San Diego Botanic Garden Reviews

I feel I just wasted $50. The Garden promotes itself for entertaining young children, but most of the children attractions are unusable because of a lack of maintenance. The model railway wasn’t operating. The musical instruments in the Garden Rhythms section of the Children’s Garden were damaged and unusable and there was other damage that hasn’t been repaired. I think it disgusting that the Garden management has allowed the park to decay so badly.

I used to visit 2-3 times a year with the grandkids, but no more - the zoo is more rewarding!

A beautiful collection of desert and Southern California costal trees and plants. The cacti are beautifully arranged. The cacti topiaries ae spectacular.

Went on a Sunday; closing before it gets dark where you’d actually be able to enjoy the lights they so famously advertised as being so amazing. Restrooms are filthy and not maintained, water leaking out of flush button.
Cafe was closed before 2pm, so you’ll have to leave to get some food/drink and return.
Overall the gardens should be maintained better. There’s potential but unfortunately, it’s more dull than lush. Conservation house was also closed, guessing because of seasonal changes - unsure. What you get compared to what you pay, not worth it.

We had a lovely time walking in the Botanical Gardens on a sunny day. There were thousands of different species of plants and flowers throughout the grounds. The gardens were kept up nice, which included detailed name labeling of plants, trees and flowers

Very nice place to walk around. Some areas are in the sun and a lot of areas are in the shade. There were flowers blooming in June but I would think in the spring the trees would be in bloom too. There are a few areas for children to play in. I think teenagers would not be as interested.

Wonderful display of plant life! We enjoyed all of the paths and the children's area very much. Very well maintained and organized.

Just gorgeous, this botanical garden has so many fine mature trees and more interesting beautiful plants than you have ever seen in your life. Under the trees is it cool even on a hot day.

There is so much to look at here that you could visit three or four times and still not see everything.

I love the pond within the bamboo collection and find the subtropical fruit tree section very interesting too.

I love to just wander at random although the little map is very helpful too.

Very interesting place to walk around and view plants from around the world. Wear good walking shoes and bring some water.

We had a relaxing morning strolling the many paths enjoying the beautiful plantings. Very nice day for gardeners!

The garden are a delight with a large variety of types plants a great waterfall, ponds and some fish. Many of the plant are rare specimens. I particularly like the Cork Oaks near the entrance, the bamboo forest is great too. They also have children's programs, check with them to see what days.

A great getaway for a couple of hours, there are trails with a great variety of plants as well as waterfalls and ponds.

Another San Diego area gem located just off I-5 in Encinitas. This 37 acre garden puts emphasis on plants and trees that would normally grow in Mediterranean and African climates.

It's a good walk. We walked most of the areas and got almost five miles in. Some hills but not too bad. There is a shuttle that can be used if people in your party get tired.

Several areas for children to play in. I was pleasantly surprised by this as they also got an up close view of the plants and fauna, plus enough play time to get them tired. Probably a little boring for kids over 8; although, we saw some teenagers enjoying the garden.

Ample parking and also an excess lot that the shuttle serves. Small but well stocked gift shop and small place to get some drinks (no beer).

This is a great place for weddings as one was being prepared while we were there. With a year around temps in the mid 60's to mid 70's, this place is probably a wonderful wedding venue.

$14 for adults with discounts for people of 60 and active duty military. Parking is $2. Well worth it to keep a garden of this quality healthy and growing.

Another must see San Diego attraction.

This is one of the county's beauty spots. A well planned garden that displays many native and non-native trees and plants. Big play area for kids. It's located on a hilly rise, so be aware that there is some uphill/downhill walking to deal with. Great observation tower at the apex of the garden. Parking is available. There is an entry fee, but also a good deal for locals when you buy a membership.

My 2 year old son and I visited on a Saturday afternoon. Straight to the Hamilton Children's Garden we walked and spent 3 hours there. He loved it!!! I enjoyed just being outside in such a tranquil place. Visit the "river "last as they will get wet. Then down to the Seeds of Wonder area and there's a Thomas Train, more water play, a house with a kitchen, and chickens to watch. He was not ready to leave when they closed. Wonderfully educational experience for him. We will be back soon!

Local magazines listed the San Diego Botanic Garden as a must see. We were delighted that the recommendation proved true! Patti was about to start a tour when we arrived. Just in time! She was very knowledgeable, fun and engaging. Great representation of florals, trees & vegetation from Africa, Australia & Hawaii as well as Southern California plants. Thanks for the tour Patti! We learned a lot!

Very nice garden with lots of room to wander and explore. My personal favorites were the automated greenhouse, tree house viewpoint and bamboo forest. Nice way to spend some time in nature. The paths are one way and generally clearly marked. Entry is limited so felt like it was safe to visit.

We have visited many botanical gardens in the U.S. and internationally, I would put this one in one of the better family destinations. There are of course many types of flora, but this garden is more 'rustic' (gravel paths, etc.) with a lot of sights and activities for the family. The gardens are well marked and feel 'open' to wander through whatever is interesting to you.

We love to visit botanical gardens on our travels. This one was a nice and reasonably priced side trip. Nice trails, interesting plants and lovely weather! It's on the small side compared to other gardens we've visited, but it would be a great place to take kids as they have lots of activities for little ones. All in all, a nice, relaxing afternoon and the terrain made it feel like we got some exercise too.

This place allows Lightscape to occur on their property but has not required them to disclose that they are not ADA compliant. I purchased tickets to take my daughter in a wheelchair to this event and it was not wheelchair accessible. When I asked for assistance, I was told “No, we have to be ready for when someone slips & fall on the pathway.” I’m not sure why the event planners have not ensure the pathway is safe and accessible for all patrons but due to the inability to access the path safely I chose our safety over the risk of falling but of course the organizers charged us for parking and kept the ticket money.

Beautiful walk and artfully designed. Very tranquil setting. Ideally located within easy freeway access, but you'd never know it by the surroundings. Worth the $ if you enjoy this type of activity.

We've lived in Encinitas for over 30 years, and it's remarkable how this garden and it's plantings have evolved and improved. It's not an overwhelming garden like the Huntington but a right-sized garden that can consume a morning (the best time to visit) or an afternoon.
It's a great place for kids, with two different children's gardens.We used to take our children to the smaller and more mellow toddler garden (sandbox with toys, playhouse, water play areas, bubble blowing and nooks to explore). Now there's a larger children's garden (the Hamilton) which appeals to a wider age range, complete with a stream and a concrete tree as a play structure.
The plant collection demonstrates that just about anything can be grown in Coastal Southern California, if there's water available. The gardens have an amazing collection of bamboos, as well as succulents, native California plants, exotic tropicals, herbs..the list goes on. This year (2017) the gardens are at their showstopping best because of all the rainfall we had last winter. If you like gorgeous plantings, or have kids who like to get their hands dirty, be sure to visit while in Encinitas!

Just a sad display of unkempt plants and grounds. Didn’t mind the lack of flowers in bloom but totally dismayed by the dead plants, spider webs,weeds, and dead leaf debris among the plantings. I’ve visited botanic gardens everywhere I’ve traveled and this definitely the worst.

This place is a long way north of San Diego, but it's easily accessible from the I5 or from Encinitas. The collection covers large parts of the world (including the tropical rainforest, made possible by a clever piece of landscaping) with a heavy focus - as you would expect in climate-changing California - on arid landscapes. Good children's' garden. Just opened is a conservatory with beautiful hanging orchid displays and a green wall (although we are pretty sure this will all be wiped out by red spider mite in the near future). Go for the plants - the store and food outletsl were both small and disappointing. Admission prices are very reasonable, allow 2-3 hours

It's not huge, but certainly worth a visit. Well cared for including a wonderful bamboo garden. I'd prefer just plants with no artwork (which includes prices - tacky IMO). Nice signage for the plants, since I didn't know so many of them. It seems to specialize in plants that do well in southern California. We see so many of these plants just walking around San Diego and riding our bikes, but to see them all grouped so nicely and to see such wonderful specimens is a plus for sure. People from out of the area may love it more than those living there, but I will definitely go back.

I enjoyed my visit here very much. I didn't get to see everything I wanted to see because the people I was with ambled very slowly & we had the time constraint of a lunch reservation.

I thought the parking fee was incredibly excessive but this is a volunteer/donation driven venture. Maybe I should have expected the fees but I didn't. There is a small, limited gift shop and the prices weren't that bad. Also there were plants for sale. All of them looked healthy & some were very reasonably priced. Selection was limited though.

Honestly, my favorite part was having shelter from the sun & heat provided by the many spectacular trees. There were benches throughout but all were wooden & many were wet & some were even mossy. I had on white pants so no sitting for me!

I'm glad I went but I'm not sure I would make the effort to go again.

I took my mother here last weekend, and as usual we brought a wheelchair because she can't walk very far. This lovely park is definitely not accessible, unfortunately. It was very frustrating- the paved paths are all extremely steep, and the flat ones are earth and too bumpy. This park is all developed along a hillside, and is wonderful for people who have no problem walking. But for the cost of admission (we paid $26 altogether), you really want to be able to see the whole park. You can easily spend a few hours there. Where good shoes!

When we entered, they were very helpful and suggested we try an outside restaurant for lunch because the inside facility was limited. Our entry paperwork was accepted on our return.
The grounds are marvelous and we just strolled through the variety of locations. Some of the artistic displays are for sale. They have a number of flowered constructions that look like humans. When we saw a visitor reading a book with out moving, we at first thought she was not real, but she moved.
A lovely place to spend some time.

The Botanic Gardens are very peaceful and beautiful. We were able to walk around the gardens while we were there for a wedding and it is very well kept. There were many interesting plants and flowers to look at. I also enjoyed the nursery area where you can purchase various flowers and plants. The place as a wedding venue is unreal. The scenery is just magical!

We love going to the gardens to play. Just be on guard with your children because it can be a place to get hurt.

We visited this garden, and were VERY impressed with all the flora and fauna to be found here. Truly one of the nicest botanic gardens we've been to.....and we've been to a lot all around the world. There was an art pleinair event going on this weekend, and it made it even more interesting. Well done, staff.

Amazing gardens. Lots of succulents, native plants, bamboo, palms, African, Australian and New Zealand gardens. For the kids, they have an interactive garden with a great tree house

With our drought, everything in Southern California is dry. The Botanic Garden is no exception, but what a great surprise it was. Its huge, has many different gardens, pools, waterfalls, flowers and a joy to visit. And on top of a mountain.
Did not really see all of it because of the heat in August, but will make a point to visit again when its cooler. All in all a great place.

I was really impressed with this botanic garden. It's beautiful with all sorts of varying foliage. Definitely worth a visit.

Very simply, this is one of the nicest gardens anywhere. It has an exhaustive collection of flora (which draws lots of fauna, natch !!). It is located in the lovely little town of Encinitas, a half-hour north of San Diego. Don't miss this place - you will leave here feeling better than when you arrived.

If you love plants, this place is for you. They have Orchid Sanctuary, beautiful and lovely orchids, different kinds.

Because of COVID-19, reservations are required - and they are easy to arrange online. Once you arrive, even though a couple of sections are closed - there is still a lot to see. Many of the trails are one-way and are well marked. And, it will take you a few hours to see the entire garden.

Possibly, because of the pandemic - they are no longer handing out paper copies of the garden map. But you can print one off from their website ....... or just meander on your own without a plan but just enjoying the blooms.

My wife and I visited here one afternoon and wished we had planned more time for the visit. The gardens are well planned and well kept, with a large variety of native and international plant species. If you're so inclined, you can even buy some at the gift store. The gardens include some nice art displays, especially the statues with bodies and clothing consisting of different varieties of succulent plants. The garden certainly merits an all-day visit and has lots of parking and reasonable admission fees.

