Pack your bags, nature lovers! I’ve found the most magical botanical gardens in the US!
Whether you’re traveling with friends or alone, for business or pleasure, set some time aside to surround yourself with nature’s beauty.
There’s nothing quite like taking a leisurely stroll through a warm conservatory filled with an incredible mix of plants on a rainy day, enjoying the fragrance of thousands of blooms in summer, or getting ideas for your home landscape from artistically created borders.
By visiting the nation’s magical botanical gardens, you’re also often helping to support important horticultural research and conservation work, all while being inspired and learning about different plants and gardening techniques.
So let’s not waste any more time. Here are my 9 favorite magical botanical gardens to visit nationwide.
Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta, Georgia
Situated right next to Piedmont Park in Midtown Atlanta, this 30-acre magical botanical garden opened its doors in 1976. The Canopy Walk you’ll find here is a 600-foot-long skywalk that takes you through the treetops, offering a unique perspective on the views here.
The Fuqua Orchid Center is another incredible exhibit that has a vast collection of tropical plants and orchids. And in the Japanese Garden you’ll find a traditional teahouse and koi pond. This magical botanical garden also hosts seasonal events like Holiday Nights, Garden Lights, and the Atlanta Blooms tulip display, which attract big crowds.
And if you’re looking for other things to do in this city, you can explore the historic Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and the Georgia Aquarium. I would recommend planning your visit during the Garden Lights Holiday Nights event in late November through early January for an enchanted experience amidst millions of festive decorations and lights.
Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, Illinois
The Windy City’s magical botanical garden requires repeat visits to really do it justice… and that’s a good thing! With 27 gardens encircled by lakes and spread across 385 acres, there’s a lot to take in here.
The famous bonsai collection, which includes 200 bonsai trees, is a fantastic place to begin. And so is the geometrically-designed Heritage Garden. Fair warning, though: The English Walled Garden might make you consider moving to the English countryside!
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Dallas, Texas
Opened in 1984, the Dallas Arboretum blankets 66 acres along the shores of beautiful White Rock Lake. The Garden is renowned for its seasonal displays, including the Dallas Blooms, one of the biggest floral festivals in this part of the country.
Its Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden offers interactive exhibits on all things plant science. As for the DeGolyer House? Well, this is a historic mansion on the grounds that provides a glimpse into the area’s history. And then you have the Lay Family Garden, which features a variety of stunning hydrangeas and azaleas.
But Dallas offers a wide range of attractions besides this magical botanical garden, including the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, the Deep Ellum district, and the Dallas Museum of Art.
Pro Tip: Try to experience Autumn at the Arboretum, a popular event featuring over 90,000 gourds, pumpkins, and squash adorning the gardens. Just make sure you visit on weekdays or early in the morning on weekends to avoid all the crowds.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Richmond, Virginia
Tons of themed gardens, including a rose garden, a kitchen garden, a cherry tree walk, and an especially serene Asian garden focused around a pond, are spread across 50 perfect acres in Richmond, Virginia.
Even on a sunny day when you’d rather be outdoors, the glass-domed conservatory of this magical botanical garden is worth a visit to spot climbing palm trees far from their typical spot.
And consider this beautiful garden for the popular Butterflies LIVE exhibit, where you’ll see hundreds of butterflies flap their wings near you in an indoor garden, which takes place annually from April to October.
Missouri Botanical Gardens, St. Louis, Missouri
This 79-acre paradise in St. Louis is the nation’s oldest continuously operating botanic garden, having opened its doors in 1859. Yet even though this magical botanical garden has been around for so long, it’s nearly impossible to ignore the futuristic-looking Climatron.
This sizeable geometric glass dome houses a tropical rainforest. Outdoors, the Japanese garden is one of the biggest of its type in the country.
And, on a hot summer’s day, it’s best to cool off with a lovely stroll through the shaded English Woodland Garden, which has 100 dogwoods, 300 rhododendrons and azaleas, and many more interesting plants.
Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
For those looking for a vacation in a big city, Longwood Gardens requires a small but superbly worthwhile detour.
Located an hour’s drive from Philadelphia, this magical botanical garden’s vast space includes lily ponds that will remind you of Monet, an orchid house, and a meadow garden with three beautiful miles of walking and hiking trails.
If you visit during the summer, you’ll find an illuminated fountain performance set to the music of, among others, Aaron Copland and The Beatles.
The Huntington, San Marino, California
The gardens are just one small part of this Southern California cultural institution, which includes a library of rare books and manuscripts and an art collection. Outside of this magical botanical garden, 120 acres are dedicated to over a dozen gardens, including one with 50,000 plants that are native to California.
While visiting, you can also take a trip across the pond in the Japanese garden, which includes a picturesque bridge, a bonsai court, a pond, and a Zen garden.
After that, visit the Garden of Flowering Fragrance, whose Chinese design consists of an adorable little lake with pavilions and walking bridges that are decorated with hand-carved bamboo and wood.
United States Botanic Garden, Washington, DC
We all know about DC’s famous cherry blossom season, but what about the rest of the city? Well established by Congress in 1820, the United States Botanic Garden happens to be among the oldest botanical gardens in North America.
The Conservatory contains various plants from worldwide, such as the desert, a tropical rainforest, and medicinal plants. The National Garden includes butterflies, roses, and a regional Garden with native plants.
Then, you can walk into Bartholdi Park, which demonstrates sustainable gardening practices and provides a tranquil retreat in the city. What else is there to see and do in our nation’s capital?
In the heart of the city, tourists can visit Smithsonian museums, the National Mall, and the Capitol Building. And since you’re already in DC, be sure to visit the National Cathedral and the Bishops Garden, too.
New York Botanical Gardens, New York City
If you plan on visiting The Big Apple, you won’t want to miss this delight! While the Brooklyn Botanic Garden might receive more attention due to its cherry blossom festival, the city’s official garden, which also happens to be a National Historic Landmark, is situated in the Bronx.
Throughout the warmer months here, the Peggy Rockefeller rose garden blooms with over 650 varieties of stunning roses.
And in the winter, plants at this magical botanical garden are used to recreate city monuments to decorate the annual toy train show. Special exhibitions, like a current one by the glass artist Dale Chihuly, are worth putting on your travel bucket list.
So what do you think? Have you ever been to any of these magical botanical gardens? If so, leave a comment and share your experiences! If not, pack your camera and some comfy walking shoes, and begin your next adventure!
And if you liked this article, you’ll want to also check out: 5 Senior-Friendly Winter Destinations in the US to Avoid the Crowds
