Dow Gardens Reviews

We visited Dow Gardens as a side stop while on a road trip. It is well worth the visit, and we recommend walking shoes to cover the walkways and paths. The Gardens are much larger than we anticipated. We were there for approximately 2 hours.
We especially enjoyed the Canopy walk with it's glass platform. We want to bring our grandchildren back to see it.
The rose garden was spectacular! The Dow House was not open during our visit and we want to go back to see it. The visitor center has an interesting display about the history of the Dow Family.
The on-site restaurant had delicious sandwiches and is located in a good spot for viewing the Canopy structure.
We will definitely visit again!

This is a must see in Midland. I've been going there since I was a child; back then it was free. But it's worth every penny now to see the beauty of everything there.

There are wandering walks through a beautiful quiet garden with streams intersecting and wandering. It is well kept, you can walk on the grass and explore every part of the huge property. There special gardens like a secret garden, a greenhouse with orchids, and Japanese bridges over the stream. You could spend hours just wandering and could bring your lunch for a picnic. It is lovely. The Alden Dow house is an architectural gem.

This gem includes beautiful plants, interesting walkways, streams, ponds, flowers in generous profusion. There is a small waterfall and 2 areas which look to be wedding venues. I saw the trees ablaze in color but want to go back to see it in bloom.
There is a neat little museum with learning opportunities and a great staff.
What wowed me the most was the canopy walk. It is really really friendly for wheelchairs and walkers.
Go visit!

Walking through the Dow Gardens is well worth your time. It is beautiful, peaceful, engaging and now with the new addition of the canopy walk , a must see!!

A lovely experience in nature. The gardens are beautiful and the frog exhibit is really fun!! A must with young children as well as all ages. Just a fun time with mostly shaded gardens and take time to sit on the porch of the Dow home and just experience what they once did.

Whiting Forest and Dow Gardens was a nice day trip. The canopy walk is smaller than you'd imagine. You have to back track to get to each of the dead ends. Great views! Small glass walk out. Nice playground area for kids. Good coffee in the concession area. Dow gardens was beautiful. Free parking was a plus!

Beautiful place to take a early morning walk or late evening. Also did the canopy walk as well it’s worth the visit to say you have been there.

This place has always been here, they just put alot of money in it to the place for a more user friendly area and now has access to Dow Gardens, which wasn't available before. I was very disappointed when they clear cut the place of beautiful old hard woods to put up their canopy though.

This was a great trip out to enjoy the weather and the new park. The accessible trails made it easy for me to navigate in my wheelchair. The skywalk was a pretty cool experience. The worst part was parking, not very plentiful, not very many handicapped spots.

We have visited a number of gardens this summer, most of them in Michigan. This was the most lush and beautiful of the ones we visited. The staff was friendly. The gardens are laid out so that each is within easy walking distance from the other. Trees and flowers were labeled. There are nice restrooms in the entrance building. We were disappointed we did not have time to tour the home designed by Alden Dow. The admission charge was reasonable. If given the opportunity, we will go back.

We have been to Meijer Sculpture park and gardens in Grand Rapids and was wondering how Doe Gardens would compare. We were not disappointed. Beautiful grounds. The canopy walk is amazing both adults and children loved this. The only thing we were disappointed in was we could not tour The Pines Home. When I made the reservations there was no mention of this home. If in Midland this is a great place to take children and very reasonable priced

So glad I took the time to visit Dow Gardens! I looked it up and wasn't real impressed but visited anyway and was very happy I made that choice. Even in early October, it was beautiful. I'd love to see it when spring bulbs and summer blooms are showy. It's a place that you could spend an hour or a few hours enjoying. The $10 admission is quite reasonable in comparison to similar places I've visited. Admission also covers Whiting Forest that has a very cool (and accessible) "canopy walk." It was well worth the trip and the price. Midland is a beautiful small city and offers good dining and lodging choices.

The plants and flowers are great. The children area is very hands on! The store was great items to purchase.

Went to Dow gardens today had a great time there was a lovely walk through the woods and around the gardens where there was lots at plants and flowers there were some small lakes and a waterfall a nice way to get back to nature,then we took the walk up into the canopy of the trees a great day out.

My husband and I had a beautiful day in September to visit the gardens and the canopy walk. It was so peaceful and gorgeous and beautifully maintained!

I have heard about the Dow Gardens for years and finally had an opportunity to visit. I expected it to beore of a botanical garden but instead was more like a park. Well maintained but some ares so full of mosquitos had to hurry on. Maybe a rainy time occurred shortly before our visit? Expected more perenmials.
Map confusing.

Well worth $5.00. Beautiful and serene. We stopped early one morning and had the place to ourselves. Paved walkways with opportunities to go off onto mulched trails, climb over a few bridges, and up some steps. Flowers, trees, herbs, lake/ponds and water features, etc.. It had just rained before we toured and the mosquitoes were out (may want to use insect repellent). Free onsite parking, Unfortunately the 1400 foot canopy walk through the forest was not yet open (will open 10.7.18). A nice way to spend some time while in Midland.

I saw they had a canopy walk in the trees. I just had to see it. It was fun an very nice. Handicap Accessible too! The gardens were still beautiful an full of flowers an plants. There were all kinds of roses. The Children’s Garden was fantastic. Wonderful place to walk. There were two weddings an lots of students taking home coming photos. So we didn’t get to the Conservatory. Next time. Well worth a visit.

Great place for photos. We loved the origami sculptures - so colorful against the greens of spring. Nice gift shop, clean restrooms.

Families with kids: lots of kid friendly things to do from climbing the canopy to watering in the garden.
Accessibility: Most of the paths are paved and the canopy is wheelchair accessible.
Adults: Large variety of garden settings to admire and miles of trails to walk (some are not paved).
Highly recommend these gardens for all ages! Also, the glass art installations throughout were lovely.

The Dow gardens are huge...we were there several hours and didn't see all of it. We really enjoyed the new Canopy Walk in Whiting Forest. Plan to stop to rest at the Cafe...and other lovely vantages points!

Our family ages 24-50 spent a Saturday exploring like kids again! We haven't laughed that much in awhile! The rope bridge to the tree house was a hoot! I love the design, someone worked very hard on this project & it is appreciated!

Visit with family. The canopy walk is fantastic during the winter. I can only imagine what a place it is in warmer months. You have to experience it to really appreciate what a magical place this is. Well done!

Has to be placed on the top of your list of things to do in Midland if you enjoy flowers, beautiful gardens, streams and nature in general. There is something for everyone of any age here.

My husband and I arrived two hours before closing, and I was a bit concerned that there wouldn't be enough time for the visit to be thoroughly enjoyable. However, two hours was plenty of time to tour the grounds and see so much serenity and beauty. We didn't have time to visit the forest side of the gardens. If we lived near Midland, I would buy a season pass and spend a great deal of time here during every season.

They did a fantastic job with the canopy walk. When all of the projects they have planned are completed this will be even better but for now, it's a pretty quick stop. Admission gets you into the gardens as well which is much bigger so its definitely worth the visit. TIP - it's super popular right now with the grand opening so I recommend that you get there early!

My husband and I visited Whiting Forest on a rainy, cold day to avoid the crowds. It is not every day (ok - now that it's available, perhaps it will be every day!) that you are able to look at the world from the perspective of a squirrel or a bird in a tree. The only features of the walkway that aren't ADA accessible are the netting and the "pods." The architectural features themselves are works of art.

Bonuses - the additional ground trails, the kids playground (can't wait to come back in summer!) and the cafe with fireplace and comfy furniture.

Dow Gardens are always well-maintained and change with the four seasons. There is something in bloom somewhere to enjoy.

I felt underwhelmed. I was excepting colorful gardens and saw mostly green. I have also been to Meijer gardens and prefer it there.

Beautiful gardens including a children’s garden and playground. Great place to visit or spend the day. Can be visited in a couple hours

We purchased our tickets at the Dow Center. $10.00 Adult. Ticket allows admission to Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest. Clean restrooms at both sites. Center provides you with a map or download the interactive map on you phone. You can walk through the Dow Garden to the Whiting Forest or drive to that location. There is a smaller parking lot near the playground and cafe. Easy walkways throughout the parks including the tree canopy and wheelchair accessible.

This is a wonderful adventure particularly for young children. Gorgeous interactive water feature. Send rubber duckies down the river, climb giant rocks, swing, walk through the forest, or climb on the rope bridge in the tree tops. They also have nice seating for parents, coffee and pastries.

Within the Dow Gardens is located the home of the founder of the Dow Chemical Company. By calling ahead, and for an extra charge, you can make arrangements to tour this remarkable home of a remarkable family. Even though I grew up in Midland this was my first visit and I was very impressed. Our tour guide was excellent and she did not rush the tour, but took time to answer questions thoroughly. This tour is highly recommended.

Excellent accessible elevated walk with three branches over different parts of the forest--pine grove, pond and orchard. Guide Kyle was very informative.

The canopy walk is why we went. It was amazing. We did not have a lot of time but still ventured to the children's garden and it was amazing. We will definitely be back next summer to see the rest when we have more time. The lady at the desk said to plan on about 2.5 hours to see it all and I can see that being true. With little ones I would plan on more time as the playground by the canopy walk is amazing. Only bummer is no dogs allowed.

Whiting Forest is a close-by adjunct to Dow Gardens and the admission fee lets you into both. The new canopy walk has opened and it's a great trek up near the tops of the trees. Even folks who "hate heights" will be able to cope with this. It's a beautiful walk, both up on the canopy walk and down on the trails. Depending on energy level, it could be a half-day event, especially if the Gardens themselves are included. I went in beautiful October and am looking forward to visiting year-round.

This 50+ acre park composed of native trees, wetlands and Meadows, is a must visit when in Midland, Michigan. It is accessible to people of all abilities and has a canopy walk that is 40 feet above ground and is 1 1/2 miles long. This is a great place for people of all ages (it also has a playground and apple orchard) and a welcome relief on hot sunny days. There is also a café on premises that serves fresh delicious sandwiches, desserts and refreshments. The price of admission to Whiting Forest is only $20 for an annual pass or $10 for a one time visit (this is the adult price). Decide how much time you want to spend and don’t forget this forest is adjacent to the beautiful Dow Gardens.

We went on a Saturday morning beating the crowds which made for a peaceful walk through the property. Everyone who worked there was very polite and friendly, the cafe served good teas and coffees.
Our favorite parts were the canopy walk and children's gardens. The only thing I feel we missed out on was the tour of the The Pines house.
Plenty of bathrooms through out the grounds.

We visited the gardens and the forest.
Paradise on a sunny day.
Take your time. We were there about 3 hours and it was a leisurely visit.
There are many accessible paths, and off-the-beaten paths for the more adventurous.
Something to see wherever you look and go.
We got the annual pass- it was a good deal, since we don't live too far away and we are sure to go pass ($20 per adult).
What is great is that at different times of the year you will have different experiences.
Flowers and butterflies are bountiful right now.
There are plenty of benches to sit on, three welcome centers, one with a small but adequate snack shop. Get the honeybee hive latte.
Great signage to identify plants throughout. Hidden gems everywhere - streams, statues, bridges, pathways.
Great for any age, Great children's playground and flower/activity area.

