Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden Reviews

A delightful experience. Lots of nooks and crannies of places to see. Large paths to meander along. Different types of gardens to go thorough, You can do a lot or very little. The peacocks do have a right of way. Peaceful places to sit and contemplate. Enjoy your visit as I did.

We came for the moonlight festival on December 23 and had difficulty figuring out after U-turns and traffic jams to park in the shopping mall lot across the street and walk back to the entrance. Everyone being in holiday mood makes it tolerable. The light displays were colorful and attractive to young children. Taking photos of people was difficult though because of the lights. Quite a long walk and the looping paths were confusing. Ended up taking the wrong exit and a long way back to the parking.

We were only there for an hour but really, you need to plan on several hours. The place is huge! We were there on a Friday afternoon and even though the parking lot was quite full, the grounds were not crowded and quite quiet.

Gardens are not in bloom but a nice way to spend an afternoon outdoors! Reasonable $$ to enter. We were in Eureka rainy weather for few months so this was rejuvenating!

The Arboretum and Botanic Garden spans 127 acres next to the Santa Anita Racetrack. There are many areas of interest and the only thing missing, IMHO, is a Japanese garden. One benefit is that the gardens are relatively flat which makes it a lot easier for older people than the Huntington Gardens. Everything is very well laid out and labeled. It does take a long time to see all of the gardens so you should plan for a long morning or afternoon. The Queen Ann Cottage and Coach Barn are worth a stop. You can't go into the cottage but you can see how the rooms looked like when peeking through the windows.

we are pass holders here and it's a great deal. we can come as often as we like and have a nice walk admiring the great trees and grounds. great family place

The Arboretum is a special place in Arcadia, CA. We are fortunate to have its peaceful and colorful gardens, historical homes, and its place in TV history as one of the Fantasy Island sets. If you are a peacock lover, or looking for a summer concert location, you will not be disappointed.

I've lived in Arcadia most of my life. The Arboretum is a lovely place to visit. The just treated my whole family to the Moonlight Forest lantern show. We were blown away. I never thought it would be that big or that great. I wish we had done dinner with the food trucks. When it comes back for the holidays - go!

Group of 3 did the LA. Botanic garden . Heat was oppressive. Good number of benches, but many in sun. Would not return in summer months.

Bring your hiking shoes, this place is huge. Waterfalls, water features, pools, thousands of trees, hundreds of specialized plants, flowers and vines. Dozens of Peacocks. A library of plant information. This place has it all and it's a must-see for everyone.

The first time we came to Pasadena we visited the Huntington Library and were obviously impressed. I did think this wouldn't be as good but I was wrong. Perhaps because fewer people visit, it just seems like a much calmer, peaceful place to truly escape the crowds. The peacocks just add to the this wonderful botanical experience.

Moonlight Forest Lantern Art Festival was Just Amazing – plenty of things to see plus a cultural show!

We were there on a Friday for the Moonlight Forest Lantern Art Festival at Los Angeles Arboretum and the crowed was light. The lanterns were breathtaking. Some we huge – the Imperial Palace, and must have taken a lot of labor to build. The cultural show was cool with Chinese acrobats and traditional dances. Purchase your tickets online a wear comfortable shoes since there’s a lot of walking.

Lots of free parking, food trucks and gift shops.

Visited the Arboretum on a camera club photography trip. What a paradise!
The Arboretum is huge, so it never felt crowded. The grounds are beautiful with so many different types of plants and foliage.
The peacocks are a huge attraction - beautiful birds and it was mating season so lots of "strutting". The peacocks are very tame, almost posing for photos and very boisterous.
There is so much interesting history here so don't miss the historic buildings, both the cottage and coach barn.
Ate lunch at the Cafe, the menu was good with a lot of fresh choices and a place to relax before venturing out again.
We spent an entire day there and did not get to tour the cottage - so check out the tour times early if that is on your list.
Wonderful place, be sure and take plenty of water and enjoy a peaceful day!

This garden feels like a friend's giant backyard. It features lots of native plants, and little is manicured. It is a nice place to be outside but the Huntington and Descanso are more beautiful gardens. The highlight is the view from the top of the waterfall. It's worth the walk. Peacocks roam free and cry out like someone moaning for help, a bit disconcerting. You can feel that this garden is managed by the government when you visit the ancient bathrooms and disappointing cafeteria. Our advice is that this is a great place to visit if you are in the neighborhood, but if you are driving out, consider a different destination.

If you want quiet reflective time, this is the place for you.
Great to get your steps in. See the beautiful landscaping.
Waterfall and gardens are peaceful. Not over the top just nice.

Spring is the best time to visits the Arboretum; it is not too hot so it is nice to walks around the facility. There is a lot of greenery and a lot of animals are out and about. One of the main attractions are the peacocks that roam free around the park. This is matting season so many peacocks are searching for a peahen companion and attract them by displaying is feathers. This is a great opportunity to take beautiful pictures of their plumage. Just don't get to close to the peacock, while we were there a person wanted to take a picture next to the peacock and it kicked him (That is what happens when you trying to take away the peacock's mojo...)

Also, bring some water and comfortable shoes; you will be doing a lot of walking. If you are planning to attend on a hot day, a nice hat, shorts and sun screen are in order. It can get pretty hot, even with all the trees in the area.

Visit my site www.travel.gabela.com for more traveling tips.

It's a very beautiful arboretum in the prestigious heart of Arcadia, it's worth every penny of the ticket.

First time visit, wish I had known about the gardens years ago. Well maintained grounds, wonderful Australia and Africa gardens, loved the smells in the herb garden, fun history to see at the old railroad depot building. Peacocks strutting around and showing of their plumage!

What a lovely place! A place where you can take the whole family and enjoy the beautiful surrounding that abounds here. A great place to educate the family on the fauna and how special and important it is. Plus, a great place to let the kids run:) Just love the historical buildings too, especially the Fantasy Island House. Well worth a visit!

The arbiretum has plants, peacocks, a Queen Anne "cottage," and seasonal events - to say nothing of an ultra-informative staff and great gift shop.

My second time coming to this venue for a summer concert. My friend and I sat on the lawn (bring a blanket and picnic) for a Trace Adkins performance. I felt like I wasn’t in LA, but a small town where everyone was hanging out and enjoying the bandstand. There are tables where you can pay a bit more which are in front of lawn seating. The performances at the Botanic Gardens tend to be shorter than other concert venues, but the ticket prices are low and the environment so appealing. Of course the gardens here are lovely. I have been here during the day and it’s a lovely activity. There are peacocks on the premises too. They don’t hang out in the concert area, but if you head to the bathrooms, you will see them.
I also came here on 12/23 for Moonlight Forest, Magical Lantern Arts Festival. It was extraordinary and if you can go, Go. It closes 1/6/19. I was blown away by the endless displays. Photos don’t do it justice. You can get a slight discount by buying through Goldstar. Worth every penny. Traffic by the venue for the festival is a nightmare. Go early. They have off site parking with a shuttle, which really isn’t that close or convenient. A lot of people park in the Westfield shopping mall lot and walk. Supposedly this is not allowed, but clearly a lot of people do it.

It was raining that day but brought umbrella. Love the flowers, fish, turtles, history, peacocks. They also have a nice gift shop. we will be back!

During my visit to SoCal my friends took me here and that was a good place to spend time walking and chatting while surrounded by nature - right in the middle of a busy metro life. This arboretum is also a historic place. However, there are downsides to this place: 1- No water! Ponds are dried up (because of California drought). 2- At times, the beauty of this special place is destroyed by the big crowd of obnoxious Chinese tourists or (residents?). In fact, Arcadia has become yet another Chinatown in the San Gabriel valley. These days, the arboretum (and virtually everywhere else in the Valley) makes you feel like you're in China, not the United States of America!

If you have a day off and want to get away from the hustle and bustle of everything which commands your attention, come here for beautifully landscaped gardens and beautiful peacocks! It's so nice to sit and just be at peace in a great setting which will help you relax and feel more connected with yourself and nature, ahh perfect!

One of the best botanical gardens ever. Well worth the trip. Well maintained. All of the trees are labeled and usually grouped by geographical area. Highly recommended

We(me and my wife) have been coming here for the past 3 years now and it is a fantastic place to go to if you want to be close to nature. This year we got our
membership and no regrets at all with that. In fact we should have done that earlier. Coming from Burbank, this place is like 20 minutes away(without traffic).

We love nature photography and this is a very good place to take pictures. I have attached some of the pictures that I took with the phone. Unfortunately, I can't add photographs taken with my dSLR as I have copyrighted them and TripAdvisor doesn't allow me to add images with copyright.

Arboretum also conducts photography workshops, especially night photography workshops. Will try to attend one in near future.

Main attractions:

1. Peacocks and other birds: It won't be untrue if this place gets renamed to 'Peacock Garden'. You will find lots of them over here. They are friendly and beautiful birds. We have been lucky to see a few dancing ones. Well, now that we have been there at least 12-15 times, our chances of spotting a dancing peacock has increased :-) There are other birds(resident & migratory) who add to the mix. You will see ducks, egrets, hummingbirds etc.

2. Variety of flora: This garden has botanical collections from all over the world. First timers, please try out the tram tour(I think it may only be available over the weekend). Please check the website for details. Rose garden is a very pretty sight, especially in Spring. Then they have the herbal garden, tropical greenhouse and many other gardens. Having comfortable walking shoes helps as you can explore more of this scenic location. Get some sun protection if visiting on a hot day.

3. Good place for a walk: If you live close-by, this could be a good place to come for a walk. If you happen to be a member then you can come in as early as 8AM.
For non-members, the place opens at 9AM.

4. Historic structures: Queen Anne cottage, Coach barn, Santa Anita depot. More details can be found on the website.

5. Very good place for wedding photography, family / corporate events. This place also gets rented as a location site for movies.

6. Peacock cafe: Has both indoor & outdoor seating. Love the sandwiches and burgers they have. We have tried the vegetarian options and they are fresh & yum.

Parking:

They have enough parking available and it is free. There are 2 parking lots. Main lot is by the garden entrance and it kind of gets full over the weekends. If that gets full, you can also go to the south lot which is adjacent to the main lot and is approachable via Baldwin Ave.

Overall, an excellent place for a family outing.

There are not many places I have been to where you can first take a tram ride and get a throughout explanation of all the areas of this beautiful park. When the tram ride is over you can walk back to the areas that interested you most. Prepare to spend a whole day there just taking in all the beautiful flowers and vegetation. There is a lot of great history surrounding the arboretum. A must see experience.

We just happened upon these gardens and were surprised by how big,lush and interesting they were. There were also contemporary sculptures sup pounding most displays.

The location is also home to the Pasadena Pops - and we bough tickets and saw the Pops play Beatles music throughout the evening.

Great place to spend a lazy afternoon. They have a great variety of programs and events--be sure to check and see if something special is happening at the time you plan to visit. Staff is great. Only disappointment was the Gift Shop---they could be making alot of money to support the Arboretum if they would carry more varied and unique items.

Winter season event was spectacular event. Lighting was amazing. Entry fee was pricey and for family of 5..hit hard during Christmas.

I am not by nature a person enjoying plants. But I will say for the small cost, this is a place to go. It is across the street from the Santa Anita race track, and really large. It is the old Baldwin family estate, as I was told, and has beautiful gardens, vistas of the mountains and great places for kids to run around. A definite place to go if in the San Gabriel Valley, but not sure if you are in downtown LA or on the beach it is worth the trip.

Having going here since a little girl. I remember when the old Tarzan TV show was made near the lake. At that time it was all bamboo and we would play hide and go seek! The Queen Ann Cottage is a must see. The rose garden is beautiful along with the waterfall. But nothing is as special as the peacocks all over the gardens!

The arboretum is a must see if you’re in the area

From the lake to the “ Fantasy Island “ house (which is actually the Queen Anne Cottage ) to the Hugo Reid Adobe,the plants ,etc ,etc oh and the peafowl

There is still filming going on here on almost a weekly basis and there have been hundreds of things filmed here over the decades.Everything from Fantasy Island to Anaconda and a lot in between. Google it for a list.

There’s a lot of history,beauty and photo opps here that make it worth the trip.

Loved the Moonlight Forest stroll through the Arboretum! It is about a mile in length and it was gorgeous! We had 5:30 tix but we decided to go backwards to avoid the crowds! It is not Christmas themed! It is themed with Asian motifs and animals. Very beautiful!

My friends and I did the Moonlight Forest Lantern Festival in November 2018. It was beautiful a "Must See" event. There was fun for all ages. I hope to return and see the park in the daylight some time, I am sure that it will be just as impressive.