Absolutely beautiful gardens ....well done...really enjoyed our evening walk with all the lights , roasted marshmallows , mulled wine and music

took a day out to the gardens form San Diego. it was easy to get to (for us) but be warned, it is not actually in San Diego, took a bus and then the Coaster (train) to Encinitas, then a half hour walk form the station. Made the trip a day out. $18 to get in, concessions for over 60s.

Gardens easy to find and staffed by very friendly employees and volunteers. It was a good mix of international and local flora and lots of birds.

We went on a Saturday and there was also a local craft show in the main car park, which was free, and a nice addition.

highlight for us was the bamboo garden and the hummingbirds
well worth a visit

This garden has considerable variety with gardens devoted to Australian plants, to bamboo, to succulents, to fruit, etc. There is a charming tea house (can't go in). The Children's Garden has activities for children built in and a delightful tree house. There are more children's areas, for younger children, off the parking lot. Sculpture for sale is scattered throughout. There are also some entertaining topiaries of musicians, dancers, and a mariachi band. It was not very crowded.

Beautifully maintained and clean gardens with an interesting educational section for children. I loved the groupings of landscaping from around the world including South Africa and New Zealand. Clean walking paths, ocean views and interesting sculptures make for an enjoyable afternoon.

Beautiful garden with so much variety. We enjoyed our 3 hours visiting and walking along the nice paths.

that surprised me, but i made the drive 25+ miles north to visit as i love gardens. it's large and seemed to be very representative of california plantings. there were a few things blooming - it would be fun to see it at a different time to see more. very nice staff to answer questions and a gift shop with plants for sale.

A huge garden exhibit with great variety. The garden is incredibly diverse and is still being expanded on today. Very enjoyable and economically priced for what you see.

This is a nice medium sized botanical garden. We spent over an hour walking around and eating a snack at the snack bar. It is mostly what you would expect. I can’t call out anything spectacularly different from other gardens. It if you like walking through botanical gardens you will enjoy it. I came here to entertain my mom.

My kids were not very excited to go here but then we couldn't get them to leave. We spent a great morning walking around and playing in the kids area. My kids (4 and 7) loved it and were so glad to stop here on our vacation. It was worth the time! We didn't even have time to see half of it, but next time I would love to plan on spending more time there.

During a recent weekend visit to the San Diego area, my friend and I decided to stop and visit the San Diego Botanical Gardens. This garden has so many interesting plants and flowers to see, and they are laid out in areas based on continents. They have one of the best cactus and succulent gardens I have ever seen, and we happened to be there at the right time to see many plants in their full bloom. There is much to see her from the plants, to the sculptures (some including succulents), a gift shop, and more.

One of my favorite moments there was sitting in the gazebo in one area, and my friend and I commented how peaceful it was there. Granted it was in the middle of winter and probably not as busy as other times, but if you are looking for a break from the busy-ness of Southern CA, this is your place.

I enjoyed my time at this spot and would like to visit again during a different season to see what things are blooming.

If you want a few hours of walking around and learning about plants from around the world this is a great spot!

We loved this Botanical Garden. Had a lot to see and could have spend the entire day there. Plans from around the world. If you are in the area, do it!

Took my two young adult children to Lightscape over Thanksgiving weekend and it was lovely! Music and lighting was beautifully done… the California poppy lights were magical. Enjoyed hearing a Postal Service song along with other great music. There were firefly lights in the bamboo and white lights trailing down the waterfall. It was so well done! Concession stands (3) were reasonably priced (hot cocoa with whipped cream only $5) and there was a specialty prickly pear beer made for the botanical gardens by a local brewery. Tempted to go again this year… will definitely go again next year!

This garden is really a series of well marked gardens, each one featuring different parts of the world. There is also a children's garden, which is wonderful. They are privately run so the prices are higher than one might expect. They have a snack bar and gift shop. DEFINITELY put a visit to this amazing, beautiful garden and let yourself relax in its serenity.

The gardens are located outside Encinitas so expect a drive from San Diego. There are many sections to the gardens. They have 37 acres of ground. The paths are in good shape some asphalt and some dirt. Don't be afraid to take them all. The children's area is nice.

I liked the succulents. The bamboo garden is very interesting. Don't miss the topiaries outside the walled garden. We saw fruit on trees in subtropical fruit garden.

The price was $14 per person or $10 for seniors, students and military. Parking is another $2.

The stroll is very worthwhile. The gardens are well maintained. Plan for at least 2 hours.

I loved the variety of plants and beautiful gardens. If you like the outdoors and natural beauty then this might be the place for you. They have a childrens play area with a tree house type of area with little bridge walkways. Kids should enjoy that. It is peaceful and a welcome hike from the normal tourist areas.

We found the volunteers to be very friendly and helpful. We loved the diversity of the geographic areas presented, including California, Australia, Central America, New Zealand, succulents, desert gardens, a subtropical fruit garden, bamboo gardens and more. The gardens are a dream set for photographers. We appreciated learning about the diverse habitats. There are a number of "exhibits" for children to enjoy. We appreciated the native plants exhibit and the natural coastal habitat, featuring ways to use native plants to protect your property against fire. For those that appreciate botanic gardens, this was a must see.

Coming from Flatistan, I'm used to level botanical gardens...not here! Added a neat perspective to be able to overlook plants from above. Loads of succulents from around the world. Plants nicely grouped by region of origin. Don't pass up the children's garden, even if you have recently renewed your AARP membership: clever displays and good interpretation will be of interest to any gardener. Signage could have been better: even though I count myself a good map-reader, I got turned around a few times trying to find particular exhibits.

Lots of trails and playgrounds for 3 young girls! 9,5 and 2, they had great fun in the playgrounds and could of stayed a lot longer! We were tempted to get a season pass, but my niece thought that they could schedule their next visit on the free day they have every month. I live back in the cold over 2,000 miles away, so it was a big treat for me as well!

We love to visit botanic gardens in different areas of the country. This was a favorite! There's a lot to see, without it being overwhelming. Each area was gorgeous, many amazing plants to see and smell, lots of birds, little waterfalls, and beautiful artwork. A delight for the senses.

There are many trails to follow, a cute gift shop, cafe (we did not eat here), and a coffee shop that employees people with disabilities. The children's garden was great fun even tho we are long past childhood!

It could be a nice place to visit on a cold day, altho it was in the 60's when we were there.

enjoyed these gardens more. I found them to be interesting, but unkempt. The beauty
can be found for nature paths were all around. The plant sale was going on so entry fee was lowered. There were many fruit treees unmarked so many rotten fruit laid on the ground. I have visited many gardens this was my most disappointed one. Possible more volunteers needed for upkeep. Please note the paths are full of beauty.

I have visited this site for years and always find something new and exciting in the plant world! It is my favorite place to bring my plant buddies! Besides the normal areas of succulents, cactus, and flowers, they have tropicals, nut trees, trees from around the world and a native San Diego plant area that is top notch.

To me, two "faults:"
1. Not having a paper map and/or there not being any? signs pointing this way or that way to the different exhibit areas. That kind of signage was poor.
2. Thee was a fair amount of sign with plant names, but it seems to us that very often when we came upon a plant that was unknown to us, there was no identifier sign.

We were there a little after 10 AM and saw tons of kids busy watering, climbing, etc. It was terrific to see young kids doing "stuff" at a Botanic Garden.

I love to take guests to this lovely garden. They always marvel over the flowers and fruits and nuts that they have never seen growing in colder climes. For instance, banana stalks, pomegranate bushes, and almond trees. There are even cocoa trees. They like the beautiful angel trumpet trees, different varieties of which bloom much of the fall, winter, and spring here. Their are many trails, long and short, and a few inclines and steps that may be a bit strenuous for the elderly and disabled. But their are delightful, accessible, pocket gardens and views for everyone. Use the map and ask the attendent at the little plant/gift shop about the best plan for your visit. Many of the trails are wheelchair friendly. My guests from up north especially like the cactus garden near the parking lot.

This was a nice garden, lots of interesting areas representing various areas around the world. I got the feeling that it's not very well funded yet and is trying to grow, so to speak. Enjoyed seeing oranges and other tropical fruits ripe for the picking (no picking allowed!). Would enjoy seeing it again during the late spring when there's more in bloom.

Great for an alternative to the beach or high intensity parks. Wander at your own pace and learn about the local flora and where it originated. We really enjoyed the Rain Forest, the plants from Australia and New Zealand and the bamboo forest.

I love this place. My favorite part is the whole Bamboo Garden area, with far more species of bamboo than you could guess existed, especially the giant bamboo. This year there was some sea fog when we were there, and the bamboo was even more atmospheric and other-wordly than usual as a result of that.

My second favorite part is probably the fruit tree area, very interesting to see exotic fruit species.

Even quite some years ago these gardens (then the Quail Gardens) were great to visit, but over recent years the trees and shrubs have grown in so much, and the garden has expanded into some side areas. so it is all even more amazing.

The Botanical Garden does really well managing with a limited water supply because of the drought -- it's quite extraordinary!

I also enjoyed the fact that I saw a cottontail, several very cool species of butterflies, some red and black plant bugs, and some large mushrooms.

Don't miss this hidden gem, the San Diego Botanical Gardens in Encinitas which is about a 30 min drive along the coast from downtown. I have been there a few times but this last time was in a group tour as a member of the San Diego Tour Guide Association. We were all amazed at the beautiful displays of plants from around the world. It's really a great addition to many places that we can take people in San Diego. A little off the beaten path but well worth the short trip up the coast.

We'd heard about this Garden from a friend - and were not disappointed at all. Easy to find off the freeway I-5. We visited on a sunny but cool winter's day and thought it would not show as well. There was, however, plenty to see! There are mostly paved walkways with some dirt paths. Managed to walk just about everywhere in the gardens, and saw and learned so much. So peaceful - loved the gazebo to sit and appreciate nature! There is also a special children's area a little walk to the north. We must have spent 5 hours on a visit originally intended for 1. Would like to come back in the summer/early fall sometime - probably even more beautiful.

Busy on a Wednesday morning got last parking spot in the front lot. Has senior and student rates. Lush plants being cared for by helpful volunteers who were very friendly. Need to be able to handle the terrain dirt paths lots of up and down. Lots of unusual and exotic plants. The Mexican garden was a highlight.

The children area was the best part of the gardens with many different actvities and learning opportunities. The gardens offers many different regions to explore and fun art displayed along the way.

Such a lovely place to walk around and yet away from the hustle and bustle of SoCal. there's something for everyone here.

Who would have known that there was this unique botanical garden tucked away in Encinitas? We went during the week in May and it was not at all crowded. I loved it because it specialized in succulents and cacti - my favorites. Walking around was so pleasant and so much fun. I hear that they have an excellent Children's Garden, which we unfortunately ran out of time to see. There is a library, and variety of classes, workshops, lectures, festivals and special events (including weddings). I would definitely go back again next year when we make our annual trip out to see my family.

When our boys were young we often went to Quail Gardens. I recently went with my youngest son, now 27, and we had an enjoyable time walking and talking.
It is an easy place to visit, $5 per person, they seem to be working on improvements all the time and they even have plants for sale.

The garden is loaded with local and exotic plants and trees. A midweek visit was optimal with a great senior discount. The African section was so interesting along with the desert collection of cactuses. There is a cute store and a place for snacks. This is a must visit in Encinitas.

This is a very well maintained garden. There are a lot of different varieties of plants to see and lots of scenic spots to sit and enjoy the surroundings. Unfortunately, we didn't plan well enough and had to cut our visit short but we will remedy that the next time we visit.

