Beautiful gardens to walk through. Parking area is small but some parking allowed on the street. Nice place to spend an hour or so.

The arboretum was gorgeous! Highly recommend to be there for photography or even just a picnic! Walking with the puppers too! Our group got such amazing photos there during golden hour! read more

The day I was there they were having two weddings. The was no parking but you can park along the street for free. A few of the gardens were closed for the weddings. Overall a nice way to spend a hour. Free to admission. read more

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The place is huge..so much varieties of plants and flowers. Went before the spring so not all had bloomed yet. Would be awesome in spring.

The JC Raulston Arboretum is a wonderful place. It is 10 acres of botanic gardens just waiting to be explored. There is a small parking lot with additional parking on the street. Admission is free. Restrooms are available at both the Bobby G. Wilder Visitor's Center and the Ruby C. McSwain Education Center. I liked that the paths were clearly marked and the diverse gardens from the adaptable plants that don't need watering to the shade garden to the open spaces with the trees and shrubs to the pollinator garden. I don't remember the specific names of the gardens just the type of plants there. There was so much to see there and I would have lingered and wandered longer if it had been a cooler day. Next time I will know to go earlier in the day. read more

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We picked a great time of year, as the weather was moderate and comfortable. At the time of our visit there were two, or more, weddings in progress. We even had an opportunity to speak to a nervous bride, we hurried along as we were soon to be wedding guest! The grounds are lovely, and they provide items for sale, plant descriptions, shady locations, and seating arrangements. Unfortunately, at the time of our visit, not many blooming flowers - but lovely nonetheless. Admission is free. read more

Beautiful place! Midnight in the Garden is out of this world! They have room for your event! Inside or outside.

Beautiful Gardens! Very clean and well mainted and free!!! We spent a few hours walking through all the different themed gardens. Some paths were paved,dirt or stone walkways so you felt like you were truly experiencing the full effect of each themed garden. Large enough to spend 1-2 hours but small enough not to be tired with a lot of walking. Lots of benches throughout to rest and a big open field to picnic and have kids run Around! Fun for all. read more

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I saw some pictures back in 2022 that made me want to attend this in 2023. Bought my tickets and drove 3 hrs. We were lucky to get a parking spot on the street in front of the entrance at 5 pm. (Note- when we left at 8 the cars were parked up and down the streets, so getting there early is smart) I'm sorry to say I was not impressed with the light show. It really wasn't decorated that much. The thing I did like was that there was live music and she was excellent. They had free marshmallows to roast. The food trucks were great. Note to JC in case they read these: By the Japanese garden area there was only one place I noticed that was dark and had a huge root that one could easily fall over. I would recommend bringing a flashlight or using your phone flashlight. Doherty's fish and chips was the best priced food truck. read more

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What a peaceful place to visit! I went in winter, and even though a lot of flowers and trees were not in bloom, the winter varietals that were are really beautiful. I loved that the arboretum is free to visit and is kept very well. The people that work here are all really helpful and very kind. Definitely put this place on your list of places to visit in Raleigh :) read more

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This is a great place to come to check out some greenery. There is roadside parking. We were able to park right in front of the entrance. It's free to enter. There is a super small gift shop up front. They have bathrooms that are clean. It was early December so nothing was really in bloom. Pretty much everything was dormant. They have a research/education area which was pretty cool. They have chairs and benches around for rest. There are small trails around. read more

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I have not been here in many years. I loved the after dark event. This was a great way to get people out to the arboretum after the bounty of summer has ended. I will definitely do this again next year. read more

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Found a moment of peace at the Arboretum. JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, North Carolina (close to NC State University) is a nationally acclaimed garden with one of the largest and most diverse collections of landscape plants adapted for landscape use in the Southeast and some serious Monet vibes. read more

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Had such an amazing morning walk at the Arboretum. Tons of blooms and gorgeous trees. It was warm out but it felt so cool walking through amongst the trees. The staff were extremely friendly and able to answer questions about event space, Fruit on trees and coming back for the late night event. It was my first time but won't be my last... read more

JC Raulston Arboretum - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Lovely garden associated with NC State. No admission fee (donations accepted) and well worth a couple of hours visit. Parking is limited, so plan to park in the street. read more

JC Raulston Arboretum - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Beautiful grounds. Love the walk around this garden and how peaceful it is. You can easily spend a few hours here just exploring and taking it the beauty of your surroundings. For more recommendations follow @raleighunlocked on Instagram. read more

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Gorgeous arboretum supported by NC University students. Beautiful flowers. Went to a plant sale & craft show on April 29, 2023. Bought 3 items and then walked around gardens. Very well maintained and only $5 admission. Highly recommend. read more

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Was a great stop with my daughter to explore natural beauty of flowers and various plant life. So beautifully laid out and landscaped with everything carefully taken care of such a wondrous place. Definitely donate if possible to keep places like this going such gems. read more