The canopy walk is very cool, but very short. You can walk the entire thing in 5 minutes. More to do on it if you have children because of the climbing features. Trails below are nice.

I took my neofascist and nephew to the gardens to kill a bit of time, we spent three hours! The children’s garden was a blast! Lots for them to do! From bubbles, watering the gardens, building blocks, sweeping, all sorts of things! They loved it! We then ventured out into the rest of the gardens...they loved it! It was hot, but there was bathrooms and drinking fountains all over the place!

Take a stroll and enjoy the wonderful garden . Don't miss to take a look at the Dow house if you interested in architecture.

We had a great day discovering the delights of Whiting Forest's new canopy and Dow Gardens. The walks are wheelchair friendly. So much fun taking pictures and getting fresh air and exercise. Well worth the drive.

This is, obviously, limited to December evenings and is a must see to fire up your Christmas spirit. It was free, a beautifully lighted walk with carolers, reindeer, and hot cocoa and cookies about halfway through to warm up, with a conservatory filled with poinsettias and a brass band.

Overall this was a very neat attraction and I would recommend that people check it out.
PROS:
- The Canopy Walk is cool. One of the 3 ‘arms’ of the canopy take you up rather high and there is a small section of the flooring that is glass. It’s kind of freaky to stand on the glass 40 feet above the ground.
- There is a rather large playground area that has a small rock climb wall, a tree house, a swing set, several slides and more. My 5-year-old daughter enjoyed the playground.
- The price is right! $5 per adult to go to all of the buildings and attractions.
CONS:
- It was very Crowded (peak fall colors)
- Because the canopy walk has three arms and there is only one entrance/exit, it can get crowded very fast.
- If you enter through the café, it is very confusing. There was no clear signage instructing you where to go to pay admission. There was a long line at the café where people were ordering coffee and snacks. My wife and I inadvertently walked into the ‘attraction’ without paying. While walking to the canopy we did see a small sign that mention “admission required past this point”. We went back to the café and one of the baristas told us to pay for admission at the café. We had to wait almost an hour behind people ordering coffee, muffins and other café snacks just to pay for admission to the canopy. Not fun. They need a separate line for admission that is clearly marked as such. The café should be separate.

Simply beautiful and simply wonderful well maintained the people was so helpful and so peaceful and quiet

The tree-top walk through the forest gave us a new perspective of the park. The path is very well marked and kept. It made for a very pleasant morning.

I recommend this place for everyone . Beautiful and well maintained grounds. Lots to see and explore. Even has a kids playground and cafe'.

We absolutely loved the gardens!! We spent the better part of the morning and afternoon walking the gardens. Please give yourself 2-4 hour just to leisurely walk the grounds. Take note that at the need of some of the mulch trails are nice little surprises at the end.

Went for the canopy walk, but thoroughly enjoyed the whole garden area. This was a great discovery. We started with the canopy walk, then walked around the pond and the children's playground. As we ventured we passed through rose gardens and plants that were all labeled. Next we went to the color garden that had lots of scarecrows and vegetable gardens, splash pad, bubbles, interesting bridges, and more. As we walked around there was a special origami sculptures throughout with explanations of their meanings and artist's intent. It was a beautiful and colorful day.

Midland is in general a sad little company town. There are several bright spots and Dow Gardens is one of the brightest. Beautifully maintained grounds with a variety of great photo spots. Summer, Fall, and around Christmas when they hold an evening walk with many illuminated areas, are the best times to go. Thank you always, Dow family.

Great place to stroll through a beautiful garden showcasing a multitude of plant life. Numerous trails provide ample walking to enjoy this wonderful garden. Nice welcome center at the start.

I've been wanting to visit Dow gardens, since I read about it a couple of years ago. When I found out they had a Night of Color and Light for a few weekends, I decided now is the perfect time to visit. They have a special exhibit of glass sculptures, which they were lighting up at night. The glass sculptures were beautiful alone, but seeing them lit up at night was even better. We ended up going back to the gardens the next day, to see the rest of the place, as you only see a portion of it, during the night exhibit. We ended up spending another 4 hours there wandering around. There's so much to see. So many off the path things to see. Don't just walk along the paved pathways, or you'll miss a lot. Another thing that impressed me was the reflections in the ponds. Especially in the Whiting Forest area.

Do keep one thing in mind, there's nowhere to buy a meal in the gardens. There's a cafe in the Whiting Forest that serves drinks, ice cream and I think some pastries, but that's it. We ended up leaving to get lunch and coming back. We were allowed to re-enter, with our paid admission receipt.

This is a must see. Beautiful spot. Canopy walk is very well done. Nice attention to detail in the experience. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

You should go for the peace, beauty and joy of it! I loved the use of origami shapes to compliment the gardens. The grass was greener than I think I’ve ever seen. What beauty!

The canopy walk is a wonderful way to enjoy the Whiting Forest. We picked a beautiful fall day with colors showing off. The canopy is a top notch structure put together with great planning. Great for all ages.

Plan on spending a few hours at these beautiful gardens. Clearly marked pathways and well groomed gardens. Because there are plenty of perennials, one could easily visit a few times a year to see all of them. Also, be sure to visit the canopy walkway, included in the admission price.

Absolutely love the Gardens. We've been going 4-5 times per year since we moved to Midland in 2008. In fact, the best deal going is to buy an annual pass for just $10.00! It is well maintained, very large, and I'm still finding areas I haven't explored before. You simply can't miss these gardens!

Raised walkways close to the Dow Gardens. These give you a unique perspective to the beauty of the forest. Children especially seem to like the walkways and ropes they can climb up onto. Accessible for people in wheelchairs or with walkers. This venue is included in you admission price to the Dow Gardens.

Beautiful place to visit would like to visit again during the summer when the roses are blooming. Loved the painted mail boxes.

This is a fairly new attraction at The Dow Gardens. It’s is an easy to manage walk surrounded by the beautiful forest from many different angles.

The canopy walk though short, is a lot of fun for the whole family. The grounds are covered with flowers, trees, plants around with a natural forest setting.

If ever in Midland area of mid-Michigan, a stop at the Dow Gardens is a must due to how absolutely gorgeous the gardens are. The floral displays are stunning & the scarecrows are beyond creative in the children's garden. The fact that Whiting Forest is also a part of this is a nice touch as well since there are some unique things in that piece of the arboretum. This is a place I'd absolutely go back to again if I'm ever back in that part of Michigan.

It is interesting, that under type of visit we don’t have the option of just family. It’s either family with teenagers or families with small children. Well we were a family with an elderly and infirm parent. There you go. Not sure why Tripadvisor tends to ignore that demographic.

Anyway, we took my mother-in-law there in a wheelchair. The whole place is very accessible and very well laid out. The canopy walk is short but beautiful. It’s also accessible for wheelchair. There are even facilities there, I don’t know much about them. The garden itself is very pretty, it’s very well done, not as spectacular or glamorous as many other famous gardens such as Longwood or the maine coastal garden, but it is no slouch.If you like gardens and you’re in the area it is definitely worth the stop. Very pleasant help, plenty of parking.

Big place. Lotsa nook and cranny trails to discover. Quiet. Peaceful. Clean. Well kept.
Beautiful place to walk and enjoy the outdoors. Some beautiful flowers in places throughout the gardens.

Mostly shady areas in the main part.
Children’s area is more open and sunnier.
Children’s area has some unique and fun things.

Also includes admission to Whiting Forest’s canopy walk. A yearly admission card is very reasonable and a great gift idea for residents.

This is a wonderful outdoor activity on a beautiful day. So many colorful gardens to explore; some with familiar flowers and others with new varieties. It is okay to go off the pathways onto the grassy areas to go explore! Be sure to make your way to the Yew Maze! So much fun!

My wife and I enjoyed the trails and paths on a weekend day. Best deal is the year-round pass. The maps point out important features as well as "hidden" paths. Great for children to discover flowers, wildlife, and other natural features. I am sure our visits in the future will include spring and summer seasons. We also visited Whiting Forest and its canopy walk. Great idea of viewing the grounds from 40 feet above the surface. It does get congested on certain sections of the canopy walk, but the views of the pond and the trees is worth it. There is a small snack bar and a playground for the children. Plan to spend half a day to see everything.

Visited the gardens yesterday and the gardens are very nice.
We should have visited before the flowers had died.
It would have been spectacular withe the flowers in bloom.

This is a very beautiful place There is so much to see and do here you can come multiple days see and do something different.

This is an amazing place! Beautiful, Creative, interactive experience in nature.
We went with friends with children and all enjoyed themselves. Walking up at tree level gave a new perspective in nature trail walking. Minimal entrance fee and reservations needed on weekends. Will definitely go back!

This place is an affordable, great day trip. We drove 1.5hrs to spend the day there. There is plenty to do for all ages, if you enjoy the outdoors.

I recommend brining a small stroller for littles, or children who can’t walk long distances. This place is also wheelchair friendly, I noticed.

They have a great sandwich/coffee/ Ice Cream shop, located by the children’s play area. Huge sandwiches for $6. The ice cream is delicious as well.

The grounds are well maintained, beautiful, and tranquil. I spent 5hrs here with a toddler and young child. Highly recommend.

Great day trip from Frankenmuth! It was drizzly and cloudy but these gardens were still attractive. They also have the Canopy Garden open which allows a nice overview of the forest area.

The walk is as beautiful as any forest with the advantage of being almost right downtown. The canopy walk is very nice and should be wonderful when fully completed. The only disappointing art was the glass canopy section which is about the size of a small closet. The price is great, 10 dollars gets you a year pass to the forest and Midland gardens. Take the whole family and enjoy a beautiful day!

We loved our visit to Dow Gardens. It helped that we were there on an amazing late summer day -- sunshine, slight breeze, blue skies. Our two favorite areas were the Whiting Forest Canopy Walk (permanent) and the Craig Mitchell Smith glass display (temporary through 10/15/21).

My husband and I love to hike trails and enjoy the outdoors. When we arrived at Dow Gardens we were greeted by a lovely woman named Sandy on a golf cart that could tell by our faces that we were first timers. She encouraged us to enjoy the gardens, get off the paved trails, walk on the grass, walk on the mulch trails and treat it as our home. We are thankful we met her and took her advice every time we came across a path off the pavement. We were also lucky to be there during David Rogers' Big Bugs display. They were so cool! The gardens are healthy, well manicured and beautiful. There is interesting artwork throughout the gardens. The Pines historic home is awesome and we got to sit on the back patio and enjoy the surroundings. The Whiting Forest was one of the most enjoyable places to take in the surroundings and sit in solace at the side of one of the ponds. We had a snack at the Cafe and prices were extremely reasonable and the food was great. We will definitely be back to enjoy this beautiful space!