Formerly known as quail botanic gardens, San Diego botanic garden has made the top ten gardens to see two years in a row, you can spend an hour or four hours depending on your schedule. There are over 24 seperate climates within the 37 acres. They have two children’s a areas, lots of great picnic spots and a lovely plant and gift shop. A word of caution check their on line calendar before you go, they have at least a dozen special events a year mostly on Saturday and on these days will be quite crowded. It is also a fabulous venue for a wedding.!

We went to SDBG specifically to give our granddaughter the opportunity to photograph. She was not disappointed at the wonderful flowers from around the world.

This Botanic Garden was great. There were exceptional plants and the visitor center was very informative. We were able to get a senior discount which helped defray the admission charge. All staff were well informed and very friendly. The garden is well designed and there are plenty of areas to sit. The wildlife that are in the garden (dragonflies, butterflies, birds and lizards are another welcome sight.

What beautiful, extensive gardens! If you enjoy lush greenery, this is place is a must see.

My brother, my adult daughter and I spent an enjoyable three hours or so roaming the landscapes in the gardens, covering most of the total area in that time.

For me, the most interesting part of the gardens was (unexpectedly) in the Hamilton's Children's Garden. There is a large grove of ponytail palms, called "The Elephant Foot Tree Forest." The plants look otherworldly, positively alien when massed together this way. (See photos.)

Admission price to the Botanic Garden is very reasonable. For my adult daughter, admission was $18.00. For my brother and me, both of us senior citizens, admission was $12.00 each. Seeing this garden was well worth the price!

When we entered the garden, we received a map of the park. In spite of its looking easily readable and clear, we found navigating the park by the map to be difficult. This is likely due to the map's lack of details. We were often at crossroads and found ourselves unable to pinpoint our location without walking up one pathway until a landmark that was on the map came into view.

Nevertheless, our trip here was most enjoyable. I highly recommend this attraction. And if you have energetic small children, they will enjoy the Hamilton Children's Garden. It has many activities for curious hands to touch (for one, a giant windchime) and for energetic little people to climb and explore (a treehouse, a large sundial).

I just made my first trip here and don't know why I haven't heard more about this fabulous garden. What a delightful way to spend hours on a beautiful sunny San Diego day. I was shocked at the diversity of areas and how big it is. 37 acres. There is something for everyone. Waterfalls, lookout points, tree houses, ponds, Native American huts, underwater-like landscaping, gazebos, wonderful children's areas, Mexican gardens, fruit gardens, desert gardens and an area showing how to landscape for fire protection. It just went on and on and on. I saw such unique plants, flowers, fruits and trees and shrubs. There are many benches where you can just take in the beauty. Picnic tables where you can bring your snacks. There are several structures perfect for private parties that can be rented. Plenty of parking. There is a lot of walking to see everything and it's in multiple levels, so there are steps. Very clean restrooms in several areas. It's spaced out well, so there are no crowds. Definitely worth the trip to see. I can't wait to go back.

Nice park, but not anything out of the ordinary. Nice for families with younger kids. And makes for a nice relaxing afternoon

I think this is the first time I have ever paid to visit a botanical garden, so was expecting great things for my $18 entry fee. Sadly, I was a little disappointed. Staff were friendly, paths were wide and clear, however the plants themselves left me mostly uninspired.

I felt the gardens needed a lot of attention with many areas overrun with weeds. There were some interesting plants and I did get to see a tiny hummingbird flitting around a flowering bush, so that was a highlight.

The garden is around a half hour drive from downtown, I wouldn’t put it at the top of your list if you’ve other attractions to consider.

This used to be called Quail Gardens, the name changes a couple of years ago. One can spend hours enjoyably visiting different plants, there are also waterfalls and ponds. Well worth a few hours. They also have programs for kids, which my grandson loves.

Under brand new management, so expect lots of improvements in the near future - but as it is, a great garden experience.

An expensive walk around a garden. Took the kids , Visting from out of town, save your money and go the zoo.
Looks like it's not getting the attention it needs, sorry San Diego , you can do better.

I have had a few family memberships to other Botanical Gardens and since the one I had before had expired I got a membership here. I have always enjoyed walking around taking in the plants and flowers and this is one of the nicer gardens I have been to. We spent hours just walking around and relaxing.

I have visited a huge number of botanic gardens both in the USA and elsewhere and I have to say this is one of the finest and most diverse plant collections I know. From Canary Island dragon trees to Baja cacti to local chaparell to tropical America bromeliads, plants from Africa, Asia, Australia, the bamboo garden, the tropical fruit garden.... too much to take in. And the property is just the right size: to overwhelmingly huge nor too small.

Good value for money as only $12 for seniors. Lovely to walk through the many different displays of plants from different continents. Particularly like the succulent displays where they covered dancing figurines and the wonderful chandeliers in the Dickinson Family Conservatory which show cased the air plants. Highly recommend a visit.

I've found that botanical gardens fall between unkempt (natural) and pristine (like museum pieces), and this one firmly falls halfway between the two extremes. Located a half hour north of San Diego (just close enough for me to consider it within the San Diego metro area), it was worth the drive and the two hours I spent exploring its grounds.

Be prepared for some walking- placed on the side of a hill, reaching most of the garden's various areas will require some degree of hiking up paved (and sometimes gravel) paths. Slow and careful exploring rewards the curious with waterfalls, colorful foliage, and herb and succulent gardens. I visited towards the end of a partially cloudy day, and wished for less cloud cover as well as time earlier in the day to have avoided the setting sun. I will repeat next time in the area, hopefully with better weather and timing.

I expected basically bougainvillea, hibiscus and lilies of the nile, but the botanical gardens have several themed gardens...and very few hibiscus (and no bougainvillea except in the parking lot). Succulents, palms, native plants, bananas, and more kinds of bamboo than one ever knew existed (black bamboo! really!)...these are the kinds of things of which a gardener's dreams are made. The childrens' garden is quite large and many tots were enjoying it when we were there.

Small but very nice gift shop and plants for sale. There is a small snack area with drinks and chips, etc, but if you want you can go off=site to a restaurant and return with your receipt.

Be prepared for a lot of walking on winding paths...there's a lot of acreage to cover!

We really enjoyed our visit to the gardens. Very interesting children's area even if they don't really enjoy the plants and walking they will love the children's area. You can easily spend 3 hours here taking it all in. Lots of plants and trees in bloom. Well worth the admission price.

A tranquil garden to take an hour and enjoy nature. There are lots of great specimen plants, like the cork oaks and Draco’s that are worth checking out. The people at the garden are super nice and a wealth of knowledge. The place is clean and not too crowded. Extremely relaxing!

We were there for a wedding. It has a huge selection of beautiful plants and trees from all over the world. Make your way out to the lookout and you can see all the way to the sea.

Amazing how large this place is and the amount of plants and trees is amazing. Liked it so well that we bought a membership. Well worth the price... look for special events...

We really enjoyed our 3 hour visit wandering around the gardens. It is laid out nicely and very easy to navigate. All the different gardens were wonderful. We really liked the Australian one the best (the New Zealand was a bit of a let down). Our second favorite was a tie between the bamboo area and the banana area. Very informative signage throughout. Nice little gift shop and a coffee stand with really good coffee. Definitely highly recommend. We are planning to go back in early spring. Admission is a little high though at $14 per person

We’ve lived nearby for 15+ years and never went there. So glad we finally did. My sister, cousin, and 5 year old nephew went. Parking is $2 and adult admission is $14. You pay for both at the parking lot building.

The children’s garden is really great for kids. They have a large sand box, drum, triangle, and some noise-making bamboo. Large climbing structure in a tree that reminded me a lot of pirates of the Caribbean or Swiss family Robinson.

They do weddings there as well. Everything was set up for a wedding, looked really nice.

We love bringing our kids here! There are several great interactive play areas to keep the kids happy for hours. And of course the gardens are beautiful. You may want to bring an extra set of clothes for your kids, as there are several water activities, and the kids always seem to get wet : )

This garden is not 5 star-worthy but a nice place to visit. The signage is lacking in many areas, several sections seem to be better cared for than others. Overall, a good way to spend a few hours and to find some shade on a hot day.
Adults $14, Seniors (over 60) $10, parking $2.

Even on a busy (free for residents) Tuesday this urban garden delights, such as the lily pond frog who croaked a welcome. In early June the blooms were delightful and the small well-stocked plant shop caught my attention (and wallet). Although I don't always like the outdoor pieces for sale found throughout the garden, this does create an interesting interaction between nature and art. There's a playground for kids, usually exhibits in the activity/meeting room, and overflow parking.

This garden is really in Encinitas, so a bit of drive from San Diego, but worth it. For visitors, or people who have relocated from say, the lushness of Oregon and are craving a bit of nature and greenery, this is a great place to get both. Miles of paths to explore and very educational. There is a very cool children's garden, coffee/refresment stand and small gift shop.

These Botanic Gardens are a nice diversion, with an interesting collection. Although compact, they manage to pack quite a bit in.
I've got to say that we were shocked at the cost of entry. The Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney Australia - a much larger area gardens - are free. We even thought that perhaps our membership of the Sydney gardens might entitle us to reciprocal rights, but Sydney doesn't feature on their list apparently. I understand that upkeep costs money, but I guess here in Aus we look at it as a promotion of our City, and so the cost is borne by the people.
Still a lovely garden and friendly staff, although I would not need to go back.

Great place to see many different plants and flowers. Plan on spending about 2 hours to see it all. You can buy plants too. Interesting outdoor art. First Tuesday of each month is free for San Diego County residents.

This is a beautiful and huge garden. Has a vast array of different gardens each portraying a different culture. Each display was detailed and accuarate. Had tons of sign with information and directions to help you along the way. Went here during the annual mothers day choclate festival and it is something I would recommend for all chocolate lovers looking for some variety. With that being said although there are many pros the only con is the price of admission is a bit costly.

I took my 4 and 9 year old as something to do while my husband worked in our hotel and it was a fun activity to kill a few hours. We got the scavenger hunt for the kids at the entrance and that was perfect. First we started at the children’s area, where they got to run around the treehouse and paint. The absolutely loved that! Then we explored all of the different flora and visited the tower for a view. We walked all over trying to find all of the scavenger items even stopping to talk to a very nice docent. The kids enjoyed being outside and getting to run around. I would really recommend spending a few hours at the botanical gardens!

We try to visit every year.

We took a self-guided tour of this unique exhibit, This year tt spotlights 53 sculptures from 32 artists. The works are all for sale because this is not only a showcase for garden sculpture, but also part of the Botanic Garden's annual fundraising.

Each piece has been carefully placed to its best advantage......considering light, shadow, wind (for kinetic pieces), surroundings, background, etc.

Follow the map, or simply wander and be delighted at every turn and bend of the paths.

The San Diego Botanic Garden is located in Encinitas, CA which is in greater San Diego County. It contains 37-acres of eye-candy foliage...rare bamboo groves, desert gardens, a tropical rainforest, California native plants, succulents, etc. Children will love the Hamilton Children's Garden and its climbing structures and learning experiences.

As a local artist, I have been given the opportunity to attend as well as participate in galas and sculpture events in the Garden.
SDB Garden make the most out of their cherished gem.
They have classes, Fairy days, festivals and events of all kinds.
You can even hold a private event here.
Yesterday I attended another Sculpture in the Garden event. Every year the event brings artists, collectors and nature lovers together. It never fails to inspire!

Underwhelming. The majority of the trees and plants are not marked, no map of the gardens was provided, and there was very little to see.
There was no guidance/signage on the paths and many dead-ended, so you had to retrace your steps.
Don’t waste your time or money.

