Even if you aren’t really into gardening there are some public gardens and arboretums that you really should see. Their stunning beauty impresses even those who aren’t really impressed by flowers and plants. Also, a visit to one makes for a relaxing day in what can often be a hectic schedule for your vacation. There are plenty of gardens and arboretums in North America that you can go visit and it can be hard to figure out which ones are worth visiting. But, worry not – we’ve got you covered. Check out the five gardens and arboretums you must see in North America. Happy traveling!
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First Garden to Check out | Butchart Gardens
This is the first of many gardens and arboretums of North America that we ever visited, and even the hesitant of our group were won over by its awe-inspiring beauty and continue to discuss it years later. We’ve been twice already since the first time was such an incredible experience and we can’t wait until 2023 when we will be back again for another visit!
History of the Gardens
Butchart Gardens is located on Vancouver Island, located just off the coast of Vancouver and covers more than 2 square kilometers with over 100 different types of flowers and plants! The gardens were started by Jennie Butchart in 1912, when she envisioned a lush garden in the limestone quarry pit that the Butchart’s owned. It took years to develop but the Sunken Garden is now where the quarry was and it is an incredible garden. Over the next 17 years, the gardens were added on to, including a Japanese garden, the Italian garden and the Rose garden. In 1939, the gardens were gifted to Ian Ross, grandson of Jennie Butchart and he expanded the gardens to include seasonal events and making it the expansive garden it is today.
How to Get Here
There are a couple of different ways to access Vancouver island, you can get there by ferry or by plane. You can take a BC Ferry from Vancouver BC to Vancouver Island, they offer ferries about every hour over to the island and the crossing takes about 1 hour and 35 minutes. You should arrive at the ferry terminal about 45 minutes before leaving and make sure you book timed tickets before arriving at the ferry terminal. Also, the ferry terminal in Victoria is about 30 minute drive from the gardens, so be sure you have a tour booked that will meet you if you didn’t want to take your car over on the island.
We took the ferry with our car because it gave us the freedom to get to the gardens on our timeline and to be able to explore other places as well. As of right now, the Washington State Ferries are not running to Victoria. You can also travel by plane over to the island, it is about a 20 minute flight from Vancouver to the airport in Victoria. If you fly in, car rentals are close by as well as an option to book a guided tour.
Your Day at Butchart Gardens
Plan on spending at least half of your day here so that you may leisurely stroll through all of the diverse locations, from blooming roses or peaceful Japanese gardens; it’s difficult to want to leave! The garden has an expansive gift shop and four different places that you can get food, so don’t worry about having to leave the gardens for lunch. For the ultimate garden experience you can reserve and enjoy afternoon tea at The Dining Room Restaurant. We have done the tea both times we have visited-I highly recommend it, so relaxing and beautiful. It is a great way to get the most of your garden visit!
You can visit Butchart Gardens for more information to plan your visit.
2nd Garden to Check Out | U. S. National Arboretum
This was a surprise win on our trip to Washington D.C., I was so glad a friend mentioned it to us when we were planning our D.C. trip. We enjoyed the mix of formal gardens and natural landscape. We also liked that you could do a combination of driving to different locations as well as being able to wander through the paths. This is another free stop in D.C, which makes this a nice stop to spend a couple of hours.
History of the Arboretum
The US National Arboretum is a hidden gem in the heart of Northeastern Washington DC. We loved our visit here and even though it was drizzling when we visited, we still spent a few hours here exploring the paths and seeing the beautiful plants and flowers. It was established by an act of Congress back in 1927 and now attracts visitors from all around to enjoy its 447 acres of beauty, which includes special collections of azaleas, slow-growing conifers, and bonsai. There is also a visitors’ center, as well as driving and walking routes. It also is the home to the Capital Columns. They from the East Portico of the Capitol Building in 1828, placed in the Arboretum in the 1980s.
Your Day at the Arboretum
Stop by the visitor’s center when you arrive to get oriented, this is also a great place to park and get out to explore the area. Don’t miss seeing the Capital Columns, the day we visited was misty and overcast, making them seem so majestic and forlorn. Wander through the area with the azaleas and the conifers. There is also a world class bonsai exhibit and koi pond that you shouldn’t miss. This is also a fantastic location to go if you’re searching for some less-crowded cherry blossom viewing. We visited the Arboretum after a hectic few days of sightseeing and it was a nice change of pace after all the hustle and bustle of the city.
You can visit US National Arboretum for more information to plan your trip.
3rd Garden to Check Out | Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is a great place to visit if you’re up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. It is easy to get to from the freeway and close to Vail and not a very long drive from Breckenridge. If you haven’t seen an Alpine Garden before, this is definitely the place to see one. This garden is also free to wander about. A note about Altitude – please drink more water than you think you need, Altitude sickness is not something that is fun on your vacation! I recommend a water bottle to keep you hydrated.
Garden Facts
This garden is the highest elevation garden in North America and has four different areas with unique plant life and features high-altitude species from around North America as well some from around the world. It was established in 1985 by the Vail Alpine Garden Foundation and was named in honor of Betty Ford in 1988. Next to the gardens is the Gerald Ford Amphitheater, which hosts many events throughout the year. You’ll find plenty more than just plant life here–you might even want to take part in one of their frequent programs or events happening throughout the year. They also have a gift shop, a children’s garden, and guided tours that you can book.
