There are a handful of gardens around LA, but the Los Angeles County Arboretum is a favorite of ours. It’s right off the 210 freeway, offers free parking, a lake, gardens, and even a waterfall! There’s so much to see here and is a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of the day-to-day life.
A summary of our visit to the Los Angeles County Arboretum
The Los Angeles County Arboretum is beautiful and bigger than I had expected. It has paved walking paths throughout with a few dirt paths that were wide and flat. Which was great because I was able to bring my stroller without any issues.
Upon entering this facility, we were greeted by a peacock. We saw quite a few during our time here wondering around the grounds. They are amazing creatures but keep your distance and be respectful of the wildlife that live here.
One thing I noticed that I appreciated was a large grassy area which was perfect for running around. I also saw some families bring a blanket to relax on the lawn. (there were a few trees for shade) Perfect spot for a picnic or just to relax in the peaceful atmosphere.
Gardens and trails
The kids loved walking through the different gardens and seeing the wildlife around the grounds such as squirrels, lizards, turtles, fish and different types of birds. It kept them entertained and engaged. We enjoyed observing each creature we found along the way.
We walked through all the trails and gardens within this peaceful facility. Our favorites were the Madagascar Spiny Forest, the Forest Path, Plumeria Grove, and the Meyberg Waterfall. We also spent some time on the Forest path resting on a bench that overlooks the lake. The kids stayed content counting how many ducks and turtles they saw.
There are benches, water fountains, and restrooms throughout the property. Be sure you grab a map, so you can easily find them.
We enjoyed the shaded pathways the most. There are a few paths that are not shaded, so come prepared with hats and sunscreen.
Final thoughts
Overall, our favorite part of this visit was the waterfall! We loved the path that took us up above the waterfall as well. The Los Angeles County Arboretum reminded us of the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, which is another facility worth checking out. I will be posting a blog soon about our trip there. For now, here is a link to their website: https://huntington.org/
We spent about 3 hours here walking around, taking in the sights, and having lunch (you are not allowed to bring food into the Los Angeles County Arboretum, but there is a cafe on the property you can purchase food from. You can also opt to eat in the parking lot, which is what we did)
Tickets aren’t too pricey, but they offer one free day each month which is worth it. Tickets and reservations for the free day are mandatory and are easy to reserve online.
The Los Angeles County Arboretum was amazing, and we enjoyed our time there. We will be back for sure!
Plan your visit!
All the details for the free day and more are below, so what are you waiting for? Go explore!
• 📍Address:
301 N. Baldwin Ave.
Arcadia CA 91007
• 🅿️ Parking: yes, a parking lot is available and it’s free 👍🏼
• 🎟️ Entrance fee:
$15 – adults
$11 – seniors (62+)
$11 – students with ID
$5 – children (5-12)
Free admission to children 4 and under.
• Free Day: Every third Thursday of the month. Advanced tickets are required and are available online only on a first-come, first-serve basis. Free day tickets are available on the 1st of each month beginning at 9:00 am.
Free day tickets are limited to 5 per reservation.
Entrance times are mandatory but once inside, you are free to enjoy the grounds for however long you’d like.
Reserve your free day tickets here: https://www.arboretum.org/free-day-tickets/
• 🗓️ Hours: 9:00-5:00 pm.
The last entry is at 4:30 pm.
*Closed on Christmas Day.
• ♿️ Accessibility: yes, this is a stroller and wheelchair-friendly facility.
• 🚻 Restrooms: Yes, there are restrooms within the property.
• 🥪/🥤 Food/Water: Bottled water is allowed inside. There are water fountains throughout the property too. (No outside food is allowed inside the facility)
ℹ️ For further information, check out the website here: http://www.arboretum.org
Recommended items to bring:
• Stroller if you have littles
• Water
• Hats and Sunscreen
• Walking shoes
Important information from the Los Angeles County Arboretum:
“For your safety…
Keep a distance of 10 feet from peafowl.
Do NOT feed, touch or chase wildlife. Peafowl, squirrels, rabbits, geese, turtles, coyotes as well as other birds and insects are all part of the LA Arboretum’s natural habitat. Please show respect and caution in the vicinity of these wild animals.”
“Garden Etiquette & Rules:
The LA Arboretum is a museum of living plants and welcomes visitors to make their experience enjoyable, interesting, and memorable. During a visit we ask guests to be good stewards of our plants, wildlife, and historic structures to protect them for future generations to enjoy.
While at the Arboretum, we ask that guests please observe the following:
• Do not collect, remove, or damage any natural materials including seeds, flowers, fruits, feathers, plant labels or other garden materials.
• Climbing trees or swimming in water features is not permitted.
• No Smoking in the Arboretum or LA County grounds. Smoking/vaping is not permitted in the gardens.
• Recreational equipment such as bicycles, skateboards, scooters, sports equipment, barbeques, radios, instruments, lawn chairs and coolers are not permitted. (Strollers, bikes etc. that are controlled by an adult are permitted.)
• No Balloons or flying drones in the gardens.
• No balls, buckets, baskets, shovels, bubbles, etc. Anything that can harm the plants or animals or items that are being used to carry out materials from the garden are not permitted.
• Musical instruments are not permitted. Music in general should be listened to with headphones, not on speakers or phones at a loud volume. We want to encourage a peaceful environment where all guests can enjoy nature without the distraction of other guests’ music.
Children under 18 must always be accompanied and supervised by an adult/guardian.”