Botanical Gardens for Families
Searching for the best botanical gardens for families? Well, you are in the right place! Botanical gardens are some of the most unique and enjoyable places for families to explore together. Over the years of visiting gardens with my husband and son, they’ve become one of my favorite recommendations for an outing that blends beauty, learning, and relaxation. Here are my absolute favorites (many of which I at some point lived near to) that I think you will love too.
1. New York - Brooklyn Botanic Garden
I discovered this was an enchanting blend of artistry and wilderness — themed gardens blooming in harmony, hidden pathways, and tranquil natural beauty tucked right into the heart of Brooklyn!
After a short subway ride from Manhattan as a local, I spent a sun-soaked afternoon wandering through 52 acres of lush landscapes.
In the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, I crossed graceful bridges over koi-filled waters, paused under cherry trees, and admired the serenity of stone lanterns and pagodas. I wandered through the fragrant Rose Garden, marveled at the Desert Pavilion’s sculptural cacti, and found shade under towering oaks in the Native Flora Garden — a peaceful pocket of wilderness in the city.
A downside? On blossom weekends, paths at Brooklyn Botanic Garden were crowded, making strollers tricky to steer.
2. Pennsylvania - Longwood Gardens
I discovered this was a spellbinding world of horticultural grandeur — sweeping meadows, formal fountains, and conservatories filled with exotic blooms, all harmonizing into one of the most magnificent gardens in the country!
Just an hour southwest of Philadelphia in Kennett Square, I spent an entire day roaming 1,077 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows that felt both timeless and ever-changing. We stayed at the 2-star Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Kennett Square Brandywine Valley for two days.
Inside the glass-domed Conservatory, I wandered through tropical rainforests, desert landscapes, and fragrant orchid displays. Outside, I lingered in the Italian Water Garden, where marble fountains and terraces framed elegant pools. My son loved the The Children’s Garden. As the sun set, I joined the crowds at the Main Fountain Garden, a dazzling spectacle of choreographed water, lights, and music that left me in awe.
3. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay
Paths curved through woodland to sculptures and water views. In the Fairy House Village, kids built twig forts under towering pines. “This is where nature feels enchanted,” I thought.
What I Loved Most: The Children’s Garden with its storybook statues and bubbling fountains perfect for imaginative play.
I discovered this was a coastal wonderland — gardens rolling down to the sea, whimsical giant trolls tucked among the pines, and fragrant beds alive with the colors and scents of Maine’s wild beauty that completely won me over!
Just outside the seaside town of Boothbay, I spent a long summer day exploring 295 acres of gardens, woodlands, and shoreline.
In the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses, I slowed down to touch textured leaves, breathe in lavender and roses, and listen to the gentle splash of water features. Following winding forest trails, I stumbled upon the larger-than-life wooden trolls created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo — guardians of nature that made me feel like I’d wandered into a fairytale. Later, I lingered in the Vayo Meditation Garden, where still ponds reflected the sky and salt air drifted in from the nearby coast.
4. Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden on the Big Island
I discovered this was a lush rainforest paradise — towering palms, cascading waterfalls, and vibrant tropical blooms spilling down a valley to the Pacific Ocean while we lived on the Big Island for siz years!
About 8 miles north of Hilo along the scenic Onomea Bay Drive, I spent a dreamy day wandering through 40 acres of jungle trails, each bend revealing something even more breathtaking. You can spend a night at Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo if you want to stay close by.
I followed wooden boardwalks beneath giant tree ferns and orchids clinging to mossy trunks, paused to watch Onomea Falls tumble through the greenery, and traced the Lily Lake alive with dragonflies. The trail eventually opened to a dramatic ocean overlook, waves crashing against black lava rocks below — a perfect reminder that this “Garden in a Valley on the Ocean” is uniquely Hawaiian.
5. Callaway Gardens
Rolling grounds held butterfly houses, hiking trails, and sunny lawns where families flew kites. It felt like both a garden and a resort.
I discovered this was a grand blend of gardens and wilderness — vast woodlands, shimmering lakes, and vibrant floral displays woven into a resort setting that invites both exploration and relaxation!
About an hour southwest of Atlanta in Pine Mountain, I spent a long weekend roaming more than 2,500 acres of cultivated gardens, forest trails, and outdoor adventures.
I marveled at the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, where clouds of delicate wings floated through a glass conservatory filled with tropical plants. Later, I cycled along the Discovery Bike Trail, winding through pines and around sparkling lakes, before ending the day at Robin Lake Beach, the largest man-made white-sand beach in the world.
6. Ohio - Cleveland Botanical Garden
Butterflies floated inside the Glasshouse, wings brushing shoulders as children squealed. Rainforest and desert biomes sat side by side, worlds apart under glass.
