Reviews of The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of KY (Gardener)

Dan Patterson

Absolutely a wonderful place to learn about nature, from the native plants in Kentucky to the insects and the very interesting creatures that surround us. Great place to take the family!

Maribel Segura

Good place to walk in the woods!

Jacqueline Teachey

Beautiful, fun, well kept. Great for walking/running.

Josh Wilson

Nice quiet place for a walk or run. Beautiful scenery

Shruti Paranjape

The arboretum is a lovely sprawling open space. They've laid it out so that there are plenty of small forest paths, running tracks, picnic spots, benches and carefully manicured gardens and veggie patches. It's beautiful in the spring time and very easy to reach by road or otherwise.

anjana subramoniam

beautiful handout place from the busy roads. they have a good pathway which extends amidst the tall trees giving us the experience of walking in the . middle of forests./ parking is free here. so can cone whenever we need and be here as long as we like. its refreshing

Mae K.

BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL. Took my headshots there and they came out great on top of the beautiful scenery around me.

w r

Love love love this place. Great place to bring the family for pictures

Elizabeth R

A lovely free place to walk with (most of the time) available parking to enjoy being outside. There are paved walking loops, each maybe around a mile, with slight elevation. No bikes, but you'll always find runners, strollers, walkers, and dogs. There is also a children's garden for a fee, with events. The memorial sculpture is pretty and the gardens in the middle are educational and beautiful, particularly in some seasons.

Chris Hood

Great place to go for a walk. It's nice to see some of the native plants of Kentucky.

Dyanne Ransom

Kids garden was a fun morning! Super-cute area with lots of fun learning for the littles.

Nathan Nicholson

Very beautiful. Wow, I've been driving past the Arboretum for many years thinking it was something really small and not well kept. Visited last week and it's huge and so well done. Congratulations to the caretakers. The one caveat which was not a big one, is that the restrooms close fairly early I think it was 4:30. Just be aware.

Andrew McClellan

I went just as things were starting to warm up for a date. The trails are all vrry lovely even though some things hadn't been set up yet like fountains. The university has done a wonderful job creating a place were people of all ages can enjoy the outdoors in a safe environment

Nadia

Nice place to take a walk and see some plants/flowers.

George Gabehart

My wife and I enjoyed the experience. So many wonderful things to see. While we only spent a couple of hours, a family could make it into an all day event. If you love nature the many varied plants and flowers make for an experience you should not miss!

Garrett Carpenter

Very pretty park to stroll through. Lots of interesting art installations to admire, and enough trail to run or bike through. Definitely an enjoyable place to spend some time.

Lee Vormbrock

A wonderful park to walk around and just burn some energy in the outdoors. The memorial is a beautiful tribute to lost love ones. Big open spaces. Great for a day outside.

JKmanMike

Great spot in the middle of Lexington to walk around and see all the flowers and plants and the tribute to the flight that crashed years ago

Rebecca Withrow

Love, love, loveeeeee this hidden gem! If you're looking for beautiful scenery this is the place to go! Free parking, kid and pet friendly wonderful break from the stress of everyday life.

Harvey' Cloyd

My 40th birthday Pictures we Beautiful!! Thanks for the natural backdrops!!

Jackie Marker

Beautiful grounds for a walk and places to explore. Very well maintained. Love visiting.

Carmen Russell

The Children's Garden is where it's at! If you have kids it is worth the $3 a person.

Gary Bassler

Awesome place to get outside. I love to run there! Just the right amount of hills to push you a bit.

Stephen Buck

Love to walk here. The paths and trails are well marked and easy to traverse. Benches along the way so you can rest and relax. Great for dog walks and jogging too. One of the few paved paths that doesn't permit bicycles, just pedestrians.

Jennifer Erena

It’s nice to have a retreat so close to home. It evolves and changes and I discover something new with every visit.

LJ McCurry

Beautiful tulips in bloom, along with dogwoods, and many other flowering shrubs. Enjoyed our walk along the path. The only thing that kept this from being a 5-star rating is the fact that there were several places on the path blocked by standing water. Shouldn't be a problem if you go on a sunny day.

