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Norfolk Botanical Garden

4.5 (316 reviews)
Open 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Updated 1 month ago

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Dani E.

Such a beautiful place!! It was my first time there and I was new to everything, but one of the workers Pandora was so kind and made me feel so welcome! It's a beautiful walk and the Renaissance Garden was my favorite to look at! Definitely recommend going for a picnic or just to have a day to yourself.

Shelb L.

Norfolk Botanical Garden is a place that never fails to leave me in awe, no matter how many times I visit. Throughout the year, each season brings a new beauty, with landscapes that change in subtle and spectacular ways. The greenhouse is one of my favorite spots, it's always a refreshing escape with its lush, vibrant greenery. There's something truly magical about stepping into that space, where the air is thick with the scent of plants and flowers. The Children's Garden is another highlight, especially in the summertime. We love to visit the splash play area during the summer heat.. A membership here is definitely money well spent. Not only do you get access to this incredible oasis year-round, but the value far exceeds the cost. Whether you're looking for a quiet moment among the flowers or a fun family outing, Norfolk Botanical Garden has something for everyone!

Sand
Jess M.

Wear your walking shoes.... It's a great space to explore and learn- there's water bottle filling stations at the bathrooms, there's aka incredible kids splash pad space and learning area geared towards kids that's mostly shaded! There's a giant sand pile for kids to play in- lots of shaded walkways but still tons of sun too----There is a tram included in your purchased tickets which leaves from the visitors center at the top of every hour. There is no restaurant or food except if a food truck happens to be there- so plan accordingly- they had ice cream from the Ben and Jerry's truck but it's insanely expensive - talking 2$ for a waffle and 6$ for a kids cone. All in all, my crew of 2 kids and I had a good time-

I sure will! 06/2020
Sylvia A.

Came here for the Christmas lights. Which by the way. AMAZING... we booked our tickets online. Pre scheduled a time for 6-7 pm. I highly recommend going early. The first entry time started at 5pm. When we arrived there was no issues with parking but the later you wait there is. When we left there was a line over a mile long with cars waiting. The park itself was a beautiful journey. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because exiting was very confusing. Signs were not directed correctly. Unless you're already familiar with this place you can become confused when exiting. The signs were great for taking the walk for the lights. I suggest wearing some comfortable sneakers. Lot's of dirt gravel. There was snack food trucks along the way. With benches if you needed to take a break. I was highly impressed with the lights. The walk was probably a little over a mile long. Definitely a must see if you're a tourist or live in the area. Overall 4.5 ratings. For the exiting . The lights definitely were a five.

Country A.

Was there earlier and ur was beautiful and had nice walk too got in for free and had great time

Maria R.

Came the last week the holiday lights were up and so excited they had a day for fur babies to attend!! We paid $25 per person and $5 for my dog. Parking was free and we had no issues finding a spot. We opted for the 8-9 pm showtime and took a full hour to walk through. The lights were gorgeous and i loved walking through each of the themed gardens. Christmas lights here during the holidays are a MUST!

Tonia K.

One of the highlights of a recent visit to Norfolk and Virginia Beach! We began the day on the train tour, which I highly recommend to give you a sense of layout and some amazing knowledge. I forgot our guide's name but she was so informative and energetic. Once the shuttle finished, we were able to walk through leisurely and spend time in the spaces we desired. The Butterfly House wasn't open but we were there just before summer kicked off, and our tour guide named this for us. I look forward to another visit in the future. Admission was easy (we paid at the gate) and parking was ample. There were two food trucks- Bear street coffee and also Starbucks. I didn't get anything since I had lunch plans but good to know for some super light bites and treats. Such a beautiful and tranquil space. Book your visit today!

Nancy P.

It was an amazing garden. A very hot day so we didn't stay as long as i would have liked but it was a highlight of my trip, visiting in the area. Plenty of parking and friendly, helpful staff as well as garden members. I know this beacuse i had to ask numerous patrons directions since the map provided, as well as the signage posted were not the most helpful. One staff person actually agreed with me and said the hopes were once renovations were complete that would change. They have one of the largest rose gardens in the country, the Japenese garden was well laid out, the hydrangeas were in bloom and just gorgeous, the butterfly house was closed, so that was disappointing, but the walk through the enchanted forest was enchanting, peaceful and well worth thr walk to the rear of the gardens. The Renaissance area was beautiful. So many beautiful flowers and trees. Largest magnolia trees i have ever seen as well with such fragment blooms. I would have given it 5 stars except for the confusing maps and signage, the construction, the butterfly garden being closed and the admission fee. If I lived in the aera I would definitely be a member and I still highly recommend.

Nicky S.