This place was phenomenal and worth the long drive.. I was a bit disappointed there weren't more flowers and the signage needs to be revisited. Although encouraged to go off the paved paths, it was easy to get "lost" when we did. Lots of walking and re-tracing of steps.

I buy the yearly pass to enjoy the Gardens all year round. I bring everyone in my family here. It is so lovely. People come here to do Senior pics, Homecoming, Prom & even weddings! Gorgeous grounds!

I've been living for 4 years in Michigan and just heard recently about the Dow Gardens. We therefore decided to go have a look and we loved it. The gardens and pretty big and awesome for a family or couples day.
The tree colors are just amazing right now. Go see it!

Visiting from Philadelphia where we have wonderful public gardens, so thus my 3 star rating. It is one of the few things to do in Midland and it is affordable to visit. You can do the whole garden in an hour if you want. Previously I visited the Butterfly Exhibit, that would get 5 stars.

We love to do interesting walks when we camp, so Whiting Forest/Dow Gardens was the perfect quick stop on a Saturday. Despite impending storms, we took to the trails and wound our way through parkland and gardens anticipating the longest canary walk in the US. Keeping our eyes on the closest buildings in case we had to dash in from the rain, we explored and took pictures, climbed, and peered over the edges of the architecturally pleasing walkway to the ponds, gardens, and forest floor below. This is a must see for Michiganders and tourists. You can spend an hour or a whole day. Can’t wait to go back!

Beautiful Gardens in the middle of MIldand, MI. Nice way to sped a couple of hours if you are in town.

Very nice walking trails, Very affordable. Spend about two hours and walk the colorful trails. Great for kids. Take water and stroller and let them run.

What a beautiful place to spend an afternoon. Enjoyed how quiet and peaceful it is. The wife was able to capture some stunning photos. If you are anywhere near Midland it is a must see

Flowers were beautiful. Very hot evening for walking.Nice trails with lovely scenery. I Will be going there many more days in the future.

We went specifically for the Canopy Walk and it is amazing. Our grandkids loved it and did not want to leave. It is first class all the way. Also there is a Soup and Salad snack shop that has some wonderful tasting soups.

This is a great place to see the beautiful grounds of flowers, shrubs, trees and ponds in a peaceful setting. Easy access with paved walkways. Every season is a feast for the eyes in the beauty of nature. Family oriented for the young & seniors. There is also a canopy walk that is one of the largest in the country.

This is a great place to take a relaxing walk through the woods. The now completed first phase of the canopy walk revitalizes the park and gives the visitor a whole new perspective. The park is more kid-friendly now and we certainly need to get the kids off the electronic devices and outdoors. A place I never tire of as it is a place I can forget the problems of the world.

Gorgeous place to take pictures. Lots of activities through the year. Nice place to unwind, take a stroll and listen to the waterfalls, or the just to sit under the tree and read a book.

This 110 acre garden has more variety and interesting displays than most gardens its size. I'm fortunate to live in the neighborhood and am never bored when I take a walk in Dow Gardens. The color ways and the presentation styles are always changing. The staff is friendly and does a marvelous job.

this was avery nice scenic garden for an afternoon walk. not as large as Meijer Garden but a nice change.

You should tour the Alden B. Dow House first. It's extraordinary. The gardens are equally so. Take a long stroll around this extensive landscape and be amazed

This is with Dow Gardens and is included in the admission ($10 for both Dow and Whiting). The Canopy Walk is an elevated walk that is, amazingly, accessible to wheelchairs. The views are great and there are some little unexpected extras to the walk. There's a glass floor at the end a walkway and there's a rope bridge at another point. It was worth the

Visit here lots, the children's garden is exceptional with a place to make bubbles and plants are labeled so you can teach while enjoying it. I highly recommend a visit or two,three or more. The garden paths meander all over & flower displays change & they have different exhibits. Guaranteed to please you!!

Great place to spend an afternoon, the garden is beautiful, the canopy walk is fun, all for $10 per person. Wish there was more net canopy but that's just my preference.

Beautiful gardens. Well worth the visit. We liked it better than Hidden Lake Gardens smaller & more doable in a couple hour trip

so much to see, new art each season outdoor concerts, Butterflies in bloom, and now Whiting Forest is included! Allow some time bring a camera!

If you are looking for an amazing walk through one of the most beautiful parks in Michigan, maybe the U.S., make the drive to Midland, MI. This picturesque garden has something for everyone who loves the outdoors. Beautiful plants and flowers, well maintained grounds and gorgeous wildlife. Plus a military discount. Stop in and check it out.

What a fun little walk. As a part of the Dow Gardens is the Canopy Walk. I was prepared to be unimpressed. It felt more of a 'tourist attraction' than something more substantive and enjoyable.

Boy was I wrong. This is such a great addition to the Gardens. First, you get a 'birds eye' view of the forest and ground. Then there are a number of challenges - rope bridges and birds nest climbs.

We had a great time.

Take a nice stroll through beautiful gardens on a beautiful day! Don't Fogel to see the butterfly house too!

Next door to Dow Gardens, this handicapped-accessible walk is easy for all and provides a unique perspective on the surrounding forest and landscape. Easy and fun for all. Parents with small children have a well laid-out playground that overlaps with the canopy walk and lets the little ones run around in a safe, fenced environment. A cafe on the grounds serves a fairly limited menu of soups, salads, pastries and espresso drinks at reasonable prices. Comfortable indoor and outdoor seating. We didn't make it to the Gardens which are a separate admission, but plan to go back soon.

While visiting in Midland we stopped by Dow Gardens to see the Butterflies in Bloom exhibit. The walk to the exhibit building was a bit long, but the grounds (even in late winter) were pretty. The butterflies were gorgeous. We were glad we took the time to visit.

October 12. The beginning of fall colors. Traversed the newly completed Canopy Walk, an elevated walkway through the treetops. A delight for adults and children alike. Interactive pod stations. Overlooks. Beautiful scenery. Peaceful trails. Playground. A wonderful family experience. Allot 2-3 hours, depending on whether you also take in the gardens, education center, classroom, etc.

Beautiful. They had luminary’s all along the pathways and Christmas lights on bushes and trees.
Walking in the gardens is always wonderful. Now you can go from Dow gardens to Whiting forest by crossing the bridge that goes over the road that divides them. There is a lovely canopy walk in Whiting forest.

We live a few miles from Dow Gardens and usually visit it 3 or more times a summer. The gardens are kept by professionals and immaculate. Each year there is a slight difference from the previous year.

Beautiful gardens and gift shop. Easily navigated with wheelchairs and/strollers if needed on the paved walkways. Easily access to the canopy walk too. We were really impressed by the size and beauty. One of the staff was so energetic about making sure we found different "hidden gardens" by getting off the paved areas and exploring the nonpaved trails. We spent 3hrs today and feel there is probably things we have missed.

Spent the afternoon at Dow Gardens, drawn by the new Canopy Walk. Rose Garden alone is worth a trip to visit. The Streamwalk was super relaxing, and romantic. The Conservatory is small and has a small sampling of tropical plants, a bit disappointed here. There was so much to do and other scenic beauty outside though, that it didn’t detract from the experience. The still ponds with ferns, weeping and happy trees -of so many sorts! - enticed me a few times to join the serenity and speed - sit. The Children’s and Exploration Gardens burst with bright colors, invitations to touch and smell the plants - for me, one that smelled like popcorn, unforgettable. Playgrounds so pretty they were photo ops. Great way to spend 2 to 4 hours in Midland.

We visited with the butterflies multiple times, but even walking the grounds is an experience in itself! Highly recommended for families as there is always something to point out to little ones. (Wildlife, colors, and my toddler's personal favorite, the rocks 😂)

We spent 3.5 hours here and had a wonderful time! There are many different paths and areas to explore so you don't feel like you're on a prescribed route. It's exploring and every new turn reveals a point of interest, be it flowers, glass sculptures, water features or just a pleasing view of trees. We did not venture on to the elevated walkway but saw many others enjoying the thrill. There were places to take rest and sit at different points, which was nice. The cafe had more candy coffees than I'd ever seen but they were not allowing indoor seating and had run out of lunch options. The forest area was peaceful and cool. We also had a nice time visiting the gift shop before we left.

The grounds of Dow Gardens are just big enough to keep you interested without being so large that you get lost. There's something here for everyone - a nice romantic stroll for couples, a fun, educational outing for the kids, or just a walk through the gardens with your friends. Entry is cheap, and the grounds are beautiful all year round. Highly recommend spending an hour or two of your afternoon here if you're in the area!

I really enjoyed walking around capturing photos of everything I want to try adding to my garden at home.

Whiting Forest and Dow Gardens are connected.(park once and walk) Also ONE entrance fee!! Both areas are handicapped accessible ... which includes the canopy experience. There are sections for children to explore at both "attractions". The only downfall is that the parking lots are not huge .... but we didn't have an issue. We chose to drive from Whiting Forest to Dow Gardens because of the threat of a bad storm rolling in.

Spent a gorgeous afternoon strolling all the late season blooms. Loved the trails, ponds and bridges. The "mailbox" garden was my favorite...and impressed by the veggies etc in the children's area. A real deal for the $5 admission. Tried to get into the Dow house, but it was sold out .

It was cloudy and spitting rain, but it was my only day in town and I wanted to check out the new sky walk. The gardens were still beautiful and some fall flowers were still giving it's all.

When you're meandering through the Dow Gardens, curiosity draws you to that next surprise around the corner. Majestic pines. Colorful, gorgeous flowers blooming all spring & summer. Curving paths. Red bridges over streams and ponds. Sculptures that captivate your imagination... these are the memories that stay with you until that next visit. We never get tired of visiting the Dow Gardens!

Who would have thought all this beauty was hidden in Midland, Michigan? We were very pleased with the serenity and gorgeous garden. Only $5 to enter and you can rent a scooter to get around if walking is a problem for another $5. Great visit!

We love the history of this property as well as walking the unique paths and structures. Just walk and discover many different locations above the ground. The playground and cafe are both well done! Where else can you relax in the treetops?

We went to the Dow Gardens Christmas Walk. It was excellent. Beautiful candle lit paths. Wonderful performers: Delta Flute Choir, 2 different Brass groups... Nice greenhouse / conservatory with nice plants and lighting.

Wonderful place to walk and see all the beautiful flowers, handicapped accessible. Lots of walking but it's an easy walk with many places to sit. If you live close get the season pass for $10. It is also good when butterflies are there and Christmas decorations are up. And can be used over and over all year. You will want to visit several times a year.

Another reason to spend time in Midland. The Canopy feels like a mile long tree house in the sky, built amid towering pines. Ramp accessible. Easy trails loop around ponds in the woods, seating provided. Evening fire pit for s'mores. Large playground to let the kids run . Cafe with fireplace and indoor/outdoor seating. All next door to Dow Gardens and 5 minutes to downtown Midland main st.