Fun exploration through well manicured grounds offering various landscapes, plantings, Arboretum, water gardens and more. Our grandson enjoyed meandering over the faux-serpent walkway after strolling through the lush purple Mexican sage, covered in butterflies and abuzz with bees. We journeyed through the temporary colorful Asian sculpting of overscale candy, sea life, dragons and Ark animals, apparently beautifully illuminated at dusk. Along Baldwin Lake we discovered "Fantasy Island", while naturally calling out: "the plane, the plane!". The historic Landmark Queen Ann Victorian home and nearby Coach Barn have been a Hollywood focal point since the 1930's. Spend hours here discovering throughout the grounds, then grab a bite to eat at the Peacock Café, where you can have a close encounter with its namesake. Truly an impressive and enjoyable experience. Worthy of return!

Beautiful place to spend time strolling thru the gardens, where you will find hundreds of plant species from all over the world. Is a wonderful place to relax and reconnect with nature.

This is the best place in town. We are members so we go all the time. The kids think it's the park. I take my drawing and painting classes here all the time. There is always something beautiful to see.

Beautiful gardens with the mountains in the backdrop. The gardens are spread out; so plan on doing some walking. I visited with my three grandkids, age 5 to 11. They loved the peacocks that roam the gardens. Sculptures were also on display in some gardens areas. The kids enjoyed seeing these exhibits. We also looked for the 'prehistoric forest' and then 'the house in the woods'. All the exploring kept the three busy exploring for something new around the path. And after exploring, a stop to the cafe for a cool treat ends our trip.The garden is a gem. There are lovely open areas to just lay on the grass and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. I do recommend a visit to these gardens. You will not be disappointed.

Walk on cement paths, mostly, and view the flower bushes, botanical garden, and huge grassy area to sit and relax. Even has a waterfall toward the back. Lots of pareking, and across from racing, and big mall. Great place to bring kids, take photographs, or have a weekend afternoon outing. Beautiful place. Has butterflies and hummingbirds, too, depending upon time of year.

Wonderful day trip destination where you can take the family and miss the crowd and expense of Disneyland hype...You and your kids can learn a lot and have a good time..take in the special exhibitions if they have one...Enjoy nature in a capsule..

Visited with my wife. Had a wonderful time. Truly relaxing experience. Australian garden was our favorite. Nice looking peacocks everywhere.

A Good way to spend an afternoon. Quiet, pretty, and affordable. Wild peacocks add additional interest (and noise) to your visit. Some items here are very rare, others pretty common.

Wow! This place is amazing. We thought we would drop by but ended up spending five hours here! Remarkably well done herb garden logically organized by culinary herbs, medicinal herbs, etc - we learned a lot, being able to see and smell a large quantity of herbs at one opportunity. Also loved the rose garden - traditional type in full bloom, and the bamboo/palm garden. Great value!

This is a nice way to spend a day. Walk around the peaceful grounds and just enjoy nature. The food is very good at the Peacock Cafe. Nice place to host a special event.

A large Arboretum and botanic garden. Plants and trees are in various areas in geographic sections on the grounds. Australian, Mediterranean, South American, African, and North American.
Fountains, ponds, and lots of peacocks. Long pathways help in getting around.
Recommended

On my recent trip to the USA, I had the absolute pleasure walking around the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden.

The weather was ideal.

The sights and sounds bring you into the heart of the garden.

There is so much to see and do. I loved the orchid enclosure but the highlight for me was seeing Queen Anne's Cottage better known as the house from Fantasy Island. I would have loved to have gotten into the tower to point to the sky and call out 'Mr Rourke, the plane, the plane.' but that was not to be.

I would love to be back here when spring is in full bloom because I would say it will be more spectacular.

Do yourself a favour and place the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden on your must visit list.

If you enjoy plants, you need to allow several hours for this place. There are prehistoric gardens, cactus and desert plant collections, a big Australian section, some lovely Victorian buildings, ponds and more. Have fun in the gift shop- there is much more than the peacock themed items on the website.Locals can buy plants there too! Be aware that the arboretum is right by the Santa Anita racetrack, so sometimes traffic backs up.

The L.A. County Arboretum is a park-like garden. There are peacocks, ducks, geese, turtles, and fish in the lakes. It's a fun place to walk, climb, and play.

Large place, takes a lot of time to see everything. There are some cool things — lots of peacocks, even with baby chicks, great bamboo display with black, green, yellow and brown types, nice waterfall and Baldwin Lake with many turtles that love to swim next to the surface, old buildings that house some artifacts, like fire crew equipment or carriage. I loved all the big and easy to read labels on the trees/shrubs. Because the place is so big we only saw around a fifth of it. And it took us 2 hours. But we were not rushing too, taking our time. However, the tram that is supposed to take you around only works on Saturdays. Not convenient for us, because we were counting on it. And it seems that the place is too big and everything is spread out. I think it is nice to go there, but it is like going to the park — don’t expect it to be packed with things to see at every 100 feet.

We dedicated a tree to my deceased sister and wanted to visit her. We found the tree had grown a lot since her passing and were pleased it was thriving. Walked around the arboretum for about two and a half hours and found it quite enjoyable. A very nice way to collect your thoughts in peace.

Spent hours and it was well worth it!!! Beautiful gardens, trees, fountains. The Queen Anne house was gorgeous ad so was the other Elliott house. You can relax on the many benches by ponds or trees that are throughout the gardens. Or take a trolley ride. Café is good food and a gift shop for souvenirs. Wonderful day for families or by yourself. Serene and beautiful. Trees from different countries are gorgeous.

This is a must visit especially for locals. Many hidden treasures, tours, and classes. The Arboretum frequently has special shows and not all of them are related to plants. Frequent upgrades to the surroundings make repeat visits a must. Beautiful for weddings and photography too. Come early, parking can be full by noon.

On a recent visit with our California family, we enjoyed spending the day at this great attraction. The kids loved running the trails and exploring, while the adults savored the serenity of the plants, lake, peacocks, and decorations throughout. At the time we were there, it was decorated with The Moonlight Forest - Lantern Art Festival, and we could feel the touch of the ancient Chinese culture. Admission to the arboretum is very reasonable, and provides a wonderful opportunity to relax and escape to the outdoors. If you are grow weary of the density of the LA area, take the time to find yourself at the Arboretum.

2023 was SO DISAPPOINTING! I kept walking, looking for the spectacular displays from 2021. I couldnt wait to show my son from out of state and by the end of the walk, I couldnt apologize enough for such a let down. Don't waste ur money this year, 2023.

Experience glamorous nature without the hike. It can make you forget your in L.A.. Take a date or your kids, Peafowl (peacocks) are wandering as they please and showing off their colors. Trees and plants youll never see unless your from some of the countries they come from. And its full of art that any artist can appreciate. I definitely rate this Excellent!

The LA Arboretum is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon or a quick walk. I have been going to the Arobretum for about 18 years. It is different in every season and they continue to change some of the pathways so you can discover new things in the garden.

They are not only a peaceful garden. Many evenings they have concerts which are fun to go to with friends and a picnic. During they day they will have various groups related to nature. They have a gem weekend and several flower exhibit weekends. Always something interesting.

Right now they have a Lantern Moon Light Festival. It is a wonderful way to see the park after dark. The Lanterns are placed by a group from China. They are beautiful inthe day time and magical at night.

I have had many experiences at the Aboretum and all different and fun.

I thuoght some parts of theArboretum were a bit dull, but the fact that it has so much to offer is amazing. I loved all the different aspects they had such as the water fall, the duck swamp and all the beautiful trees.

Oh my gosh, I LOVE THIS PLACE. We come every year in the spring. If we lived closer, I'd be a member and come every day for a lengthy walk, maybe twice daily.

This place has trees from many parts of the world and some are clearly labelled. Also have conservatories and research facilities including library, which makes it a destination for serious botanists.

Also has nice lake, old Victorian houses, and coffee house. The freely roaming peacocks are a key attraction.

A good daytime excursion venue for families.

My wife, 2 young children, and I have been going here for years. It's lovely! Unfortunately, the enormous wind storm of Dec 2011 diminished it's beauty. The silver lining to that would be how every day the Arboretum literally gets better and better. This will continue for years, until it's back to it's previous perfection. The Arboretum is a perfect place to take a healthy, long walk. There are large ponds to see turtles, huge Koi, ducks, and of course peacocks. You're not supposed to feed them, because some people are idiots and feed them things they're not supposed to eat (do your research!), but it will be a lasting memory for any young child. There's a fantastic staircase by a lovely waterfall that's perfect for getting your heart rate up. If you pack a lunch and a blanket you can spend a long, cheap day here enjoying the quiet and beauty and fresh(er) air.
All that said, I should point out the negatives. The employees tend to be young Chinese-American high school students who are being forced to volunteer by their parents for their college application transcripts, and it shows. Most of them are devoid of emotion, kindness, customer service, or joy. When you go to the gift shop you can save time by replacing any questions you may have with "I don't know." Also, as the Arboretum does rely on donations to survive, they have a large donation box at the entrance. Being that Arcadia is mostly populated with well-to-do but very stingy anti-charity anti-donation people, I've literally been sneered at for putting $ in the donation box, which I do every single time I go. It's an odd but common occurrence! It was explained to me that in their culture (I'm not stating who, as I don't need anyone flagging me as racist) it's all about "saving face." Since I'm donating, and my kids are donating, and "they" won't and don't, it's shaming them by my putting $ in the donation box. At any rate, I mention this because I urge you to donate to the box, even if it's just $1, but do expect strange looks.
Another negative is that, while the place urges quiet and parents are expected to control their kids, some parents just don't. I enjoy meditating, and there are always a few people engaged through the park's tranquil glades and nooks, and I've literally had children run around me, screaming or acting like sugared-out chimpanzees, while I was in meditation. For the most part, the children do behave here, but as it is an affluent area, I suppose it's better than it would be in other areas.
They have a good cafe with good coffee and decent snacks that aren't as ridiculously overpriced as you might expect. The only time I visit it though is in the hottest days, where I'll treat the family to those delicious and hard-to-find Nestle ice cream cookie sandwiches.
So, in essence, I can say it's a beautiful place, and only getting more beautiful. There are forest aspects, lake aspects, walking paths, plenty of shade and sun to be had. While you may do your best to avoid others and keep your distance, there is a bit of culture shock if you do encounter "the locals." If you go, and I suggest you do, teach your children to respect nature and others, as I have done with my children. There's few places in So Cal as good to get away from city living, and enjoy a healthy nature walk, as good as this place. Once the pandemic is over, they'll bring back their awesome events like Summer Concert Series and Snakes in the Park (classic Cobras parked thru the park! One of my favorites!).

The spectacular, fiery orange spears of aloe blooms made a beautiful contrast against the brilliant blue February skies. We felt as if we really were in Australia or anywhere, but LA, as we strolled through the cactus and aloe paths. In the tropical rainforest garden, my husband and I commented that it looked and felt like our backyard garden in Hawaii. The ferns and orchids were gorgeous! The sculptures and art throughout our journey through the arboretum were perfect for their environment and we saw many new and different pieces from our last visit.
The hours are great--they open at 9am and our senior rates were $6 each. The regular adult prices were only $9. What a deal--you could spend hours here enjoying the various gardens. Bring an umbrella for sun or rain. Several people told my husband, who had an umbrella to shield the sun, that they wished they had brought one. The gift shop did have several garden-themed umbrellas for sale. Make sure you know where the bathrooms are and plan accordingly. If you plan to stay a while, they do have a cafe on the premises.
When we visit L.A., we try to make a point to visit because each time, each season brings different viewpoints. Last time, in April, the cherry, plum and forsythia were abloom and just beautiful. We love the water ponds and spent time watching the ducks and turtles.
After you're done, Santa Anita Mall is right across the street!

We gad a great time walking around the Arboretum. Everything was so beautiful and the peacocks were so cool! Worth the price in my opinion.

We enjoyed getting away from the hustle and bustle to see the arboretum. There were flowers in bloom and others that obviously had been blooming recently. I was amazed at how green every thing is despite the drought. Other parts of the gardens seemed to be in their natural drier state. Also nice to see that

This is a great resource for plant lovers. Full disclosure, I got married in the Rose Garden nearly 30 years ago, so I have a sentimental attachment to the place. Actually, on a recent visit (my adult son, also a plant person, wanted to see it), I was a little disappointed that the honeysuckle arbors were gone--they ringed the garden and added a terrific fragrance to the rose perfume at my wedding. But, in spite of the drought, and the consequent stress on some plantings, and dormant water features, the plantings are gorgeous and fascinating.

Enjoyed exploring the paths to the diverse areas of the arboretum. Tropical plants in the greenhouses were blooming and very colorful, then a couple minutes walk found a different world of desert cacti. Appreciated seeing zeriscape areas, too. Saw lots of lovely peacocks wandering about, great photos!! Had 2 hours to wander and enjoy a relaxing respite from a hectic travel schedule. Nice cafe and gift shop, if that is your thing.

