one of my favorite parks great for runs and very well maintained and beautiful park. mon thru thurs, you can bring your pup so i take mac those days. its really cool to visit this place during different seasons too. been going here for some time even before i had mac. it's a gem! read more

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I'm always looking for places that have great scenery to walk my dog I was surprised to learn Aldridge Garden allowed dogs Monday - Thursday. It's never too crowded and sometimes we sit by the water and I do a little reading. It's really peaceful & a great for picnics. read more

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A hidden, often-forgotten jewel. Go visit Aldridge Gardens for you walk in nature. The lake path is serene and shaded!

Great place for a walk. The trails are well maintained, and the atmosphere is always so relaxing. I'm lucky when I can get over to take a walk and clear my mind. read more

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Beautiful park but running is not authorized here. Check their website. It is considered a walking park and they will ask you to stop running if they see you. The trail is natural and there are a lot of people walking that you can run into. read more

Come on its spring in Alabama and this marvelous walkable garden is a stone throw from most of Hoover. Easy paths beautiful garden trails a lot of things in bloom. While you're there you might as well sign up for a membership and help keep it going. read more

Really nice gardens with a great walking trail and lots of lush foliage that makes it delightful

This place is stunning. Hidden gem. Tucked away right off Lorna road. Well manicured lawn and flowers and a beautiful lake. Plenty of seating thru out the property and a great place to enjoy a picnic or lunch. Definitely putting this location in heavy rotation. They also have a hiking trail. Ohh by the way it's free admission. read more

Park was cute but really small. I expected more trails to walk around but I guess nice enough for the area.

This used to be a private garden and is now open to the public free of charge. The hiking trails around a lake are surrounded by native plants, including azaleas, hydrangeas and magnolias. BTW, dogs are allowed Monday through Thursday. read more

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Very out of the box but amazing to go sight seeing and the stores to go along with the builds. Amazing raised bread but have to go early or they sale out m. read more

I think I have left previous reviews for a Aldridge Gardens, but in case I have not, let me tell you that it is a relaxing oasis. They have a little gift shop and customer service center with restrooms. They have pavilions. They have a bridge over a small lake. they have trails through the woods. My favorite, however, is the variety of benches around the trails. The butterfly bench is my all-time favorite. read more

Aldridge Gardens - Parks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Always one of my favorite places to visit when I am in town. I love that it's free. I love that I can go in sit down be surrounded by beautiful flowers and smells and eat my lunch. I love the walk around the lake. I'm never disappointed in the gardens and I realize that seasonally they are different but to me it's still a magical place. read more

We absolutely love walking around here. It's pretty level so you can bring elderly family members here. This place has been a life saver during the pandemic. It is scenic and clean. Lots of places to enjoy and get a good walk in. Wear comfy shoes. You can feed ducks and they have food for purchase I think or you can bring some animal friendly crackers or bread if your own. The lake is nice and I can't imagine how lovely it must look in the fall. Admission is free! read more

The gardens are absolutely stunning. I really enjoyed the beautiful plants and upkeep of the park. The staff was very kind and welcoming. If you choose to do so, as I did, you can bring a few quarters and get fish or duck food as well. I noticed that the turtles, mallards, geese, and fish preferred the fish food most. Overall, a really wonderful experience. I would happily return again, and they take donations for the upkeep of the park (something to keep in mind). read more

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Grab a coffee or a hot tea on a weekend day, and head over to take a walk around Aldridge gardens. It's tucked away in the rocky ridge area, just down the road from riverchase galleria. Admission is free, but if you have some to spare, donations are always appreciated. My favorite season to go here is fall. All the leaves change color, and you find yourself in a beautiful Forrest of bright yellow, red, and orange. Almost all the trees they have right around the lake have their leaves change color, it's beautiful seeing the reflections of all of this in the water. They have a cute little boathouse where they have feed dispensing machines so that you can feed the ducks and turtles in the lake. Just bring a few quarters, and share whatever you have left with the kids running around. If you have a wedding or event, they have huge pavilions you can rent as well as the main house right next to the lake. Gorgeous place to host an event. They also host some cool events open to the public year round- check out their monthly event calendar for various classes. They have everything from art classes to tea parties to tequila cocktail workshops and bird watching. They also have their annual greenery sale in early December- with a nice selection and pretty fair prices. Overall, Aldridge gardens is a beautiful place to come get some fresh air and relax. Forever will be one of my favorite places to come on a weekend morning. read more

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Great park right off Lorna Rd in Hoover, AL. The path around the lake is .51 of a mile, so 2 circuits is just over a mile. Lots of shady spots. Bee houses, flowering plants. Floating dock, fish and turtles in the lake. read more

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This is a beautifully he kept up park. There are lots of flowers and a little waterfall. If you walk around the lake it is almost perfectly flat with some roots you have to step over though. I thought it was located very conveniently, next to the highway and the galleria. read more