While not as coifed as other gardens, it wins in its location, humility and lack of pretense. It’s a beautiful place to share nature with others in the presence of an ocean breeze.

Beautiful gardens, wide variety of plants and paths over mostly paved areas. Waterfalls and ponds, so much to see! The children’s play area is fantastic and there are often fun events scheduled. Make sure you get a map. A fair amount of small hills but enough flat area for ones with walking issues.

Visited these gardens in the winter on a sunny weekday and enjoyed wandering around the many paths and exploring the different areas when not many people were around. Interesting children's garden with tower to climb up.

This is a lovely, small-ish Botanical Garden. It is well worth a visit if you are in the San Diego area.

This place is amazing. I'm always looking for new things to do with my three young boys outside and this place was great for them and so lovely for me. We live nearby and after spending a couple hours there I decided to get the family year membership.

I have visited the gardens most every year for the last 11 years. It is a place in which to bring out of town visitors. Something has happened to the health of the plants, mainly with their succulent and cactus collections. And what happened to those marvelous succulent sculptures? In the past they were full of succulents. Now they look almost denuded.

Please take care of the treasures you have in your collection.

Nancy

Excellent place to relax and take an exercise walk. Many of the areas are difficult to get to for handicap individuals. Great for photographs.

My wife and I wandered the grounds for a couple of hours. Watch the weather, by the time we left at noon, it was getting pretty warm. There are plenty of places to stop and rest and lots of shady areas. The children's garden is cute but really could be more whimsical (like the 4H Garden at Michigan State University or the children's area at Boutchart Gardens in Victoria). The gift shop is tiny and the stock is largely oriented to serious gardeners. This was very reasonably priced $18 for adults and $12 for active military and adults over 60 (parking included).

This really is a hidden gem in the San Diego area. Staff was very friendly, super helpful. While the park is large, and sounds larger, it was very easy to navigate and very pleasant. Lots of shaded areas too. Definitely worth a trip.

I have visited these beautiful gardens several times over the years. I had a few hours to kill before leaving California to return home, and returned to explore the gardens. They are maintained well and the setting is very nice. A nice place to get in touch with nature.

Plan to spend a day wandering among San Diego’s magnificent botanical gardens. Landscapes are planted representing habitats from desert to bamboo forest with pleasant, gentle walking paths in between. The garden is both stroller and wheelchair accessible. One of my favorite areas is the playful children’s garden with a little house to explore, fun sculptures, and sturdy music making devices. Don’t miss the gift shop that has many plants for sale as well as a selection of gardening books and the usual tea towels.

I decided to get in a day of photographing birds and made the drive northern San Diego County. Parking is excellent. The staff goes out of their way to make one feel welcome. The expansive property is well maintained. Signage is plentiful and well- placed. Educational programs, especially for children, abound. If you make the climb to the upper overlook, you will be rewarded with a view of the Pacific Ocean.

Wonderful variety of flowers plants and trees! Fun art interspersed throughout the garden. Great to see so many volunteers in one garden.

I can't say enough positive things about this place. When we arrived we decided to start our route to the left. We kept going left and down through the paths, admiring all of the various sections of the garden. It kept going, and going, and going! We thought the garden would be a lot smaller according to the map but they really packed in SO MUCH to this place. We spent several hours there. The rainforest section - WOW. Anyway, I took over 100 photos. I would love for our local botanic garden to use some ideas from the SDBG!

My 2 year old granddaughter loved her visit here. She played for an hour in the Hamilton Children's Garden with the little boats in the stream, and in the tree house.

We love botanic gardens, so this was a must see. We found price of entrance a little steep, but the displays arranged by ecosystems were ultimately worth it. Our December visit found camellias in bloom and lots of greenery. The gardens could use a little more care, but the man made waterfall was impressively natural looking and the overlook tower was a treat. We were a little worried that the gardens would not offer a great deal more than the gardens at Balboa Park, but they did not disappoint in this regard. Great place for kids to run and for plant appreciators to enjoy the wide variety of tropical, Mediterranean and desert plants that need no green houses. Loved learning about the Southern Maritime Chapparal. If you like plants, you must get out of SD and go.

Thirty-seven acre botanical garden divided into different garden collections such as native American plants, desert garden, tropical rainforest, etc. Great place to explore and learn about the plants of our world, especially about the more exotic ones.

We went here on a hot day and found plenty of shade and quiet spots to unwind. So many amazing plants and well-designed gardens to show them off. The children's garden was also a fun place to visit - our 11 year old son liked the various activities, and there was much to amuse younger children as well. Plenty of parking, and the entry price is reasonable. We would come here again.

Lots of trails and paths to walk around. I loved the tremendous varieties of trees and flowers. There is a little coffee stand and some tables to sit at. Very relaxing place to wander around. Great views of the ocean.

Loved the cute aquatic themed succulent garden. I know it is an oxymoron but it was just adorable. Great specimens of exotic plants like an enormous pitcher plant, passiflora varieties, cork trees, and such. Loved the variety of gardens: children's, veggie, tropical, zeroscape, succulent, Asian, and exotic fruit. People who work there are very knowledgeable and have great stories about the plants.

If you're interested in plant life here and around the world this is the place to go in San Diego county. As noted by others the garden is divided into different world regions and to varying habitats. For San Diego residents admission is free on the first Tuesday of each month (parking is $2). Please note that the garden is not flat overall and there is a good amount of up and down walking to negotiate. There are numerous pieces of sculpture scattered about the garden.

We visited the gardens last December. It wasn't too crowded, so we could enjoy walking around leisurely. So many interesting and beautiful plants and trees. Has a very nice gift shop. It is reasonably priced too.

Wasn't sure what to expect, pictured flower fields but was much more dynamic. Nice place to wander around- hilly, plenty of shade, nice waterfall, serene mini bamboo forest. Was pleasant.

Beautiful walkways with interesting sculptures. Nice place for children to play in a tree house or small stream. Flowers and fauna are beautiful

Beautiful hidden treasure. We spent several hours and took many pictures. We learned a lot about different plants. Hope to visit again.

You can travel the world in one place! From a bamboo forest, to waterfalls, to New Zealand shrubs, to cork trees....this garden has it all. It's fabulous. Best or all, there are sculptures sprinkled throughout, sculptures for sale (although I don't know how they come up with prices like $1010 or $981). For a delightful day, visit the garden!

Beautiful place for a leisurely walk! Many interesting plants and sculptures. Can be booked for weddings and I see why. Cool children’s garden with sand box area and water play area and tree house.

This gem of a Garden was a great place to get some fresh air and take in a lot of visual beauty. We came here with our family of 6 people plus a toddler. While the baby and his mom played in the children’s area, the rest of us adults got a private tour from one of our family members who has been volunteering here for more than 20 years. She gave us a little history of the place, added a little geography, and pointed out various plants which we would have missed, had we gone there on our own.

Many trails are one-way, well-marked and easy to navigate. There were a lot of shaded areas from the tall trees, and that made our walking there a lot more comfortable on a hot day. There were soothing waterfalls, plus a rooftop deck from where we got stunning views of San Diego and the surrounds.

The landscaping is cleverly arranged. There were tons of flowers in bloom, and trees from different parts of the world and from other tropical areas. We loved the bright colorful flowers, especially the succulents covering the fancy Mexican figurines. That display was a visual delight. We also loved walking through the Rain Forest Area and the lovely Bamboo Garden.

There was a lot to see and enjoy. It was a dream area for nature lovers and photographers. We are so glad that we got to see the entire place with a knowledgeable guide.

Absolutely recommend a visit.

My son and I met some family relatives at the garden on a short visit in San Diego and the kids loved the water area and the tree house. It's a really lovely garden, I would go again.

This is a wonderful place to just relax and meditate if you like . It's pleasant and calming here . I highly suggest a visit in the morning when everything is quiet and fresh

Visiting the gardens during the COVID-19 crisis means they only let you in if you have a reservation (which can be done easily on their website). The gardens are very colorful and relaxing.

Friendly volunteers working throughout and one driving the electric shuttle made exploring these lovely gardens easy for every ability and age. Don't be discouraged if you have to park in the overflow...the shuttle will take you everywhere.

A great opportunity to see plants from different parts of the world. Not so large and takes about 1-2 hours to see most everything. Interesting sculptures around the gardens as well

With the busy life in the San Diego area, this is the perfect place to visit, relax and
enjoy. A hidden treasure not far from the madding crowd.

A wonderful place to take grandkids of all ages. Many different things to keep them entertained. It was a warm day so the 1 year old twins waded in one of the creeks while the other two built a fort.

In a word...."Stunning". This trip was relaxing, visually stunning and a treat for the senses. Restaurants close by and great for the family or an intimate afternoon with a loved one. A must see!

Very nicely done botanical garden, with numerous samples that I'd never seen before. Amazing number of whimsical sculptures. Many trails are wheelchair accessible, but not all. Clean restrooms, drinking fountains, snack bar, gift shop, and plant sales. Vegetation is arranged by region.

This is a fascinating place. If you like to garden and need drought tolerant plants, this is the place to see what they look like at maturity. Our only grudge is that several sections were closed to prepare for the holiday light display and they still charge full admission.

Came here two days before Christmas with my family hoping to enjoy some good lights, we were extremely disappointed. First off, it is $25 a person to get in....that does not include, food, horse rides, or kids crafts. Next, the lights looked like a kid threw them into a few bushes and trees. No rhyme or reason, just haphazardly thrown together. Only a small fraction of the garden was covered in lights as well. If I am paying $25 a person to see lights I expect more than a few strands of lights.

Total garbage. Don't waste your money because that's all it is, a waste of money!

Gorgeous gardens with lots of walking with eye opening beauty. Courteous volunteers make your visit enjoyable. Take the 10:30 AM walking tour as plant antidotal stories are very interesting.

This is great hidden gem for locals and visitors! We took our niece as we are all lovers of nature. We made it at the end of the day after a few other stops, due to unexpected traffic (clearly the pandemics positive effects on traffic are gone). So we were a little late for our afternoon timeslot, but they were gracious and said as long at we were out by closing we could go in.

We went in and although we couldn't see it all we enjoyed what we were able to see and enjoy. Our niece was in love with all the varieties of bottle brush trees. Loved the other plants too.

Only things that could make it better are better plant signage and better path markers. That said it was a wonderful worthwhile visit!

This is a hidden gem, tucked away in a residential area of Encinitas not far from the ocean. While small, there are many things to do with themed areas. There are many features to spark the imagination of children including a treehouse they can climb. You can learn a lot about gardening and landscaping with plants native to Southern California or just enjoy the peace and quiet.
If you're visiting San Diego, I think this is one of those secret, off the beaten path places that can make a trip memorable. If you're traveling with children, I think they would have as much if not more fun here than some of the more well-known amusement parks.

A huge and varied botanical garden, you can easily wander around here all afternoon. Use the little map they give you. The place is very shady and very peaceful, with countless gorgeous trees from different parts of the world, and some amazing-looking plants you will not have seen before. There is also a great deal of interesting outdoor sculpture here.

Some of the garden areas are on slopes, so it is fairly good exercise to walk all around, and I think it might take two or three visits to see everything.

I love the Bamboo Garden, and the adjoining area of tropical fruit trees. The children's garden usually has a lot of butterflies and birds, especially when the butterfly bushes are still in full flower (October is a bit late for that).