Absolutely beautiful! I would recommend the annual pass to experience the gardens during all four seasons.

On a recent visit to the Dow Gardens we stopped at the main entrance and asked for information. Specifically my wife was interested in visiting the Canopy Walk and asked the person at the main entrance if there was a parking lot closer to this exhibit. She was informed that the lot outside the main entrance was the closest. After walking 20 minutes to the Canopy Walk she was dismayed to find that there were TWO parking lots right next to the exhibit. She was provided with inaccurate information that forced her to take a 20 minute walk when there were closer alternatives.

Beautiful park, serene and easy to walk through. Wheelchairs were free and paths were accessible. A lot of native plants and natural settings. It is a huge park so plan lots of walking!

This extensive park stands out for its bridges and elevated walkways, as well as the beautiful gardens, conservatory, and forested areas set among rolling topography. The park is on both sides of the road, with a lovely, curving pedestrian bridge. On the other side from the visitor center, enjoy the canopy walk high up in the trees, with impressive overlooks. Although we are typically good map readers, we found it difficult to navigate the park - the map doesn't seem to match what you see on the ground at times, and the signage is sometimes confusing as well. So, don't stress out - just wander around and enjoy the gardens!

Even though it was September, there were many blooms still there to see. It is a peaceful walk through their gardens even though it is off a main drag. There are things for the grand children to do (play ground, Children' garden) and many places to sit and enjoy the peaceful solitude around you!

Unfortunately I was in town on a very rainy day. It had stopped raining when I got there, but looked like it could start up again so I went through the grounds fairly quickly. I had already paid for a ticket online so it’s not something I could really skip. At least the place wasn't crowded! I think the gardens would have been much better had I gotten there before the flowers were damaged by heavy rain but there were still plenty of pretty flowers there. The glass sculptures were beautiful too. Definitely something to see.

Visited during prom season. Crowded with both area high schools and family members, but this is to be expected. Area grounds are well kept. Photo opportunities were too numerous to mention. Great place to revisit when not so busy.

This was my first visit so I wasn't sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised! My 4 year-old son was in all of his glory! The grounds are gorgeous and meticulously maintained. The canopy walk is very nice as well. But the kids playground was amazing! We were there for hours and even as a parent I didn't mind. The cafe was great and had awesome selections. I would highly recommend this to people of all ages!

The gardens are very well maintained and beautiful! Every section has a beautiful and unique offering including so many playful areas. Children love the gardens! My only concern was the lack of clear signage. The deeper you wander into the gardens and bridges, walkways, the easier it is to conclude that your way out is pretty obscure. It would be beneficial to have markings on the maps if not the intersections to indicate that the visitors center is “this way” or “that way”. I am certain we took a very circuitous route back to the center from the snack area.
Staff are constantly working yet they insure that visitors are welcome and motoring carts will remain in an intersection until pedestrians are through the area.
It is clear that families come here often and for good reason! Midland has many treasures in Dow legacies.

A really nice outdoor garden park. At $20 for each adult it's a bit pricey but the grounds are gorgeous and well maintained with a broad variety of trees, flowers and bushes. I'd rate it 5 stars for quality but the high price makes it a four star attraction. We didn't have time to see it all but will be back (in spite of the high price) to see all of it when we have more time.

The $20MM canopy walk has opened and this place is a great place to visit for something different to do. Lots of walking trails on the ground and 3 separate canopy walks above. Go in 2018 and you can get an annual membership to the forest and Dow Gardens for half price (only $10).

After the craziness of the Canopy Walk (Whiting Forest)..which is completely separate from the Gardens, we found that we had the Dow Gardens virtually to ourselves.
It is very lovely. We enjoyed walking through the various gardens. I wish the staff would put up better signs indicating the genus and species of trees, shrubs and plants. Some of the trees had small metal name plates on them but it entailed walking across the grass to go read them, and I've gone to too many botanical gardens..or any sort of garden...that forbids leaving the walkway or path. So, staff,please put larger signs on all of the beautiful trees so that older folks like me can read it from the walkway.

Honestly, the trees were the best part of it for me. I saw species I'd never seen before and most of them are not native to America. It was interesting to compare the various oaks and maples.
There was a spot where you could buy doughnuts and fresh apple cider. I skipped the doughnuts but oh my gosh, the cider was terrific.

It was a lovely respite from the crowds. I am betting that in the spring and early summer it is filled with flowers and bird song.

Parking was ample, and entry was only $5.00, and if you got your ticket at the Whiting Forest, it was honored here. I'm sure it's vice versa.

Definitely go.
Don't miss it!!

Whiting Forest is now home to the longest canopy walk in the US. Just opened in October 2018. Raised walkway with 3 spikes from a central point. Accessible to strollers and wheelchairs, although I assume most wheelchair users would have to have someone push them. Up to 40 feet high, passing through a wooded area but part accesses an open park area. Also a cafe, visitor center, classrooms, fabulous modern playground for the kids, paved and wood chip trails through the woods. Several ponds in the woods. Will be one of the top 3 destinations to visit in Midland now that its open. Perfect for relaxed family walks, a place to take your little kids to play or a quiet walk in the woods when its not too busy. Currently very crowded because its the hot new attraction. Suggest parking at the library and taking the pedestrian bridge to the visitor center. Costs $5 per person (kids are $1) for a one day visit, which includes Dow Gardens. $10 will get you an annual pass that has no limit on visits.

Did this tour in July and will return for other seasons. Very interesting and be sure to get off the path to explore. You can take your time and rest along the way in the many types of seating that is offered. Be sure to add the canopy walk to your tour as it is well engineered fun!

I loved the variety these gardens offer. The entire time I kept wishing my grandkids were with me. They would have loved the canopy and playscapes along with the beautiful gardens that were there?

I'ts a beautiful gardens. Nice to stroll around. Lots of activities all year long! Fun things offered for kids.

Really impressive grounds. Walk anywhere on the property lawns included. Very interesting sculptures by two artists collaborating to convert origami into various metal, some life-size, sculptures scattered throughout the gardens. only disappointment was we couldn't go in the original Dow family home on the property although the porch seating was nice.

Such beautiful woods carefully groomed with water features, bridges and whimsical frog statues. There is a fabulous garden with playground especially for children. It welcomes them to water the vegetable gardens and flowers. There is a $5 entry fee with children 5 and under free

Absolutely beautiful gardens to stroll through. Great kids activity area and they provide a lot of interesting things for you to do with your kids. My grandsons and I had a blast!

We visited the gardens after touring the Dow House and Studio. Nice gardens, with comfortable and gentle walkways for a nice stroll. Gardens border the House and Studio so if gives you a different view of the house from other angles.

wonderful garden! --the people who work there are friendly and helpful - the flowers are amazing and the kids LOVE exploring - mazes, bridges, stream, and going up on a fun canopy walk which includes hammocks up high and a glass platform 40' up in the air! We all picked something we wanted to see (there's a lot!) and had mini adventures within a big family adventure of exploration -- Dow Gardens is a true treasure.

Take advantage of the canopy walk as well they both come with your admission!pack a lunch you will want to stay!

This is really big--but really awesome. The canopy walk--the glass sculptor's---the children's garden--I could go on forever. It's only $10 to get in--could be much more. But unless your young and in good shape--it's so big your feet will be killing you.--We gave up on trying for 1 day and it's so cheap--we came back a second day.--Set up very well if your in a wheelchair.

Honestly the walk was easy and much shorter then I expected. I believe most people of any ages or ability would be able to handle the walk. The pictures pretty much speak for themselves. One great thing is this park connects Dow gardens so one price gets it all.

Very very cool. The rope suspension bridge to a wooden structure/hut was the highlight for my whole family. Also the climb-on netting was fun for my kids. The playground was second-to-none. I've never seen a playground that unique before, and kept to the natural theme with several water and rock areas. Really worth a day trip if you're from the metro-Detroit area, as we are.

I like Dow gardens , the flowers where very pretty, Me real like be up in trees the site up there is very beautiful up there . It some pretty here

They are nice outdoor place to visit. You can stroll through the garden and the woods for hours. Have a picnic there. There are children playing ground as well. The garden is so serene and peaceful.

Cannot describe this walk,.It is just fun and worth time when the weather is right. It is all outdoors.

New place to show a California visitor.
The weather was nice the place is always clean and welcoming. Love the updates from the last time I was there. We went from one end to the other. What a pleasant place to be with the flowers animals and each other.

Really enjoyed our visit. I am handicapped and in a scooter and was still able to see the majority of the gardens. We would definitely make a return visit.

This place is amazing. Love walking around the paths and we also visited the pines, the house of the dow. Loved it all. The café however needs to be updated with better service and more offerings.

This is a fun outdoor activity for the family of all ages. Easily accessible. The designed walkways are amazing. There is a rope bridge, a glass walk out area, tree house, canopy walk, and a large hammock area. There is also a playground area for kids.The area is connected to the Dow Gardens which are stunning.

The canopy is fun. I find this mostly for families but it was a fun girls morning out followed by the Alden Dow house tour (a can't be missed. A wedding in the Dow gardens on a chilly but sunny day was viewed during our walk.

I grew up in MI and never came to this garden until now, on a road trip 30 years later. These gardens are beautiful and so well maintained! Maybe I'm jaded having been to other gardens such as Butchart Gardens in Vancouver, Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, Seattle Japanese Garden, etc. but this place was a breath of fresh air-- it is not overrun with tourists and you can walk and picnic on the grass! : ) There were areas that we were the only people on the grounds.The bonus was we paid $7.00 for one adult ticket and 2 student tickets. This was the best value of our entire trip to Michigan. My teen boys also enjoyed the water fountain and bubble area in the kids play area. Who would have thought?! We stayed for 3 hours we loved it so much!

It was absolutely stunning, all of the colours were so bright and vibrant. This is one place I plan on going back to!!

This is a beautiful place to visit especially in the spring and summer. Butterfly is cool too. Good family place. Wonderful place for a walk.

Went here years ago with just my wife and found it kind of stuffy and boring. Now, I have little kids and I wasn’t expecting too much. However, it was a perfect fall day and my wife wanted to take pictures of the kids with the fall colors at their peak.

The improvements made to Dow Gardens have really been a game changer. Was really impressed with the canopy walk. Lots of fun to walk amongst the trees and it has a beautiful view of a small lake at one end. Even better for kids, is they have built a unique and fun playground next to the canopy walk.

Combine the canopy walk, kids playground, and a separate children’s garden area and this has become a fun place to take the kids. Reasonably priced. $10/adult, kids under 6 are free, and kids 6-17 are just $2.

If you park at the main Dow gardens entrance, it is about a 15-20 minute walk to the canopy area. There are two separate parking areas that are closer if you want to have a closer walk to the canopy walk.