We went to the Arboretum with no idea what it was like .
We arrived and was pleasantly surprised to see how wonderful it was there.
we were offered a guide which we took up .
Thank you Bill for being our guide and showing us round such a wonderful place.
We would love to come back another day .

directly across from the Santa Anita race track and mall. this is a quiet and very interesting place to spend hours. staff are friendly. many resources for study of plants. these are arranged by continent, locale, ecosystem. if one has children and wants to show in an easy afternoon the huge variety of plant life on earth, this is the place to go. there are peacocks wandering the grounds. in some respects not as stunning as are the Huntington Gardens not too far away, but the LA Arboretum is less expensive, has somewhat longer hours of opening, and if one is not interested in the art, the arboretum is a worthwhile substitute. another advantage, if the arboretum restaurant is not open, the food court at the mall is a good place to eat.

Really beautiful gardens, friendly staff (especially in the gift shop!). We had a difficult time navigating with the map, but it was fun being lost in paradise. The cafe had good food at reasonable prices, simple fare, but perfect for the venue. Going to go back for the cottage tour!

First of all the Peacocks are awesome ! We ate at the café and they just hang out with you. The gardens are gorgeous and we got some great exercise. We were there about two hours but could have spent more time to see it all. It really is worth the trip from downtown LA!!

I love being surrounded by interesting plants so I was a happy camper visiting this arboretum. I was there on a very hot day in August but fortunately the have a nice inexpensive tram tour. It went around the whole place and had a docent telling us about the various plants. He was knowledgeable and interesting. As nice as the place was you could tell it was run by a government organization and therefore was suffering from underfunding. Shabby and tired in places. The Huntington by contrast was much nicer and in a better state of repair. if you only could go to one place go to the Huntington.

These gardens are arranged by theme, with large areas for Africa and Australia. We went in November and the plants were beautiful. Many things in bloom, and the colors of foliage was lovely. I could go again. There was more to see.
We also went back at night for the Chinese lantern illumination. It was enchanting! I highly recommend this stop if you enjoy gardens.

Really enjoyed this nicely laid out garden, broken into segments by plants from the different continents. There is a very wide, asphalt path you follow as you go from one area to the next, making it very easy for families with strollers or anyone who needs assistance moving around.

TIP- if you have a garden membership in your hometown, check to see if they have a reciprocal agreement with this garden. If they do, you get in here for free.

TIP- From downtown LA you can take a metro train to Arcadia, then ride the free Arcadia bus that takes you to the garden, race track, mall, and a few other places. Takes about 90 minutes all told, but the train is only $1.75 so this is very cheap, and at 90 minutes could still be quicker than driving a car.

I was pleasantly surprised that the arboretum had more than just trees. It is beautifully landscaped with excellent paved walking paths and a wonderful cafe.

We spent a couple of hours there. They accept a lot of other Botanic garden memberships so we got in free.

Parking is kind of limited so get there early.

They had several nice plantings of white poppies in bloom right now.

Excellent sandwiches,vege is great
Salads are good
A perfect place for lunch during our visit to the arboretum

great pace to take grand kids, bring your sun screen, its a beautiful place to have a picnic on the lawn and just relax for a day.

Beautiful place with hundreds of peacocks. Lucky Baldwins Victorian home is there which has been used in film and movies. And the lagoon was used in a few Tarzan shows. Nice gift shop and cafe. Lovely gardens. A great place to spend the day relaxing and feeding ducks!

In the heart of the San Gabriel Valley and just across the street from Santa Anita Racetrack is the beautiful LA County Arboretum. Large and encyclopedic in its choice of gardens, the Arboretum is a great place to experience nature within the metropolis that is LA County. Highlights include the restored train station, the Queen Anne Cottage, rose garden, waterfall, ponds, and the actual lagoon and jungle used in the filming of the original 1930's Tarzan flicks and 1970's TV cult favorite, Fantasy Island. Free parking and a reasonable admission rate make this a great choice for a morning or afternoon stroll.

We were looking for something outdoors to do and decided to try the Arboretum. We timed it well as we visited on the third Tuesday of the month a learned that admission was free (regular fee is $9 per adult). We enjoyed the Arboretum especially walking through the different geographic areas. The plants and trees are well labeled and the posted map markers throughout helped to orient us as we made our way through. We didn't have loads of time so we wanted to make sure saw the areas most interesting to us. But one could easily spend several leisurely hours here. If I lived in the area I would be interested in exploring the numerous educational opportunities and events offered here.

We have been coming here for years and it never disappoints. The grounds are always beautiful and very well kept. I like that most trees, flowers, etc. have signs to tell you what they are. It's such a learning experience. Sometimes it's fun to take the tram to give yourself a break because there is so much to see. This visit the water was so low in the ponds. The waterfalls were barely a trickle. Very sad for all the water fowl that usually stop for awhile during their travels. This is really a destination not to be missed.

I great place to take family or out of town visitors. The open spaces and gardens are of great interest as well as the little lake and Lucky Balrdwins Aueen Anne Cottage. Also of interest is a depiction of an Indian village. There are a number of pea cocks on the property showing off their fine feathers. Easy to get to with plenty of free parking.

It’s like a giant park with peacocks roaming freely on the grounds. If your tired of traffic and the hustle and bustle of city life and just want to enjoy a day of relaxation than this is for you. Lots of plants and gardens to appreciate, along with some water features. If you remember the 80’s, this is where they filmed parts of fantasy island.

While we love the Arboretum and try to go often, we unfortunately had a negative summer nature camp experience for my 7 year old son who has mild ADHD.

We enrolled our son last year for 2 weeks and he had a good time, and this year enrolled him for 4 weeks, but after the first week he came home sobbing that he didn't want to go back. We found out that the camp director was repeatedly shaming him and putting him down for "not listening." We had disclosed that he's a little different from most kids on his enrollment forms, but the director clearly doesn't know best practices for how to respectfully communicate with neurodivergent children. When we met with her, she shared that they had similar problems with him last year, but failed to tell us. Had we known, we never would have enrolled him again, further negatively impacting his self esteem and confidence.

If your child is "normal" they will likely love the camp, but it's not a good fit for neurodivergent children who need a little more support.

On vacation we were treated to the Arboretum. What a magical place. Tropical plants, trees, peacocks and wildlife scattered throughout the grounds. The house and outbuildings were a treat in themselves, stepping back in time. What a wonderful piece of the tropics experienced right in California. Would highly recommend to visitors.

Only in California they would charge adults and kids to walk in a park. It is a nice space but should be free like any other public park or a minimal charge for the whole family not $15 per person. Not enough benches or picnic tables.

Well signposted with plenty of free parking. Entrance was good value and there was a nice reasonably priced cafe and gift shop. The gardens were very large and took us 3 to 4 hours to walk around. They are very beautiful with lakes, streams and waterfalls but what made it really special is the old buildings they have relocated here including stables and a railroad depot. There were restrooms as you went round and plenty of seats where you can take a rest.

When we need to get out of the house with our two grandchildren- a 4 year old and a 10 month old- there is no place better than the Arboretum. Wonderful trails, peacocks galore, fish, turtles, squirrels. Beautiful waterfalls and ponds to explore. There's always a stick nearby to poke around with. Beautiful gardens to walk through. The original Hugo Reid Adobe, now under renovation, is nearby Queen Anne's Cottage and Carriage House which keep history alive as the Victorian buildings for Lucky Baldwin's Rancho Santa Anita. The one sad point is Baldwin Lake and Lagoon. With our years of drought, the waters have disappeared and a major campaign is underway to restore it to its original beauty. The Santa Anita depot is also a hit. Walking old railroad ties is safe here. All in all there is so much to do and such fun doing it.

I am a long time arboretum member. The park is always gorgeous, clean, and peaceful. Great for couples, date night, kids of any age, or for hanging out with friends. the front lawn is perfect for picnics.

I love walking laps around the outer perimeter of the Arboretum - and if I've got the energy, also hiking up either the "staircase" or the "back road" to the Top of the Falls! The views of the San Gabriels & the surrounding civilization are wonderful at the very top of the hill!

I only dinged The Arboretum one star because for at least a YEAR they've had the old historical Adobe blocked off, "Under Repair." (For over a YEAR? Really? And why do I NEVER see anyone working on it even though I go over there at least once a month?)

I also just don't understand what the problem is with the bodies of water... Bodies of water are all too rare here, in the LA basin, so why can't they just give us back the lovely little lake by St. Anne's Cottage, the waterfall (okay, It seems they may have fixed that!), & the small duck ponds that have now been dry for several years?

They finally refilled the St. Anne's Cottage lake, and before you knew it, the entire thing had turned stinky green with stagnant algae overgrowth! This is Los Angeles! Can't they PLEASE hire a biologist who can FIX this?!

Other than those complaints, the staff do a great job of keeping the place clean & well-manicured, and the "Peacock Cafe" & Gift Shop up & running! (THANK YOU, Arboretum Staff!)

A few years ago, The Arboretum let local artists display pieces of their work out in the open - all over the Gardens! It was wonderful! I really wish they'd do that again! We've got all these excellent Art Schools nearby - why not let those artists present another temporary installation at the Arboretum? It's been too long, and it keeps The Arboretum interesting for us locals who make frequent return visits!

Beautiful gardens, very relaxing. Bring your camera because they have lots of photogenic plants, trees and cacti to be photographed. The layout was done very nicely and it's an easy walk but can be long if you let it. Be sure to visit the bamboo forest. There's really only one place to eat but you can bring your picnic basket.

Wow, what a beautiful county arboretum. The gardens are very well maintained with clearly labeled trees, plants, etc. and a Queen Anne Cottage and barn in the center of a lake. You can take a self guided tour via map or a bus tour. Nice gift shop and lots of good walking with even some hills and a waterfall. Fun for the entire family!

Due to the drought and planned restoration of Lake Baldwin, the lake in front of the cottage and other ponds are dry. It was a stark contrast to my memories coming here in my youth . The park has adapted well to incorporating many areas to less thirsty landscapes. It's still a relaxing way to get some exercise while enjoying the flora. The tram on the weekends makes it easier for those who want a narrated overview before setting out on their own . The Thai noodle salad in the cafe was tasty. I found the price of $6.20 for the Thai noodle salad and ice tea very reasonable .

In the time of Covid pre-booking is required, and checking in was quick and efficient. The gardens are wonderful - far too much to see in one visit. Bring your camera! There are peaccoks strolling around.

Had a great day walking and looking at the plants and flowers. Very cool to walk through the different areas such as plants native to Madagascar, a lot of walking so wear comfortable shoes. Great place to take photos and plan to see wild peacocks.

makes this a wonderful place to visit as long as it isn't raining. It seemed like every corner we turned offered a new photographic opportunity, and it was just nice to walk and enjoy. Admission for two seniors was reasonable at $22 and that was with the 30 minute tram tour. There are a large number of peacocks on the property and some ducks, although due to the horrendous drought most of their ponds and streams are dry or exceedingly low. I was pleased to see a rare stand of California Engelmann Oak, one of the most drought tolerant oaks known. Additionally I liked see Gingko trees which are considered living fossils, because they are the tree with the oldest of their line from the time of dinosaurs! Their leaves have a scalloped edge to them. The Queen Anne Cottage, a Victorian mansion, was used for Fantasy Island on TV and there are jungle like areas that were used for part of the filming for Tarzan. There is a gift shop and café for your enjoyment. Time permitting, the Arboretum is a must see, most definitely!

This is so beautiful everyone should get outdoors and enjoy family and or friends and great places like this. .

We took a stroll on a weekday morning. Not too crowded and the breeze, flowers and plants are plenty and fragrant. There are several corners for resting with shaded trees, fallen-tree stump as seating and water fountains. The orchid green house is a must see. there are plenty of ideas for your backyard design with flower beds, walkways and hanging plants.

The Arboretum was a terrific place to spend the day. The large collection of beautiful plants from around the world are displayed in areas ranging from intimate patio settings to acres devoted to a particular continent. The peacocks that roam the property will help keep you entertained, as well. Bring your walking shoes and plan on spending at least a few hours, if not the whole day. They have the nice Peacock Cafe where a nice selections of edibles are available at a very reasonable price, so you can enjoy a nice lunch or snack.

The arboretum is beautiful and a great place to see Peacocks of all shapes and sizes. It was very hot during our visit so would have appreciated more shade, but we had an enjoyable time. The gardens are very well maintained

A beautiful botanical garden in Arcadia city in Los Angeles area. Well laid out and marked. Rich variety of trees plants cactii. Nice weather and a special exhibition for Chinese new year

I loved the sounds of the peacocks squawking at each other throughout the park - sounded just like Kevin in the Pixar movie "Up!" The only thing I didn't like was the fact that the back part of the path is backed up to the 210 so you don't get the full experience of being out the city.

This is a place for active family, it is a big place that requires lot of walking, there are peacocks, all kinds of garden including the Rose garden and has a small chapel perfect for wedding, there is a small lake but a little smelly and the water fall is beautiful. There are lots of things to see on top of the falls, beautiful view too.