Your Day at the Garden
This is a great way to spend some quiet time rambling around the grounds and pathways, discovering new plants and flowers. Explore the four sections of the gardens, the Mountain Perennial Garden, the Mountain Meditation Garden, the Alpine Rock Garden, and the Children’s Garden. The take a look at the gift shop and the Education Center, which has great information about alpine plants, including live plants, informational displays and drop-in activities. On our visit, we even got to hear a rehearsal for an event that would happen later that night at the Gerald Ford Amphitheater – an unexpected bonus.
After you’re done with your adventure, why not stop by Vail for some wonderful cuisine – I recommend trying The Craftsman.
You can check out Betty Ford Alpine Gardens for more information to help plan your trip.
Garden 4 You Should Check Out | Red Butte Gardens
Red Butte Gardens is a hidden oasis in Salt Lake City and is well worth the time to check out. It has an array of unexpected paths and plants you can check out as well as gift shop. You should bring water , sunscreen/hat, and snacks with you, the gardens are surprisingly big and you should be prepared. They do sell water at the gift shop but it is probably better to bring your own – we found the water sold at the gift shop to be lukewarm, a little less refreshing on a hot day.
Information about the Garden
The Gardens began as a plant research area for the University of Utah in 1930 and then in 1961 it was recognized as a State Arboretum but didn’t open to the public until 1985. Not only does it has horticultural displays but it focuses on conservation and environmental education. Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City has 21 acres of gardens, and 5 miles of walking trails, and because this garden and natural area is large, bring comfortable walking shoes. This garden has activities and educational programs, ten distinct gardens, including a fragrant garden and a rose garden, in addition to other natural areas. There is no café at Red Butte, so bring a picnic lunch and plenty of water.
Your Day at the Gardens
Take your time to wander through the many different gardens or plan your trip around a outdoor concert that they host. If you want a more in depth look at the some the plants they have, join a garden tour. They are available at no cost May through September, they offer private tours as well – check out their website for current events, costs, and times. They also have some hiking trails that you can check out as well. It is a pretty expansive area and you could plan on spending the whole day there.
Honestly, we would have never gone to Red Butte Gardens, but after a disappointing morning at Hogle Zoo, which is the worst zoo I’ve ever been to, we decided to stop by. We spent the day at this lovely spot and it was such a joy, so don’t miss out on going here when you are in Salt Lake City! The medicinal garden was one of our favorite gardens, as were the amazing swinging benches you could relax on in all of the different gardens, and the Pear Arbors, where pear trees were cultivated in the form of an arch. We took our teenage daughter with us, and we had to persuade her to leave since she wanted to do more hikes than we had time for.
You can check out Red Butte Gardens for more information to help plan your trip.
Garden 5 You Should Check Out | Longwood Gardens
If you were to check out only one of these gardens and arboretums in North America, I would tell you to choose this one, for overall diversity of things to see and do. Longwood Gardens is a botanical garden located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania with over 1,000 acres of gardens to enjoy. They also have amazing water features and fountains that are not to be missed. I cannot stress enough how you shouldn’t miss these gardens if you are in the area.
History and Information About the Gardens
The vision of Pierre Du Ponte, Longwood Gardens includes beautiful and lush gardens, a spectacular conservatory, and fascinating architecture. Du Ponte was influenced by his global travels, visits to a wide variety of garden styles and was fascinated by water pump technology. His many visits to Italian villas and French chateaux influenced his architectural designs that he would incorporate into his gardens. When he was 36, he bought Peirce farm, the area that would become Longwood Gardens. He had no formal plan and just added to the gardens piece-meal style, starting with the Old Fashioned Garden Walk. The garden is now home to an amphitheater, the gardens, and a restaurant. In addition, they host a variety of special events and programs throughout the year, including seasonal activities, educational workshops, and fountain shows.
Your Day at the Gardens
Start your day by wandering through the Main Fountain Garden District, one of the 6 different districts that the gardens has. It includes spectacular water fountain displays and breathtaking European architecture. Also, don’t miss out on going through the Conservatory District, it full of colorful and exotic plants housed in a 1920’s style conservatory. If you can make a reservation, splurge and eat a meal at the 1906 restaurant, featuring a seasonal menu. They also have a cafe if you want a more casual experience for lunch. Spend the rest of the day exploring the other districts, including House & Theater district, featuring the Du Point house and the Chimes Tower District, featuring a historic bell tower.
This place is magical; I couldn’t believe how gorgeous and thoughtfully created everything was. We visited in the middle of March when there were no water features operating and very little on the outside blossoming, and we still had an amazing experience. The conservatory alone is worth the trip, there are several gorgeous plant and tree exhibits inside as well as a lovely ballroom and pipe organ. We still talk about this place regularly and I told Randy that my biggest regret of 2021 was following Longwood Gardens on Instagram because it made me want to visit all of the time.
You can check out Longwood Gardens for more information on how to plan your visit.
If you’re looking for beautiful gardens or arboretums in North America to visit, we’ve got you covered. From the well-known and popular Butchart Gardens in Vancouver to the hidden gardens of Vail, these destinations are sure to please.
Have you visited any of these amazing gardens? Have another favorite garden, not on the list? Let us know in the comments below.
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