Since moving to Midland, it’s has been one of the best place to relax and unwind whether on weekends or after work.
Also a great place for photos when it’s prom, wedding or anything other events.
I love this place.

Scenic walk around garden. Lots of different trees and flowers. Great place to take kids. Butterflies in March-April. Summer picnics and occasional movie night on Friday.

Wish we had a cooler day for all the walking but, the gardens and canopy bridge were fun to see. The gardens are very well cared for and plantings identified.

We expected to spend about an hour or so here, but wound up exploring for more than three. We visited in late summer but there were still tons of different plants in full flower. We lost count of the different garden areas - loved the herb garden and the gardens by the house. Lots of trails to wander along. Almost every plant and tree had identifying tags which was great if you're looking for ideas for your own gardens. We spent about two hours in the gardens before heading across the bridge to the Canopy Walk area. Also awesome.

Wonderful day, spent almost 4 hours onsite, walked about 4.5 miles.

We visited the Dow Gardens with family on a beautiful June day and had so much fun hiking through the grounds enjoying the gorgeous flowers in bloom. They were having a special “Ribit Exhibit”, and the kids had fun finding the frog statutes. And we enjoyed taking pictures with them. Highly recommend.

I live 100+ miles from Midland, but try to visit the garden at least annually. Lovingly maintained; charming and peaceful to visit.

With all the trees and the way it is built you really can cool down an off just walking out side .if you really want really cool down and off in side it was mid 60 Degrees is there art display was top notch In doors or, outdoors fun for all ages young and old every one in between to.

This is our first time visiting this location and it was very beautiful. From the canopy walk, walking trails, and the playground for the kiddos it was great. If you've never been here before you should go if you enjoy being outside. Such a great place to visit and get outdoors if you live in Midland or in town visiting!

This part didn't exist when I first came to the Dow Gardens in 1983. Walking through there is very pleasant. I wonder how it looks in Summer time, we were there on a cold winter day!

This garden and arboretum is great for all ages on 55 acres. There is a childrens garden flowing stream ponds, unique bridges, new animated unique copper frog display until July, 2018 a tropical house and history of the Herbert Dow family. You can also view the one of a kind Alden Dow designed home tour Herbert Dow( founder of DowChemical)and enter a tropical house garden which has a butterfly exhibit in early spring April.
A wonderful escape with giant mature pines and all species of trees some of which are from foreign lands and designed by Herbert Dow in its beginning. A real treat!

Lovely gardens to walk through. A leisurely trip highlighted by students in graduation gowns posing for their pictures or even a wedding taking place. So much to see.

We visited here the Sunday of Labor Day weekend as a stop-off during our drive from Toledo to Mackinaw City. We enjoyed strolling through the pretty grounds here; there are many flower beds and large evergreen and shade trees as well as water features. The grounds have paved level pathways. Although there is no Asian garden (my favorite) per se, there are lovely Asian-style plantings in one area. The origami sculptures on the grounds were interesting. The Children’s Garden here is quite beautiful, with large colorful blooms. Dow Gardens has its own parking lot, and it was easy to walk over to Whiting Forest (reviewed separately) from the Children’s Garden. They provide an excellent garden map. We spent a leisurely two hours here (plus one hour at Whiting Forest) and were glad we made the stop.

I came to catch the Origami in the Garden exhibit (nice) but came away more impressed with the gardens. It was a sunny, cool afternoon perfect for walking. You can choose paved pathways or the grass. There’s a nice blend of flowers and green space. If I lived near here I would definitely plan to take my walks here.

Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest is beautiful. We had a very tranquil day walking the length of the park and then some. We enjoyed seeing the different plants, flowers, and trees. The Canopy Walkway was also a treat to the flowers and trees from above. I enjoyed the Children's Garden tremendously. I learned a bit about some vegetables it may be easy to incorporate into my landscape and harvest for food - bonus! Highly recommend a visit to commune with nature and beauty for a few hours.

These are beautiful, well maintained gardens with a lovely stream and ponds. Paved walkway. Easy walking. Good for children/strollers. I believe wheelchairs are available on request. Usually has art and sculpture throughout the garden. Interactive children's garden is great with bubbles and water spray station. The rose garden is magnificent with a wide variety of blooms. Always peaceful. Wonderful way to spend a few hours. You will be able to see the HH Dow home as well as the Alden Dow home.

Visited in the fall of this year. We go here at least 3 or 4 times a year and it is always a pleasure. It is especially beautiful in the summer. It is worth your time to visit.. Sometimes they have all manor of butterflies and some birds in the glass house. In the fall they have cider and donuts along with music and heating areas. The Christmas walk is nice as well with the caroling and hot chocolate.

My partner and I love being outside and checking out the local sites. The Dow Gardens have scenic attractions and beautiful landscapes. Perfect for a photography lover, or a botany enthusiast. It is never too crowded, and an excellent destination for families, friends, and lovers.

If you are visiting Midland, walk through Dow garden, you won’t be disappointed. There is a lot to see, so plan for a couple enjoyable hours.

This is probably one of the most attractive gardens I have visited in the United States. It feels like no expense has been spared to create a beautiful place, not only with a fantastic collection of trees and plants in a manicured landscape, but also architectural features that are found throughout the garden. Even the bridges that connect the different parts of the garden are quite striking in their design. This is a very lovely, serene place where it would be ideal to relax under the shade of a tree and enjoy some wounderul examples of Nature's beauty.

First of all I had no idea I lived within an hour of this place! We came on memorial weekend (Sunday) arriving at about 1030. It was warm, overcast and very few people. It was beautiful & super clean. The canopy wall was very cool and the views were great. Throughout were beautiful plants and gardens. The cafe was cute and my 5 year old loved the little park. We walked for 3 1/2 hours covering as much ground as possible. There was plenty of birds, squirrels and chipmunks to be seen. It was a wonderful day! Highly recommend!

The Whiting Forest Canopy Walk is our family's newest favorite park to visit. Not only are the forest gardens beautiful, but the structure itself is so well constructed, and looks more like a piece of art than a raised sidewalk. A person really feels like they are floating through the forest as they walk along, especially on the clear glass view point. Incredible! Kids of all ages will love it!

Take a few hours and walk around the Whiting Forest and Dow Gardens. The raised platform offers a unique view of several habitats, including forest, swamp, pond, and orchards. For kids, and the young-at-heart, there are places to run, climb and explore. In addition to the raised walkway (30 minute walk) there are many trails through the woods, a children's playground area that offers a more organic play experience then a traditional swings, slides, and climber-style playground. Trails connect to the original Dow Gardens. The Cafe is clean and inviting, and is conveniently located next to the children’s playground area.

The flow of the grounds as you tour are pretty good. Was told to don't stay on the cement paths-wander about the wood chip paths, sit on the chairs on the porch of the Dows home.

Don't miss this relaxing and beautiful collection of the area's finest in shrubbery. Perfect in the spring and fall. Fun for all ages and all the family

Dow Gardens has continued to make their space less friendly to families with children. These choices seem intentional, which is fine. It's just no longer a fun or exciting place for us to visit, as most of their family offerings are rather boring. If you enjoy walking on sidewalks and looking at garden beds, this is a fantastic place for you. The walk to get to the children's garden isn't bad, but it only holds a child's attention for a short time. Additionally, on our last visit it was in disrepair and included a dead mouse on the play structure.

Went to the butterfly house and walked the beautiful grounds. Always fun to roam! Bring a snack and enjoy the spring flowers. The staff at the butterfly house is friendly and helpful

Spent a beautiful and fun day! The views from the canopy walk were amazing! This forest and Dow Gardens are a hidden gem in our already gorgeous state of Michigan!

Dow Gardens is a great place to take a relaxing walk. The entire place is well groomed and cared for. The flowers are beautiful. Be sure to take your camera!

I’ve gone here for several years with my now teenagers. Beautiful foliage, shady walking areas and a wonderful play area for small children with a water feature and seating for parents. Students and children were only 2$. Highly recommend for garden and nature lovers.

Be prepared fora lot of walking. Gardens are nicely kept. Dow home has very limited hours to visit. This is a great place for pictures. Canopy walk is cool with a glass platform, some rope bridges and the canopy walk. This is a great place, worth a visit!

Cost 10 dollars to get in. Walk a path there is a small waterfall not much to brag about. They had the origami and it was disappointing, small statues scattered around. A few flowers here and there. The rose garden would be nice if you can hit it just right, when we were there they were dead and falling off. The little stream was filled with alge and grass clipping, not pretty. Did not go to the canopy walk, that might be better. Overall just a nice park.

I have been in Midland the first time in 1983 and saw the Dow Garden then. A lot of change over the years. The Canopy Walk is a great addition to the Garden. Midland City can be proud of such a Garden in a mid-size town! Obviously, without the 'Dow Family' this would not be possible. I need to come back in summer time to enjoy the difference with everything blooming.

I frequent Dow Gardens almost weekly during the summer to walk but the winter is lovely too. I love the waterfall, the rose garden in the summer and the great paved walking paths. Perfect place for solace and photography! Don't miss the butterfly house open in March. They also have programs like Yoga in the Gardens and various art classes.

The Canopy Walk , part of the Whiting Forest, is espectacular! The Fall colors give a picture perfect background.

The walk is not long. Note that each segment offers something unique (a view of a lake, a net where kids can play, a transparent overlook, etc).

There is a cafe towards the end of the walk: good quality barista style coffee, and a few eating items. There is a fireplace inside with plenty of seating available. The tables outside are beautiful as well. Every single detail was carefully watched.

There is a 0.7 mile walk from the Dow Gardens to the Canopy area. If you’re going with someone who has difficulty walking, you can request a parking pass that allows you to park at the Education Center.

If you like fall colors: NOW is the time to go.

Thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Dow Botanical Gardens. As senior citizens, we appreciated the availability of the many benches throughout the gardens! We could walk awhile, then sit and admire the gardens more fully while catching our breath! At the entrance, summer flowers were in full & beautiful bloom. When we inquired about the display, we were told that the display changes according to the season - tulips, chrysanthemums, etc. One can easily spend an entire day walking through the gardens. Thank you to all who work tirelessly to keep the gardens looking beautiful.

I thought it would be a longer "stroll", very short, took about 20 minutes. BUT it is still pretty, they did a great job, and accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. They will still need a bit of assistance, as the grade is long but not too steep. At the rope walk to the tree stand I was standing by helping many of the spry folks get a leg up off the rope to the stand, it is a bit of a step up and the volunteer is at the wrong end for helping. We added the hike to the gardens and visited the gift shop to round out our visit. When the bridge to the gardens is open, it will make it less of a hike to enjoy both. But we loved the hike and the beautiful fall day to enjoy it!