-Great landscaping
-Types of garden setting
-Unusual plants to discover
-Great Benches to sit and relax with beautiful view of lawn and trees
-nice cafe on premises
-great for seniors and children
-peacocks to see
-easy parking
-low admission fee

We used to come here every week to appreciate the nature and the fresh air. This arboretum has come a long way. Over the years, the staff and volunteers developed this place into many different sections that featured different types of gardening. It's always a joy to see the beautiful peacocks strolling around the arboretum and made funny loud noises. I like to go there to spend a morning with my family and friends. A gem in Arcadia.

This place you can see lots of peacocks walk around you. All kinds of gardens can show you many kinds of plants, natural resources. It's right place for whole family.

as far as i am concerned this place is as good as any gardens i have visited around the world, even though they haven,'t had rain for many months, pick a time when you can go through the old house and stables.

The arboretum is the former estate of Lucky Baldwin. His home, a beautiful Victorian house on the bank of a small lake, is here. So is his carriage house & some carriages. The old Arcadia train station is also preserved here. The gardens are lovely. Beautiful plants, a small lake, a waterfall & stream. A nice place to go on a beautiful day.

Very nice and quiet for photo taking and walking.
Free parking.
There was a no water in the lakes now. Not sure because of the season or other reason.

We spent a pleasant morning walking this large and we'll cared for Park. There is a wide variety of pleasant for those interested, and easy walking trails. The peacocks were stunning. The Arboretum is well worth the visit.

A must visit for anyone who lives in Los Angeles! The LA Arboretum is GIANT! There is so much to see here that it’s nearly impossible to see it all in a day! Obviously it’s all about the plants and gardens here… but there is so much more! There are a number of historic buildings and structures including a historic train station to see and explore! Like animals? Sure you’re guaranteed to see peacocks galore… but you’ll see turtles, fish, frogs, amazing birds… and even a coyote on our last trip, haha.

After a lot of hiking around our family enjoys visiting the cafe for cold drinks and maybe even a snack. It’s such a delightful day! Highly recommend! Also, maybe get lunch or dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory while you’re in town!

This is one of our favorite places, well maintained and neat. Parking in the available parking lot could be an issue during events. But, there are a lot of parking spaces nearby.

A beautiful, calming world away from the highways of California. I was able to stretch my legs, visit plants and birds, and I was even able to find a private space to meditate under the trees. A favorite spot was the medicinal herb garden. The cafe isn't worth it. They will do well to update this with better quality food, and I think they would get more business.

Not a bad place but certainly have been to better abortions. The lack of signage is my chief complaint. There are forks in the path that really need to be marked. The maps that you receive do not show all of the paths. We ate at the cafe and the food was good and portions were appropriate. I had the ceaser chicken wrap it was huge. The peacocks were hanging out around the cafe so photo apps were abundant. The railroad stationwasopen and staffed with guides to give you history on the station and the area. There were not that many orchids in the hot house....but a few were blooming.

decided to go on tuesday when the park offered free admission. From downtown LA the trip was about 30 mins. The park is split into two areas (the africa/australia side, and then the other side with the waterfalls/ turtle pond and baldwin lake). we ventured towards the latter and enjoyed out walk. Super hot day, bathrooms are sparse so make sure to use the restroom at the ticket office and refill your water bottles. Waterfall is most scenic part of the park.

I had a wonderful afternoon walking around this area. I've never seen cactus so huge and interestingly weird. Although it looks a bit dry it is still worth the walk.

My second time coming to this venue for a summer concert. ,y friend and I sat on the lawn (bring a blanket and picnic) for a Trace Adkins performance. I felt like I wasn’t in LA, but a small town where everyone was hanging out and enjoying the bandstand. There are tables where you can pay a bit more which are in front of lawn seating. The performances at the Botanic Gardens tend to be shorter than other concert venues, but the ticket prices are low and the environment so appealing. Of course the gardens here are lovely. I have been here during the day and it’s a lovely activity. There are peacocks on the premises too. They don’t hang out in the concert area, but if you head to the bathrooms, you will see them.

This oasis is like a not so secret get away in the city of Arcadia. It is well maintained and simply a gorgeous place to relax, unwind, take memorable photos and learn about various plants from far away places. A visit here is a must. 🙂👍🏼

Mesmerized with gardens and the peacocks. Only plaxe you would see peacock crossing the busy road.
Tranquil place

Lazy stroll enjoying flowers and botanical wonders. Farmer's market and historical structures. Available to rent for weddings and special events.

Great walking areas, with lots of beautiful flowers. Enjoyed the displays at the Arboretum, it was quiet as we were there during the week!

It's such a beautiful place, I honestly think it's the most beautiful garden I've been to. It's reasonably priced and has so many gorgeous spots. There are peacocks everywhere and if you ever wanted to see one with open tail, you probably will. The waterfall is also very beautiful and relaxing. I highly recommended this place, it's fun for all ages and very romantic for couples. It was not very crowded, so we really enjoyed our visit.

Ebery summer, my 9 years old son join the summer camp here.

It is so educational for young kids 5 to 10. The people are so nice, and taking young kids learn about trees, flowers, wild gees ... a lot of outdoor fun.

They have different subject every week through out thw whole summer, if you have a young kid, bring them, the teenager Capitans will lead them to the nature !

Thank you for the wonderful programes !

I lived in Altadena for 8 years and going to Arcadia was a 15 minute drive. The arboretum is beautiful and has many different types of flowers and cacti. It has expanded somewhat but it is such a beautiful place to spend a sunny Sunday.

The grounds are huge and it has definitely taken a more botanical route than in the past. Some of the older structures are gone but the grounds remain beautiful with an amazing mix of flora. The peacocks are bold and seem to take pleasure in strutting around the gardens and parking lots. Plan on doing alot of walking!

This is a great place to take kids where they can explore , run around , see many kinds of ducks and birds and peacocks to see.
There is a jungle , a lake , stables , an Indian encampment and so much more !
You can take kids there again and again and there is always more to explore !
For locals , their annual pass is well worth
the price .
One of the few places left where kids can be free to run around !

It is a beautiful place to enjoy the outdoors or picnic. Beautiful plants/flowers/lakes and grounds.

My wife and I stopped here, during the day, on New Year's Eve. Not being from the area we weren't sure what to expect. We wound up spending 4-5 hours here. It is lovely and peaceful and the prices both in the cafe and gift shop were very reasonable. Also, the peacocks strolling the grounds were beautiful and added a pleasant charm to the ambiance.

Absolutely bowled over by these stunning gardens… a real gem. It has a wonderfully diverse range of plant/animal life.

Should leave a day open as it is a big place they have tours and trams but we walked. Its a wonderful place and very friendly we had fun.

Full of local history and Lucky Baldwin, who used to own virtually all of Arcadia, a wide range of plants, trees and shrubs (and an extensive library and tram tour, should you wish to know more about them), and one of the biggest selections of bird life in the world. Great for birdwatchers. Abundant residents, peacocks, spread their glorious tail feathers to give you a show. A lot of fun to peek in the rooms at the Queen Anne Cottage and stables, with carriages and other artifacts from the early days, and the nearby adobe cookhouse. Great for all ages, particularly in our (usually) fabulous Southern California weather.

A large and peaceful garden with trees and plants from all over the world, "California gingerbread" style old buildings that have appeared in many TV shows, and many peacocks. It's far away from Hollywood attractions, but can be combined with a visit to the Huntingdon Library.

but bound to be interrupted by the calls of the peacocks! Yes, those delightful peacocks among the serene scene. Be aware that it is against the law to bother them. They have the right of way, I am told. The trees here are beautiful and it is a nice place to get away from the hustle of city life. And to get away from spending too much at the mall which is just down the road.

Honestly, the people there are very nice and it was cool to see all the peacocks running around, but a very dull place unless you’re FASCINATED by plants.

The biggest cactus and succulent show in the area has the most displays for award winning cactus and succulents. It is amazing how people can grow such cool plants.

The show and sale is free, however, there is an admission to the Garden. The garden offers 127 acres of beautiful grounds and a waterfall, lake, and more. Be sure to have your best walking shoes. Regular admission is $9. and for seniors and children $6. Members of the San Gabriel cactus garden club go into the show first w/o paying admission. Get there early....parking gets full quickly.

After purchasing plants, they will hold your plants so you can go visit the gardens. I'm not sure if they offer a tram to get around, but it would be difficult for people who can't walk long distances.

I would recommend the LA County Arboretum & Botanic Garden and the annual San Gabriel Cactus and Succulent Show & Sale held in August.

Even as a tourist, clearly worth a visit - the peacocks, the vegetation and simply breathing in the fresh air during these COVID times, made our 2 hour visit a very pleasant one. Bring along a good camera - it was a cool day - would have enjoyed it more had it been a warm, sunny day!

Amazing place to wall around and enjoy with the little ones. I'm from another country and fisrt time I see the plans from there.. so much memories Came to my mind. Awesome place

Spent a great day walking around here. Really enjoyed it, the number of oriental trees are amazing, and includes the 'mousetrap' tree from Madagascar (the fruit is used as a mousetrap !
Timing was good as there were peacock chicks wandering around with their mothers...
Would avoid in high summer as not a lot of shade.

We truly love the arboretum. It's a great place to walk around while enjoying all the flowers, trees, and of course, the peacocks. An ideal day at the arboretum would include a picnic basket, so that you can lay out a blanket by the lake or under a tree and just enjoy what nature has to offer. In addition, walking the entire park is a great way to get a low-impact workout without really feeling like you're exercising (just remember to bring comfortable shoes). If you don't feel like packing a meal, there is a coffee shop where you can get sandwiches and small bites as well as beverages. They usually have exhibitions going on, and of course there is a historical aspect to the place as well. But for me, it's a place where you can take a break from it all, whether with family or friends, or to enjoy your own company and get lost in your thoughts amid all that beauty.

Awesome venue! We saw Leanne Rimes here. The event was very well put together. Pack your picnic with you adult beverages and enjoy nature.

Wander around and discover, the perennial garden, the Tropical Greenhouse and a magnificent array of trees.Small shop and cafe in the area.Sympathetic low entrance fee.ö

I love this place. We've been there with Rotary events as well as just us showing up. The grounds are impeccable, the explanatory ride through and the staff are terrific! And of course, a wonderful and varied selection of plants and trees.

Serene, tranquil, a sense of feeling in a zen like state of mind, this place was peaceful. I would love to have spent the entire day and next time I will. The weather was crisp and beautiful and the surrounding were heavenly. Highly recommend.

I've been coming to the L.A. County Arboretum and Botanical Garden for many, many years, because I simply love this place. It's huge, if there's a crowd it disperses quickly, because the place is so big. I often take walks and hang out in this "garden". It's divided into many different sections, there's also a lake with ducks, etc. The place is simply rejuvinating and pretty, with the mountains in the background. They offer tram rides and there's a gift shop and also restrooms. Their Cafe is nice to sit in for a burger and fries or just to enjoy a cup of coffee...actually, I prefer sitting outside on their terrace. Parking can be a little hard to find, as the place is quite popular, but it's well worth the trouble! Once inside, you forget about your woes. They also offer gardening classes, etc., though I've never taken any. This place is great for families with kids, or if you just want time away by yourself. I often see people tucked away on a bench, reading a book. Wonderful escape from the city!

Have you ever seen peacocks outside the zoo in the wild life? This is the place for you to experience wild-life peacocks! Be sure to come to Arboretum in the early morning, you would find a flock of peacocks. Also kids can run around the park and have fun!

This place is absolutely beautiful. From the trees to botanical gardens and let’s not forget the star attraction, wild peacocks. Absolutely a must if your in the Greater Los Angeles Area.

While we were visiting Arcadia, my mother and I went to this botanical park. I've seen a lot of botanical gardens, and this one was the greatest. There were magnificent gardens and many of peacocks roaming about! The hike took us approximately two hours, and it was quite pleasant and soothing. The Los Angeles County Arboretum is a must-see if you're in the Arcadia region and you like being outside! Would definitelly recommend!

Who knew there was a historic house and barn on the grounds of the LA Arboretum? I certainly didn't. Of course, I recognized it immediately when I was told that it was the house they used for the opening scenes of Fantasy Island! We happened to see a link for the tour on the Arboretum's website and it sounded really interesting. And it was incredibly interesting to learn about the history of the Arboretum (it use to be a ranch) and the history of Lucky Baldwin's Queen Anne Cottage and Coach Barn. That guy was a huge part of San Francisco during the gold rush and basically start Arcadia and built the Santa Anita racetrack. This is a MUST attend tour! They only have tours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so plan accordingly!

My boyfriend and I went on the hottest day of our trip (100 degrees), but it was our last day and we wanted to see the gardens, so we went anyway. We were planning on having lunch at the cafe, but we were there on a Monday and it is closed Mondays. Luckily the (very well air conditioned) gift shop had refrigerated beverages (and snacks). In fact, I bought a few birthday presents for friends in the gift shop.

