or at the gift shop, if it happens to be open. If not you can stuff money into a metal tube, which is what we did. The gardens for Australia and South Africa are large, with many diverse trees, bushes, succulents, and other plants. The setting is beautiful, though casual--nobody would accuse UC Santa Cruz of having formal gardens. Squirrels and rabbits wander here and there, and useful signage tells you about the plants and their normal environment. There is a New Zealand section, we didn't visit that but looking through the fence it appeared to be a picturesque meadow with wooden sculptures.See more..
4.5Shinzen Japanese Garden(152 reviews) - Located inside the Woodward Park Friday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Gardens
The Shinzen Friendship Garden is a traditional northwestern American Japanese Garden. The Garden was constructed to honor Fresno’s Sister City, Kochi, Japan, celebrating the spirit of understanding and promoting educational and cultural awareness. The beauty, grace and serenity of Japanese design is present in the use of varied plant material, rocks and stones, and water throughout the five acre garden. The garden is designed around the four seasons of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter; granite markers identify each section. In the Fall of 2015 we were proud to be chosen to house and display the world-class Clark Bonsai Collection, which is now on permanent display in the garden, offering a seasonal rotation of some of the finest Bonsai in the United States.See more..
What a pleasant small setting. A great blue heron landed and fished in the pond and humming birds abounded. Lovely blossoms were drifting like a gentle snow beautifully landing on some of the greenery. Plenty of places to be present, contemplate, and be. Tip: Have low expectations as it is a small space, well worth the visit. Tip: Great place for a book to bring. See more..
A world-renowned 3.5-acre garden, housing a collection of unique succulents, cacti and drought-tolerant plants from around the world. The Garden’s founder, Ruth Bancroft, lived to be 109 and was a pioneer in drought-tolerant gardening. Open to the public year-round, the Garden showcases fabulous blooms during every season. The retail nursery carries many varieties of Agaves, Aloes, Sedums, Aeoniums, Echeverias, Cacti, and the largest selection of Proteaceae in Northern California. Visitors may take a self guided tour or on weekends, docent led tours are offered. The Garden offers classes and workshops throughout the year in it's new Visitor and Education Center, which is also available to rent for business meetings, weddings and other private special events.See more..
4.5Mission Santa Clara de Asis(136 reviews) - Beautiful Mission Church! Friday: 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM Missions • Gardens
Founded in 1777, this historic mission is located on the campus of Santa Clara University.See more..
Visited in mid July and the dahlia garden is really beautiful that time of year. Great blooms all over the place. This is a small part of a much larger park that include the zoo right near the garden.See more..
I went a few times to visit the Rose garden, and it was always a great experience. It is smaller than it looks on the picture, but it has a great variety of roses. You can walk and sit and smell the roses, then walk some more sit soak in the fresh and fragrant air, feel the sun on your skin, enjoy the peace and quiet, and leave the place refreshed. The rose garden is up the Berkeley hills and after you visit it, you can enjoy hiking a bit and admire the great trees on the other side of the road. You can get there by car, which is the easiest way, but also you can walk up the quaint streets of Berkeley and brows the little gardens and the interesting plants, people grow in their yards. It is uphill and great cardio exercise.See more..
It is just astonishing to find a Japanese garden of this caliber in a modest town like Hayward. The design, architecture, plants and pond are worthy of San Francisco. Plus, admission is free. This is a genuine East Bay Gem. See more..
4.0South Coast Botanic Garden(124 reviews) - Tix are cash only or purchase online in advance. Be prepared to wear a mask *outside* in the heat at all times. Friday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Gardens
Mixed thoughts... Some beautiful sections, but some annoyances as well. We arrived and after waiting in line to get tickets, we were told that they are cash only right now (due to COVID) and that cards can be used online. We didn't have enough cash, so we had to get out of line and navigate their difficult website to purchase tickets online. Also, despite national COVID precautions relaxing (it is late May 2021), this place is still very COVID-cautious. They place desks in front of the ticket teller to create more distance, and require everyone to wear masks at all times while *outside* in their gardens. This was very difficult given the heat and did not make much logical sense when 99% of the time, we were walking alone in the park... Also, no lake or river, just dry beds. Very confusing layout. Best part was the rose garden, in my opinion. Butterfly exhibit had a separate entrance fee so we did not go in.See more..