Alexis Ash

Beautiful outdoor gardens! Loved that we found a garden kitty while we strolled.

Beth H

Beautiful and educational. If you are a pokemon Go player, head out there for some great finds and lots of poke stops. The garden is so beautiful and well maintained. Highly recommend for leisure visit with the family.

Larry Farmer

A great place to go to walk your dog or go for a run.

Zachary Coleman

Very pretty park, lots of areas to explore.

Diana Ochala

Always something different in bloom each time you visit.Never disappoints.

Lisa Lemanski

Just an amazing area to relax and walk. Definitely worth going to see.

Natisha Parker

This is a beautiful park. Walking trails, flowers and water fountains. Wonderful spot for the kids.

Chevalier Seretto

Tours inside the Manor house and outbuildings were already closed for the season (though decorations could be seen on the doors and through the windows). Private Holiday photo sessions could also be arranged! But I was solo this visit, and strolling the grounds is encouraged so I did just that. The house itself is truly a wonder. What I thought was the front of it was actually the side. When I walked around to the left it was then that I noticed the majestic white columns and wide steps leading to the main doors. Everything one imagines when thinking of Southern Estates in bygone days. From the true ice house to the smoke house to the child sized replica of a log cabin, so much to see and photograph. I could imagine myself living there way back when.

Fabiana Kirtley

Great place to run and enjoy a nice sunny day!

Drew Byron Meadows

This is a gem in the Bluegrass. Really a nice place for a stroll or a run, very safe, and a great be place to take photos any time of year. Very impressive collection of native trees and a series of gardens that gets better each year. One of my favorite places to relax in Lexington.

Matt Housh

Great place to walk. See trees and plants.

Andrea Hauser

One of the most lovely places to visit in the Lexington area! Learning about plants, animals, and the regions of our area is so much fun here! There is something to look at around every corner, and every path you take is sure to make your trip delightful. They also have a children's garden, which is truly magical. Definitely a go to for a fun family outing, a walk with a couple of friends, or even alone. Plus, it's FREE! Visiting is a must!

Daniel Todd

The scenery was eclipsed by the company.

Dru Mendenhall

Great place for a peaceful walk or jog. The gardens and trees are beautiful.

jane vickers

While visiting friends in Lexington I enjoyed greatly the Botanical Gardens at the University of Kentucky. Spending a day there I went and took my friends back the next day. And have even visited a third time within a few months. Beautiful grounds with educational kiosks throughout the garden. A lovely place to spend the day. And it's free!

Christina Taylor

This place is amazing. Better toward the spring and fall but great place to walk. It's also a great place to take photos. You could take anything from wedding to graduation to family photos here. There is also a children's garden. I'm not sure on their exact hours but it's beautiful and fun as well. Love this place!

Eddie Walters

A gem throughout the year Nice walk at to exercise.A visitor center and several workshops! Fly kites or take a pinic or bring a blanket to enjoy the serenity of the park.

Irina Nesenchuk

Nice place to take a walk.

Melissa M.

Beautiful, and free just hard to park when there is a game at the university. On game days all the facilities are closed, childrens gardens, bathroom, welcome center, even the parking lot. But worth the trip back on a non game day.

Jennifer Petroske

Lots of plants and well maintained walking trails. I did visit during a drought and a lot of the plants were wilting. Will be making a return trip another time.

Keffie Lancaster

The Arboretum is absolutely gorgeous! I was there in April and it was perfect weather. We enjoyed a nice walk along the paths, were able to park easily in the paved parking lot, and found the visitors center to be very helpful and informative. They provided a map and brochure so we could plan our walk. There were lots of places to sit in the shade and the sun. It was well maintained and very clean. Lots of flowers starting to bloom too!

Sandy Carr

Great Park for children, adults and pets. Paved trails, children center open in warmer season.

Valdis Zeps

Great place for an easy saunter with many pastoral views and plentiful local bird varieties.

Michael Rundell

Great place for a walk or run. Lovely gardens and flowers and nice in the springtime especially. The trees are a nice museum of different arboreal regions of the state too, but this goes unnoticed by most visitors.

