The arboretum is free, big and beautiful. . Washington Park Arboretum | University of Washington Botanic Gardens July 4th travel, traffic: Best, worst times to leave for road trip How is the parking situation, especially on a weekend? Originally dating to 1945and re-dedicated in 1988 in memory of legendary Arboretum curator Joe Wittthe garden is filled with fragrant witch-hazels and daphne, flowering camellias and mahonias, beautifully barked birches, and much more. Still, we had a fun time exploring the park and seeing some interesting and unique plants. Get directions to the Center for Urban Horticulture. Activities in the arboretum include guided hourlong tours via tram and nonmotorized boating. We took a stroll through on a warm day and enjoyed all the greenery and the meandering paths. Credit: Elisa Murray 2. The 230 acres of lush and diverse greenery along with miles of bike paths, hiking and running trails offer a tranquil and magical re . Learn more. If you are coming from Madison Street, you can take route 11, get off at Lake Washington Boulevard E, and walk north into the Arboretum. After 0.2 miles,turn right onto Arboretum Drive E to reach the Graham Visitors Center. Visit the gardens UW Visitor Center Learn more about the UW and get resources at the Visitor Center, open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday. We were able to feed the ducks and koi fish while we were there. OpenEvery day dawn to 8pm, free of charge. I visited a little too early in the Spring, but still an amazing garden.lovingly designed, gorgeous plants and shrubsthe gentleman at the front desk was super friendly. Visit - Arboretum Foundation 5.0Value. A tree zoo. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Learn more about the renovation project. The Washington Park Arboretum's 230 acres on the shores of Lake Washington contain a diverse array of plants, some of which can't be seen anywhere else in the region. uwbgeduc@uw.edu, 1st Thursday Free Arboretum Walking Tours, Outdoor Wellness Fridays with UW Botanic Gardens (in-person), Friends of Seattle Olmsted Parks Walking Tour: Washington Park Arboretum (in-person), Arboretum: 2300 Arboretum Drive E Seattle, WA 98112 The Arboretum is a welcome oasis on the shores of Lake Washington. Food for Thought - ONLINE . Year round visitors will find something of interest along the trails that wind through 230 acres of gardens, natural areas and wetlands. Have fall colors started? Its themed gardens include the Pacific Connections Garden, which features plants from five countries connected to its namesake ocean (specifically Australia, China, Chile, New Zealand and the U.S. Pacific Northwest); Rhododendron Glen, one of the arboretum's oldest sections, dating to the 1930s; and a traditional Japanese garden. Its name commemorates Donald Graham, Jr., a founding member of the Arboretum Foundation and a key figure in the creation of the Arboretum. Bathrooms located right outside the main entrance. It depends on what you want to see. Read our. Washington Park Arboretum contains one of the most diverse and important plant collections in North America displayed among 230 acres of woodlands, wetlands, gardens, and walking trails. Washington Park Arboretum The Azalea Way walk near the Graham Visitor Center at the Washington Park Arboretum is lovely at all times of the year, but especially in early spring, when cherries, dogwoods and other trees are blooming. What restaurants are near Seattle Japanese Garden? Come with U.S. News on a tour of The Langham, Boston. Located in one corner of the Arboretum, although you do have to effectively come out of the Arboretum and cross a road to access the garden, and there is also an entrance fee - $10 or $6 for Seniors over 65. Audio tours are available for the Pacific Connections Garden which highlights iconic plants from five countries/regions connected by the Pacific Ocean: Australia, Cascadia, Chile, China, New Zealand. Absolutely stunning and totally free! Visit Our Blog. Which area is better within the park to watch the colors? Near UDub, Lake Washington, and the Montlake neighborhood. Half-Day Guided Tour of Seattle City and Snoqualmie Falls, Beneath The Streets Underground History Tour, Visit Snoqualmie Falls and Hike to Twin Falls, Best of Olympic National Park from Seattle: All-Inclusive Small-Group Day Tour, BEST Mount Rainier National Park Day Tour from Seattle. The 26 Best Fall Festivals in the U.S. for 2023 - U.S. News Travel Seattle, WA 98112 (Google Map), Classes and Programs The Graham Visitors Center has maps, restrooms, Arboretum Foundation offices, a gift shop and rental venue. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Admission is free, and the Arboretum is open from dawn until dusk every day of the year. Where and when to see cherry blossom trees - Greater Seattle on the Cheap Late May not the best time to visit. - Review of U.S. National Please drive very slowly are be aware of pedestrians, bicyclists and maintenance vehicles. Continue 0.6 miles and turn left onto E Foster Island Road. Tell us about your adventure in the comments. Seattle United States Washington The first sakura trees arrived at the Port of Seattle from Japan in the early 20th century. A StoryWalk was added to the Arboretum in 2020 through a partnership with Maple Valley Library. Continue approximately 0.4 miles and take the next left onto E Foster Island Road. It's pretty at any time of year but best in the