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Moonlight in the garden was a reserved evening for walking the grounds in colored lights. The garden was full of lights in many different shades and types. We found many volunteers at activity stations friendly and willing to help answer questions. I wish the garden was more specifically laid out. The lanterns meant to guide the way seemed to be everywhere so we were always wondering if we missed a path. The live music and food trucks paired with marshmallow sticks and fire pits really made the night family friendly. Hot apple cider available gratefully warmed us. We spent about an hour enjoying the garden then warming by the fire with marshmallows. Parking was on the street and within walking distance. read more

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This is an absolute gem located close to NCSU and the NC Fairgrounds. It's flat well paved paths make it the perfect natural setting for all ages and abilities. True botanical types, master gardeners or the casual green thumb will delight in this world renowned collection of plants gathered from across the globe. It's park, classroom, serenity and special event venue all at one location. The price is right. Free and open to the public's free street a parking and a smaller dedicated lot right at the entrance. Volunteers are magnificent! And programming high caliber. Classy place you should visit before you take all your out of town guests for a stroll through the Arboretum. Open all year round. read more

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Beautiful landscapes, plants, trees just wow. The day I visited was humid and hot but it didn't hold me back from exploring the grounds. read more

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We are all entitled to our own opinions, right? Well here's mine: Parking: 4 Location: 5 Decor/ambiance: 5 Customer Service: na People... peeeeooopleeee... If you are looking for a sweet spot in RDU to take pictures JC is the place to do it. Wedding pics, Engagement pics and even family pics can be taken out here. Be sure to grab your favorite photographer and have them shoot you here. This place is normally crawling with lots of people taking pictures with photographers. It has so much to offer. There is several types of plant farms out here so you can achieve all sorts of looks. Everything from bonsai to traditional roses. Its free to shoot and free to visit. Be sure the check their website to make sure they are open during your time of visitation. read more

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This is my happy place. No matter what time of year you visit, the gardens will not disappoint! Beautifully curated collections provide year-round color and blooms. Once they open back up (they've been closed due to COVID), they are open 7 dayside week from dawn until dusk. There are well paved paths throughout the arboretum. While there are a few sets of stairs, there is also a ramp path for wheelchair accessibility. The children's programs are wonderful, and they have plenty of programs for adults as well. Attend Moonlight in the Garden and Raulston Blooms if you get a chance--they're so much fun! Staff and volunteers are friendly and helpful. You can tell they truly love JCRA and the work they are doing! No pets allowed except service animals, but this is a great place for a stroll with all your human family members! read more

JC Raulston Arboretum - Native wildflowers bloom in the Perennial Border garden at JCRA each spring and summer - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This has been my go-to oasis and photographer's heaven since 1982 and not a visit out of hundreds does not teach me something. The staff are first rate, very educated and experienced (both being important), and most importantly care. read more

Spring is sprung - can't wait for Summer...I want to see the roses in bloom. I'll have to visit again when I have more time because there is so much to see! Very crowded on a Friday afternoon. A great way to spend time getting sunshine and fresh air. read more

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Such a beautiful Raleigh hidden gem! I love a visit to the Arboretum! I wish they allowed dogs, but totally understand why they don't. Dogs aren't always best for keeping the grounds beautiful! I love how every plant is labeled so if you like something you actually know what the plant is called. Their "mascot" is the Japanese Maple and they have a ton of beautiful ones around the property. My favorite sections are their rooftop garden and their cacti garden. Just really neat stuff! My husband's favorite is the Japanese Zen Garden, he'd recreate It at our house if he could. I recently attended their Moonlight In The Garden event and It was awesome. Super beautiful and impressive what they do to light up the space. Highly recommend if you have never checked It out! read more

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Free, beautiful and LOADS to explore! We wanted a nice walk around to explore After a heavy meal and it did not disappoint. The location was tucked away and had a variety of different plants and florals from all parts of the world. There was arts and trinkets that could be found along the passages as well as vast fields of greenery to take loads of pictures. Events and special occasions could use the benefit of the space as well. We loved the opportunity to walk around and find new floors that we haven't seen before. We caught the day right at sunset and it was breathtaking. read more

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We attended Moonlight at the Garden and had a blast! We walked around to take pictures and enjoy the lights, drank hot cider and roasted marshmallows. I can't wait to visit JC Raulston Arboretum again during a warmer time! read more

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This is a beautiful garden located near the fair grounds. We came here for a photo session and found many beautiful backdrops amidst the different landscapes. There is a Japanese Garden , water feature and open fields. I loved looking at all the foliage. There were children flying kites and people having picnics abc enjoying the scenery and well- maintained grounds. read more

Went to Moonlight in the Garden at the arboretum and it was so lovely! We enjoyed the ambiance created by the lighting, as well as the music and small fires in the field where they had the food trucks. We visited two of the food trucks and they were good too! I really appreciated that they limited the number of tickets purchased for each session, so that it wasn't overly crowded!! read more