Ric Waldman

The best greenspace in central Kentucky

Robert Sails

Great place for a walk.

Jesse Smith

Awesome park by Kroger's field of the UK

Jennifer Henderson

I love running here. It's so peaceful and beautiful.

Debbie Copeland

It's a great place to walk

David Watkins

Its pretty and clean and green and really nice walking/ running paths

Dan Brandenburg

Always a great place to have lunch and work with my laptop...except in the winter time when the entire store is frigid LOL

Pam Sutton

It has been years since we visited and were delighted to see all the gardens and walking paths that have been added. There are sculptures, interesting plants with identification tags and the Flight 5191 Memorial sculpture and garden. Lots of people walking, jogging and pushing strollers. Dogs were all on leashes. Plenty of parking.

Jackie Wolgamott

Beautiful place for a walk, lots of different plants and art. Different paths to walk, longest is 2 miles.

Johnathan Spencer

It's where my beautiful girl has her daughter.

Bridgette H.

Such a nice and beautiful place to walk with my dog and enjoy nature.

Penni Sadler

Very beautiful and peaceful place to go and just gather your thoughts.

Bob Moore

Perfect refuge from the city, but still right in the middle of it. A great place to walk, run, or take your dog. Ample parking, too.

Jennifer Stanley

Gorgeous place to get outside and see all kinds of people doing their thing. It's also got useful information (like that my black walnut tree likely has Emerald Ash Borers). I wonder if their arborists make house calls?

anton vinogradov

Big and naturey. Bigger than you think, though not so big that you can get lost.

Eli Dreyer

Always a pretty place to go year-round. Very well maintained and a nice place to go to relax.

Amanda Harley

I have always loved going to the arboretum on weekend mornings. It's a great place to walk your dog or just to see the beautiful trees and plants.

mulume Henri

This place has a free parking, the entrance fee is decent, and kids enjoy every minute of every fun things. This place is more fun than you might think, for kids

Kathrine Hix

Such a wonderful place, we had a great time and will definitely take more walks here. Very relaxing, we might even take our dog for the trails!

Joel Cron

The only park in town with extensive trails for walking or running (no cycling). Good place for kids to run around and climb old tree trunks.

Stephanie Cunningham

I love the arboretum. It's so beautiful and quiet. We're fortunate to have this wonderful green oasis in the middle of Lexington.

Siraj Ramsey

A great place to enjoy the weather and scenery of Kentucky

Seth Parker

The gardens get more lovely with every year.

Samantha Warner

The variety of plants and flowers here is amazing! You can see so many different things in one place. The Story Walk was a hit with our 3 and 5 year old...Educational and kept their attention. They also loved climbing on the logs by the entrance. As a family of 5, this place was a win for everyone!

Jennifer Crawford

Wonderful place to walk and see different flowers plants and trees

Margot Capers

Beautiful public gardens and a great place to walk. The flowers are mostly at the front of the park and don't comprise a large part of the grounds. The rest is dedicated to the natural Flora of the area, and there are also small spaces devoted to Flora from different parts of the state. There is one concrete walking path around the park that is probably a little over a mile's walk. My favorite part is a woodsy area off to one side, where there are a few dirt trails you can walk when it's not muddy or icy. The aboretum is not filled with showy or exotic plants, but rather a place to enjoy nice weather, local Flora and an easy walk or picnic.

Kathy Roper

Childrens garden Is great for little ones. Elevated train tracks w/ 6 Thomas and friends trains, flowing stream, pond w/ fishing vessel, sand area, log house, water wheel, gardens and much more. Main park has paved running path, numerous flower gardens, herb garden, demonstration vege gardens, sculptures, fountains and much more.

Corey H

Very fun place to go for a walk or run. What made it better for me was that they have a kids section. Which is the only part of the park you have to pay for, but it's worth it. There are a lot of things they can play with and my son really enjoyed it.

Jereme Hiestand

The Arboretum is a fantastic 2 mile walking track (with a 1/2 way intersection) that is always well manicured and clean. The Children's Garden near the parking lot is a great place for kids to explore and learn about nature/gardening.