We went to Whiting Forest for the first time to explore the new Skywalk with our 3 month old little girl. It was a nice day and we wanted an outside activity. $10 per adult with children 5 and under being free or you can get a yearly pass for $20 each. Admission also gives you access the the Down Gardens and a very large playland type place for younger children. We walked around for about an hour exploring the Skywalk. It was very neat. Unlike anything I have been to before. The craftsmanship and quality was top notch. I would say if your a family with children between the ages of 5 and 12 this is a must see place. You could easily spend half a day just exploring the Skywalk and enjoying the playland or maybe walking through the Gardens. They also have a cafe for refreshments right on site. A true hidden gem 💎 in our own Tri Cities. Dow has been a very successful company and in return has done so much for Midland and the surrounding areas. We are very lucky to have a company like Dow in our area that cares so much about giving back to the community. Me and my family will certainly return again to see what other sights they had to offer.

We canopy walk gave a different and enjoyable perspective of Whiting forest. The cafe has good hot chocolate as we warmed ourselves by the fire.

Always a beautiful, enjoyable visit! My husband and I have visited several times over the years and enjoy spending several hours here. I have gone at various times during the year and it is still a great visit even if things aren't in full bloom. We went to the children's garden section this time which we had skipped before and it may have been my favorite part! There are large sections of herbs and vegetables planted and they encourage you to take 2 ripe items per visit. Great way to get adults and kids excited about gardening. I am blown away by how beautiful vegetables can be. The forest section with the canopy walk is fun as well. And be sure to stop at the coffee shop on the forest side- they serve very tasty coffee beverages. The iced almond joy latte was a perfect accompaniment for a stroll through the woods.

Super place to visit! Kudos to the foundation for making this a truly handicap accessible place to visit! The grounds were magnificent, beautiful rose garden, and the above ground walkway truly inspiring! It's not often that a handicap person like myself can get around everywhere within a venue.

A great way to get out of the heat with lots of engineered surprises along the way! Loved it. A must do while in Midland! Great of all ages!

Dow Gardens change with the seasons. Always a treat to walk thru the gardens. Not to miss is Christmas carols by candlelight - usually 7-10 days before Christmas.
Butterfly garden is also a wonderful experience. Changes as the flowers and butterflies go thru their cycles. And, if you are willing to have a long stroll, the rise garden and the kids garden are both worth taking the longer route.

This is such a lovely garden. I cannot wait for the covered canopy to open up, what a wonderful addition to the gardens that is going to be!! ♥️

This canopy just opened recently. The Forest connects to Dow Gardens and one admission covers both. At just $10.00 an adult you get admission for one year! Can't beat that. Kids 5 and under are free and I think students were just $1.00. There was still plenty of color to see and what better place to see it than from the tree tops! There was one school group enjoying it today and a number of other people of all ages there, too. I don't care for heights, but this did not bother me to walk on. They had a nice playground that kids were enjoying. A lot of new trees were planted around the area and will really add to the beauty down the road. Go and enjoy the walk! You won't be disappointed!

Beautiful place for a leisurely stroll, especially when the weather is favorable. Not very crowded, Evan with three weddings and homecoming pictures being staged, it was not crowded at all. We visit i.e. dim the fall, so it must be spectacular when all the flowers are n bloom!

We live in Midland and do not get to the Gardens as often as we would like. It is always very beautiful and very well maintained.

On our visit this week, we took my wheelchair bound mother with us. There are concrete paths for wheelchairs but probably 50% of smaller areas, vistas are not accessible. We had hoped that they might have some of the balloon tire type chairs available but all they have are the flimsier sidewalk chairs. (A use for some of that grant money floating around Midland?) They do have golf cart tours available (max 8 people in a group) twice per day but they were booked. I do not know if the golf cart tours leave the concrete either.

Since the pandemic, access is limited from the Gardens to Whiting Forest to the overpass bridge near the Children’s garden. The bridge near the Grace A Dow Library is not open and this makes for a very very long hike back to your vehicle at the Gardens entrance. Tired children not in strollers would find the trek from Whiting’s beautiful play area back to the Gardens parking lot impossible.

Take advantage of the canopy walk as well they both come with your admission!pack a lunch you will want to stay! Great for kids of all ages and easily accessible for older visitors too

This is a beautiful place to visit. It does cot a fee but you can stay all day. There is a gift shop and rest stations. Also a cafe. I really enjoyed the Origami theme and Dow Gardens has a wonderful Christmas event also called "Candlelight walk" with Santa Clause and hot chocolate and cookies. Teenagers and children will love the canopy walk.

I visited the gardens in the fall, it was beautiful. It is a nice distance for walking and there are many different things to see along the way. Well worth the money, a must see if you like gardens.

I loved the Gardens! A lot of color even in the fall. So much to see. Accessible to all with the paved paths to walk or wheel. Such a great experience and a breathtaking getaway for ony $10.00. I wished I lived closer to be able to enjoy it every season.

Dow Gardens does a great job of having a different walk every time you go through the gardens....spring, Summer, fall and winter! No matter when you visit, take time to walk Dow Gardens

Delightful gardens with art exhibits. Whitley wood attached has a wonderful aerial tree walk. Easily walked by anyone. Including wheelchairs, it gives delightful perspectives

The gardens were quite beautiful. Lots of very mature trees with labels. The amount water and bridges were unique for a public garden. Lots of colorful annual beds. Not much done with perennials. As a master gardener I am always looking to be inspired on my visits to public gardens. I didn't take any new inspirations home, but did enjoy the setting. I wanted to see the Marshall Fredericks sculpture up close, but unfortunately there was a wedding taking place right in front of the sculpture.

We stopped here with friends after ice cream and it was such a relaxing place for a walk. We were there during the dr Seuss display which the kids loved. Love hat people can buy a place to grow things as well.

Nice place for walks, weather permitting. Natural surrounding. The canopy walk is amazing with the glass floor at heights, the rope walkway to a tree house and scenic view of the pond.

Cool concept of having a walkway high among the trees and having interesting ends of each walkway such as a glass walk out 60 feet above the ground, a rope jumping area above-the-ground, a rope bridge, and a overlook of the river all from the canopy walk, especially for children but adult find it very cool also and totally accessible for wheelchairs. It's all part of Dow Gardens, plus in the same area there's a visitor center with a great gift shop and an amphitheater where we listened to the Midland brass ensemble, kicking off their Upper Tour. The whole Dow Garden area is exceptionally beautiful with two large houses, one of the original Herbert Dow and the second of a son who was in association with Frank Lloyd Wright and an architect of notable standing, hence his house was built Frank Lloyd Wright esque, (for an additional price each and a pre-arranged tour time.)

Seasonal displays of flowering bushes and flowers are always arranged in nice patterns across the grounds. Walking paths give you a mix of hard surface and lawn / flagstones, flat or hilly, open or shaded. And for those who enjoy roses, there is a very nicely laid out rose garden near the children's area.
Don't miss the Christmas carols or the candlelight walk during December. It is mystical / magical when snow covers the grounds.

These gardens are stunning and have something for everybody. We visited do to the hype around the canopy walk. However, this is just one facet of these gardens. There are many different gardens to enjoy, children’s areas and playgrounds, the Dow homestead, the canopy walk, the forest trails, and an abundance of plants. Plenty of benches to sit on and enjoy the view and a cafe to get snacks at while there.

The canopy walk is an enjoyable work of creative engineering, easy to use by people of all ages, from toddlers to senior citizens. Features include a variety of photo ops and a fun rope walk experience ... for those adventuresome enough to give it a try. The ground-level walkway is paved with ground-up tires, making it very easy on the feet. There is also a nice play area for the little ones.

Whiting Forest includes a cafe, but a word of caution: It's great if all you want is a beverage and light snack, e.g., scone, muffin, bowl of soup, etc. If you're hungry enough for a real meal, plan to dine someplace else before or after your visit.

We had wanted to visit for a while and visited in March finally (just a week before the state shut down). So glad we were went there when we did. It was a little chilly, but we layered up and loved every bit of it. The butterfly room was open, the walks were pretty even without blooms, and my kids absolutely loved the playground and the bridges and treetop stuff. Will be planning a trip in the summer or fall when the colors are in full show off mode!

Stroll thru a well kept hilly garden. Accessible with strollers and wheelchairs. Lovely setting. One could spend quite a bit of time.

What a great day to visit the Dow Gardens! I recommend taking the gulf cart tour, you can still walk around after the tour or visit the house. We enjoyed the tour and learned all about different parts of the gardens and their history. A plus was the origami information the guide shared, all for 10.00

Great place to walk around and enjoy nature. Want to return in the snow and check it out. You can go at your own pace. Great place for kids

This was an outstanding stop on our trip. The ground are absolutely gorgeous. It's a great place to walk, too.
I think older kids would really enjoy it, too.

The Dow Gardens has a free Christmas walk that is very impressive. There were over 600 candle lanterns lighting the path that took you to see a school group singing, live reindeer, carolers outside the barn where they were offering cookies and hot cocoa, and a ukulele band in the conservatory with sing-along type songs. The gardens were pleasantly decorated and everyone was very nice.

This is a large outdoor facility with nice vistas, rolling meadows, and plenty of trees, flowers, and bushes including a historic mansion on the property. It was too early for all the spring flowers to appear but we did enjoy the colorful tulip gardens, rhododendrons, daffodils, etc. The place could benefit by providing good maps and directions to follow. It does appear to lack professionally run attraction made for visitors to enjoy.

Great for all ages and is handicapped accessible. Beautiful paved walkways or take to the grassy areas. People can picnic or just walk around enjoying nature and gardens at their finest. Admission is very inexpensive and yearly passes are available and good until December 31st.

Fun outdoor adventure for the whole family. Beautifully finished canopy walk with netted trampoline area, wooden playscapes that resemble nests and cushioned trails on the forest floor to explore the small woods of Whiting Forest. Connected to Dow Gardens, this is a great way to spend a day by yourself, with your significant other, or with kids of any age.

Went with my spouse after viewing broadcast by local tv station. Stood in line for long time for tickets. Observed persons enter forest without purchasing tickets. Crowded and overrated. Truly a disappointment

This is a well maintained park with mature varieties of many trees and plants as well as annual beds. Not so big that it takes over long to see. It has the tallest ginkgo tree I have ever seen. Very enjoyable for me as a gardener and lover of nature.

Located in the heart of Midland Michigan, there are plenty of trails to walk and events occurring to see during the year. The Butterfly house to the Christmas walk.

What a delightful walk through the park without any stones or mud on my shoes.
The elevation gives you a wonderful view as though you're in a tree fort. The architecture is wonderful with several modern like forts to stop and observe or take a "selfie". The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was that it is fairly busy, but that is because everyone else thinks it's cool too!

Loved the children gardens. Takes about 1.5 hrs to see everything. Great place for autumn walk. Cost $5 very reasonable. No food or restaurant. Dow houses - 3. Reminds you of frank Lloyd wright. Younger Dow studied under Wright

Hey this real cool ideal here going up tree's and walk around and see beauty of forest there little thing's for kid's to do and big kid's to. I was here was a great ideal but I can tell not doing here yet ,I will be back to see the what you doing. Staff was good and and learn from here.

