Bay Area Botanical Gardens for Family Fun
Botanical gardens, those living museums showcasing plants and trees from around the globe, are always a fun place to explore with the family. With their variety of plants, diverse landscapes and environments, fun features like ponds and lawns, educational programs, and more, they're a great place to spend the day, have a picnic, and maybe even learn a thing or two. They also often have awesome shops where you can browse unique garden- and plant-themed gifts. Here's our guide to the most fascinating and fun botanical gardens open to the public in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Marin Art and Garden Center, Ross
The 11-acre Marin Art and Garden Center on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Ross features a gardens that showcase a variety of different plants including roses, California native plants, edible plants, as well as threse species of redwood and a giant sequoia from Yosemite. It's also home to historic buildings like the Octagon House, the Ross Valley Players' Barn Theater, Pixie Park playground, and the Evergreen Children’s Academy preschool.
Look for fun events like a summer outdoor concert series, yoga and tai chi classes, and iceless ice skating during the holidays. Admission is free, although admission fees may be charged for programs. Location: 30 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Ross CA 94957. More info
San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park
This 55-acre garden in Golden Gate Park is home to more than 8,000 plants from ecosystems around the world as well as a large scenic pond and lawn area. They host a variety of programs ranging from their educational Bean Sprouts Family Days to the enchanting Flower Piano event that turns the area into a musical landscape with 12 grand pianos placed around the garden.
Admission is free for San Francisco residents with proof of residency, members, and military or veterans; otherwise it's $15 for adults, $7 youth 12–17, $3 children 5–11, and free for ages 4 and under. A family pass is $31. The San Francisco Botanical Garden is open daily from 7:30 am to 7 pm (last entry at 6 pm; fall and winter hours are earlier). Location: 1199 9th Avenue, San Francisco CA 94122. More info
Sonoma Botanical Garden, Glen Ellen
This botanical garden in the Wine Country town of Glen Ellen features 67 acres of East Asian and native California plants. Wander through the magical landscapes and check out the rotating special exhibitions like the current Spirit Guides with its colorful Zapotec-inspired animal sculptures. Special programs include Sunday Funday family days and Acoustic Sunsets concerts.
Admission is $17 for adults, $14 for seniors 65+, $8 for youth 5–17, teachers, and active military, and free for kids 4 and under and members. Sonoma Botanical Garden is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm (8 pm on Acoustic Sunset Wednesdays). Location: 12841 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen CA 95442. More info
UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley
Discover over 10,000 different kinds of plants at this beautiful 37-acre botanical garden in the hills above UC Berkeley. It's both a space for students and researchers as well as the general public. Don't miss the peaceful Japanese Pool with its resident newts and the soaring Mather Redwood Grove. Programs range from hands-on educational events to concerts in the redwood grove to guided bird and butterfly walks.
The UC Botanical Garden is open Wednesday through Monday from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is $18 for adults, $12 for seniors 65+ and non-UC Berkeley students, $8 for youth 5–17, and free for kids 4 and under, members, and UC Berkeley students, faculty, and staff. Location: 200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley CA 97420. More info
Tilden Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Berkeley
The Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Berkeley's Tilden Park was founded in 1940 to showcase the botanical diversity of the state of California. Explore our state's varied landscapes from oceanside bluffs to the mountains of the Sierra Nevada range to the arid deserts. Wildcat Creek flows through the garden and there's a pond, rock garden, and giant sequoia grove.
The garden is open 8:30 am–5 pm from October–May and 8:30 am–5:30 pm from June–September. Admission is free. Location: 1550 Wildcat Canyon Road, Berkeley CA 94708. More info