The grounds are well maintained and are a nice, peaceful way to spend a day. We were there for a little over 3 hours and still didn't see everything. There is a man-made lake that, sadly (due to the drought), is fading away. We were told that they can add a minimum amount of water, enough to keep the existing wildlife alive.

There are plenty of peacocks and peahens around and don't forget to look up! We saw a few perched in trees. Lovely to look at (see attached photo).

The entrance fee is very reasonable ($9.00 for adults), and there are lots of interesting things to see and it's a nice way to get some fresh air & do a bit of walking. Don't miss the Queen Anne Cottage (we could only view from outside). It's the opening scene for the 1970's show, "Fantasy Island" where the bell was rung.

It's been years since we've visited the Arboretum, and we were delighted to see the improvements since.
The Arboretum was initially established as a demonstration growing area for horticultural introductions to the local California landscape during the building boom following WWII. Within the past 10 years, the mission has been refreshed to emphasize education and local community engagement. It is currently administered by a public/private partnership that balances resources and engages the community in an active way.
Aside from that, there are acres of lovely grounds for individuals, families and groups to enjoy year-round.

Expansive garden that offers many distinctive spices of beautiful trees and plants from all over the world. It also has a cute house once visited by the queen of England.

Overall this was a worthwhile visit and of course the peacocks are annoying yet fun to see. The gardens/arbor can take some time to walk and probably a bit tough in the summer. In my opinion areas of improvement, especially for those botanically interested would be much better labeling of plants ( many tags missing or broken), with the inclusion of a touch of natural history, common uses of the plants, palms and trees. The greenhouse was a little sad, neglected not forgetting that CA is dryer climate and maybe takes more effort with some water loving plants.

I originally plan going to Huntington Library to spend a relax sunny day. the parking lot was full so i change my plan to this garden. it is so wonderful. many different view with water fall, Japanese garden, rose garden, lake view, it also big enough to spend a half day alone or with family. Peacock is an add on special feature. Really love it.

This is a beautiful place to visit to relax and enjoy nature and God's creatures. When you drive up you are greeted by peacocks. This is a good outing for families to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and not have to drive too far.

In 2018, the festival debuted at the Arboretum during the holiday season at night. Tickets are available in advance on line. The arboretum is transformed into a visually stunning Asian-themed "zoo/garden/visual delight" of animals, flowers and other objects all created by well lit "magic lanterns" In addition to the exhibits, which are viewed by walking around the arboretum, there were a handful of food trucks and a performance stage which featured amazing Chinese acrobats, jugglers and dancers. Check the weather if you decide to go next year, as it was very cold the night we attended. This was a very unusual festival and we're glad we went. However, it wasn't so spectacular that we are likely to go back again next year. It is worth seeing once though.

The Los Angeles County Arboretum is a lovely place of peace in a very busy, crazy world. To walk through the gardens is so peaceful. Full of beauty and history, the grounds are the perfect escape from an otherwise hectic life. The gift shop contains little treasures that are so special. They also have plant sales often. I suggest you purchase an annual pass. Not only do you get the opportunity to walk the grounds, but you also get special hours as a pass holder. Not to mention you also get a discount in the gift shop. Don't forget to grab a bite to eat at the restaurant while you are there. One of my favorite escapes !
OH and a bonus!!! They have YOGA classes in the garden! The instructor is wonderful and what a better place to get in tune with your inner self?

We got passes so that we can enjoy the beautiful arboretum any time. It’s a great place for a walk or a run. The little cafe is very reasonably priced and there are picnic tables outside of the arboretum if you’d like to bring a lunch.

Getting around is not as easy as it could be, and staff to ask directions was not convenient. Also, the tram ride is scenic but we had a crying, grabbing child next to us that pretty much spoiled the ride. I suggest travelers try to aovid that when they sit.

We went here as a substitute for the Huntington garden and library which was closed on Tuesday. Surprising pleasant visit, nice walks with plants and trees nicely marked and even a special exhibit with paper lanterns of animals of all kinds. Wish we were able to return at night when the lanterns would be lit

It's an oasis in an urban surrounding. Located adjacent to the Santa Anita Racetrack and Westfield mall. It offers nature abound with ponds, waterfalls, rose garden, wild flowers, desert zone plants and cacti, a greenhouse and open landscaped spaces to walk and enjoys the sounds and sites of ducks, geese, peacocks and all types of birds.

Recommended for those interested in plants and curious about the various fruits on the trees. Lots of species that are spaced out in this large park.

Tips/Advice:
- Free tickets every 3rd Tuesday; Register at beginning of month.
- Parking is free
- Go early in the morning, depending on season can get hot by 11 AM with little shade
- Take the right side of the loop first (Africa and Australia). The left side is the forest and is shaded and cooler
- No food at the park, but a cafe at entrance and lots of places to eat nearby afterwards
- Expect to walk 12k steps for 2-3 hours

Highlights:
- Plumeria
- Meyberg Waterfall and Baldwin Lake
- Queen Anne Cottage
- peacocks & squirrels & various wildlife... bird, ducks, turtle. Startled a coyote as much as it startled us O_O
- different collections such as palm, bamboo, aloe
- check season for rose garden, herbs, and orchid garden in tropical greenhouse

A large arboretum with A LOT of peacocks, gardens and some historical buildings. I especially liked the aloe garden and the Australia area.

Calling all Plant and outdoor lovers!! Immerse yourself in nature this summer!!

The LA County Arboretum & Botanical Garden is a natural and historic wonder! It’s one of the nation's top tourist destinations! FREE DAY is the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Reserve online. Limited to 5 tickets per reservation. No outside food is allowed in the gardens, however, you can go to the Peacock Cafe for food.

They offer activities including concerts, nature and gardening classes. Arboretum Summer Nights with live music on select Fridays on the event lawn. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and have a picnic. They also have Goat Yoga with Hello Critter. @hellocrittercare For all activities, reserve online to ensure that you don’t miss out!!

This is a great arboretum and garden, but I found it on the pricier side when it comes to locaL gardens. True, it is not as expensive as the Huntington Gardens, but still pricey.

The shows that they have and special events are spectacular for the most part.

Definitely avoid weekends.

Great for a day out with Grandma and the kids. Something for everyone, in a beautiful calm and serene setting. Terrific gift shop too, with lots of botanic seeds and specimens. Peacock feathers available for $1 or so each!

Visited the Arboretum to see an iris show in Ayers Hall then decided to walk around the whole garden. I was impressed with the large quantity of mature flowering pink tabebuias and the fine collection of other trees, many in bloom. The peacocks add an exotic and colorful touch and the Canada geese with their young were fun to see. The collection of classic roses was very nice. At this time of year the many citrus trees in bloom around the rose garden add an air of romance.

If you're in to plants and horticulture etc., it's a fantastic place to visit. Lots of walking. It can be quite warm in the summer due to it being in the foothills. Queen Anne's cottage was very interesting and often there's a docent present to give some additional history. Bring some bread it you want to feed the ducks.

We booked to sit on the lawn for a 6:30 Concert featuring LeAnn Rimes. It was a lovely venue and a super activity. $12 per ticket including fees through the Pasadena Symphony website. (.50 cheaper than Goldstar.) started on time. Show was short, ending by 7:45. Would have loved more. They do not rush you out after the show so you can lounge for a while. You can enter grounds at 5pm. There are food trucks. Or you can bring in your own food and drink. Parking at arboretum $10. At Santa Anita race track with shuttle $6. Closer to the stage they set up tables. The tickets are higher$ for those seats-not sure the price. This is such a lovely activity. I'd do it again, for sure.

Walking in this park is our regular activity. Started last year, this park offers night time light show in around October to January. The show features a lot of animals and CHINESE ancient city structure and characters. The dragon when lit up at night, the reflection in the lake makes the dragon come alive. There is also an acrobatic show right near the entrance of the park. Parking is bit difficult with all the crowds. But you can park at the mall parking lot and take a shuttle bus to the park.

Beautiful walking, great views and different areas to experience like a rose garden, herb garden, Shakespeare plants garden and a short hike up to a panoramic scenic view.

The place was probably a stunner, many years ago. While the grounds are pleasant the years of neglect are apparent. Some of the areas are really quite nice while others are almost depressing (Australia and Africa, for sure). All the waterways are close to nasty: muddy and algae-ridden. Obviously, the gift shop is stellar, Don't go out of your way,

We had a very nice tour of the arboretum accompanied byTim Phillips.
Interesting collection of Madagascar's flora.

Great place to visits and spend time with the family. We enjoyed the gardens but wish there was options to purchase water along the way. That would be a huge income source I believe. But really great place.

The LA County Arboretum has so many aspects; you could visit many times and not exhaust your choices of what to do there: photography, walking for exercise, learn about drought resistant planting, see the historic Queen Anne Cottage and horse barn, see lots of peacocks, ducks, geese and pond turtles, walk in nature, learn about plants in the library. This month they are having a sculpture in the garden exhibit with fascinating sculptures placed strategically through out the garden. At the end of August they are having a plumeria festival with music and activities. They also have a restaurant and gift shop.

After breakfast at Jake's Roadhouse in Monrovia, we drove the short distance to the Arboretum. This wasn't our first visit here, but every time we go, I love it! This time we saw egrets, a pelican, and some hooded mergansers in the pond! There's no time of year that isn't beautiful to see, and of course the peacocks always make you feel like you're really in a special place!

I have been here many times, and always love being here. The gardens and walkways are lovely,t he flowers so pretty and the lakes are beautiful. Also came to a few concerts here, and it always so fun!

We totally loved it! There were lights everywhere! A lot of them were larger than life-size! Parking is free but a little difficult onsite. Even though were came an hour early, the parking lots were full. Fortunately, the Santa Anita Mall across the street has ample free parking.

The show was quite enjoyable. The benches are limited in number so they filled up quickly in spite of us getting to the stage area 15 minutes early.

We had a great time and would highly recommend to everyone.

I always enjoy walking The L.A. Arboretum, and the third Tuesday of every month you can enter free of charge. (Much easier than at The Huntington in San Marino, where you practically have to apply & then wait to "win the lottery!") The Arboretum doesn't have the exquisite Japanese & Chinese Gardens (or amazing Cacti Garden) as The Huntington, but it does boast rare species of plants from around the world, and 2 or 3 ponds + a giant waterfall. I love all the water features, but if you can't take heat & humidity, just know that it can feel super HUMID in there during the summer months! You can actually get a good workout at The Arboretum if you run up the road to the top of "the mountain!" (Top of the waterfall too!) Some of my favorite view spots are up there - great panoramas of The San Gabriels! Another of my favorite view spots is sitting on the patio outside The Peacock Cafe. From this outdoor dining area, you can look South across the vast expansive lawn to the great fountain, or you can gaze West (over their Southwestern-style cactus garden), OR you can look North towards the mountains. The Peacock Cafe has pretty good coffee (& flavored creamers!), some great sandwiches, and even a burger & fries grill. Nice place to share a casual lunch. (No wait staff - you order at the counter.)

The history of the Arboretum is quite interesting, and you can really get a feel for it when you read the plaques inside the old horse stables and around the Queen Anne Cottage. Twice a year (I think) they open that old Victorian home for tours! The Holiday Tour is my favorite when they actually decorate the rooms with vintage Christmas decorations from that era. I always see "flashbacks" of "Fantasy Island" when I view the "lake" by the cottage! So fun to get to revisit the place where they filmed that old TV show! I love the gift shop at The Arboretum because they're always changing it with the Seasons, and yet it also always carries out a Garden theme... You could walk fast and see most of the gardens in an hour, but it's better to take your time and really explore all that the whole place has to offer.

I've loved this place since I was a child playing hide&seek in the bamboo. It's a great place to walk, amble, teach, read, or just admire the flora and fauna. While the flowers and plants are gorgeous, the peacocks are absolutely amazing, and the ducks&geese provide entertainment.

My older children and I enjoyed the large park. Experiencing different climates and continents of flora. Enjoyed the large amounts of peacocks. Due to the drought in the state the ponds or lakes were low or dried up. Happy surprises were the coach house, and Victorian home from Fantasy Island, and the train depot. Note: it was not as enjoyable half way through due to the wildfires and the abnormal 106 degree heat! 2 hour minimum

We took my 4 year old granddaughter & were amazed by all the sights. Couldn't believe that peacocks were EVERYWHERE! Also enjoyed the turtle pond & fish along with lizards & rabbits. Lots of grassy areas for play & trails to explore beautiful plants.

The Los Angeles County Aboretum and Botanic Garden is a beautiful garden and arboretum with an amazing jungle of lush diverse plants. Yes, this is the site used to film Tarzan and if you are a fan of dinosaur movies, the views of bamboo gardens, unusual succulents, australian plants and the waterfall may feel familiar because Jurassic Park was filmed here also. Spend the day in these exotic gardens where peacocks walk freely and imagine your own adventure as you are surrounded by nature's loveliness. Bring your water, wear hats and sunscreen because it can get very warm.