Aldridge Gardens - It's going to take pictures of the sculpture! - Parks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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We spent about 1 1/2 hours there this morning and it's a lovely & tranquil place. The land (30 acres) and a (small) house were donated by Mr. & Mrs. Aldridge and it's now a non-profit. There's a dedicated group of volunteers, including those who staff the gift shop. We had a very pleasant conversation with the couple who worked in the shop today (although the shop is tiny and we didn't see anything of interest). There were several women (singly) walking around the grounds who probably go walking there regularly - all of whom greeted us as they passed us - and later we saw a large group of adorable kindergartners who were very excited to be there. In mentioning the dedication of the volunteers, I'd like to highlight the work of an Eagle Scout who built a beautiful/lengthy/intricate series of (wooden) steps leading down a slope. That was truly "a labor of love". Lastly; although admission to the gardens is free, it costs money to do maintenance/etc. There's a small donation box by the exit.... read more

So beautiful here. I enjoyed the Aldridge Gardens much better than the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The property is beautiful and peaceful. The lake is lovely. Very easy to walk around. Everything well maintained. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Aldridge in the gift shop, a wonderful gentleman who is happy to speak to visitors. Admission is free, donations appreciated. You can have events here and during my visit they were setting up for a wedding that looked like it would be lovely. You can become a member for a reasonable fee and are welcome to bring your dog and fish in the lake during special membership times. read more

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This is my go-to place to hangout and walk around at, it's a beautiful area with a great path to walk. The garden is never really that busy so if you need somewhere peaceful to go, this is the place. On a side note this area seems to be a great venue for all sorts of events and other get-togethers. read more

I love when I'm near here and have the space to shop. I do make a special trip every year when my garden is ready for new plants. They have a great selection and knowledgeable staff. I usually go over my budget but when faced with so my colors how can I not? read more

Aldridge Gardens - Parks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

If you are looking for a place to get away for a walk or a nice spot to read in the sun, Aldridge Gardens is the place to go. Especially if you happen to live in the Hoover area. Although I'm not a Hoover resident, I make the trek because it's worth it. Aldridge Gardens is the hidden park gem of Birmingham- it is FREE, boasts the largest hydrangea collection in the state, a lake with an adorable boathouse, and plenty of walking trails. They even have a teaching area and a secret spot where fairies live (seriously- enter the gate, then follow the trail up to the right and around the lake- you can find the houses where the fairies live). If I was babysitting some cute elementary school aged kiddos, I'd take them here to see the geese, burn off some steam, and then have a little picnic in the grass in front of the (real) house on the property. If you have the time, make it out to Aldridge to see a little slice of calm in a very busy area. fun facts: this used to be a purely residential property, but was then opened to the public; this is a somewhat popular wedding venue which they've upgraded by building an impressive pavilion to the left when you enter the gate read more

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Great place to walk! I bet it is beautiful when everything is in bloom! The paths were easy to walk on. read more

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This is one of my favorites spots to walk, relax, and just take in the beauty. Every time I go there is a wedding taking place and the view is just beautiful. The pond is nice to walk around and if you want you can stop and feed the ducks and turtles. They have nice & clean restrooms if you need. They accept donations at the front entrance. read more

A friend of mine lives like a minute away from Aldridge Gardens, and therefore I've passed it a billion zillion times but have never actually ventured inside. Today I actually managed to get inside the gardens, and I was very glad that I finally did. Free attractions are always great in my book. I walked in through the gates, and I noticed right away that there were signs up for a wedding later in the day. The pavilion was set up for a reception, and there was an arch right by the lake/pond. So if you're looking for a wedding venue, Aldridge Gardens seems to be a hotspot. For lovers of hydrangeas, Aldridge Gardens has your number.* There were all sorts of 'em all over the place. There was also a nursery where you could buy plants if you have a green thumb. It's pleasant to leisurely stroll about and enjoy the landscape. It was hot though. If you take the path around the lake, look out for the man carved out of a tree trunk. I loved how many of the plants and trees were labelled so that you could know what they were. Tip 1: For the general public, the grounds close at 4 PM. Members can stay until 7 PM. *Tip 2: If you grow hydrangeas, there's even an FAQ you can submit a question to! http://aldridgegardens.com/nature/askabouthydgrangeas/hydrangea_q_and_a.html read more

Out of the many places I've been in Birmingham to have to say this is one of the ones that surprised me the most! (In a good way) I have passed this place almost everyday when I am in Birmingham and never thought to actually pull in the parking lot to see it. The only thing that I don't like is that it took me so long to realize what a beautiful place was behind those Gates. Upon arriving you'll find their own parking lot and a small office gazebo, typically it has someone in there. You will notice surrounding that there are plenty of Flyers about events happening in the gardens.... Prepare to be amazed!!!.... there are many different kinds of walking trails. Currently, they are doing some construction on their Bridge and that path is closed. I love to see a place like this obviously being well maintained so I don't mind that there is construction currently because there are plenty of other paths to walk and or jog. One of the things that stand out to me about this place is the water stream that they have flowing throughout the different paths. They are like little mini waterfalls super beautiful. They also have a covered area perfect for large gatherings,of which I cannot wait to use. I wish I could write more about this place but this is something that one must at least go one time time and experience the overall Beauty and feel of this place read more