5 of 5 stars doesn't do this garden experience justice. We were looking for an fun, healthy outdoor activity where we could be maskless. Absolutely beautiful even in early February. Others provide great descriptions of the place. My review focuses on the art exhibit that is interwoven with the garden experience. There' a special virtual art exhibit going on until August of 2022 called 'Seeing the Invisible'. Using either a cell-phone available for free from the main desk or by downloading an app from the Play store to your phone, you can immerse yourself in the art of international artists while viewing the garden at certain waypoints. I wish I had downloaded the app to begin with so I could have saved earlier photos of the experience. It took me 15 minutes to download the app midway through the walk using my data connection, but well worth it. This visit and experience was THE highlight of our 3 week trip. It was a short 30 minute trip from Oceanside.

Very large botanical garden with sections from all around the world. Four miles of pathways and exceptional plants

We thoroughly enjoyed 2 hours at the Botanic gardens. We are from northern climes and thus saw a lot of plants we don't normally encounter. They do a fine job presenting gardens from the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia. The changes in terrain within the gardens are used well to segment the collection. We were particularly impressed with the children's garden - it is spacious and very nicely laid out to allow lots of different activity areas. Relatives in the area with kids speak highly of it. The views to the Pacific are a pleasant addition.

Two of my adult daughters are amateur botanists; the other is going to grad school in ethnobotany. Trust me on this one, folks - this is a nice botanical garden - the staff and volunteers are enthusiastic, and the gardens are very well tended. I guess it's true that the signage could be better, but this place isn't that large, area wise.
I was also very pleased (but not surprised) at the amount and variety of bird species! The orchid / bromeliad display was wonderful!

The gardens are superb. The plants are beautiful and well taken care of. My only complaint, and it is minor, is that more plants should be identified. That said, visiting the gardens is a great way to spend 1-2 hours. You could probably spend longer if you want to wonder off of the paved paths, but there is much to see and enjoy. Note, this is a desert garden. Lots of cacti, succulents, bromeliads, many of which were flowering. They also have a great gift shop.

This is a wonderful place to take a walk and enjoy the company of friends and family. The gardens are extremely well kept and there are markings about the plants that are on the pathways. It is a little hilly so be prepared for some exercise, but all in all it is a really nice way to spend a couple of hours in a natural setting with some exotic and unusual plants as well as native stuff. We especially enjoy the bamboo forest but there are so many things to look at that you cannot miss being entertained.

Went in early May 2018 and it was not that impressive - Probably the cold April weather.
Strongly suggest an off season rate for visitors.

Made me wish I was planning a garden in San Diego - but was just visiting from Philadelphia region. Inspirational and well maintained. Beautiful, good birding. Wish there was better signage- hard to know which trail you are on and how to find what you might be looking for. The gardeners were helpful in finding our way. Loved this experience.

Great gardens and a pretty easy walk. Beautiful Bamboo section, that was our favorite. Get there early before the crowds arrive.

wonderful trails through different plantings. the bamboo forest was breath-taking, as were the tree-form brugmansias, and giant papyrus. there were cactus zones and the dramatic displays of bunya bunya (and their lethal cones)........you need the better part of a half day to take it all in.

If you are into botany this is definitely a place to check out. Many areas of the world represented in one place.

Worth a couple hours to kill and a love of plants where else would you expect I'd go? This garden is serene and showy with late spring flowers in May. The scents were amazing. Paths always kept up. Gift shop abounds with native and usual specimens for purchase. Very photographic venue.

A bit far afield but very much worth the journey. A spectacular collection of tropical and desert plants, nicely displayed, generally well labeled. Good for birdwatching and photography as well.

Nice but a large part was closed due to falling cones. Not much in color from blooms at this time of year.

We visited the San Diego Botanic Garden with my entire family including 3 small children. The staff was very accommodating about setting us up as members for a better price and the children's play area was absolutely perfect for two young toddlers and an infant. We went in April and there was a lot happening in terms of things blooming and events put on by the garden. We couldn't see everything in one day and had to make a return trip. Overall must visit for the outdoor type or garden lover.

A nice garden with lots of variety. Their succulent models of people are lovely.
Good info on fireproofing your property too.
They have a lovely area for events, what a beautiful setting.

Encinitas is special, beaches and fresh food.
Take a side trip to the botanical garden, learn history, and the plants, walk, views.

This is simply a lovely botanic garden, well-marked and lovely walks among plants from around the world. We loved "banana boulevard."It also has a very special children's garden and tree house which is sure to delight.The paths were often in the shade so it was a great place for a warm day!

I visit Botanic Gardens from all over. This one is special because of the variety of tropical plants. The walkways lead you into intriguing surprises and fulfillments--especially if you are a gardener at heart.

There were three adults and one grandson (age 3) in our group. There is an entire area for children. Treehouse, sandbox and an area of A, B, C plants. This is a large open park with many paved and unpaved trails with plenty of benches along the way for resting or for gazing at the many plants.

Even though the weather wasn't great, I enjoyed my visit to the Botanic Garden. There is a lot to see with beautiful flowers. I found the map a bit difficult to follow however everything in the garden is well marked so you can find your way around. The cost is $14 plus $2 for parking. I recommend spending a few hours to walk around and see everything.

You can take a few hours to stroll through this garden and see the most beautiful plants, tree, flowers and view! Everything is kept natural, not trimmed, so don’t expect a manicured lawn or garden bed. The paths are mostly easy and paved, but it is a bit hilly. They have a great area for kids, too. Don’t miss it if you love being outdoors and love plants.

There are so many incredible plants to see and secret nooks and crannies to explore. The Hamilton Children's Garden is so much fun for little one to explore. There are many special events too.

Formerly Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas, I finally went to see what the fuss was all about. I love palms, succulents, African and Australian plants, so it did not disappoint. Camera ready to shoot, I set out on the trail and saw happy anthuriums growing in lei-shaped bows over streams, plumeria, protea, etc. It was drizzling rain so the light was wonderful for color and contrast. Enjoyed the sculptures strategically placed and the fact they were for sale even though I couldn't afford to purchase and ship any of them! If I still lived in North County I wouldn't have left without a membership. Before I went I read online that length of average visit is 2.5 hours. As we were leaving at closing, people were arriving for a special event. Will return. Recommend.

These gardens are so worth the visit. They are beautifully designed and will bring you to a calm, relaxed, zen state of mind. It is really very very special. There is great attention to detail. Warm and friendly.

This place is fun for me
I love getting the year pass so I'm able to come walk the garden enjoy nature and be in a calm relaxing space were I've taken cat naps in the shade and just reflected near the water fall...check out the web site tones of events transpire here.
It's great to see so many native and none native plants as well

First off its about half hour out of town.
Seniors over 60 here.
Nice map but could have done with a few more signs on way round. Not overly impressed by planting but did like the living sculptures in Mexican garden, the living roof and some tile work.
The childrens garden was just a playgound, not garden orientated and disappointing refreshments as just available from a cart. It was lunch time when we were there and only 2 sandwiches left.
Small gift shop and plant sales.
Wasnt really worth the hours round trip out of town.

It was $50 for two adults and two students to walk around maybe two blocks worth of lights, it was packed with screaming kids, you got two marshmellows, the hot chocolate was out of a package and $2!! The parking was insane....it was a total bust! Don't waste your time, its better to ride around the neighborhoods that have great lights and put Christmas music on Pandora!!

If you like gardens and are tired of the beach, are looking for a nice walk and have a couple hours to spare - the botanic garden is a good choice. They aren't spectacular gardens, just average and not very large.

SDBG (formerly Quail Gardens) was a favorite of my boys when they were growing up, and now our grandsons are continuing the tradition. They have a variety of common and unusual plants, organized by geographic and climatic habitat. Kids will enjoy the gazebo, the waterfall, and the frog pond. There are plenty of shaded walkways, making this a pleasant place to hike in summer. The winter activities, including the Festival of Lights during December, are not to be missed, either. Kids of all ages will enjoy the model railroad exhibit, which is often manned by a knowledgeable and passionate docent.

Off the beaten path. It is due east off I-5, about two miles. We got off at Leucadia. By mid-morning in early October it was getting very warm. Well worth the trip.

I didn't know this place existed. friends asked me to go and it was very special day.Blue skies, incredible trees from every country and some flowers. There is lots of walking up and down paths but well worth it.

I love visiting gardens and this one did not disappoint. I enjoyed the fruit trees the most! Too bad you’re not allowed to pick any, haha

The bamboo collection is the largest in the USA. There are many wonderful walking paths to explore and the children's garden is great for kids.

This was my second trip to the SD Botanical and I definitely will be back. I love all the beautiful flowers and plants. I’ve visited with senior citizens and with 4 and 6 year olds. There is something for everyone!

While visiting my son and his family (our 2 grandchildren), I found out about this Jewel to take children to as well as yourself! They had marshmallow roasts, live music, arts and crafts, a SNOW hill to sled down and another SNOW hill to climb, an extensive Nutcracker Collection in their Arts and Crafts Building and a wagon ride with two HUGE Clydesdale horses! Amazing fun and beautiful sunset with fantastic lighting for the Holidays! Definitely plan to go next Holiday Season!

This is a sacred San Diego spot! DO NOT MISS it if you visit San Diego. Absolutely incredible children's gardens with lots of activities-kids would have fun for a full day!
The Egyptian Tapestry exhibit is a hidden gem-ends in March so don't miss it!!!

We really enjoyed our visit to the gardens. There are so many different types of beautiful gardens, including some from other countries like Australia, Africa, and New Zealand. There's also an herb garden and a bird and butterfly garden with plants that attract them. Tickets are $18 and can only be reserved online with a specific entry time. `

Visited the Gardens during a business trip as the zoo was too expensive. The gardens are broken out into regions of the world. It was cool to see the plants from various hemispheres. They have both wide paths and small trails, so it immerses you into the feel of the area that the plants represent. All the plants are labeled and many have interesting facts, if you have time to read them. They have an outlook at the top of the hill and you can see the coast. In the center near the car park is a bathroom, gift shop and small food shop.

What a delightful time we had at the SD Botanic Garden! Our 5, 8, and 13 year olds all enjoyed seeing the beautiful plants, reading about them, and running around in the children's area. It was a quiet, breezy day and we enjoyed walking through every garden at a leisurely pace.

The grounds are well-maintained, parking was simple, the staff friendly, and the botany so beautiful and educational. To see plants and flowers grow as large as these do is breathtaking.

My favorites were the air plants, moss and bromeliads that have taken root within the bark of other trees. So pretty.

A perfect, peaceful family adventure that fills 2-3 hours.

We visited in late Feb, 2021. Many complaints. The routes were confusing; you’d come to an intersection and there was no clear signage of which way to proceed. We wasted time going in circles and being somewhat lost. We met others who had same problem. All this after I asked at Admit Desk if we needed a map,and was told No, just follow the trail it is easy. No, it is not! MIT is confusing and unclear.
We noted many plants were dead or dying. Many beds poorly maintained. AND many plants had no identification tags! One main feature of a botanical garden is identifying plants. And yet here, over 50% of the plants had no identification. Could hardly believe this.
Lastly, on a Sun afternoon, construction workers were working with loud equipment, making that entire area polluted with noise. Hard construction going on, on Sunday-
Really? Don’t you have Mon-fri, normal work days to do this work?
We were so disappointed. I was embarrassed that I had suggested this visit. It was sorely disappointing. Surely not worth the $18 admission ticket.

San Diego Botanic Garden is restful place for a stroll or just sitting by the pond that's alive with frogs, fish, lily pads and dragon flies. Various gardens have been updates so that you can travel around the world or go in depth with California flora. The paths are clearly marked, and it's easy to register online in advance (required). Their small plant/sundry shop is currently closed, but a new space has opened up for special exhibits.