spring. Beautiful Japanese Gardens located with Washington Park Arboretum. Set in a clearing surrounded by tall, native conifers, the garden features a range of woodland plants that peak in interest at a time of year when most gardens are dormant or subdued. We recommend you access the Arboretum using the historic Wilcox Bridge over Lake Washington Boulevard E at the end of E Lynn Street because there are currently no crosswalks across the Boulevardat the E Foster Island Road intersection. We visited on a Saturday in November and had a great time. Friday: Before 10 a.m. or after 9 p.m. Saturday: Before noon or after 7 p.m. "If you really want to beat the traffic, if you want to get to where you're going quicker and with less hassle, I would . Sherri Adams is a writer, photographer, and travel enthusiast from the Pacific Northwest. more. It is just ok, very small place so it will seem crowded. More than 70 Arboretum Foundation members joined us for our Annual Meeting & Picnic at the Graham Visitors Center on June 21 to hear about our fiscal-year accomplishments, listen to updates from our UW and City partners, and participate in our Board of Directors On Mother's Day 2023, the Arboretum Foundation and UW Botanic Gardens launched a broad, state-funded survey to learn about the needs and preferences of our community regarding the future of the Washington Park Arboretum. Not seeing enough fall color? Make a trip to the Washington Park Arboretum. Washington Park Arboretum is renowned for many of its core collections, including azaleas, camellias, hybrid rhododendrons, Japanese maples, and mountain ash. Our Magnolia Collection is one of the best in North America. About 43.2 million people will travel by car, an increase of 2.4 percent over 2022 and 4 percent higher than in 2019, according to AAA. Many regard the arboretum as an ideal place to take a walk, though some note it can get crowded. Huge and beautiful, even in November. Just a short stroll from the Visitors Center, the Winter Garden is a must-see for all nature lovers. 1075 Lake Washington Blvd E, Seattle, WA 98112-3755, $$ - $$$ American Cafe Vegetarian Friendly, $$ - $$$ French European Vegetarian Friendly, $$ - $$$ Asian Thai Vegetarian Friendly, Points of Interest & Landmarks Observation Decks & Towers, This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Ask for the McGraw Street stop. Washington Park Arboretum - HelloTravel 100% of travelers recommend this experience. Plus one of those good tourist attractions, since it is free to enter. in 5 reviews trails aren't busy. Come with U.S. News on a tour of the XV Beacon Hotel in Boston. The Arboretums most iconic attraction, Azalea Way is a -mile-long, level promenade running through the heart of the Arboretum. Online Classes: Our adult education department is now offering classes online to facilitate learning at home. Visitors Center open limited hours. Lots of running/walking trails. We stopped in on a whim, not knowing what to expect. Beautiful, wooded, park-like setting. 206-685-8033 If you've never been to Washington, D.C. before, plan to spend some time along the Tidal Basin, an approximately 107-acre pond . The Japanese Garden, located at the south end of the Arboretum has an entrance fee and is managed by the City of Seattle. If youre used to large beautiful Japanese gardens like the one in Portland be for warned. Located in one corner of the Arboretum, although you do have to effectively come out of the Arboretum and cross a road to access the garden, and there is also an entrance fee - $10 or $6 for Seniors over 65. Graham visitors center and public rest room: 9:00 am 5:00 pm (Monday to Sunday, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day). Arboretum Drive E, one of two main roads inside the Arboretum, is bike-friendly. The Botanic Gardens is a unit inside the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences. The streets surrounding Pike Place Market are peppered with restaurants and coffee shops, and there's an information booth just west of the marketplace at First Avenue. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Metro bus routes 980, 43 and 48 run near the Arboretum. 2300 Arboretum Drive E Seattle, WA 98112 (Google Map), Classes and Programs How much time would it take to walk around the - Washington Park What attractions are near Seattle Japanese Garden? 97% of travelers recommend this experience. Homepage | Denver Botanic Gardens Opened to the public in 2018, the Arboretum Loop Trail is a two-mile, bike-and-pedestrian path offering a great venue for recreation in the City. Bus. I am sure if it was sunny we may have been able to find our way around better. However, there are delights to behold at all times of year, such as the . Center: 3501 NE 41st Street, Seattle, WA 98195, uwbg@uw.edu All 16 benches on the Arboretum Loop Trail are fully accessible. The on-site gift shop and visitor center have more limited hours, which are subject to change. Past travelers recommended visiting repeatedly throughout the year to appreciate the everchanging nature of the various trees and plants. OpenEvery day dawn to 8pm, free of charge. It is all very well kept and there are benches and seating everywhere for you to just sit and enjoy the scenery or to contemplate life. Answer 1 of 6: We will be in Seattle in mid-November and would like to visit Washington Park Arboretum and the Japanese Garden on a Sunday. Lake Wilderness Arboretum/Facebook