I had only been to Dow Gardens in the fall, which is beautiful, but May is exquisite! The scent of the blooming trees and the colors of the tulips are breathtaking. What a lovely place to visit!

We heard about the Canopy Walk opening a few days beforehand, and just had to do it.
It was well worth the trip!
Entry fees were EXTREMELY reasonable, only $5.00 and you could stay there all day! We had some confusion, thinking that this Forest was part of the Dow Gardens. It is not, but that's okay. Save your receipt from entry and it will be honored for the Gardens.
We found the entry point very confusing. It was the closest building to the parking lot and there was a very long line. The sign alongside the line said it was where you could buy a coffee and snacks as well as entry tickets.
The line was incredibly long and extremely slow, and, we were sure, would have taken at least 45 minutes to get through. We didn't want coffee, just wanted to pay to get in.
I finally went up to one of the people filling coffee orders and asked if there was someone who would take our entry fee without having to wait for coffee? She said, we don't take the entry fee money, we're just filling coffee orders.

But that's what the sign indicated!!

The Official entry point was another half mile up the road. Alternately, you could walk to it through the property. I don't know why the management doesn't think that some folks are just going to skip paying the fee, I don't know, it would have been very easy.
We're honest, so we walked to the main building in order to pay our 5 bucks to get into the park despite the fact that we were already there and no one was checking.

This needs to be fixed. Either put up a sign saying Entry NEXT right turn, or make it so that the coffee and an entry ticket taker are separate and clearly defined.

But anyway, we were very, very pleased with the Canopy Walk. It was crazy busy, as it'd just opened like the day before. Even so, there was room for everyone. It is wheelchair accessible, too!
The Walk goes quite a ways in several directions, and come spring, you'll probably see nesting birds that you normally..or can't see from the ground.
It promises to be very rewarding.
Don't worry about being old. Despite my years, I did the kid's activities, to include the rope walk into what looks like a ribbed egg. It was fun.

Parking is very small, considering the popularity of the Walk, unless you go up to the main entry point. But it was free. Since we went in the wrong way, I can't speak to where to find it.
Bathrooms were plentiful and clean. No food or pets allowed.
The kids will really enjoy it...and so will you.

Even though it was terribly hot the day we visited, it was still beautiful here. Many different types of gardens, and pathways to walk through. We enjoyed all of them, it's very peaceful here. A couple different weddings were getting ready, it would be a great backdrop for an event like that. Next time I'm in the area, I will definitely visit here again. Wish it were closer to where I live.

Beautiful and well maintained garden. Enjoyable walk with many interesting species of plant. Signage is a little scarce so study the map at the beginning.

Strolling through the lush gardens and enjoying the vibrant blooms was incredibly relaxing. The architecture and sculptures dotted around added a unique touch to the natural beauty. It's a perfect spot for nature lovers and anyone looking to unwind amidst stunning landscapes. Can't wait to visit again during a different season to see how the gardens change!

While summer is the best time to come and see all the flowering plants, fall is also pretty with the trees changing colors. After visiting Whiting Forest and the canopy walk, we came here since the pass covered both places.

Not only the gardens themselves, but the overall landscaping of this place is just magical. "Secret" paths, multiple bridges, stepping stones, "natural" looking water features, and well thought-out views are abundant throughout. If you'd like a peaceful resting spot, be sure to stop by The Pines, take a sit in a rocking chair on the lovely porch, and just quietly watch the hummingbirds and butterflies feed on the nearby flowers. This year's art in the garden is a series of "origami" sculptures that are truly amazing. This is a wonderful place to visit for all ages.

Very well done gardens and canopy walk with many different interesting areas. Both the canopy and the gardens are completely wheelchair accessible. The canopy is ramped and the garden has wide paved walkways. There is beautiful and interesting glass artwork throughout the gardens, historic homes and a pretty stream. There are areas set up in the grass for one just to sit and enjoy the surroundings and a cafe. Priced very fair.

This is an amazing stop in Midland. Great for walking, spending time with kids and/or grandkids. A real gem!

My second visit. Fun for adults of any age and any range of physical capability to easily walk through the tree tops, and fun for the more energetic and active kids to run the nets, pods, and glass overlook. It's really fun that it's the longest canopy walk in the country, makes it even more special that everyone in the family can enjoy.

While visiting family in the area, one of my sisters took us to this park which was near her home. We started at the cafe which opened to the children's area; a great place for kids to climb on rocks and hop around in the water. Then we headed up the ramp. There is something exhilarating about an elevated walkway. We made sure to get to all of it which I recommend, including the glass floor. I had to convince my brain that it was safe to walk on. There are also a few rope courses that add to the challenge if you would like. You do need to be very mobile. I wouldn't recommend elderly with walkers or wheelchairs.

We visit from the Finger Lakes of Central New York yearly and DG has become our little respite when visiting Mother in the MediLodge. This time, because of heavy warm rains we literally seemed to have it as our very own Arboretum for the day. They even offered us day passes for the next day which we took advantage again for after church on Sunday. Gorgeous as always and we look forward to coming again to calm ourselves and see the varieties. Oh, and we love the family gardens seen near the children’s area.

Gorgeous, large gardens with so much to see and great activities for all ages. I took my daughter and her three friends there for her 18th birthday and we all had a blast. The canopy walk is an amazing experience and we appreciated the cafe for a brief mid-day rest and snack. There were so many sections to see and although we walked miles, I don't think we saw it all. I would love to return here and do it all again. Great gift shop, too.

The Dow Gardens are a must-see in Midland. The grounds are beautiful, well-kept, and designed for maximum floral enjoyment. Very peaceful walk, nature in all its glory, great break from a busy day.

We came to check out the new canopy walk and stayed to walk the gardens. Eventually the 2 will be linked but right now there are 2 separate entrances. There's not much in bloom right now besides mums but with a hint of fall color in the trees is was a great way to spend the day!

This attraction is relatively new. It is billed as the world's longest canopy walk. It is an elevated walkway built high into the trees. We went at a good time of year, leaf colors were in change and temperatures were cool - great Fall day in Michigan. Young children should really enjoy it.

I do NOT recommend it for wheelchair bound individuals as most of the walk requires uphill transportation.

Also, be cautious of the rope bridges; it took three (3) of us to rescue and extricate an older man who may have had emotional disabilities. He had fallen on the "V" bottom bridge and was unable to stand up. It took two (2) retired and one (1) active duty law enforcement officers to get the man upright and help him off of the bridge. No staff members were in the area.

Free parking and $5 dollar entry fee gives entrance to the canopy. If you purchase a $10 annual pass, you can enter everything: DOW GARDENS, MUSEUM, PLAYGROUND, etc.
Good value, especially if you are hoping to enjoy a relaxing day (as long as you do not have to rescue anybody from a rope bridge).

This is a staple in Midland. I can remember it used to be an apple orchard. What has been done is breath taking. A totally four seasons gem. Spring is marvelous with all the blooming, Summer is when all the flowers are at their height, Autumn bring out the brilliant Fall colors, Winter is the Christmas Walk. A lantern lit path to see the great Christmas decorations. Most high school seniors want their pictures done here. Also, prom and wedding pictures. No trip to Midland is complete without a visit to Dow Gardens.

This place is a gem that is not to be missed if you're anywhere in the area or even plan a day to intentionally visit. It takes about 3 good hours to go around the whole garden but if you stop at one of the many benches to just relax and take it all in, or lay around on the grass, have a picnic, etc., you can easily make it a full day. There is a conservatory, a barn, falls and so much more than just flowers and trees. Cost is only $5 or $1 for a student. A large art gallery is located right next door to the Gardens.

An annual pass dream. :) We have young kids and these gardens are beautiful year round! The annual is pass pays for itself over and over. Fantastic place for pictures and peace. There is a kids’ garden with fun things to do, trails to walk, ponds, a waterfall, you can have picnics, weddings, and events here. They display art pieces all around the walkways and have a unique gift shop. They have activities all year long as well. Spring- butterfly house is open, Summer- movies on the lawn, Fall- a Fall Walk, Winter- the Christmas Walk.

We visited here after strolling through Dow Gardens (reviewed separately). Although it has its own parking lot, it was easy to walk over from Dow’s Children’s Garden area. (They provide an excellent garden map.) We planned to have lunch at the cafe here and unfortunately found the cafe's offerings very limited (beverages, snacks, soup, small salads, etc., but no sandwiches or more filling food); bringing a picnic lunch is definitely a good idea if staying a while. The visitor’s center had a theater showing short videos about the garden’s history. Kids will love the large playground area here. We thought the canopy walk here was nice, but I wouldn’t say it affords views not available from the ground; kids will enjoy it, but we were underwhelmed. In all, we spent about an hour here (plus two hours at Dow Gardens).

Beautiful property. Many exotic and native plants. Very well maintained property. So many trails it would take time to explore them all. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes. This place is exactly what you would expect, beautiful grounds and perfectly maintained.

Just a fantastic place. Plan on doing a lot of walking as this is a very large establishment. It is well worth visiting every corner too. Wonderful landscaping. Another overlooked gem and worth driving a few hours to see.

Dow gardens is my all time favorite place to be in the summer! Such beautiful gardens,maze, fountains so much beauty you almost don't want to leave. I'll always return always enjoying the stunning nature. Highly recommend

Thoroughly enjoyed a lovely morning stroll in Dow Gardens. Beautifully landscaped, thoughtfully laid out. One caveat: some of the areas are unpaved, and, unprepared for that, we found our shoes soggy after an overnight rain. Not as grand as PA's Longwood or Montreal's Botanical Gardens, and the conservatory can definitely be skipped, but the Children's Garden is as perfect as any I have seen. When Whiting Woods opens this fall, the complex will be even more worth a visit. Great admission price, too! Next time I am in Midland, I will try to plan ahead to include a tour of the former Dow house, which is not open to the public as part of the general admission to the garden.

This is a special place located in Midland.
The canopy walk in the trees is fun and unique. There are also trails on the ground weaving through the forest. A peaceful walk. Whiting Forest is connected to Dow Gardens. Both are beautiful places and is worth the trip, or if passing the area you will not be disappointed if you stop. There is a herb garden that is a chef's dream, a secret garden, a maze, cool bridges to walk over, a conservatory, an apple orchard and a beautiful rose garden. The children's garden is unique. It is colorful and there are little signs..one telling the children to pick a vegtable to take home.

I know not many people will need this advise. However, we went to the gardens yesterday. They only have 2 handicapped parking spaces. They do offer a family bathroom, which is very nice .However, two parking places for handicapped people for the size of crowds they get is just not enough. When you park in a normal parking space, and there is a car next to you, it is almost impossible to get a wheelchair up to the car door to get someone in the chair. Having said that it is a beautiful place, wonderful flowers, well kept, quiet areas. Even though they were lots of people there it didn't seem crowded. Children's garden, even though we didn't have children with us was wonderful. So I do think it is really worth the visit, but the parking was an issue for us. Price is reasonable and they do have a nice gift shop. I mention the lack of handicapped parking to the gift shop clerk, and she said the parking lot is not my responsibility. OKAY!

