John M.

A beautiful 110 acre garden with displays of annuals and perennials highlighted with numerous bridges and pine trees. Originally the home of Herbert Dow back in 1899,these gardens now boast many unique water features and the nation's longest canopy walk. Other features include a playground and Cafe with drinks,sandwiches and ice cream . The gardens are designed to be accessible for all ages and abilities. Cement walkways thru out. Open year round. Closed Mondays. Free parking. Admission is 10.00 per adult and 2.00 for kids. You can spend the day or only a few hours,Dow Gardens is a real gem in Midland Michigan.

Stephanie K.

We stopped here on our way up north as a way to stretch our legs and wait for family that left later than us. We spent 2.5 hours here and it flew by! We barely saw anything! I'm sure we could have stayed all day and still felt the same way. Everyone was kind and helpful. The water feature on the children's garden is easily avoidable if you don't want to get wet, but the water at the children's playground would be more difficult to avoid so I would definitely recommend bringing an extra change of clothes, or at least wear shorts instead of pants since there's ankle deep water to stand in (and I saw some kids wearing jeans in it I thought how uncomfortable wet jeans can be!) I look forward to returning in the near future - Wear comfortable walking shoes for climbing!

Chris N.

It was our first time to Dow Gardens today and we were very impressed! Think of this as a smaller, more cozy, yet just as charming cousin of Frederick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. What Dow Gardens lacks in terms of plentiful modern sculpture art, it more than makes for with pristine landscaping, beautiful flora, and a warm and inviting set up. The staff was very friendly, and the park was in great shape when we visited. It is not as well known as larger venues, so the price was very reasonable, and the crowds were not crazy. In fact, it was very comfortable to walk around even with several dozen families around. We never felt crowded-in or intruded-upon. Our favorite attractions are definitely the canopy walk, which is a must see. There is also the stream walk, which features a man-made waterfall and bubbling brook that looks right at home in the natural setting around it. The small, unassuming herb garden was also a pleasant surprise. We saw many different versions of herbs, and the heady smell that they gave out was breathtaking. In all, we really enjoyed our visit and would love to come back during the other seasons. We highly recommend Dow Gardens.

Stephanie C.

The jewel of the northern part of the lower peninsula. This place is gorgeous in the fall. Try coming during the week and in the mornings to avoid crowds. Weekends are by far the busiest. During pandemic season, they have limited appointments for visitors which fill up fast on the weekends. Dont worry, if you can schedule an appointment, there is plenty of space to spread out once inside. I'd recommend reserving a minimum of two hours. Half a day at Dow Gardens is ideal to see everything without being rushed. My favorite places to visit are the Children's Garden, Canopy Walk, the Secret Garden, and any places with a little bridge. The great thing about Dow Gardens is there there are do many offshoot trails that you can go on and explore. This place is truly beautiful and enormous, it almost feels like Narnia. Yes, you can bring food for a picnic and I highly recommend it! There are so many picturesque places to sit and have a meal, and plenty of trash cans to dump your trash. Wear comfy shoes, sunscreen, and bring your camera. The cafe has a huge variety of drinks so bring some cash if you want a midday pick me up. Finally, the customer service here is great. Im an annual member and they gave me several months free because they had to shut down due to the pandemic. The staff at the Cafe are always friendly. There is also a gift store too!

Erin S.