I loved watching kids chase butterflies as if they were catching magic.
I discovered this was an urban gem — a mix of glasshouse wonderlands, themed outdoor gardens, and tranquil spaces tucked into the cultural heart of Cleveland!
In the University Circle neighborhood, just steps from the Cleveland Museum of Art, I spent an afternoon exploring 10 acres of gardens and glasshouse exhibits that brought the world’s ecosystems to life.
Inside the Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse, I wandered from the spiny desert of Madagascar, where baobabs and chameleons thrive, to the lush cloud forest of Costa Rica, alive with butterflies, orchids, and colorful birds. Outside, I strolled through the Japanese Garden, paused in the Rose Garden, and lingered in the Hershey Children’s Garden — one of the first of its kind in the country, where playful paths and learning corners invited discovery.
A downside? The downtown location meant city noise sometimes broke through the garden calm.
7. Florida - Naples Botanical Garden
Palm trees arched over shaded paths, leading to water gardens with lotus blossoms and koi. The Children’s Garden overflowed with play fountains and hands-on exhibits.
I discovered this was a tropical sanctuary — lush lagoons, vibrant cultural gardens, and palms swaying in the Gulf breeze, all celebrating plants from around the world’s warm climates!
Just minutes from downtown Naples where we stayed at 4-star Hilton Naples for two nights, I spent a sunlit day wandering 170 acres of gardens, trails, and preserves.
I began in the Brazilian Garden, where bold bromeliads and sculptural palms surrounded modern water features, then stepped into the Asian Garden, a serene space with lotus ponds and stone details. The Kapnick Caribbean Garden dazzled with bougainvillea and bright hibiscus, while the Water Garden shimmered with giant Amazonian water lilies. Finally, I found myself in the Preserve — 90 acres of restored Florida wetlands alive with herons, turtles, and dragonflies.
8. Alabama - Huntsville Botanical Garden
Wide lawns framed the Children’s Garden at the Huntsville Botanical Garden, with butterflies circling and frogs croaking in lily ponds. It felt open, playful, and welcoming.
Just off I-565 near the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, I spent a bright spring day exploring 118 acres of cultivated beauty and natural habitats.
I strolled through the Nature Trail, where wildflowers and butterflies filled the air, then lingered in the Purdy Butterfly House — one of the nation’s largest open-air butterfly houses — where hundreds of colorful wings fluttered around me. In the Children’s Garden, I couldn’t resist the playful plant tunnels and storybook corners, before ending my visit in the Four Seasons Garden, a perfect showcase of Alabama’s year-round blooms.
A downside? Summer afternoons got humid so shade and cold drinks were necessary.
9. Atlanta Botanical Garden
Bright sculptures rose among azaleas, and treetop bridges carried us over ferny shade. The children’s garden offered splash pads and frog exhibits that felt alive.
I discovered this was a lush urban oasis — artful plantings, whimsical topiary sculptures, and tranquil forest trails, all hidden in the heart of Midtown Atlanta!
Just steps from Piedmont Park, I spent a full afternoon wandering 30 acres of imaginative landscapes, where horticulture meets artistry.
In the Fuqua Conservatory, I journeyed through tropical rainforests alive with orchids, carnivorous plants, and fluttering butterflies. Outside, I marveled at the Earth Goddess — a towering living sculpture whose cascading hair of vines seemed to breathe with the seasons. I followed the Canopy Walk, suspended 40 feet above Storza Woods, where hardwoods and songbirds framed the skyline beyond.
My highlight was a Georgia peach tart from the café, buttery crust with fruit as sweet as sunshine.
10. Texas - Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
Rows of tulips stretched in color, fountains bubbled, and children splashed in sprays of mist. The Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden turned learning into play, with water features and discovery labs.
Just 15 minutes east of downtown Dallas, we spent a leisurely day wandering through 66 acres of vibrant landscapes, each section offering a new surprise.
In the Jonsson Color Garden, bold swaths of annuals and perennials painted the grounds in every hue imaginable. I paused by the Margaret Elizabeth Jonsson Fountain, cooled by its spray, then continued to the Woman’s Garden — where reflecting pools and terraces framed stunning views of White Rock Lake. In the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden, I felt the playful energy of interactive exhibits, designed to bring the wonders of nature to life for young (and not-so-young!) explorers.
A downside? Summer heat made midday visits tough. Shade and water breaks were essential.
Conclusion
Each garden carried its own rhythm, some lush and tropical, others playful and imaginative, still others stately and grand. What tied them together was the way families lingered, children discovering petals, butterflies, and fountains like they were brand new. From Brooklyn to Hawaii, these gardens reminded me that nature doesn’t just grow, it invites us to grow alongside it.
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