I've been to these gardens more times than I can count and I always thoroughly enjoy my visit. The gardens are beautifully laid out and cared for. There are so many areas to explore and I seem to learn something new or discover a new plant every time I'm there. It can be a quick hour long stop or you could spend 2-3+ hours if you also explore the Hamilton Children's garden. Many of the areas of the gardens are shaded which is nice on a summer day. Highly recommend this spot!

My wife and I were amazed at the many plant and tree varieties at this garden. We walked the grounds for over two hours and enjoyed a nice lunch at the snack stand located in the garden. There areas of interest for all including children. Don't forget to bring your camera, water and good walking shoes. Senior entrance fees were $10 and $2 parking, well worth it.

We visited the San Diego Botanic Gardens (known by the locals as Quail Gardens), in December because before the Christmas Holidays they have "The Garden of Lights". This was a beautiful display, plus entertainment and Hay Rides. Definitely worth the Visit. One of the most stunning things in the gardens are the statues. Some are completely covered in mirrored glass creating an incredible look. There is a nice children's area and during the Garden of Lights event they had the best "Hot Spiced Wine".

-nice place for kids to play: come over mommy and daddy
-romantic for wedding: princess paradise
-inspiring: scientifically and spiritually
-beauty and compassion is so addictive

After reading reviews on this site we were excited about our visit. The entrance from the road looked nice and we were greeted by a very pleasant lady who took our fees and handed us a map of the gardens. The first clue of a questionable experience was the condition of the parking lot, very old and broken pavement. We expected a vibrant garden but it looks more like natural habitat with messy gardens and unhealthy plants. The bamboo gardens were the highlight. This is clearly not one of the top ten gardens in the world. I wish I had read a review like this one before we went. Go to Balboa Park instead, it's free and better kept.

I was a bit disappointed in the gardens. I just felt there would be more. There is free parking and a children's area. They certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves, so it was great hearing the children's laughter.

This is a great spot for families or friends to explore! The gardens are spectacular and extensive. My favorite spot is on top of the look out station. You have an incredible ocean views.

Wonderful gem of several acres of diverse plants. You can walk through a bamboo grove then explore a marvelous succulent garden, desert and tropical climates with waterfalls and a marvelous area for children. I will return with my 5 year old grandson! I will say that in contrast to the impeccably maintained SRF garden, the sheer scope of these gardens appear to pose a maintainance challenge. I was told there were 500 volunteers, but it seemed that perhaps twice that number were needed to keep up with the massive plantings and varieties here. Generally well -marked and easy to navigate with a nice boutique and small coffee/snack area. Tours are also available shortly after opening in the morning. Definitely a must do for botanists and horticulturists

This is one really great Botanical garden that is filled with items from around the world which are located with signage as to where they are from. The maps offered when you arrive are easy to follow so be sure to get one. Plan to take at least 3-4 hours of walking becaue this is one very large Garden. Trees, flowers, bushes and more from every sector around the world. There is a gift shop and small cafe in the center of it all too which has restrooms located there for your use. Also do not miss the lookout spot as you have a fantastic scenic view of the ocean and surrounding sites.
enjoy

This was our third visit to the San Diego Botanic Gardens. There was an awful lot blooming considering it was just February. The grounds are kept so well and the plant displays are very well done. We took tons of pictures and have enlarged and displayed them in our home for years. We were disappointed in the the changes that have been made to the Undersea garden display in the past few years. It used to truly look like it was underwater and people who see the picture on our wall think it is an underwater scene, but that is no longer the case. Otherwise, we really love this place and will return again if we are in the area. Bring good walking shoes and your camera - you will not be disappointed.

Lovely place to visit, so much beauty! You can bring a book(or not) and enjoy the serenity. Visit the shop also. I will definitely be back.

We recently visited & really enjoyed ourselves. Wonderful specimens, theme gardens, & lovely walks. They have rare & beautiful plants. They have a small restaurant so you can always catch a bite.

a perfect venue for a very special day thank u to the staff and volunteers that made our families day at the gardens a most memorable occasion

A beautiful & quite place to visit. A great place for families with children. A huge place area for the little ones.

New in 2020 is another parking lot adjacent to the new conservatory building that houses some unique plants, such as the tropical corpse plant, and an amazing pulley system that lifts plants to the ceiling from the center space. For here you can follow the clearly marked walkways (2-way traffic) and 1-way trails to enjoy some fresh air and visual beauty -- red, blue, and gold dragonflies delighted me. Due to corona virus masks and social distancing are required; on Aug. 14 most visitors (not all) complied. Docents are strategically placed throughout to answer questions and provide directions. Paid timed admission is required prior to your arrival and their website provides clear instructions. Enjoy!

Too much for one day...too much fun for the children and too much fascinating horticulture for the botanist.

With the grand kids at Legoland we decided to visit other sites in the area and this was one of them. It was interesting to see all the different plants from different places. Nice leisurely stroll through the gardens. A good way to get some exercise and enjoy the vegetation. Been there done that.

We belong to Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, so we're able to go here for just $2.00 for parking. THought we would just be taking a little stroll....well, we highly underestimated this place. IT was absolutely delightful. Many themed areas....very well done. I'm sure at another time of year with more in bloom it would be exceptionally beautiful. We were really impressed with the children's area....we are grandparents...but just wanted to see it..treehouse, little river/ water feature, fun play structures and games- so well thought out.
We will most definitely return.

I enjoy gardens, and wanted to check this one out during a recent stay in the area. It was bigger than I thought it would be, and I spent 2.5 hours walking around at a leisurely pace, and browsing in the gift shop. The gardens are colorful and very lush, and well-maintained. There are benches throughout, to sit and take in the views. There is also a tower to view the ocean. Unfortunately, I visited on a cloudy day, and was unable to see the ocean, but on a clear day, it would be wonderful. Admission is $16, and $2 for parking. I went early, at 10:30, and there was plenty of parking, and not crowded yet. I would recommend visiting these gardens early in the day to have the most relaxing experience.

Great place to spend a few hours to decompress. Very calm and relaxing. Various garden areas highlight different parts of the world, from lush to arid. Love the topiary people!

Don't miss the children's garden. Very interesting and good for adults as well. We spent several hours there and enjoyed the variety of flowers and trees and shrubs. They had an excellent exhibit of art with in the gardens.

It was a sight to behold. If we had been there a few weeks before there may have been more blooming flowers. But there were certainly plenty there as we walked around the 34 or so acres of flowers and plants. I never realized there were so many different varieties of aloes and bamboos. It was amazing to see huge trees that had been there for 50 years. The smells of so many fragrant plants and flowers were intoxicating. Great place to visit. Walked about 4 miles when all was said and done.

I can't say enough about how much I loved this place. My husband and I have a thing for botanic gardens and this one is a top two or three for us. We spent a good three hours exploring the park. The children's area is superb. Our kids really liked it. They loved the alphabet garden and the hopping rocks. It was a good place for them to run around more freely halfway through our visit. The plant shop was unreal. It made me sad that I don't live here. I can't pinpoint a favorite section of the gardens. It was all gorgeous.

The San Diego Botanic Garden is beautiful. With an incredible variety of plants from around the world, as well as an extensive network of well-marked hiking trails, the gardens are a perfect place to spend 3 hours enjoying nature.

We were fascinated with the diversity - a fascinating array of color and textures. We found the bamboo garden particularly interesting with a variety of large bamboo forests creating a unique environment.

The garden also has a nice area specifically set aside for children - with a fabulous tree house at the center that should capture many young imaginations. And a separate "tree-house" at the top of a hill in the garden with extensive views for the adults.

A unique and wonderful place to explore - staffed by an incredible group of friendly helpful people!

Wow! I'm always finding new things at this wonderful garden. This time it was to see the special show of Wissa Wassef textiles from Egypt that all reflect their natural environment; on view trhough Mar. 31, 2017. Surrounding the Ecke Bldg. (the exhibit venue) was the Undersea Succulent Garden that mimics an underwater view. Nearby is the Seeds of Wonder Children's Garden which lacked kids on this rainy morning so I could push the little red button to make the engine go -- what fun! Truly new to me were the floral figures that danced around a fountain, served food or serenaded viewers that were scattered around the various gardens. Another nice addition are two tables with umbrellas in front of the Garden Shop that unfortunately was closed during our Tuesday visit as their plants are quite good and reasonably priced. For a delightful urban trip around the world, go to the San Diego Botanic Garden that's participating in Museum Month (Feb., 2017) that means 1/2 price admission with a pass from Macy's.

We usually find botanical gardens attractive and pleasant to visit. The San Diego Botanic Garden is a mediocre botanical garden. It is not well maintained but does have several meandering trails with flora from around the world. Not worth a special trip to visit.

Went with friends to see the Christmas lights. Admission was $25 per person which didn’t include a horse drawn carriage ride or any food or drink inside. The lights were haphazardly thrown on plants and bushes, and only a small number of plants were lit up. You left going “wait that’s it?” I’m a local who grew up going to the botanic gardens, and this will be my last year going to the holiday lights. Very disappointing.

It starts with inadequate road signage (not everyone uses GPS) which made me miss the turn off to the garden. The Garden's signage of plant names is even worse. Name plates lack elevation making reading them hard and tiring. The map in the visitor guide is confusing and hard/impossible to follow. Again adequate signage is missing to the various exhibits resulting in wandering around looking for the advertised exhibits. Although some sections are spectacular such as the Bamboo and Desert garden, others lack attention and maintenance. The biggest oversight may well be the treatment of native plants (prime reason for my visit). The signage is confusing, often missing and plants seem in poor shape where by definition they should be triving. The native plants one can see on hikes in the region's nature preserves are in such better shape. But most disturbing was the 'native people trail' exhibit. Again poor signages, little explanation and sketchy artifacts in disarray, a portrait painted by an uneducated conqueror... The SDBG has potential to be a world class venue (as the SD Zoo is) but is in dire need of adequate leadership and management.

Well worth a visit. The pool in the bamboo garden was the best. Only comment is they could write something on their website re accessibility for older and persons with problems walking, climbing etc. Also info in their shuttle around the gardens. We saw a shuttle and pick up points but nothing re times or how often pickups are.

The gardens have various areas to view plants from different countries. There is a children's garden with activities for small children. Plan to spend some time to see everything in the 37-acre park.

Gorgeous and well planned out. The views amazing and the detail to native plants extraordinary. Had a wonderful time with my work associates once we busted out of our trainings!

I have a membership to the garden and love to visit and get a good walk in among the beautiful gardens. They offer a variety of classes as well. I have taken the succulent wreath class and the vertical wall garden class, both of which I enjoyed. Always look forward to their tomato mania sale in spring and their fall plant sale, at which the have great deals on all their plant offerings.

San Diego Botanic Garden is a jewel in Encinitas. The children's garden is as good as any I've seen anywhere. The design of the center climbing tree gives access to the different levels of the garden. The quail exhibit is nice. The music, water and building spaces are really clever. It is a great place for children and adults. The rest of the garden is very good too.

Decided to visit the Botanic Garden last minute on the way to the beach and LOVED it! Lots of nice shade when walking around. Paved paths. We especially loved both children's gardens. Lots of unique play areas including a music garden, treehouse, and little stream for kids to splash in. Our daughter especially liked the area with the large blocks for stacking and building ramps to roll balls down. Legoland had something similar but this place was a lot less crowded. Bring a change of clothes as kids will get dirty. There is a nice bathroom near the children's area with a family restroom, great for changing diapers or clothes.