Maritah Brewer

I never fail to get a peaceful walk in here. Beautiful scenery even when the flowers have yet to bloom. Also, I see people come from all over so it's nice to know people respect nature this day and time.

Eric Martinez

The arboretum was absolutely beautiful when I went over this past summer. It was full of life in much more than just the plants there. People brought their kids, animals, there was even a little tiny birthday celebration held at a picnic table for these adorable little twin girls. All in all this place was very wholesome and it would be a wonderful place to take the whole family, and I would recommend you do so, without a doubt beats staying inside.

Arka Chattopadhyay

It is good but I was expecting more tree cover on the trails.

eskippathiki

Was a nice, after supper walking trip. Lots to see if you like nature!

Ace Fraley

It was rainy but always a treat to stop by. Even for a picnic in the car.

Jeremiah Allyn

Pretty place to walk or jog, especially in autumn. Trees are awesome to see and it feels nice outside. Happy Halloween!

Dawn Hoot

Nice peaceful easy walk on trail around it . In spring and summer the plants / flowers are beautiful!

Suzie Stammer

One of the best nature walks in the area. Walk through the woods and see some of the 100 year old plus trees. Great meditative opportunity.

Kristina Ennis

The Children's Garden was a great park to take a toddler to nine year old. My two year old granddaughter had a blast digging in the sand for fossils, splashing in the creek, story and craft time, pretending to fish, watching the trains, and pumping water for the garden. Bring a book and let your children spend a whole afternoon here... don't rush the fun!

Joe Lerza

Beautiful, peaceful, and a great place to get away from the rush of everyday life without having to travel. It's right on the UK campus.

Alison Pruitt

Great walking path. Really enjoyed my walk here.

Arlene Cooper

Very nice weather, enjoyed our visit even if there were several people there. Peaceful.

Zachary Nicholas

I love coming out here to walk with my daughter. Its a great place to go for a run, casual walk or bring the kids to play!

Brittany Jones

Beautiful place!

bethann stinnett

Beautiful place to walk in peace or with your friends or family. Always fun activities and well kept!

Chase Williams

Great place to go and relax or go for a run/walk. Kid friendly and if you like learning about plants this is the place for you.

Maddie Boyd

Visited for pokemon go, really enjoyed the scenery! Perfect for a nice brisk walk, walking with friends, and enjoying nature as well as artwork. Will return.

Todd Florence

Beautiful place for a walk or run. Pup and child friendly for sure.

John Dobson

Always a good place to visit.

Nolan Stephenson

Great for a scenic jog, and my forestry class that took place there was incredibly informative.

Jennifer Evans

Very beautiful, large area to enjoy the outdoors. Lovely landscaping, neat events, tons of space. A true gem of Kentucky.

Emily Simon

This is one of my favorite locations in Lexington. In the spring it is bursting with plant life. Flowers blooming and greenery everywhere. My kids love the Children's garden (which you do have to pay to get into) and the Storywalk (free as you walk through the arboretum grounds. I also use the paved walking trail for exercise. My mother loves to visit the gardens every time she comes to Lexington. Such a peaceful retreat from busy life.

Matthew Hubbard

It had been a while since I have last visited the Arboretum. And I love everything they've done with it. Good place to go take a walk. Will be back soon.

Heather McFarland

It's so peaceful here.

Cathy Hughes

Beautiful place to walk, hike and enjoy nature.

Missy Wiseman

Not a lot was in bloom yet, so 8f your looking to see more butterflies, I'd give it a few more weeks. It was my first time, I look forward to going back

Tyler Robertson

Beautiful place to walk and enjoy nature in the heart of Lexington!

Xoxo Jenny Rae

Good running place! Beautiful scenery :)

Zig Zeigler

It has been wonderful over the years to see the trees growing and maturing. It was always nice, it is now spectacular

Theresa Owens

It was very nice & serene.

Samantha Mullins

A beautiful walk. Well maintained, gorgeous scenery. Love the natural wildflowers growing all throughout.