I've been coming here for many, many years and it has always been a beautiful place to enjoy with kids, friends and guests who are in town visiting. When my children were little they loved to explore in the children's area with the water fountains and gardens. More recently, I have gone to have long walks with friends. You can easily do a 3-4 mile walk while being surrounded by nature. The gardens are well maintained with different areas stealing the show with whatever might be in bloom at the time. There are large rose gardens, azaleas, Japanese gardens, butterfly gardens and more.

Tina Z.

Visited here during their holiday Garden of Lights on 12/20/23 with my family. The garden of lights was so beautiful they did a fantastic job with all the lights. The path was well lit and you did not have to question if you were going the wrong way. Note: There is time frame you choose when buying tickets for Garden of Lights, ours was 7p-8p we got there around 7p and traffic was backed up to Azalea garden road. It did take about, I believe about 30m or less to park due to the traffic.

gorgeous flowers
Chelsea D.

I recently spent a beautiful autumn afternoon walking around the gardens with my cousin, despite having lived in the area for 30 years, it was my first time visiting. Although some of the summer flowers had already wilted away, I was still impressed with the beauty of the place. If you're planning to visit, I suggest starting off by checking out their website which provides all the information you need about purchasing tickets, where to park, which exhibits are open or closed, and other useful details to ensure a pleasant visit. Furthermore, they are currently building a new section called the "Garden of Tomorrow," which I'm very excited to see when it opens. During our visit to the gardens, we found out that there are a variety of gardens available to explore. To help visitors navigate through each garden, they provide a map and an app with the garden layout. Tram and boat tours were not available during our off-season visit, hence we had to do a lot of walking. The Tropical Display House was my favorite among all the gardens. I would return each season to explore more. The upcoming winter season has something special to offer, the "Garden of Lights" where the gardens are decorated with holiday lights, and visitors can walk through to see them. Also, they offer season passes for garden enthusiasts. One more thing! Outside of the gift shop, they have a board with plant cuttings. You can take a plant cutting for free! Put it in water and in a few weeks it will grow roots! You can change the water as needed while the roots grow big enough that you can eventually pot it in soil. I picked up a begonia and it is already growing roots!

Nikki C.

It was our first time visiting the Norfolk Botanical Garden. It was the perfect day to go. The garden was a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be. There are lots of paths to walk around and view the beautiful flowers and landscape. For entry, you pay per person but there are also memberships you can purchase if you plan to visit multiple times. You can take a tour on the train tram which is free or you can also take a boat ride for a fee. It's a great option if you want a peaceful picnic or some tranquility.

Alvinia J.

It's a shame to say I have been in Hampton Roads since high school and had never been to Norfolk Botanical Gardens, so we decided to go for 4th of July. We arrived as soon as the gardens opened to try and beat the heat. We were able to take the first Tram tour (opened April) of the day and the first boat tour (runs May thru summer) of the day. Both were a must-do. The tram tour was very good. It runs hourly and has designated stops where you can get out or get picked up again in an hour. The boat ride tour was very fun and informative. We received an overall perspective on the gardens, layout, and future plans. The tour guy was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot about the gardens and the city of Norfolk. My husband was born and raised in Norfolk and learned things that he never knew. We will be definitely revisiting in the fall. I

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7 days ago

It was beautiful and the Cherry Blossom Scavenger hunt was a fun way to keep the tour interactive!

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Ask the Community - Norfolk Botanical Garden

Is there an area for toddlers or anything for toddlers to do here?

I saw a lot of toddlers there today playing walking around and in carriages. There is an area for 3 years old and up called the Wow Children's garden. It's a nice sized garden and there were plenty of small children playing. On the botanical gardens… Read more

Is this place heel friendly?

Only around the main building, around the garden it is dirt or grass, sand paths.

View All 3 Questions

Review Highlights - Norfolk Botanical Garden

The Butterfly House wasn't open but we were there just before summer kicked off, and our tour guide named this for us.

Mentioned in 20 reviews

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Pagoda & Garden Foundation - Lights camera action!

Pagoda & Garden Foundation

(32 reviews)

I came here after going to a sports card show in Norfolk. It wasn't a planned visit but I was just…read morelooking for something interesting to look at since I had a lot of free time and the weather was nice on Saturday. I thought it would be a lot larger but the spot is quite small but it is very nice to walk around. There are also lots of nice areas adjacent to the garden and terrace as well. I parked in front of the garden went around it and then found the USS Wisconsin and the Naval museum just past the garden. I went around and finished checking out the other side of the garden after. The parking was free for 2 hrs in front of the garden and it seemed like parking in general was plentiful and open this weekend. It looked like college dormitories around the garden and some other residential areas around the middle of downtown Norfolk. There were many nice plants in the garden, the terrace was nice but not open as far as I could tell, and the koi pond was nice if someone would clean out the pond scum from the fish pond. There were small bridges over the water and multiple water fountains in the koi pond. There were a few benches to sit on if you wanted to just relax or meditate in the garden. Overall, it was a nice garden but it is not something to go downtown to see, but it is a nice additional thing to see if you are going to the USS Wisconsin and the Naval museum or if you staying in downtown area. Lots of people were exercising (walking and jogging) so it is a nice scene to pass by if you are doing that.