Stopped on a Thursday towards the end of summer. Place was pretty quiet which was nice. We really enjoyed the canopy walk, stream walk, and the cafe. Great place to relax and enjoy the nature and view.

Visited the Gardens to experience the new platform walk. Viewed the playground of the gardens and was impressed.
The platform was OK but, very crowded. It was an elevated walk near the tree tops.

The Gardens are a legacy from the Dow family. They reside on the families' former home. They have done quite a job of creating an Oasis. The gardens wind through grassy knolls with all sorts of plants - both local and exotic. We were so surprised to find such extensive gardens is a small mid-Western town. Well worth the tour.

Dow Garden is a beautiful garden in michigan. Good for picnic, or just walking around. Every flower or tree is labeled. Highly recommend to see if you are around.
Admission fee is $5 for adults.

Awesome place to spend the afternoon. Definitely returning. Put on your walking shoes and make sure you track your steps. You can easily get those 10000 steps in while enjoying the beautiful grounds. We enjoyed God's creation - the flowers, plants, streams, landscaping, even ice cream. Make sure you take a water bottle, wear sun screen (if it's hot), have you sun glasses and a hat (to of course block the sun and look cute in). Oh, take plenty of pictures. The price is fair and we intend to return.

We came here do walk the canopy trail and it was beautiful; however, we did not have time to walk the other trails. I would suggest the annual pass. It was 10 dollars for adults and two for our kiddo. The annual pass is only $20. I wish we would have done that since we will be going back.

Well designed, amazing garden! The Whiting Forest (the best part of the garden) were very peaceful and awesome. The canopy walk offers another level of seeing the trees.

Gardens are always great to visit, and special events are sure to interest someone in your group, BUT the new SKY Walk is really a must see.

With seven kids from 10 mos. to 8 years the new Whiting Forest kept all of Em engaged for three hours! The adults lived it too! Bring a slim stroller or backpack type carrier for infants or toddlers-it's all accessible but sometimes maneuvering around the people is hard. That being said it was an awesome afternoon!

Dow Gardens is more than just a botanical garden; it's a testament to nature's beauty and a place of tranquility and inspiration. It's a true gem in Michigan, offering something for everyone. I highly recommend adding it to your itinerary if you're in the area. Wear comfortable shoes as you will need to do a lot of walking and allow at least two hours.

Whiting Forest, Dow Gardens and MCFTA are all connected and open with 1 admission fee of $10 or annual pass for $20. Such a wonderful serene place to visit. The canopy walk offers a cool walk in the trees during a hot day. Little children can play on the play ground of Whiting Forest and Dow Gardens while adults appreciate the beauty of nature and its abundance of flowers. All premises are very well kept. The house and garden of the founder of the Dow Chemical Co as well as his son architect and student of F.Lloyd Wright can also be visited for an additional fee.
At the café of WF you can have a coffee or soda and snack.
Put on your walking shoes as it is a long walk, but you can choose to walk only certain segments.
Enjoy !

Wonderful place to walk around and spend a day enjoying the beauty. A $5 entrance fee is well worth it. Take the afternoon and bathe in the beauty.

I think after all the hype, I expected more and maybe if I return in the summer, I will get a better perspective. We walked on every trail or sidewalk we could find and were done within 20 minutes. We explored it all and it is very nice, I just expected it to be bigger with more to explore. I would definitely return because I have the pass and can enter for free. To get more walking in, I would most likely walk over to Dow Gardens next time.

Our first visit to the Dow gardens and it was wonderful. Took my 15 month old grandson and daughter and enjoying walking very much. Paths are accessible for stroller or wheelchairs and everything was VERY clean. They have 2 play areas for the littles with lots of hands on activities. The cost is VERY reasonable $10 (adult) and $20 for an annual pass. We will be back

Family friendly and handicap accessable. The canapy walk offered stunning views. There was a cute cafe and a beautiful safe playground. My four year old granddaughter had a wonderful day. With one adult, one student and the grandbaby admission was only $6.00! It was well worth the two hour drive from Detroit to Midland.

Recommend purchasing the yearly pass. It is an inexpensive way to enjoy the changing beauty of the varying seasonal blooms.

The Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens has a fully handicap accessible walk that takes you up into the trees. It is a real work of art that ties the structure into its natural setting. One point overlooks the orchard, another has pods that are shaped like milkweeds, and there's a rope bridge going out to one of them. It's a very pleasant place for a stroll!

We visited Whiting Forest last weekend and, with the fall colors, it was well worth our visit! The canopy walk is easy to navigate and there are interesting stops along the way. We appreciated the timed tickets to control crowd sizes and it was inexpensive ($5 adults, $1 all students). We hope to return sometime to visit the Dow Gardens next door when things are in full bloom.

Went during the Christmas light walk. They have 2 walks - 1 with music and a silent one. The silent one was OK but like the one with music better. They had part of the walk closed down so that was kind of a bummer. But the lit paths were quite nice.

This was a lovely garden to walk through and even the pre-teens with us enjoyed it; the streams and frogs were a good distraction. Various plants in bloom in many colors were beautiful as were the variety of each species.

I have attended weddings here. We visit just to walk around. In the spring they have a butterfly house, which we really enjoy. Beautiful bridges and ponds. Great place for families and couples.

But that being said be aware of the coffee, the remodel is nice, but I had the worst cup of joe I have had since I retired, it literally made me shudder. You all remember that coffee left on the burner in the office, well that was what I was served on my last visit.
Enjoy all of the aspects of the site, but skip the coffee.

A nice, quiet place for walking, a picnic lunch, or reading a book. The gardens are beautiful and each time you an explore another area of the gardens. Always unique. Now you can also walk to Whiting Forest as part of your admission.

We walked the garden, but didn't know the history. There is a golf cart tour offered once a day at 10. We stood near the guide and her information was really interesting. I will go back to take the ride, just for the guide. We enjoyed our walk. I would have liked to tour the Dow house, but it wasn't open. Gardeners were very friendly and helped us when we were lost or wanted to know something. The Frog exhibit was on display. They were very cute, fun metal frogs in the gardens doing things like playing the guitar.

We came to town for the Balloon Festival and stumbled upon this place when there were no balloon activities. This place is amazing- my husband and I really enjoyed the variety of plants. The kids enjoyed the “Ribbit Exhibit” scavenger hunt which kept them moving. It felt very much like “The Secret Garden” with hidden meandering paths. We were there for an hour and walked 1.6 miles. It seems there is something for everyone: we saw artists, walkers, rehearsal for a wedding and families. Had there been more time we would have loved to explore more.

So worth a trip. I was there with my kids and it got hot so we only did a small portion of the gardens, but what we saw was incredibly beautiful. Nicely labeled, meticulously maintained, cool structures/sculptures throughout that add even more visual interest, and just naturally beautiful. And if you do go with kids, be sure to stop by the Children's Garden. Just adorable!

The Dow Gardens in Midland, MI were surprisingly delightful. We have seen many flower gardens, but this was primarily a huge green space, with a meandering stream, small forested paths to draw you in, and a terrain that was undulating, with surprises at every turn or hill. My favorites were the large spruce and pine of the Michigan forests and the monochromatic colors of green, white, yellow in the flowers. After enjoying the HUGE feast for the eyes of Midland's flower fest, I truly enjoyed the serenity of these few lovely presented plants and flowers.
It was a hot, humid day, but the tall trees shaded us🙂

We would have liked to have spent more time in this lovely spot but it was so hot we were all melting! So many species of plants. I would love to be there in the spring when the butterflies are hatching out!

The Dow Gardens is a very peaceful small garden perfect for a casual stroll. The garden does not have many visitors that makes it nice. I like some of the bridges and the Dow homes that are integrated into the garden. However, I did not find the garden to be very colorful or had many unique plants/trees.

The canopy walk was great! There were beautiful gardens and playground for kids. Such a clean and peaceful spot. Great day trip.

What a great place to pack a lunch and get lost in the woods with your family. This will be our new fall tradition! Better than an apple orchard on a fall day. Do the canopy walk then hit the many trails, stop at the playground and then the gardens.
Tip: buy your entry tickets at the Dow Garden gift shop then walk over to the canopy walk. It will save you a time and you can bypass the long lone and head right to the entry gate!

While the wrong time of year to visit it was still beautiful. This is a wonderful place and big, some 110 acres or so in size. Very clean, very well laid out, with something wonderful around each corner. Most plants are marked so if you like it, and it will grow in your area- you at least know what to look for or ask for at your favorite flower / landscape business when you get back home. A few great lookout bridges, crossing, areas add to the fun of a visit here

My kids adore the nature based playground with its slides, trees house, waterfall, spider web hammocks, swings, and giant bird nest. The canopy walk is beautiful and accessible to wheelchairs. The case serves cheap snacks during lunch hours (under $4.50).

The Dow Gardens was the highlight of our short stay with the longest canopy walk in the nation. We got to check out these Big Bugs that happened to be on display during our visit. We also checked out the Tridge which was unique as well.

For those of us who enjoy gardening, Dow Gardens is a fabulous place to visit! The staff does a great job of keeping the gardens looking great and there is just too much to enjoy during a single visit. I never get to Dow Gardens enough but have my favorite nooks and crannies to visit when I do get there. Looking forward to when the counterpart, Whiting Forest, opens again when the canopy walk is completed! Certainly a place to visit alone, with your significant other, with your family and friends!

Enjoyed a family afternoon in the gardens. It allows people of all ages to capture the sites and sounds of nature - up close and personal.

We purchased our tickets at the Dow Center. $10.00 Adult. Ticket allows admission to Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest. Clean restrooms at both sites. Center provides you with a map or download the interactive map on you phone. You can walk through the Dow Garden to the Whiting Forest or drive to the Tree Canopy location. There is a smaller parking lot near the playground and cafe. Easy walkways throughout the parks including the tree canopy. Wheelchair accessible.

A world-class garden, well worth the visit. Pleasant visitor's center. Maps available, a nice morning walk.

Beautifully cared for, enticing walking paths, and extraordinary
trees. We spent a lovely morning there!

Dow Gardens is a unique atmosphere for those who appreciate the sights and smells of a garden. In this case a very large garden. We visit regularly over the summer and the gardens are the place for homecoming and prom pictures!

With a children’s garden and expansive landscape, there is so much to do and see at Dow Gardens, all year long.

The dominant style here is a revised in the early 19th century including shrubberies with graveled walks, tree plantations to satisfy botanical curiosity, and, most notably, the return of flowers, in skirts of sweeping planted beds. This is the version of the landscape garden most imitated in Europe in the 19th century. The outer areas of the "home park" retain their naturalistic shaping.

It contains a number of romantic elements and always present is a pond or small lake with a pier or bridge.