Little slice of bri
Travel, Writing, and Everything in-between
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden: Is It Worth A Visit?
With a hefty parking and entrance fee, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is not for the cheap-minded individual. Just for myself the cost for parking was $15, and then entrance into the park itself was another $15. Add on any additional purchases (lunch/souvenir) and you’re looking at over $50 for one person. If you car pool then the cost doesn’t seem too steep, but for a single individual, it’s a bit much for a few hours at a garden.
Pricing aside, the park is worth the trip–if you like flowers and sculptures. When there are no special events happening at the Arboretum, there’s not much to do other than walk around, eat at one of the fancy restaurants, or pack a picnic to enjoy on the well-manicured lawns. For me, it was a perfect way to spend my Saturday morning.
I visited during the beginning of summer, so the landscape was at its peak. The East Texas sky light blue, not a cloud streaked across it. A light breeze shaking the flowers and the sides of my dress. The Arboretum built on the edge of White Rock Lake, and the water sparkled in the mid-morning sun. A perfect day– until the afternoon hit.
As soon as the sun was high enough in the sky, I turned into a sweaty little gremlin. Every shaded area congested to capacity. The allure to jump into one of the many fountains irresistible. My recommendation is to try and visit the park during Spring, or like I did: in the morning. By afternoon anywhere outside in Texas is miserable.
During my visit I also stumbled upon two proposals, a wedding, and at least a dozen photo shoots. So, if you’re looking for a popular place to get photos taken for a special event, this is it. There was also a group class that walked around identifying and sketching the foliage so if that’s your jam, the Arboretum is perfect for you.
On Saturdays and Sundays the Arboretum has live music (usually classically inclined. Ex: saxophone or guitar). This summer, June 24-25, there is an African Music Festival to promote ZimSculpt, a world renowned exhibition of modern Zimbabwean stone sculptures (an exhibition that runs from April 15-July 31, 2017). In August, the garden promotes a special called: August Dollar Days, where admission is $1. I assume this is a popular time to visit, but for $1 I’d brave most crowds.
Overall The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a nice escape from downtown Dallas, and worth a visit if you’re in town. The next time I go I want to try out the Afternoon Tea at the DeGoyler Tea room. What better place for a fancy tea than a Botanical garden?
Have a favorite Botanical Garden? Let me know about it in the comments down below! I always like wandering through new Gardens wherever I travel.
If you know the Dallas, Texas area well, and have any recommendations on what places I should check out now that I live here, please do let me know 🙂
Thanks for Reading!
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