Great place to take the family! The kids love the open air, the older members the plants, the really old enjoy the ADA compliant walkways. Take a picnic lunch and enjoy the peacocks! Or just walk for the exercise on over 2 miles of paths.
My family and I have been going to the arboretum for years. My wife and I went there when we were dating over 40 years ago. Yes, we are season pass holders. However, even the small entry fee is a good deal. Don't miss the many film locations, the historic train station, or the historic structures built by Lucky Baldwin ( one of the three railroad barons of the west)!

This is a very nice place, you can spend half day easy with a lot of fun, have your camera ready to take a picture of the peacock and peahen around you with their beautiful feathers. You will enjoy the gorgious green parrots on the trees. If you are interested to know the different species of plants, this is the right place to go to. Really you will enjoy the arboretum.

calm and lovely heaven for those who want to have a rest , like me . Was walking through the trees and enjoyin the fresh air <3 !

I have been a member for the past three years, enjoying the wide variety of plants and trees. Dozens of small signs educate visitors of the types of plants and trees there. Aside from the famous peacocks wandering the property, Baldwin Lake is home to ducks, geese, and occasionally herons and pelicans. Lost in the Australian, African, or native trees, you almost forget that you are in the suburbs of LA.

Took my mom to the arboretum and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. The staff is very helpful, and assisted with a wheelchair rental for my mom - which costs $10. They are available on a first come/first serve basis. All of the main paths were accessible by wheelchair. However, there are several dirt paths that are worthwhile - and a couple that border on being hikes. Take advantage of the map you will be given when you enter. It will help plan your walk to make sure you see everything. Also, there are signs along the way that confirm your location.

I wasn't too impressed with the food offerings at the Peacock Cafe. But the flowers, plants and trees you will see here more than make up for that!

The gardens are beautiful and peaceful. There is a lovely waterfall with picnic spots around it. They also have some historical areas that are very interesting and a lovely gift shop.

Trees, flowers, ponds, ducks, easy walking paths, large lawn areas for kids to run around in, rose garden, benches under flowering trellises to watch birds, sections with planting from other parts of the world, a children's garden, handy tram for small fee circles the large area, pleasant little cafe near tasteful gift shop offering plants as well as nature items. Great place to recharge your batteries and regain some sanity.

I love the library, and they have wonderful, knowledgeable librarians ... Lots of nursery catalogs, some periodical collections, and books. I really enjoyed the gift shop, as well.

We visited the gardens last week and were just amazed at the large number of peacocks that were just walking all around us, not in cages. The are so tame that you can get within 4 or 5 feet of them. They posed and turned and displayed their amazing feathers - we took so many photo's. Many of the gardens were nice, considering it was an overcast February day. Unfortunately, the gardens are not close to each other and we could not walk to many of them because of back issues. It's unfortunate that they did not have any tram system to move people between the gardens, since not everyone can walk those distances. I would love to go back to these gardens in the spring or summer, when I'm sure the flowers would be amazing. The grounds were in very nice shape and it was a nice visit. Wear comfortable shoes if you visit here and be sure to bring your camera.

Would love to visit in person. Beautiful place. I think my whole family would love a visit to California and see the places I visit virtually.

Just called arboretum to make sure the tram was in operation today because elderly friends are planning on visiting the arboretum today July 18th. and was told because of the weather (3 drops of rain) the tram is cancelled to run today and I asked if the tram would run later today and person that answered the phone said NO! Ruin the day for our visitors...Really !!! the weathr..

A remarkable journey of the botanical gardens, the Queen Anne Cottage, old stables, strolling peacocks and water fountain. I used to take my foster kids here to immerse them in nature and there is enough room for all to run and play while taking in a massive collection of plants. Fun times.

We have a membership for the Arboretum and have visited dozens of times over the years.

This trio the timing was right and we rode on the tram, which was very informative.

The arboretum itself was quite big and very beautiful. A huge variety of trails and plants. If you plan on coming take food which you can eat outside and then enter again with a stamp on the hand. The cafe isn't the best so I don't recommend eating there. The customer service was okay. It is typically very hot in Arcadia during this time of year so take plenty of H20.
Hope this helps.

If you like nature and walking, take a stroll here. We only saw half of this place, as the kids were getting tired. The waterfall and turtle pond were nice to look at. The walking paths are cemented and very wide. A grounds map is provided but we felt like more signage was needed along the paths to tell you what you were looking at and where you were going. The rest of the family went to the Faery Hunt event. It was not worth the $15. There was no hunt. Arm painting was done with markers. There was not enough stuff to do for the little fairies. Aside from that, the gardens are extensive.

What a spectacular event! Not to be missed! Must see!!! Get show of lights, entertainment and food trucks for the whole family to enjoy. Dress warm.j

Spent over 2 hrs and didn't see everything. Stopped several times to relax and take in the views, great variety of plants, etc. Asked at the entrance for some suggestions what was best at the time and this was helpful. Most plants, trees and flowers had labels many never heard of before. Loved the huge Floss silk trees and the tulip trees. Do not miss the waterfall area, especially on a warm, sunny day.

Fun to see where Fantasy Island and many other movies and TV shows were filmed. Very nice gift shop. "Art in the Garden" was interesting, lots of different styles of art and statues. The succulent and Spiny Forest area is very interesting. The cafe is excellent. The peacocks are beautiful and very loud!

If you're in the area you really should see this. Just lovely gardens and a beautiful walk in an area where it seems all people want to do is go shopping. A nice change.

I have been to the Arboretum many times as a local and it is beautiful there. It's a great place to take pictures and take a stroll while enjoying nature. Definitely recommend visiting at least once!

I am very biased, as I have been a member here for a decade. I greatly enjoy the arboretum no matter what the season, even after the big tree blow-over several years ago. You can chase the peacocks -- not sure you should -- and take lots of pictures as they have little fear of people. You can grab a beverage at the cafe and work for hours at the little outdoor tables. You can walk to above the waterfall and wend your way back down. You can walk in the rose garden or sit quietly watching the lake. You can even do yoga some evenings with a class under the trees!

Keep your money in your pocket and skip the 2023 Lightscape walkthrough this year! The entire family was very disappointed and had expected to enjoy the garden all decked out with lights and displays, as in years past. This years Lightscape is definitely not up to the standards we have come to expect from the Arboretum, and I do not expect we will make plans to attend Lightscape in 2024.

I love this arboretum! Either for a morning walk/jog or just to get some fresh air and escape the chaos of the city. I've been here multiple times and there is always something different blooming from Aloe to Magnolias and Lotus Blossoms. Make sure to check the event calendar to see what is going on at the garden sometimes they have events for the kids.

On the third Tuesday of every month you get in free! And what a treat it proved to be, as soon as we got in the gardens there were peacocks and some glorious plants and sculptures. A pleasant walk led us to the Austrailian snake trail...a path in the shape of a snake. Kids loved this...We then wandered to the waterfall, most of the plants had a description on them, being English pleased to see the Shakespeare Herb Garden and the English Oak trees! We saw lizards, turtles, rabbits,butterflies, fish, humming birds and the lovely peacocks. Glorious....

If you are a lover of beautiful nature you must see this miracle. Very well designed gardens and good atmosphere. Thanks for creating a beauty.

Took a friend from out of town to see the arboretum. She enjoyed a lot and got to see the peacocks. Was a good time!

Great place to escape hectic city life. It has several sections that have their own unique plant displays from tropical to California native along with the historical Queen Anne cottage from the Lucky Baldwin era of the 1880's. There is also a waterfall and 2 lakes on the property which attract ducks and geese. The peacocks add to the natural beauty too.

I have been a member of this arboretum for about 15 years, ever since I first moved to Arcadia. Since then there have been HUGE positive changes to the grounds. New gardens, paths, sculptures throughout. Kudos to whomever took over as director. I will continue to renew my membership to support this lovely place.

The Arboretum is a nice oasis in the midst of the San Gabriel Valley which is part of the suburban sprawl of Los Angeles. It has a very nice variety of plants and trees from around the world. It is also educational in its layout regarding conservation and water saving. The grounds are clean. If you like peacocks, this place is ruled by them.

We had a nice day with the peacocks showing off their feathers. It was a beautiful day to take portrait or nature photos. The walking areas was nice and easy not too bad for anyone, flowers were beautiful and you can enjoy sitting outside on the cafe patio with friends and family. They are busy on the weekend but definitely worth going to once.

I hadn't been here in many years and visited recently. It's a beautiful place with lots to explore. It's fine to spend a few hours here and relax enjoying the plants. They have occasional plant shows and sales, which are pretty amazing.

Good variety of botany if that's what you're interested in. If not, it's still a nice place for a stroll or even work-out. Watch out for the geese... they are angry :).

This is a large green space filled with a great variety of plants, trees and shrubs. There are flowers although none were in bloom the day I visited. There are a few water features and animals-peacocks, rabbits, squirrels and many kinds of other birds. There are numerous side trails to explore and get among the trees. The place is really too large to see in it's entirety in one day.

There is a cafe and small gift shop. The entrance fee is a reasonable $9 for adults. Bring a camera. It's a great place for a relaxing walk.

I took one of my Australian cousins here, because he is what is called an "arborist" in his country, and he really loved it. It was lovely, and the walking is good exercise.

I have visited the Garden on several occasions now - during the week and on the weekend - and must say that is a wonderfully relaxing place where the plants are constantly changing which makes each visit special.

The Arboretum and Garden is large and I expect it would take the whole day if you wanted to see the whole of it while on foot. My visits have lasted about 3 hours - in that time I have seen half of the park. They do offer tram tours on some weekends at specific times, but I have not done one of them yet!

If you enjoy photography, bring your camera along and spent lots of time taking photos of the unique and varied plants and trees - and the peacocks which the Arboretum is known for. I have also found butterflies, rabbits and squirrels. It did not seem to make much difference as to time of day or day of the week - you will find yourself alone in parts of the Garden.

At the end of my last visit, I walked through the Celebration Garden which is right inside the entrance - what an amazing spot just tucked away! It is filled with sculpture and some seating areas - I will definitely be back to this spot!

The $9 entrance fee is very reasonable and will offer many hours of enjoyment in Los Angeles.

A little pricey but the cafe is decent and I love seeing the peacocks . Beautiful scenery, great for taking pictures.

Very nice quiet intriguing place to visit. I enjoyed walking around the arboretum when I went. It was peaceful and very beautiful. I loved being able to walk around the gardens and read where the plants and trees came from and the different species of birds.

This was a beautiful place to visit . It's very clean . If it was not near a busy street it would be very quiet and peaceful. Only thing not so good was that some water areas were dried up .

We went for this light festival to walk through a wonderful fantasy land of lights showing dragons, fishes, butterflies, tigers and more. Food trucks. Chinese acrobats. A fantasy for an hour or more... Daytime experiences feature large grounds and ample walking paths.

I don't know how many acres they have of flowers and plants, but there has to be a lot. And then there are the Peacocks. This is one of the most non-stressful places I know of in the valley. Easy walking paths, motor driven trolleys for the less adventurous, and a great display area of natural artifacts found in the Arcadia/Sierra Madre areas. Owned by "Lucky" Baldwin in the 1800's, this is a subtle adventure that you can take anyone on.

This location is not too far from LA and is definitely worth the drive. It's beautiful, reasonably priced and very rewarding. From the gorgeous peacocks that roam the grounds, to the Queen Anne cottage that can be seen in various TV shows and movies, to the enchanting waterfalls and rose garden this is a great place to visit. We were there about 2 hours and only saw about half of it. The grounds have good signage and it's easy to walk the paths.

A neighbor's son had his wedding and reception there. It was very nice except for the heat and humidity that day. The peacocks were a bit annoying also, but all in all a great time. Lots of pretty flora.

This county park is a wonderful resource for the area. A good place to visit for a walk, photography, or educational purposes.

Evening concerts are a staple of the Arboretum. We arrived a bit late and did not have seats at a table. Price seemed high for bring your own chairs to the lawn... at a significant distance from the stage. The Jumbotrons were near the stage and didn't help those in the lawn seats. Operators were not focused on the soloists so you barely could see what was being magnified. Also, the sound was not particularly good. We were seated just by the reflecting pool, so I don't think anyone with lawn seats was closer. Not a big hit with us.

This was an amazing experience for my family! We paid extra for the tram tour since it was our first time. The Peacock Café prices were very reasonable and the food was good. Peacocks and peahens were everywhere which was really nice! Got some great quality pictures of my kids and the landscape. My husband was the most impressed with everything. If I had let him, he would have stayed for many more hours but we had to leave to head back to Vegas. A little tip if you travel a lot or have a family: get the membership! The membership was $62 for a year and can be used at a lot of botanic gardens and preserves around the country. Here in Vegas, entrance for our family of 4 would be about $51, but now we can get in for free.