In a garden designed to a large extent to attract and engage kids, it is unlikely that adults will have as much fun. Signage is OK, but hardly original, and the really attractive elements are sculptures and art plunked down among the various types of vegetation organized mostly by geography and moisture requirements. Good for a stroll and as an antedote to ambling through endless shopping arcades that have spread like weeds over the Californian landscape.

This botanical garden is stunning in every way. The staff is friendly, price is reasonable, the provided map is easy to use to navigate the different gardens. The garden is just perfect size to explore for a few hours. Such a great place to see local plants and plants from other lands. highlight for us was to see the fruit trees, oranges, avocados, macadamia, guava, plum. And to catch a glimpse of the tortoise basking in the sun in the distance. Not crowded at all. A lovely, relaxing place to be during a trip to this area.

Great spot for kids - firs tTuesday of the month is free admission. Our two girls (4 and 6) love the kids play area. Huge treehouse with climbing rope and more. Huge building blocks and sand area with trucks etc. and we look at all the beautiful flowers and plants walking in

Gorgeous, gorgeous ... Go! No food options though. They have a huge children's section. Shuttle tours on Saturday at 10 am only. Allow 2 to 3 hrs to go through whole place. Great views!

Toured the 37 acres site with family and grand kids. The variety of the types of plants and trees was very diverse. From all over the world. Very well done. Family packages are available for 13 months.

We took our young kids here after seeing a brochure in our hotel and deciding we wanted to do something a bit more “low key” for the day. Upon arrival, we drove up to the booth to pay for admission. Our first thought was that it seemed kind of expensive but we went with it any way. The place is really nice, lots of different plants to see, even in January. We walked around for a while and went to the kids area with the treehouse. It was a nice spot to eat lunch and the kids had a lot of fun exploring the structure and the other activities provided (music, chalk drawing). The second kids area near the parking lot was also enjoyable - our kids especially enjoyed the small train display. Overall, we were very happy we visited the gardens and would recommend it for other families looking for a relaxing place to spend a couple hours.

I really loved the lushness of this before the renovation- it felt like a secret garden, and there were amazing plants you could spend some time admiring. I went yesterday and now it's basically a hallway with far too many people pouring through. I was really excited to see what the renovation was going to offer, as far as improvements but it felt like they just made this a conveyor belt for the masses to look at some bushes. Didn't see the plants they'd had before the closure, overall a disappointment to bring in more tourists.

Succulents to Citrus to Cork Trees, a wide range of botanical offerings, laid out in a lovely and walkable setting where rounding each bend reveals new wonders. Even a Mexican cactus garden growing upon sculptures, and even a view of the Pacific Ocean. All lovingly and expertly tended, this is a place that gently educates while it airs out your mind and exercises the body. You'll want to put this in your regular rotation.

Amazing Garden, perfect time to visit!
The Orchid show was amazing! Wonderful design and over a hundred varieties of the beautiful flowers.
The grounds themselves were vast and included a Mediterranean section, Mexico section and African section. May is the perfect time to visit! Hint:
there is an edible garden that has a surprise fruit tree- yummy!!

We visited this for the first time in July 2017. Beautiful place, wonderful gardens meticulously kept up. Very friendly staff. Also great it was free due to the gardens reciprocal admission program.

Beautiful flowers and trees. We visited on a Saturday around noon. No wait to get in. I wish there were labels on the trees and flowers.

A great family experience. Hike the many trails that take you through the landscapes from around the world. One of my favorites is the bamboo forest. Nearby there is a view tower to climb where you can see the ocean and surrounding hills. Hike to the waterfall and view it from several vantage points.

If you have children, the two children's playgrounds are amazing. There is a tree house to explore with rope bridges and caves. There is a man made stream for small children to play in.

There is also an exhibit building with art by local artists and another children's playground nearby.

The small shop always has plants and art for sale at great prices.

Just East of Moonlight Beach, the Botanic Garden is a lovely, quiet (and usually not-too-crowded) spot to spend a morning or afternoon enjoying all of the amazing different types of beautiful trees, plants and flowers. This is a great place for kids to explore. The Hamilton Children's Garden is especially wonderful with a giant tree to climb - and there are plenty of spots to sit and eat a picnic lunch.

Not to be missed if you love plants. Cacti, succulents, native species and fascinating air plants planted in old tree trunks as well as themed gardens from many parts of the world. I spotted humming birds too. The childrens' garden is beautifully designed with an amazing tree house.No restaurant but a pleasant little coffee stand which sells sandwiches and ice creams

San Diego Botanic Garden is located in North County in San Diego, a city called Encinitas. It has tons of plants from all over the world. We like to take a walk here and enjoy the environment. It also got quite a few of art work from famous artists and most of them are for sale. It is a popular place for visitors who come to San Diego for vacation.

They have several different types of gardens on site. We really like the children's garden for kids 9 and under, with a tree fort, edible garden, music garden, sand and stream, and more. The Chocolate Festival is not to be missed.

The "morning" cloud cover seems to last all day - maybe just this time of year. In any event, we saw the Botanical Gardens with such gray skies they seemed to be ready to drip at any moment. However, the plants thrive in these conditions and we thoroughly enjoyed the Garden. Broken into world areas (South African, Canary Islands, Mediterranean) or themes (walled garden, herb garden), the experience was filled with small (and large) discoveries. Particularly liked the topiaries in the Mexican garden. Although there were several groups of school children there, the place is large enough that it in no way interfered with our enjoyment.

Ok, I'm not a big plant lover, but I would have expected a botanic garden in this part of the country to be astounding. It was OK but not worth a big detour. Lots of cool bamboo

There are 4 types of ecosystems being featured in this garden.
It is always lush, well maintained and something is always blooming.
There is a wonderful exploration garden for little kids, with a man made river creek.
There are often organized activities and festivals here. My favorite is the chocolate festival.
Don't miss it!

The gardens hold great memories for me and my family as my son and his wife got married in the Walled Garden a few years ago. I love to visit the gardens at different times of the year to see what is in bloom. The plant varieties are impressive, the scenery amazing and the views spectacular. The artwork sprinkled within the gardens lifts the spirit of the gardens.

This is our second trip with two grandsons , 3 and 2 years old. Primarily were in the two childrens' gardens. So much for the kids, climbing, exploring and playing. The boys really liked the little stream that they could have little boats float on ( besides it was cool on a very hot day). Walking to the children's areas made us want to come again to see the surrounding gorgeous gardens. Nice people work there also.

We’ve been to the botanical garden many times but our first since Covid. The changes made in that four year time frame and the changes being made are spectacular. First, the entrance and parking have been vastly improved so backups have been mostly eliminated on the sole access road (some weekend backups can still occur). Second, the addition of the the Dickinson Family Conservatory and improvements in all areas of the gardens especially on the walking paths make anyone want to stop and look at the incredible variety of plant life here. Third, enough trails and sites to fill at least half a day. Fourth, docents are great!

Good and enlightening for families especially those with small children. Tuckers them out.

Cafe is currently closed but will reopen after overhaul (which was needed); however there are plenty of local restaurants close by. Small temporary coffee and snack bar.

Mostly ADA compliant but also has a shuttle system that can move people around.

NOTE: it’s not in San Diego. It’s in Encinitas about 25 miles North of downtown SD.

This garden is out of the way, and you drive through some quaint towns and scenic shorelines to get there. But the Gardens were a disappointment. The paths were not clear of debris, and the trails were not marked clearly. What was marked didn't match what was on the map. In addition to the $12 admission, we had to pay $2 to park. All in all, would not go back, and would not recommend.

Stayed in Solana Beach for the month of December and went to the Botanic Gardens as 2 of our outings. We liked it so much we spent a second day there. The layout is great, they cover so many regions of the world with their plants. The displays are so well done. The succulent displays were my favorite. I recommend it. It's reasonably priced and they have a great little gift shop where we ended up buying Christmas presents. The volunteers were all extremely helpful. Also, they let you leave and get back in later that same day with your ticket.

This was our first visit. We had quite a fun time exploring all the little pathways. You do feel a little lost at times but the map certainly helps. Loved the secret garden, bamboo forest and citrus. Such a pretty place.

Nice property to walk. A lot of stairs for people with mobility issues. Arrange for a docent or golf cart if ADA assistance is needed.Map was not user friendly or to scale. Consider purchasing a membership for entrance to other botanical gardens in San Diego and across the country.

The SD Botanical Garden has a wonderful set of gardens including two separate children's gardens. This is a great place to spend some outdoor time with the whole family. You can walk around and see all kinds of interesting plants without worrying about young children and little cars. The children's gardens have lots of interactive features that kids love. Plus there are chickens in a coop and opportunities to see edible plants and compost bins. The bamboo and succulent gardens are our personal favorite non-children's sections. You also get a view of the ocean if you go to the lookout tower. A wonderful treat for all!

Beautiful gardens. Particularly liked the rain forest area and the garden with the topiary statues. Lots of benches throughout to rest in the shade for August visits.

This place is extraordinary. Beautiful gardens from all over the world. Great waterfall. We got married there 6 years ago. Just an ideal place to be at peace. Perfect for kids. Very reasonable entry fees. Plenty of parking. Food on site too.

We spent a couple of hours here on a nice December afternoon. The gardens introduced us to many plants unfamiliar to us from the Midwest. Because it has been so dry in the area, some of the gardens were dry. With many of the plants being drought tolerant, there was plenty to see from California, Mexico, Australia, Africa and more! The aloes were coming into bloom. We enjoyed our afternoon.

This botanic garden is well maintained and diverse in its collection of plantings. Kay gave an incredible tour today and providing wonderful details of the diverse vegetation brought from like climates around the world, coupled with native California varieties. It is always a pleasure to learn from professionals who are dedicated to their hobbies. We highly recommend this garden and find that it is top rated akin to our Chicago Botanic Gardens.

This garden has spectacular plants, including the largest bamboo garden in the country. There are also many desert plants, famous cork oak trees, plants from many countries. It covers about 35 acres and has 4 miles of trails. Opened daily. Admission is $14 but if you are a member of another garden in the American Horticultural Society, you get in for free. Parking fee of $2 per car. Do not miss this lovely botantical garden in Encinitas.

We visited with 2 children and found the whole experience very disappointing. $50 for 4 people to get in and once in we had no map and very few signs to find the way around. No staff around the whole park so nobody to ask questions. Many exhibitions closed for repair or preparing for their Xmas lights, perhaps the entry price should reflect this. Everything felt very tired, run down and grubby. The kids were so excited for the railroad and that was broken / closed with no explanation. There’s not a lot to do, we had hoped for a lot more. Kids did love the treehouse though!

A sign in the parking lot says, "One of the top 10 gardens in the WORLD." It more than meets this listing. We have been to many botanical gardens throughout the world and this one merits the title. The garden is very well maintained and especially well presented with many plant identification labels. We especially liked the plants arranged to regions of the world. The bamboo garden is especially interesting as is the herb and cooking gardens. A MUST see!

Overall this is a nice garden. Some areas looked healthy and well maintained, while others did not. Better signage for navigation and for plants. We ended up using Google Lens quite often. It seemed every plant we were interested in lacked a sign.

This is a great place to learn more about what plants are like in different places across the world. There are sections of the garden that are dedicated to different places in the world such as New Zealand, Australia, Africa, South Africa, the Mediterranean, the Southwest USA. There are 37 acres in the Botanical Gardens, and they have shuttles if you want a ride to a particular section. I was blown away by the wide variety of Bamboo plants they had there, and was happy to see a sign that said that animals from the San Diego Zoo, such as Pandas had a regular chance to feed on their different varieties of Bamboo. You can bring your camera (highly recommended) and take as many shots as you want, as long as you aren't taking those for commericial purposes

This garden is not set up as a formal botanic garden as some are. It is rambling and wild and beautiful. The varieties of plants from different regions is amazing and the bamboo forest is something not to be missed. The only thing that would improve this garden is to have the plants a bit more well marked. Many were interesting but I had no idea what they were. Some areas are a bit stressed looking--probably because of California's extended drought.