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The weather is really nice . We went there week ago and it was a very beautiful and romantic time for me and my fiance . We really enjoyed that time walking around taking pictures of ducks , and trees . If you ever been to Birmingham i advice you to stop there and see the place read more

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This place is one of the most quaint, beautiful, & peaceful gardens I've ever been to. I used to take my two daughters there when we lived in Hoover. My youngest cannot remember it but my oldest does. We always saw the biggest turtles! A lovely garden to take a stroll or even a date to. Absolutely recommended! read more

Very Nice Garden! The gardens were great and on some levels better than the other garden in Birmingham. We enjoyed the geese, the ducks, turtles and fish. It was quiet and peaceful and we would love to come back and visit again. The only negative was the "Event Staff" member that stopped me at the gate on my way out. He told me I was not allowed to take pictures unless I paid $30. I explained that I was only taking candid landscapes and was not planning on doing anything with them - he stressed again that I needed to pay and wanted me to go with him to the gate and get the forms. On the way there we met two others entering the gardens with cameras and he told them the same thing - they left. When we reached the gate there was a sign that said it was free to take pics. The only reference was to a fee for formal settings, so he explained that he was new and did not know all the regulations. Other than that it was a great place and I would highly recommend to anyone read more

Aldridge Gardens - Aldridge Gardens - Crane Sculptures - Parks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Pros: Very nice walk around a small lake and wooded area. There are a couple of little walkway bridges which are neat. Cons: I don't recommend taking small children. There is a large number of geese/ducks that are a little aggressive with begging and competing for food. One of them pecked me from behind when I was feeding the ones in the water. read more

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Great for a walk or run.. I've even been to weddings there.. it's a good location for all types of activities.. beautiful scenery

What a beautiful place for an evening stroll! I used to frequent this place several years ago but went back for the first time yesterday, after moving back to Birmingham. It looks even better than it did several years ago. We came yesterday afternoon just to explore and walk around a little bit and were very pleased with the beauty of this place. We did the 0.5 mile trail around the lake a couple of times, which was paved in some parts and more woodsy/natural in others. It was an easy walk with the stroller. There were other little off paths from the trail that we didn't explore but look forward to checking out next time. This place is super close by and we look forward to coming back again soon - would be a great place for a little picnic! read more

Photographers beware!! Unlike the lovely Birmingham Botanical Gardens, this place charges photographers to shoot here. I had no idea. I met a family for a shoot and, to my dismay, there was a wedding going on at 4:00 on a Friday afternoon that half the park was shut off for. Then, when my clients got there & I was frantically looking for a decent location, since the wedding was taking up the best ones, I was approached by a young employee of the park asking if I was a photographer and did I have an appointment because photographers have to pay a fee to shoot there and then he said the park was closing in 30 minutes anyway. I've had friends that had family photo shoots here in the past & had no problem. I will never set foot in this place again. And anyway, there are snakes galore in the summer, which is why I had avoided it until November. Plenty of other places around town to shoot. read more

My little girl loved this place. especially the fact the geese walk right up to you and she got too choose each direction we walked

This has been one of my favorite places to visit for years. The statues are fun and it's a very peaceful environment to take a walk or sit and watch nature. read more

Great garden. Great views. Definitely worth checking out. Ducks by the water. Green and serene.

Attended a rehearsal dinner party here tonight. The grounds are immaculate, and really a beautiful walk to the garden house where the dinner was held. Catered with down home delicious southern food, it was a cozy, romantic setting for a group of about 70. Nice enough weather to go outside to enjoy a drink or stay inside at a candlelit table. Perfect setting. read more

Once I found Aldridge Gardens, I became a member and stopped walking around Star Lake. Aldridge gardens is a series of walking, not running, trails. If you want to run you'll have to find another place. These gardens are absolutely beautiful and Robert Wolff, the main caretaker of the gardens, has and continues to do an excellent job at keeping the place looking gorgeous. This place is known for their multiple varieties of hydrangeas. I've even taken a class there on propagating certain varieties. They are opened until 4 to the public but members can walk from 5-dark(7ish). Also there are special days members can fish. Next out of town guest will be taken here as a treat. If you've never been you should definitely go. There's plenty of free parking. read more

Aldridge Gardens - Parks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Was able to enjoy the grounds during a wedding held at Aldridge Gardens. If the humidity wasn't so dang high, it would have been the perfect evening. This has been on of the better wedding venues I have visited this year as they have their act together! read more