Pass by this place all the time for several years now and finally got my butt in here thanks to the #localadventurechallenge! What a gorgeous, peaceful place to meander around!

Super easy to find right off Baldwin in Arcadia near the horse racing track. Lots of paved parking. With Covid precautions now you have to buy your ticket online in advance and the entries are timed. It’s very easy to social distance here...tons of pathways to get lost on!

I loved the rose gardens and all the beautiful irises (my fave flower!!!) and the Victorian architecture!! It’s so lovely! There’s lots of ponds and lakes and benches to sit on with mountain views in the distance! I especially enjoyed all the peacocks walking around! And they get so close to you! Fascinating!

Will be glad when this pandemic is over so we can go into the houses and museums again! They look so nicely! Will definitely be back!

Arcadia and Pasadena are the two places in LA to see peacocks walking on the streets and up on the trees, and the LA Arboretum is a natural place to see peacocks in a park environment. It is a very relaxing place to visit and walk around. It is a great place for family and kids.

The Arboretum for the Peacocks, Concerts in the park, or just a day to have a picnic among the beautiful plants and trees. Many movies have been shot here. One of So.Californias hidden treasures.

The place is much larger than what it seems from the outside. Check the map before you start walking so that you can focus your energy on what you want to see. Have been here on different seasons, fall and spring, in my opinion, are the best times to come, although I am told by one of my friends, that the place gets all decked out for the holidays. Down in the center of the arboretum, if you are over 40, you will recognize the house and the lagoon from the intro to the Fantasy Island TV show ("the plane, the plane!" remember that?) they also have Lucky Baldwin's house and you can peek through the windows to see the historical furnishings. The orchids in the tropical gardens section are beautiful, the perennials garden is also pretty even when some of the plants are not in blooming season. The gift shop has probably some of the nicest selection of items that I have seen in my travels, not inexpensive for some things, but if you see something you like, buy it - as I didn't get an ornament thinking that I could find it on Amazon and no such luck. I do not remember if they have a food concession, but right across the street is a large shopping center with the usual restaurants.

Visited as a spur of the moment trip . Was lovely with good selection of plants as well as beautiful peacocks in the grounds

This is a large and lovely garden with many different plant zones. Africa, Australia, prehistoric forest. And many opportunities to get a photo of a peacock in full display mode. The only drawback was the wood chipper running incessantly the entire time I was there. Rather spoiled my enjoyment, but hopefully this isn’t a regular occurrence.

This is a large garden with many different sections. All are well done and interesting. It is packed with species i'd never seen before. the peacocks and variety of wild birds add to the charm

I visited the Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia last July, so I have seen the best garden in existence. The Arboretum is definitely not on the same level as Butchart, but it is beautiful in its own way. I loved seeing all the peacocks and geese free to roam the premises. I spent 2.5 hours at the gardens and walked over 3 miles. The $9 admission was super reasonable for all I got to see. The volunteers tending to the gardens were extremely helpful and dedicated. They clearly take great pride in their work. The only downsides to the Arboretum are the freeway noise and the lack of shade. Wear a hat, and take water with you. Overall, I highly recommend a visit to the Arboretum.

A beautiful location to stroll through lunch gardens, wooded environs and muse at a lagoon. Wonderful place to gather your thoughts, meditate or just walk.

A great place to visit to get away from the city. It's tranquil and relaxing. Peacock roam the grounds. Great place for taking wedding pictures.

For a fairly cheap price you get access to some beautiful gardens, trails and historical cottages. There are so few parks and such sparse greenery in LA that this place is a small oasis just outside the cement city. It's cheaper than Huntington Gardens (also worth seeing, but very different). Once there, you encounter some peacocks that roam freely and scenery that makes you forget you are anywhere near a city.

And- it's free the third Tuesday of every month.

We did go on a very hot day but still. "Lake Baldwin" was a mere ghost of its former self and the grounds were in need of better signage. Overall, I was disappointed.

We spent the whole day here and ate twice at the café. Lots to see and do! The Australian and African collections were phenomenal!

The ubiquitous peacocks were pretty funky too.

For those interested in birdwatching, there was lots to see including California scrub jay and red whiskered bulbul.

If you visit the beautifully kept grounds of this Park.....it's quite huge, you may come across a white gingerbread type house sitting close to a pond. if you are older than my grandchildren you may remember the opening scene of a TV series called Fantasy Island where the, clad in white "owner" and his, also clad in white, diminuiative assistant utters the famous opening dialogue: De plane, de plane......................as another weekly batch of worldy visitors arrive via a seaplane. YUP that's the house!
Of course the gardens are nothing to sneeze at...….with beautifully maintained paths, flowers, trees etc.

We visited this beautiful showcase of Chinese lanterns at night during the Christmas/New Years holiday. Just happened upon a flyer and thought we'd give it a try. It was a stunning showcase of culture. Some of the exhibits are interactive. There is a stage with Chinese acrobats performing. I don't know about the Botanic Garden, but if you're in or near Arcadia during this event, I recommend going!

Large attraction that interests adults and children. Grounds are well kept and signage tells us the names of plan, trees and flowers. Unusual colourful plants sparked a 3 year old to ask " what's that ?!?" Areas are devoted to one area of the world providing a visual for a place many will never see in person. Original buildings and contents are available to see from the windows keeping the items pristine. Peacocks gave us quite a show ! Will return 😃

This is a wonderful location to enjoy nature and just wonder around looking at beautiful things. There are so many ecosystems to enjoy. Its like visiting many different countries in one day.

From the peacocks (male and noisy) to the waterfalls and turtles sunning themselves on flat rocks, the LAC Arboretum is a treat for the senses. And that's just the beginning. Towering trees covered in purple flowers, golden poppies, red bottle brush. The colors are vivid and arresting. We spent two hours in a world free of virus and worry, returning home refreshed.

The Arboretum is a magical place & one that deserves time to discover & explore. This review speaks to only one of their programs Forest Bathing. To see what else this wonderful place has to offer check their website.
Our guide for our Forest Bathing experience was Jackie. As she explained, this wasn’t a nature walk but an opportunity to release the stress of every day with an assist from nature.
Two members were highly skeptical that this new age mumbo-jumbo would have any impact on them. However, after a couple of hours of guided introspection, we all felt rested & refreshed in a way usually associated with the elusive “good night’s sleep”.
Whether you are visiting or live in LA, make time for the Arboretum on your list of things to do. Whether you are fortunate enough to have a schedule that can include Forest Bathing or just spend couple of hours wandering the grounds, it will be “worth the journey”.

Enjoyed a beautiful day at the arboretum. I saw a hummingbird up close and a peacock for the very first time! Also, the house used for the opening of Fantasy Island! Couldn't help but laugh and call out "de plane..de plane" as a small Cessna happened to be flying by!

Wonderful place to mingle with beautiful flowers, gardens, peacocks, and
enjoy fresh air and open space. Please allow several hours to relax and
stroll.

We went and saw the moonlight forest magic lantern festival and it was magical!!! I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for things to do in the la area.

We went to the arboretum on a very warm morning, but found a good deal of shade as we walked. Our favorite area was the exhibit of Madagascar plants--so strange, and most plants had diabolical thorns! Very interesting. Don't miss a visit to the historic depot at the edge of the arboretum (easy to not notice it). The docents inside are very nice and informative about life in the depot way back when (the stationmaster lived on the second floor). It might not be open every day, so check first. Need lunch? The Peacock Cafe was a lovely spot (indoors and cool, fortunately) with a nice menu and surprisingly good food--as well as peacocks posing in the trees just outside the big windows. :-) The arboretum's gift shop is very nice as well. Overall, an affordable and very pleasant experience. (One caution: The maps they give you are quite hard to follow and the various paths are not well marked in places.)

Go on the third Tuesday of each month. It's FREE!!!

Great day outing to a botanical garden. Loved all of the flowers and different regions of plants. Sad to see the pond is under restoration and the fish flailing around. And wish the house was open all the time. Guess that means I will need to go back next month.

Tips
- bring water
- wear walking shoes
- outside food is allowed inside so bring a picnic lunch
- bring an umbrella or wear a hat

Get there early for parking, and to do the walking tour early. If you get there for the second entrance, 7:30, the traffic just to get to the location and to try to get into the facility is a huge traffic jam. Avoid that car mess by doing first entry at 5:30. It's an easy light walking stroll around the park to see the light up sculptures. Some attractions get crowded but you can move around. Again get there early at 5:30 opening to see all. Only negative thing is taking photos of yourself and friends. All photos even with flash or night vision on cameras the pictures still come out blurry. Very very difficult for pictures to come out cause of dark night. If you take pictures of the sculptures those will be fine. But once someone gets in front to pose near sculptures it wont work. The park should put better lighting around the sculptures so all poses can work. Worth the visit once. No need to repeat.

Looking for a relaxing afternoon? Well this is the place. We took the baby and strolled the grounds for 4 hours. Of particular interest to myself was "Madagascar". I suppose it was flora from that island but I didn't stop to read. We had lunch down the road at the mall but there is a cafe in the Arboretum if one needs a snack.

I was a wonderful experience even my husband liked this one better than a few other ones we have been to. The kids had an amazing time taking pictures of the peacocks and the flowers would go back again #1 in our list still have other to check out in California.

Tropical, Australian, African gardens, historic buildings and wildlife sanctuary with their famous peafowl.

Very nice place to spend a few hours, walking around and getting away from the hustle and bustle, without leaving the city. Especially close to Pasadena, but not very far from downtown (depending on traffic)

Good variety of plants, cacti, palms, and medicinal herbs.
some plants were not very well labeled, especially in the herb garden. Perhaps the draught is to blame, but the herb garden looked a little shabby overall.
There is a large rose garden area, which is gorgeous and smells divine!
There are peacocks all over the place, and they make some strange noises, I am used to animals, but I actually found them and all the noises kind of strange.

A very interesting park across from the Santa Anita Race Tracn and the Arcadia Mall. Beautifully lkept varied gardens. Wonderful place for summer night concerts and available for rental for large parties - we held a wedding reception here

The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is an excellent place to escape the pressures of the day while getting some much needed exercise at the same time. Most family doctors will advise their patients that walking is the best form of exercise to maintain heart health, minimize weight gain and maintain muscle tone. This is the perfect place; no cars, no unattractive retail outlets and office buildings, just trees and grassy fields. The Arboretum is large enough so you can walk around for hours and only see a few people. If you are looking to escape for a while and solitude in comfortable surroundings is your goal; this is the perfect place. The gift shop also has some nice items that you will find only at their store. If you are into nature photography besides the attractive landscape there is also some wildlife in residence. I am a person who works in an office all day and walking outside and finding the view is better in my office, becomes disheartening at times especially if you were around years ago when L.A. County had many beautiful locations. If you need to escape for a day or just a few hours, the Arboretum in Arcadia is the perfect place.

Love going there doing my morning walk so peaceful ... Love the peacocks all over the place. The waterfall they have is beautiful

We had a wonderful time walking around the gardens. There were so many beautiful flowers and trees. Nice waterfall.

The turtles, fish, and peacocks were nice to see as well. It's such a relaxing place. A great escape from our busy day to day lives.

This arboretum used to be the jewel of Los Angeles. Since they've been hit with funding, things have gone down a little bit. But they are doing a great job to stay afloat and to provide a place for people to enjoy the garden environment in the foothill of San Gabriel Valley. Since the drought has hit California hard, this arboretum has also become a victim. The landmark pond has dried up taking away the beauty once enjoyed by millions over the decades of its existence. There are so many things here to see and learn. So, I highly recommend it to children of all ages.

We walked here before going across to Santa Anita Park. The grounds of the Arboretum are beautiful. We were there in winter so it was fairly dormant but there it still a lot of greenery. The waterfall and peacocks were the highlights. You can choose a shorter walk or a longer one depending on which paths you take. Will definitely come back if we're in the area again.

Beautiful grounds and relaxing experience walking around the gardens. It was great exercise and enjoyable to see such nice trees, vegetation and flowers as well as bird life and turtles.

If you have a botanical garden membership, you could visit all others gardens in Los Angeles for free. Otherwise its $9 for adult admission, $6 for senior/students, free for children under 4. We went last weekend which they had the Tarzan theme and lots of display, photo booth, crafts. Besides they always had peacocks roaming around for photographing. A great place for families, where the path are well paved and smooth, lots of trees, flowers and gardens. The Queen's Anne Cottage and the waterfall are the highlight of the walk. The only thing is they do not have too many benches to rest and few bathrooms- only close to the entrance and on the other end of the garden. Parking in the front .

lots of plants, animals and attractions to see, can be relaxing for nature lovers and interesting for kids

Great place to take a walk on a beautiful day surrounded by luscious gardens near the Santa Anita racetrack in Arcadia, CA.

On any given day you will see Arcadia's famous peacocks along with other indigenous fowl.

You will also see a historic train stop and read about Lucky Baldwin's ties to the area.