Spent 2-3 hours here on a Sunday afternoon while visiting San Diego in September. I enjoyed walking through the entire gardens layout. Beautiful displays and very easy to navigate map. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys gardening and viewing flora from around the world as well as those from the local environment.

easy way to spend a nice day outside by talking with a docent and letting them walk you through some of what i thought was fascinating....like the bamboo garden

Very pleasant, well laid out and well maintained botanic garden. The experience would be greatly improved if all plants and trees were labeled.

Cant say much more than it is a botanical garden, if you love looking at plants over and over again you will love this, not that you see the same plants repetedly here, but if you visit numerous gardens like we do well you will have seen everything inside already, the building is one to be seen though if you are already in the area.

I don’t know a lot about plants/trees, but this botanical garden was really worth a quick visit and to see succulents from very different parts of the world.

Fairly common selection of plants. Some entertaining garden art throughout. Great children's gardens. Only one tour available on a Saturday? We missed the 10:30 AM and were out of luck. The grounds crew people we spoke with did not know what kind of tree they were working on. We had a dedicated shuttle driver but little information besides the names of the areas of the garden ("This is Australia...and I think this is New Zealand.") as we passed through on our way to a particular garden destination. Nevertheless, the plants speak for themselves as far as beauty goes. Great topiaries.

Walked through the garden and it's very nice and peaceful. A huge variety of plants. I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

A pleasant garden with a variety of coastal plants, water features, sculptures and outdoor art. Great bamboo collection.

You can't even call this a botanical garden. It's the size of someone's large back yard. Way too many desert plants too, not enough variety to keep you interested. Done in less than one hour, taking two turns around to see it. Don't expect this to be like the Bronx N.Y Botanical Gardens or even the the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens which are VERY WELL designed, organized, and considerable in size. So sad. Such a waste of time. Encinitas itself is a lovely area though.

The gardens are alive with colors and scents. I’m certain spring is the absolute best time to visit here, but I’m also sure that the variety of these gardens has much to offer other times, as well. The gardens are divided into zones with plants typical of various places that are compatible to this climate on display. Mexico was my favorite, with sculptures of living succulents the highlight. The bursts of color throughout were stunning, the waterfall provides a calm background sound, and there’s a boardwalk leading to an elevated viewing platform that provides panoramic views. You can spend an hour or several taking it in!

I expected something spectacular, and this was only OK. A wide variety of bamboo, which was sort of cool. This used to be a private home, and the gardens feel like a bit of a mishmash, perhaps because of that. Fruit trees, an African plant area, an herb garden, and more. Coffee onsite, which is nice.

We spent the afternoon at this beautiful garden and truly enjoyed our time. We couldn't wait to walk down the next path to see what amazing beauty nature had in store for us next. We kept commenting about our finds and intrigues. Even as adults we had fun at the children's garden. This was an incredible space dedicated to the fun that can take place in nature and with nature. Loved this place.

Get to know the local plant life. Great for walking. Could use more tlc in the plant beds. Interesting art pieces throughout the gardens you can purchase. Good variety of plants. Areas good for photos and kids play.

The gardens are a true treasure. I loved it so much I joined and became a member. Don't miss the bamboo forest.

Beautiful and unexpected gardens. Wide open walkways and paths. Plants and trees from various countries. Wonderful overlook viewing the bay and the valley. My favorite was the fiesta Mexican topiary sculptures. Highly recommend visiting this treasure!

Do t o the very dry and hot summer, the gardens did not look their best. The walking paths provide a great variety of trees, bamboo, bushes and flowers.

In the middle of a busy coastal city lies a sweet secret known to locals as Quail Botanic Garden to others it is known as San Diego Botanic Garden. The garden offers many venues insect festival, fairy festival, art fest, etc . The two children gardens, are a haven for young and old not to mention a great placefor photographers and just a neat place to be.

We visited here in late December on one of the final days of Garden of Lights. We had free admission through our AHS membership; we arrived around 2 p.m. in order to see the garden in the daylight, and happily, we were not charged extra to stay to see the lights. We enjoyed walking around this lovely garden; we especially loved the desert, succulent, bamboo, and subtropical fruit gardens. Being from PA, these are exotic treats for us to see, especially in December. This garden does contain a fair number of inclines along the pathways; some large areas were too hilly for me to visit, so we missed about one third of the grounds. Although the hilly terrain did make for some attractively banked planting beds, I was disappointed not to see the entire grounds.

We read at the garden's website that a food truck would be available when the gates opened for Garden of Lights at 4 p.m.; we were planning to have a bite to eat while waiting for the lights to come on at 5 p.m. Unfortunately, the food truck was not there that early, so the line for the small beverage shop (where there were some prepackaged sandwiches for sale) was quite long. Also, the location of the food truck (once it finally arrived) was not terribly convenient to the garden but down past the parking lot quite a bit (more hilly walking!).

The lights were pleasant enough but not worth a special trip, in my opinion. The best value is to visit the garden in the daylight for a few hours, arriving early enough to get a close parking spot and getting to stay for the lights for no extra charge. Just hope you get a day when the food truck arrives when advertised (or bring your own snacks). There was musical entertainment on tap for the evening, but we left before it began.

My wife and I visit at least once a year. It's just a short drive north of San Diego and they have a wonderful plant collection. There are plenty of trails to walk along, and all of them are themed (mostly geographically). There's a nice view of the surrounding area from a tower. There's also a picturesque water fall in the tropical area. I always enjoy the large variety of cactus and succulents. There's a small snack shop and a gift shop which always has some plants for sale. I got a really good deal on a rare aloe years ago there. I highly recommend visiting here.

This is a botanical paradise. Because it is near the beach it has a variety of weather elements. It has an ocean view side and a canyon view side. The staff is extremely helpful and willing to do explanations in detail. There is something for everyone. Worth the trip and worth a return trip any time.

Coming from the Great Lakes area, we were really interested in how different the botanical life is in SoCal from what we are used to seeing. I have a feeling that springtime is the best time to come as the dry desert heat has not yet turned everything brown. Many plants were in bloom, including a yucca which I had never seen in bloom before. And the fragrance! Oh, my! As soon as you get out of the car, it hits you. It's wonderful.

There is a small gift shop and a very small refreshments area where you can buy something and sit down and have a drink. As we were leaving, a food truck pulled up which offered some very interesting looking organic food choices. It was tempting to just have lunch right there in the parking lot! I am not sure how often this food truck pulls up; we visited the garden three times while we were vacationing in the area, and I saw it only once.

If you have any interest at all in botanic gardens, this one is not to be missed.

Great for a quiet walk among the desert flowers, cacti and citrus trees. There is a platform for viewing the ocean. I believe it is available for private events. It looked like a wedding or renewal of vows was in progress when we were there. Ocean breezes keep the temps. Comfortable.

I have been coming to Southern California for 10 years and this is my first visit but not my last. I had bought my mother here. They had two wheelchairs you can use. First come first service. I think some locations would be hard to access but most aren't. It is absolutely beautiful here and my mother had a great time here. Very nice and relaxing. Highlight of the trip!!

Some great specimen plants. Nicely labeled plants. Children's garden is very nice as well. Perfect for an afternoon in nature.

Awesome place to visit! The garden is free, the Japanese friendship garden down the path is $16 and well worth it. The Botanic Garden has just reopened after 3 years of reconstruction and it is beautiful. Worth the trip!

Beautiful walking trails blanketed by numerous botanical garden areas. Tropical, xeriscape, palms, succulents, bamboo forests - totally amazing. Walking trails take you through the splendor of the various gardens. Great exercise and views. They have a small "cottage" that you can rent for a day for special events. We had an office off site, and it was perfect. Spectacular view, you must see.

Have you every stepped into a garden and suddenly feel transported into another world? That is your sensory perception upon entering the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas, CA. You know you are in the City of Encinitas, less than a mile from the I-5 Freeway, but your senses keep telling you that you have stepped through a portal of time and space into a magical place.

The San Diego Botanical Garden is a rare jewel in North County Coastal San Diego.
Each turn on the walking paths brings you to new sights and smells. Each season of the year seems to introduce you to a "new" garden experience.

This is truly my Secret Garden where I can find escape and tranquility from a chaotic world. If you are in Encinitas, CA, don't miss visiting and experiencing a little of piece of Heaven on Earth yourself. You will not be disappointed.

My daughter(adult) and I had 2 hours to spend yesterday afternoon and wanted to do an activity that kept us out of the sun. This was a great place to learn about the vegetation in different parts of the world- very child friendly, with military and senior discounts- calming and informative. Highly recommend this garden manned by volunteers, who do a great job at maintaining this garden.

We visited on a very hot day and enjoyed the shady trails around the gardens. It was interesting to see plants and trees from around the world growing in the hot, dry Californian conditions. Beautiful and varied fruit trees and flowering plants. The setting is tranquil, there are plenty of benches, lovely shop, coffee cart and friendly staff. A great day out for plant lovers.

I lived in San Diego for many years but never heard of here somehow. And today we came visit with our 1.5 years old son and we had an amazing time. The size of the garden is pretty big, you can expect maybe 2 hours to look at everything well. There are two super fun children’s areas and our son enjoyed them both so we spent longer. I loved that they used natural materials to make children area fun. They are creative and fun.
There are plants from many parts of the world. I really enjoyed the rain forest area and it reminded me of Singapore and Thailand. I also liked the bamboo area a lot. The edible area is fun. You can see the trees of many fruits.

We spend a very relaxing morning admiring the many varieties of tropical plants, many of them in bloom. The views are nice and we saw a number of interesting birds. There is a wonderful children's garden and also a gift shop and plants for sale.

I always make sure to visit the gardens for their Christmas display which is well worth it. It is pricey so you have to save up. Event includes s'mores, mulled wine, hot cider. hayrides and beautiful lights.

There was a very cool space for kids, which includes a treehouse, a musical area, chalk coloring and a building area and also a little stream! There’s also a sand pit further inside the garden. Overall there were some great plants and flowers to view!

Every Christmas season the garden is filled with lights and activities. Very well worth visiting. Santa is there as well as entertainment.

Allow enough time to leisurely walk around. In fact, plan more than one visit. It's just too big for a single visit. There are fascinating plants from different parts of the world. It clean, well maintained and staffed with friendly knowledgeable people.

Added bonus, currently there are sculptures on loan and on display throughout the park. (Special value: admission is free to San Diego residents on the first Tuesday of each month.)

Lovely afternoon stroll for all ages to explore! Great children's area with amazing treehouse and creative spaces. Wander through bamboo forests and topiary figurines creatively conceived with succulent varietals.

The gardens are fantastic. Worth the entry fee. Plus in February it was half price for 65+. A large variety of plants from around the world. Especially enjoyed the cactus plants and succulents. Lots of blooms this time of the year. Not much in the fruit section. The variety of trees was also amazing.

The Gardens had a special holiday exhibit in which many of the trees,plants and areas of the garden were decorated with colorful lights. That was it, lights all over. I have seen the Longwood Gardens in DE, NY Botanical Garden, the Bronz Zoo and the National Zoo, DC light show. The San Diego light show was not half as good as any of those and equally expensive. Instead of having people park and then collect admission fees, they collected payment as cars came in. We got there at 5:07, 7 minutes after it opened and did not get to payment booth until 5:35, slow and tedious process. We will skip the attraction next time we are in town.