Dow Gardens are about 90 mins away from us, so I was hoping for an enjoyable day worth the ride and it was! The location was very easy to find and parking was a breeze (and free). During C19, they are only taking appointments for admission to control numbers, but the process was simple and we were let in slightly early, which was a bonus. The visitors center is clean and welcoming. It has a gift shop, bathrooms, and some historical information about Dow Gardens. We were given a map, which made navigation simple and easy. We started the visit venturing to the Children's garden. On the way, I was struck by the beauty of the grounds and how immaculately they are kept. Fall was in full swing in Michigan, so we were treated to a gorgeous display of changing trees. The children's garden was a mix of vegetable gardens, bright floral, and cute statues of farm animals. They also have bathroom facilities conveniently located right off the garden. They were very clean. The rose garden was next. Being Fall, very few were in bloom, but you could imagine how gorgeous they are in the summer. I will definitely return specifically for these. The whole reason we visited was for the tree canopy walk. I will admit, you need to be up for a walk to get there. It is the longest canopy walk in the US and plain awesome! There are several different legs to the walk with their own special experience. The views are breathtaking. Go! Go in the Spring, Summer, and especially in the Fall! My 7 year old was blown away, which isn't all that easy to do. The canopy walk is entirely accessible and a good idea for anyone without a fear of heights. The children's playground is just a short walk from the canopy walk and a great opportunity to let your kiddos run off some steam while you relax. There is a cafe adjacent, but we didn't partake this trip. To conclude...Dow Gardens should be on you MI must visit list! You will not be disappointed!

Rachel G.

What a beautiful garden great hike...my sister and I enjoyed 4 hours of this making garden I will most definitely come back ... what a peaceful place to go have a nice picnic

Jennifer T.

Absolutely amazing and gorgeous!! We love it here so much we purchased the annual pass ($20 a person) because of course just coming once will not be enough!! Make sure you give yourself a lot of time to walk around. The grounds are kept up so immaculately. There are so many places to discover and explore. Red Asian inspired Bridges, little paths overlooking streams, a small waterfall, origami, flower gardens. Don't forget some furry friends..squirrels and Chipmunks running everywhere. This place truly is one of our favorites to visit. Don't forget to sit on the porch of the Pine House and relax while taking in the views for a bit.

A 2hr drive from home, but worth it! Dow Gardens is lovely place for walking the canopy walk, through the gardens and orchard and seeing various wildlife (mainly chipmunks, frogs, dragonflies and some butterflies) and just relaxing. The gift shop was loaded with goodies, and the trails through the woods are clean, meaning not a whole lot of sticks and things to jump over. Even though we went through them all, it feels like I missed something, really want to visit again soon. Now I have one sight checked off on my Michigan native - tourist list

Beth C.

Just when I thought this place cohosh n by become more magical, they partnered with a glass artist for a glass in the gardens exhibition that's positively lovely. Take note: these glass artworks depart on October 15. While this glass installation Isn't quite as divine as a Dale Chihuly exhibit It is still fairly spectacular and most worth seeing. As this garden park is Is pretty expansive and now also includes a secondary park (Whiting Forest, a tree canopy climbing park) that's also participating in the glass art installation, expect to spend 2-4 hours exploring depending on your pace. Much of the park is ADA accessible, but some portions aren't. I'd also highly recommended not wearing heels of any kind as metal grating on some of the canopy walk and bridges would be tretcherous. If you experience vertigo or have a fear of heights, the canopy walk and bridge between the two parks might not be for you. While the floral areas of the gardens hit peak splendor in the summer, there's still oodles of beauty to enjoy in the fall. I was surprised how man my roses were still in bloom in the rise garden area ( I always make a point of smelling each and every variety -- there's such a huge range of aromas). A trip to Midland is never complete without a stop at this local treasure! Splurge on the annual membership (it costs the same as 2 daily passes) so you'll have an excuse to visit every day while you're in town.

Virginia P.

Simply Stunning. My first time here and I cannot wait to come back! The tulips were in full bloom and were breathtaking. Do yourself a favor and get to guided golf cart tour. Our driver was very friendly and knowledgeable. It was a perfect way to see the grounds.

Love living in Midland and being able to while away an afternoon here any time we want. The cost of a yearly membership is beyond reasonable and we love spending time in the gardens and Whiting Forest.

Sheena B.

Very cool place to check out to see some amazing gardens, outdoor water features and great trails. The kids had a blast playing in the Children's garden and playground. Recommend to bring extra clothes or swim suit for them. They have rubber ducks to play in the water. We did the canopy treetop trails. Which was a gorgeous view and a couple treehouses to check out. The rose garden smelled amazing. Can't wait to check out more next time.