4.5Gardens at Heather Farms(122 reviews) - Fun times at Heather farms Park, Walnut Creek, CA Gardens
We went for a picnic lunch at Gardens at Heather Farms. We had a very good time and there were lots of people there. There is a nice fountain area as well as plants. People were fishing, biking, and just enjoying the great outdoors. Visit is free.See more..
Nestled in the rolling hills of Fallbrook, California lies the Grand Tradition Estate. Its 15 acres of year-round gardens are a beloved Southern California landmark. Discover a profusion of natural splendor along carefully crafted pathways of flowering plants, majestic palms and cascading waterfalls. Dedicated in 1984 by the McDougal family, these magnificent grounds have hosted over a million visitors from around the world. Come walk the property, eat lunch at The Veranda Restaurant, or enjoy a chef prepared picnic lunch on the manicured grounds of this north San Diego County gem. Make reservations for lunch at The Veranda Restaurant serving daily from 11am to 2pm.See more..
It's a small garden, but amazingly planned and maintained for colorful visual! Stopped by here on our way to San Francisco and end up spending an hour easily. Beautiful flowers, different type of vegetables and trees. All nature lovers would definitely enjoy this place.See more..
We came in February. There were some plants not out yet. Still. I was amazed that they had so many flowers. It was especially for cacti. I liked that! I I took my time. We even saw a lizard. Lots of beautiful flowers. There was a herb garden. There were roses, even in February. They had oranges as well. There was water and who was in the water: Turtles. This is a must see! We enjoyed this beautiful University of California Riverside Botanic Gardens. We had to pay parking, buy the University of California Riverside Botanic Gardens was free.See more..
4.5Montalvo Arts Center(101 reviews) - Favorite walking destination Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Theaters • Gardens
A Mediterranean-style villa with intricate gardens and grounds, which also includes an artists residency, a small gallery, hiking trails, and both indoor and outdoor theatres for concerts and performances. Don't miss BRUCE MUNRO AT MONTALVO: STORIES IN LIGHT! A spectacular installation of light-based artworks inspired by C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, showing October 28, 2018 - March 17, 2019.See more..
I love places like this. It’s not the most established botanical garden ever. Far from it. But it is a great place to get some exercise while enjoying beautiful views for miles. We saw some beautiful flowering plants and enjoyed listening to the birds, and seeing bees and butterflies. It really is quite an uphill hike to see the gardens. There is a path or stairs in parts. We saw people with baby strollers, but be prepared for some real effort to climb to the top. Kids are free and we were happy to support the gardens with a fee of $7.00 each for two adults.See more..
If for some reason you find yourself in the East County of San Diego and you're looking for something to do, this is a nice option. We happen to be new homeowners looking for landscape ideas the first time we came here 5 years ago. We return often. A very peaceful place with excellent docents. See more..
Arlington Garden is a community-built climate-appropriate habitat garden offering learning inspiration and enjoyment for all.See more..
4.5Daffodil Hill(86 reviews) - It just could not survive the hordes of entitled patrons Mountains • Gardens
I managed to see this place for the first time in 2018 during it's last year of operation. Here is what I saw. People having picnics, painting easels and photographers in restricted areas. There were lovely little signs that kindly asked visitors to stay on the path and instead people walked into the groves wherever they wanted. Worst of all I saw trampled flowers and trash. This beautiful area rightly closed - the evidence as to why was apparent within Daffodil Hill itself but also outside of it's fences. Traffic seemed to have tripled as I emerged from the property. A frazzled and defeated looking old man struggled to direct traffic while two minivan drivers argued over a parking spot. This precious area with it's two lane road could visibly no longer endure the traffic or the entitlement of it's patrons. Thank goodness she closed before the pandemic and the height of the meme/influencer stage., It surely would have been destroyed beyond recoverySee more..
After visiting Mission Santa Barbara, I opened Trip Advisor to see what else was in the area. This garden got great reviews so I decided to go and I'm so glad I did. There are a lot of little routes within the gardens, with tons of sound posts that recite information when you touch the button. October is usually a pretty dull month for flowering gardens but there was a lot blooming here. Cool trees with dozens of bright orchid-like flowers on them. Huge bushes with bright orange hibiscus-like blooms. A nice little lake with water lilies and ducks. I went to many places today but this one is a fave. See more..