Great Arboretum, spend some quality relaxed time walking through beautiful gardens of LA Arboretum. If you are walking it could be about 2-3 hour activity.

The Arboretum is such a nice retreat from the city, even if it's just a few hours that you spend there. I definitely recommend a visit here!

There is a beautiful family event in the garden filled with lanterns. It is a great event for young and old. Would recommend for all ages. We absolutely loved it and hope it becomes a tradition.

This really is the perfect place to have a beautiful relaxing walk. Spend a couple hours Mannering around the different paths and enjoying the beautiful landscapes, waterfalls, lakes, fountains and especially the magnificent peacocks.

One of my most favorite places to take a leisurely stroll, or or chill under a tree with a good book. The peacocks are everywhere and they do like putting on a show, but it's best to keep your distance, as they are wild and not always friendly. I love the rose garden and walking along the pond. At any given time you may also come across a film crew, as numerous commercials, TV, movies and music videos have been filmed there and still are. I don't reccomend going when it's hot because there is alot of walking involved if you really want to enjoy the whole arboretum experience

A great place to spend a few hours or the entire day. Especially the Rose Gardens !
Right now, (April & May) the roses are in full bloom, and super to admire, smell, and
take pictures. There are many other great gardens to explore. The Peacock Cafe is
really special to relax and enjoy a snack or meal.

It is not too big and good place for a very pleasant walk. Unless you have a good sense of direction, you will wander around and wonder where you are. But that’s what nature is about.

Went to the Arboretum for a wedding. It's a gorgeous place! So much to see! I wish I had come earlier to walk throughout all the garden, but our visit was limited to the wedding cerimony location. The Rose Garden. Will definitely go back if I'm back in California.

Don't miss the Arboretum! Start with the tram ride to get an overview of the grounds. Then check out the tropical green house, Queen Anne Cottage and other special gardens.

We walked around for a couple of hours and had a very nice time here. It's a lovely space with various interesting zones.

This is a great place to visit for a day or half day. Nice and peaceful walk with lovely peacocks around. Beautiful gardens, among them I enjoy the amazing desert garden, and green house with different orchids flowering.

We came here on a warm summer morning to see the cactus and succulent show, which was amazing in terms of variety and unusual plants. We then took off on some of the trails. There are a lot of visitors on the weekend so I recommend arriving by 10 or 11 am to get good parking. A bottle of water and sun hat are also a good idea. You will see and hear peacocks, and we ate lunch at the suitably named Peacock Cafe which was reasonable in price and offered tasty food.

I arrived just after 10 and sorry to say I missed the Docent guided tour. I used the map given to me when I purchased my ticket and walked around the beautiful grounds. The peacocks were fascinating and quite vocal. I found the Madagascar Spiny Forest particularly interesting. Some of the plants are like sculpture. I highly recommend a visit. Although the parking lot looked nearly full there was not a feeling of crowds.

This Arboretum contain different plants from different area, is a bird sanctuary, with different kind of birds at different season. The historic Queen Anne Cottage and Coach Barn, the Adobe and the Santa Anita railroad depot. Green grass and clear fountain, great relax and picnic place. Different flowers bloom at different season, The best time visit is early spring. The place also set up different garden ideas to let you use in your own garden. There is a big mall cross street, and many good restaurants south of the place.

I had some time to burn and was close by so I fell into this experience by chance. I was blown away by how incredible this natural space was and it was massive. I was able to enjoy botanicals from around the world and got a chuckle out of all the peafowl and even got to see some of their ugly young ones! I would go out of my way to get to this great attraction.

I really liked the waterfall with the turtles. The front entrance with the fountain is also nice. Liked the California water garden, too

There was beautiful fruit trees and relaxing place to visit. Being from canada - im not used to seeinf tasty fruits on trees. I didnt really get the history of the place so didnt know why the garden was there. Came here for a wedding photo op. The monitor who hosted us was informative and nice. However once we entered the gift shop, the older lady who was working -- was totally out right rude. I'm used to a greeting when I enter. Not the other.
So that soured our trip - but the garden was nice. I just don't recommend going to the gift shop.

We went on a Saturday morning in April. It was a beautiful sunny day, but not too warm. We went on a guided tour with a few other people and it was extremely informative. Our guide was a real nice older lady and she really enjoyed her work. We had a very nice walk through the entire gardens, which is a large area, and were fascinated by the history of the place. The highlight was seeing the carriage house and the Queen Anne cottage, though the cottage was not open to the public at that time. You could look through the windows though. Peacocks run free there and are something to see. There are great opportunities for taking pictures and just enjoying nature in the middle of one of the busiest cities on earth. The price for seniors was very reasonable and well worth it. The only disappointment is the fact that we are in a drought and the water level on the lake is very low. sad to think of the glory days of Hollywood when so many movies were filmed around that lagoon. I will advise you to wear comfortable shoes and bring water. There is a nice little snack bar type restaurant there but it was a little crowded so we did not eat there.

Such an amazing place to spend the day with family. Lots of walking so be sure to wear appropriate walking/comfy shoes. I would suggest visiting when the weather is cool, such as today, first day of spring. You’re outside and doing a lot of walking you can definitely get tired & hot. But such a wonderful experience learning about different & unique plants and trees from all over the world. The waterfall is very nice too. Have fun!

This 127 acre botanical garden and arboretum was the home of "Lucky" Baldwin, who planted many different trees, including myriad varieties of citrus, but also tropical plants (including bananas). It has been expanded to include gardens of plants from Australia and Africa, and there is a tropical greenhouse with some gorgeous orchid specimens.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Admission includes a map of the gardens. But, if one is available, I recommend a guided tour, which are offered Tuesday - Friday at 10, and 10:30 on Saturday (tours not available on the "free" third Tuesday of the month, however, NOR DURING THE MONTHS OF AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER).
2. Baldwin's train depot is only open certain days, and tours of it are offered Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 -4, and Sundays 1 - 4. AGAIN, NOT DURING AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER!
3. If you decide to see the gardens yourself with the map, I suggest taking the paths through the various areas, rather than just walking on the road around the outside of each section - you will see a lot more plants "up close and personal" that way.
4. The "cottage" is only open once or twice a year (in 2017 this is Sunday, December 10). A small additional fee is charged. At all other times, you can walk around the verandah and look in the windows to see the furnishings. (There is a wheelchair lift to give access to the verandah - I did not inquire how that is accessed).
5. The carriage house is a "must see", and is open so that you can walk through it and admire the coach and the farm implements stored in what must have been the tack room.
6. The garden is fully wheelchair accessible, and, of course, there are ADA parking spots.
7. There is a little cafe near the entrance where you can sit down and re-fuel.

I suggest allowing no less than 3 hours, 4 -5 hours if you really want to see everything, or are a plant buff And those hours will be well spent.

The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is a fantastic destination offering a unique blend of natural beauty and engaging activities for families, couples, and lovers alike.
Our girlfriend was very kind to secure tickets for us group of girls and we spent the whole day there enjoying the beautiful gardens! Weather was hot but had lots of trees for shades but make sure to wear your sunscreens and hats and bring water with you! We brought some food and we had a little picnics by the rose garden and it was so fun!
For Friends and Families: The Arboretum is a great place for families to explore. Kids will love the sprawling grounds, including the picturesque Queen Anne Cottage, which often serves as a backdrop for seasonal events and educational programs. The Arboretum’s diverse plant collections, including a spectacular tropical rainforest and a charming Australian section, provide plenty of learning opportunities. Families can enjoy leisurely walks or picnics in designated areas.
For Couples: Couples will find the Arboretum to be a romantic escape from the city. The serene gardens, including the tranquil Japanese Garden and the colorful Mediterranean Garden, offer perfect spots for a peaceful stroll or a quiet moment together. The scenic landscapes and abundant wildlife make it a great place for a romantic picnic or a leisurely afternoon.
For Lovers of Nature: Nature enthusiasts will be enchanted by the Arboretum's extensive plant collections and themed gardens. The Arboretum hosts various seasonal events and educational programs, making it a vibrant place to explore different aspects of horticulture and botany. Don’t miss the opportunity to discover rare and exotic plants from around the world.
Activities:
Gardens Exploration: Wander through themed gardens like the Tropical Rainforest, Australian Garden, and the historic California Garden.
Educational Programs: Participate in guided tours, workshops, and special events designed to enhance knowledge about plants and nature.
Seasonal Events: Enjoy various seasonal festivals and exhibits throughout the year.
Hours of Operation:
* Daily: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
* Closed: New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Fees:
* Adults: $15
* Seniors (65+): $11
* Youth (5-12): $5
* Children under 5: Free
* Members: Free admission
Parking:
* Parking is available on-site for a fee of $5. The parking lot is spacious and well-maintained, making it convenient for visitors.
Overall, the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden offers a rich experience for visitors of all kinds, combining natural beauty with educational and recreational opportunities. Whether you're looking for a friends or family outing, a romantic date, or a nature-filled adventure, the Arboretum is a splendid choice.

The colors, the tree variety, the PEACOCKS that literally walk right past you... its the best to see everything the world has to offer and in well planned out garden sections, but for only $17. I would say wear comply shoes, you may be walking a bit. Its so worth going to explore the grounds that are clean and very well maintained.

This botanical garden is convenient to get to. It is well maintained and offers beautiful grounds, a very good cafe, and a relaxing environment. You can walk around the entire park.

Wanted to keep it low key for New Year’s Eve but still do something fun. We spent about an hour or so walking the trail and enjoying the light show. Weather was perfect and the crowds were light. Purchased our tickets ahead of time with the VIP parking. Got a parking spot right at the entrance, it was easy in and easy out.

The lights exhibits were spread out with different themes and types of lights. The lights were beautiful and great opportunity for pictures. Along the way, there were stops to get refreshments and treats.

Would recommend as nice outing without the crowds

Very much enjoyed our visit to the LA Arboretum. Very tranquil gardens with lots to see. We spent two hours there but could have stayed longer. Free EV charging was a plus but the real treat was the Queen Anne house that was used in the Fantasy Island TV show. Definitely took me back in time recalling Tattoo ringing the bell and announcing “da plane! da plane!” Looking forward to a future visit.

Great botanical garden. Lots of trees and plant. Not as pretty as Huntington library but have it own unique garden,

If you like to see a lot of nice fauna and other plants. Then this is the place to go to when in the San Gabriel Valley.

Some Hints from a Native

Avoid coming during the Summer Time and Early Fall. As it gets mighty Hot here by Mid Afternoon.

Wears some comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking.

If one of the local Peacocks leaves a blessing on your car. Get it wash asap. The stuff is horrible on most cars paint jobs.

Also the Peacocks can be very nasty. Especially around young kids who do not know better.

Also if you have youngsters. Keep a close eye on them as there a lot of places for them to hide in.

Bring some fluids to drink as you can really build up a thirst here.

A great place at the foot of the San Gabriel mountains where you can escape the heat and the urban life and spend time with nature. The gardens are lovely. I wish that all of their plants were identified, as I am an avid gardener and wondered about many of the botanical names.

I wrote a review, regarding Queen Anne's Cottage. It is located inside the arboretum. I have had a membership for the past 4 years and it is worth it.

Incredible gardens, trails that lead all over the place, waterfalls, art, and great history. This place has it all for a fantastic experience. A great place for couples to just kinda get lost for awhile.

I love the Arboretum! I go there all the time to take pictures, walk around, enjoy the beauty and of course you will inevitably meet up with a Peacock!! Their beauty is really a sight to see but don't go near them, just enjoy them.

Most of the time I'm looking for things to do with the kids. In Los Angeles it is easy to find, but I wanted something we where we could enjoy nature and yet I didn't want my kids to go to the mall and bum about.

The scenery is beautiful. I have never seen a collection of peacocks in this quantity, even at the zoo. The lake is peaceful and there are tons of benches to sit and just enjoy the gardens around you. It's a wonderful day trip and great for a picnic.

Best trip ever.

The gardens are beautiful but the map they give you and the signs are very confusing and do not make sense , resulting in walking in circles and not being able to find things you want to see. The cafeteria: food is not great, the peacocks around you are fun!

I had not been to the Arboretum in years. I used to visit with my kids as it was a great place to explore and burn off some toddler energy. It is still a terrific place for kids, better than ever in fact with several engaging demonstration gardens. There are many open spaces to enjoy, mature trees to marvel at, and excellent programming-classes, lectures, and exhibits for all ages. I have suggested that you allow yourself enough time to 'get lost' in the beauty of the Arboretum; it will be well worth it. There is a restaurant onsite which I did not try at my last visit but plan to next time. Nature is alive and welcoming at the Arboretum.

The first time we visited here, our tram had a number of very noisy children,and their parents did nothing to keep them quiet enough for us to hear the narrative on the speakers. This time, there were few children, so we could hear everything clearly., and we found it informative and interesting. That tram ride made the whole excursion a wonderful experience!