Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

Texans have forever celebrated the natural beauty of the Lone Star State, and visitors will be hard-pressed to find a better urban oasis than the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Located just minutes from downtown Dallas, the arboretum is a 66-acre display garden featuring 19 finely manicured gardens, several dining options — try the chicken and spinach crêpes at Café on the Green — and special events throughout the year, including Dallas Blooms, the largest floral festival in the Southwest.

Whether you're looking for a destination for a family-friendly adventure, a peaceful stroll in nature, a romantic date, a wedding, or any other private event, the Dallas Arboretum is the perfect venue.

Here are some of the ways you can enjoy your time at the Dallas Arboretum:

Enjoy the Gardens

The Dallas Arboretum has 19 unique gardens, each with its own theme. Stroll through the relaxing waterway and lily pond of the Magnolia Glade. Walk through Crape Myrtle Allee, a popular spot for photographers. Stop and smell the roses in the Rose Mary Haggar Rose Garden, featuring more than 200 hybrid tea roses of 16 different varieties.

Let your imagination take over the in Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden, connecting children with nature. Get lost in the Palmer Fern Dell, a tranquil spot along a brook. These botanical gardens have something for everyone.

Events at the Dallas Arboretum

In addition to the year-round things to see and do, there are several special events throughout the year at the Dallas Arboretum. One of its most popular events is Dallas Blooms, the largest floral festival in the Southwest. Dallas Blooms was named one of America's Best Spring Floral Festivals by Fodor's Travel in 2015, and each spring offers one of the most spectacular flower displays in the world.

More than half a million blooming  tulips, daffodils, pansies, violas, poppies, and thousands of other annuals and perennials are on display during the festival, as well as the flowering cherry blossom trees. The Dallas Arboretum also hosts the Cool Thursdays Concert Series in the spring, summer, and fall. Bring your picnic and enjoy live music on green lawns overlooking White Rock Lake. Autumn at the Arboretum, the Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch, and Artscape are a few more of the top events in Dallas housed at the Dallas Arboretum.

Education at the Dallas Arboretum

It’s been said if you’re not learning, you’re dying. The Dallas Arboretum is the perfect place to learn in a fun, hands-on way. Adult education programs include photography, creative arts, and tastings. Who doesn’t want to learn how to paint a rose using watercolors or how to create your own cocktail ingredients using plants from your garden? There are also school programs, camps, and educational gardens tailor made for youngsters.

No matter the time of year, there’s always a plethora of wonderful things to see, do, and learn at the arboretum, which is known as one of the top attractions in Dallas. Check it out for yourself!