Christian Ulrich

We recently explored the Arboretum. Overall the trails and paths are in great shape and provide a meandering experience. There were a few occasional joggers. I am not sure if bikes are allowed on all the paths. There were bike racks at the central area. There were whimsical educational signs for children along the paths. Educational signs explained the water and plant management efforts as well as geological info. There is a separate children's area but it was closed for renovations the day we were there. The visitor center has public restrooms. We did not tour the center though. Dogs are allowed on leash. There were several water fountains centrally located and there were large metal water bowls for the dogs. There is supposed to be an app to show the trails but it wasn't working. There were not any paper trail maps available. There are plenty of benches throughout, most of them were in shady areas. As far as vegetation/plant life it is seasonal of course and is cared for mostly by volunteers. We've been there in the past when it was fantastic. This day was mostly to provide our dog with a new adventure, so we were not focused on plant life. All in all the Arboretum is a great place to take an hour or two stroll. If the timing is right the plant life would be fantastic too.

Rhonda Spellman

Beautiful, very well maintained and endless gardens. We enjoyed our afternoon and will return the next time we're in Lexington, for sure. You can not possibly see everything in one day!

Rebecca Cornell

We enjoyed the variety of plants ; shrubs and flowers. We have been to.garden's all over the U.S. and these were some of t h e best.

Wintersun

Today was my first time here and it was very nice. Aside from the sounds of Lexington traffic, it was peaceful. As a bonus there was a kitty on the trail I got to pet.

Jason Dillon

It's amazing here. Great walking trails. So much diversity of plant life. And you can bring your dog.

Loppy Doodle

Great place for senior portraits!

LRJ

Beautiful "park".

Dawson Godby

Beautiful scenery, great family atmosphere, and perfect for running and walking

Andy Bachman

The arboretum was a great place to spend a few hours walking around and exploring rolling green hills, gardens, and woods. The park is very clean and there is plenty of space to feel seclusion if desired. There was surprising variety of trees, shrubs, and flowers. Also a great place for a picnic - highly recommend for a pleasant sunny day!!

Laura Reese

This is a beautiful place to walk, run, or just hang out as a family. The long paths are great for walking or running. The shorter paths are beautifully landscaped and have a cute walking storybook. We haven't tried the kids garden but I've heard it's great, and it keeps kids entertained for hours. The garden does have an entrance fee.

Dwan Warren- Hooten

Beautiful weather. Awesome environment. Wonderful place for children to be playful, explore and just be a kid in a safe environment.

Jennifer Cowan

Was nice. Think would be better to visit in spring or fall.

Megan Love

A free place to go walking, running or take your dog. They have an amazing kids garden with a lot of stuff to do for kids, but that cost money and is only open certain days , the only downfall.

Ben Atkinson

The herbs are fragrant and intersecting paths are cleverly designed. Relaxing stroll. Could use extra maintenance.

Michelle Ginn

A true treasure!

Rachel Dooley

I always love coming here. My kids love climbing on the logs and running through the gardens. It's always beautiful, well kept, and big enough to never feel crowded. The bathrooms were also very clean which I was not expecting. They've added some tables out near the logs which is nice for parents.

kj robbi

This is a lovely place. And the staff is very nice.

Margaret Nichols

There is much to praise in the Arboretum experience. Paths are well maintained, many trees and plants are identified, special gardens are beautifully planned, and the forested area is just large enough to allow an adventurous spirit in wanderers without actually getting lost. However, my one criticism of the Arboretum is a big one: The Children's Garden is accessible only to kids and families who can pay an admission fee or buy a membership; everything about this policy is wrong. Can the administrators not find a more equitable method of collecting revenue than barring certain people from certain areas?

Nicole Sand

I love, love, love the arboretum. It is always clean and feels safe to walk around. It gets busy in the evenings after work with lots of people out walking with their kids and people jogging and everyone just in general enjoying this wonderful and amazing green space in the middle of Lexington.

223 ABC

It is so rich with life and the walk is over a mile long. Right off campus.