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Loved the event i attended at JC Raulston Arboretum! Moonlight in the Garden was spectacular. Live Music, Roasting Marshmallows, Apple Cider and beautiful lights, great company, food and coffee what more could one ask for on a beautiful fall night? The kids as well as the adults enjoyed it! Everyone was really kind and welcoming. read more

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This is my favorite place to take photos in Raleigh! JCRA is absolutely gorgeous and it's free so it'd be a great weekend activity with friends or family. All the flowers and trees are just so comforting. They maintain the arboretum really well. It is so beautiful especially in May! It is not as big as other arboretums but it's definitely worth a visit! Limited parking available on site but you can street park and they also have a designated extra parking not too far away! read more

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This place is really great. Very nice and thought out natural area and walking paths. There are restrooms available and everything is so scenic and beautiful. The caretakers are pleasant to talk to and will answer your questions readily. read more

This place is so pretty. I can't believe I haven't been here sooner. It is free to come here and they do have parking however if you come during off hours you have to park on the side of the street. I have to admit once we first walked in I was a little disappointed because it doesn't seem like much but once you pass the Japanese garden you are immersed in beautiful flowers. The rose garden was so pretty and there was a whole section of just planted pretty flowers. I kept telling my husband this would be an amazing place to get married or host any special events. There were a lot of people working out there, browsing the flowers, and even a family having a picnic in the grassy area by the flowers. Some people were picking flowers but I honestly don't think you are supposed to. With that being said, if you love flowers and are in the Raleigh area, check this place out! read more

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It's really a hidden gem. If you're looking for a nice walk and a beautiful scenery, this will do it. read more

JC Raulston Arboretum - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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One of the best arboretums I've been to. Well laid out with so many beautiful and unusual specimens. Recommend visiting their "plant buggy" where you can purchase some of their plants. read more

Incredible. They've done a great job combining science and research with aesthtics. The educational value is, most significantly, missing at most "botanical" gardens is easy to access here and why it's one of the leading arboretums in the US. If you love nature, you need to visit. read more

Weird, I've been to JC Raulston Arboretum a bunch of times but never reviewed them! This oasis right off of Hillsborough Ave is a great place to catch some sun, smell and photograph flowers and basically just chill out on a nice day! They've got a small lot out front but sometimes you may have to park on Hillsborough and walk it in. Inside they've got a mix of paved and dirt walking trails with all sorts of bushes, shrubs, trees and flowering plants. Small signs tell you what you're looking at and they've got several areas that are designed to showcase a particular terrain or plant type: desert shrubs, roses, and more. There are even some spots that are probably good for wedding pics if you're at that point in your life. All I can say is JC Raulston is a pleasant spot to check out plant and flower life in the area. And you can't beat the price since it's free entertainment! read more

JC Raulston Arboretum - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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I heard about this place but never been to until today when I decided to check it out. I've always imagined it as a small botanical garden that I could explore in 10 minutes. I was definitely wrong. They have a small parking lot out front but I guess they also offer street parking. Inside the welcome center, feel free to grab a visitor's guide and donate to the cause of keeping the arboretum looking great! Equipped with the visitor's guide, you're ready to embark on a little adventure. I actually spent around 40 minutes at this place. I love finding all of the nooks and crannies which the place has many. The highlights has to be the Lath House and the Japanese Garden. Overall, this is a fantastic place to escape the everyday hustle and bustle. Fun place to take a date or come with your family. Oh, also admission is free. How's that for cheap but quality entertainment? read more

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It's the better Duke Gardens. Photographers take note. Don't get me wrong. Being a Durham native I love Duke Gardens. I've spent a lot of time there over the years. It's a beautiful garden but it's become unfriendly to photographers in recent years. Duke Gardens wants to charge any photographer of any experience level to shoot there. Even if it's not for a paid job. It would be a whole different thing if Duke Gardens charged reasonable prices, but they don't. If you want to shoot at Duke Gardens do it on the downlow and don't get caught by their rude security guards on golf carts. This is where the JC Raulston Arboretum has really shined. It's a place that encourages photographers and on a beautiful day is packed with people seeing the gardens and walking around, families playing in the large field and photographers (seasoned and new) working away to improve their art. My personal favorite part of the JC Arboretum is their Southwestern desert plant area that has lots of large Agave plants, cacti and other wonderful plants you only typically see in desert climates. It's such a unique spot in central North Carolina, especially Raleigh, I love it. There's so many little interesting and unique spots at the JC Arboretum. Their zen garden is another favorite too. Even when busy it's still a rather quiet place. While not as large as Duke Gardens it is very easy to navigate. They have ample street parking and a small private lot to park in. The JC Raulston Arboretum alongside The Raleigh Rose garden are two of my favorite quiet spots in Raleigh to get outside to, and experience a little bit of nature right in the city. read more