Dorcas Gill

Just so peaceful. Great place to walk

Ehren Smith

Absolutely beautiful. Great place for educational family trips, vigorous runs, or slow casual strolls. Went here on a date and it was chill, inspiring, beautiful, and relaxing.

Rhonda Rapp

Beautiful place. Wish we were not planning our Hand Fasting ceremony in Feb. The gazebo would be a beautiful location.

Tom Clark

Lexington's natural park jewel. There to walk daily. Love it...

Sam Fraley

Loved this place very well taken care of

Glenn Lawrence

Nice quiet place. The plants in the gardens were well labeled, but not on the walking trails.

Jennifer Imnottellin

It looks well-maintained but we were disappointed that the Children's Garden is only open Thurs-Fri-Sat.

Felicia Profitt

Very beautiful place. Perfect for taking a nice stroll, jog or a family picnic.

Paula C. Frizzell

A favorite place to walk and enjoy the seasonal changes!

Ishan Gauli

A beautiful place to get away from the city and enjoy a stroll through a landscaping art work. The trees are planted according to the various landscape found in the regions in and around all of Kentucky state. Great place to walk or run around. Unfortunately, any sort of wheels including bikes and skateboards are prohibited. Also, a beautiful place to get engagement/wedding photos in the various flower gardens and architectural structures.

Rebecca Haynes

The UK Arboretum is a very good place for people of all ages to visit. The flowers are beautiful year round, there is a very nice children's garden only open during daytime hours, the restrooms outside are clean most of the time (some people are rough on them, especially on weekends). There are long paved running paths and offshoots that are mulched. There are not supposed to be bicycles on the paved paths. The paved paths are easy for strollers or wheel chairs, but the prettiest flowers are on a path with small gravel, so not as wheelchair friendly for those not strong enough to push easily.

Pedro Pereira

there are beautiful trails, in summer is an invitation for great walks, in winter a great place to exercise.

Twanjua Jones

The Arboretum is always a great place to walk, run or just think!

Michael Antonio

A very nice part of Lexington, nice and big for wandering. My favorite are the gardens. We have a nice long blooming season here and the gardeners have taken care to plant with that in mind. The whole park is very artistic as well. Very active.

Jen Shaffer

Beautiful walking seeing all the flowers and trees!

Jeremiah Wiley

This is one of my favorite outdoor spots to run, walk, or jog in Lexington. If you do the entire trail, I believe it is right around 2 miles. There is a lovely garden, plenty of local and regional plant life, and a children's garden, among other things.

Maria Alvarado

Always beautiful, lots of trails to take, and very clean facilities

Josh Elkins

Great place to walk the dog with my wife!!!! I love the trails through the wooded areas.

Skye O'Neill

Super awesome place. I recommend it to everyone. Nice place to enjoy a stroll and look at the flowers or take your dog and go for a run. The gardens are amazing and they put forth so much effort to make the place feel welcoming.

Shonda Lucas

Great place to enjoy a picnic and walk with the family. The children's garden is terrific, lots for budding gardeners to take in!

Erika Larson

The Arboretum includes a good urban trail system highlighting the variety of plants and trees that grow throughout the state. The topography and vegetation of various regions of Kentucky are featured on signs next to portions of the trail. The gently rolling paved trail accommodates people of all fitness levels and ages. The Arboretum features a children's garden that frequently offers activities usually at a minimal cost. It is a great place to spend time learning more about the state and staying active at the same time.

Roxanne Maclean

I love the arboretum where people from and animals get together it is a perfect place to enjoy nature

Valerie Caldwell

Long walking trails, beautiful gardens!!

Vince Mongiardo

Visited for my 1st grader's school field trip. Volunteers were awesome in leading the different activity stations set up for the kids. Everything was well-maintained, and a great experience for the students.

Richard McDonald

Lovely walks and gardens right in Lexington. Very grateful for it.

Sallyann Gullett

Wonderful smells coming from all the flowers blooming. The lady at the center was friendly and had lots of information about the Arboretum and the walking trails. I especially love the place in the photo below. It reminds me of Greece or Italy.

Tana

This place is gorgeous. One to see!

penn Jersey girl

Great place to walk around, visit nature, flowers.