Great spot to walk around. There's ice cream inside too! Very yummy. Beautiful day to explore.read more

Tidewater Arboretum

Tidewater Arboretum

(3 reviews)

This was such a peaceful and unexpectedly lovely little stop…read more I pass this place all the time on Diamond Springs Road and have been curious about it for a while, so after an appointment, I finally decided to stop -- and I'm really glad I did. I had Lexi with me, the weather was beautiful, and it ended up being the perfect little walk for both of us. What I really liked is that this isn't just a place to look at flowers -- it's actually a really interesting garden and educational space. There were different themed sections throughout the property, including things like water-wise trails, native plant areas, perennial gardens, and herb/plant displays, which made it feel more interactive than just a basic garden walk. Everything was very well kept and thoughtfully laid out. It felt quiet, peaceful, and like a great place to just slow down for a bit. I also appreciated that it was dog-friendly, which made it even more enjoyable for me since Lexi got to come along too. I also loved learning that it's maintained through the Virginia Beach Master Gardeners / Virginia Tech Agricultural Research & Extension Center, because you can really tell there's a lot of care put into it. This was actually my first arboretum/garden stop in Virginia, and it definitely made a great first impression. If you enjoy plants, gardening, nature, or just finding little local hidden gems, this is absolutely worth checking out. Very peaceful, very pretty, and a nice little local gem. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area and want a quiet, scenic walk that feels both relaxing and educational.

Loved visiting this quaint garden with my fiancée. It was surprisingly larger than I expected and…read morehad a wide variety of trees and other plants! There were plenty of places to sit and this could be a nice spot to have an outdoor lunch outside.

Hermitage Museum and Gardens - "What Remains"- immersive experience

Hermitage Museum and Gardens

(32 reviews)

I came expecting "a nice little museum" and accidentally entered the main character phase of my…read morelife. The house looks like Gatsby retired here to start gardening and finally find inner peace. Every room feels fancy enough that you instinctively whisper, even when you're alone judging antique furniture like you suddenly have generational wealth. The gardens? Absolutely disrespectful to regular parks. Trees posing like they know they're beautiful, peacocks walking around with the confidence of influencers, and views of the water that make you question every life decision that didn't involve buying a mansion in 1915. Perfect place for a peaceful stroll, deep thoughts, or pretending you're in a period drama waiting for someone to confess forbidden love near the azaleas.

Checked out "What Remains". It was interesting on a much…read moresmaller scale than "Sleep No More," without the choose-your-own-adventure option and with only one ending. They made great use of the Hermitage's artwork, incorporating the pieces into the story. While listening to the narration, sound effects, captivating storytelling, and lighting guided you through the house and invited you to immerse yourself in the experience. The performance is an hour long and sends you off in groups of 12 at a time; at $68 per ticket I felt the price was on the steep side. The pace was good. There are age restrictions 14years+ with adult supervision, and the show fluctuates between sitting on the floor, standing, bending through pathways, and navigating stairs and tight spaces -- something to consider for accessibility and comfort.

McDonald Garden Center

McDonald Garden Center

(83 reviews)

$$

A 5 star experience for a recent Mother's Day arrangement of flowers…read more There is no day like Mother's Day and making it special for Mom. So the idea of a permanent planted arrangement seemed like something perfect for the patio. McDonald's was contacted over the phone a week + out before Mother's Day. I worked with Patrice who emailed different ideas they could do from pots to plants etc. He was so passionate about his trade and left me even more excited that he alone would be the point. Ultimately hydrangeas was chosen as the plant with sweet potatoes. They had many pots to choose from, but a more neutral with a butterfly seemed perfect. The cost was $97. Patrice assured that the plant would be watered and ready for pick up days before Mother's Day. On Saturday I went to McDonald's and after locating Patrice he rolled the plant out. I must say I was overwhelmed with the size. It was huge and gorgeous! Patrice did a video of care instructions as he took ownership of seeing everything through. He also at no charge through in a ceramic tray to hep with transport, but also for any leakage of water with a weep hole at the bottom. The delivery was marvelous and enjoyed by Mom. I cannot say enough positive about this experience. Other staff assisted me and were helpful and enthusiastic about their job. You just don't see this in other big box places ole Lowes and Home Depot. McDonald's is a one stop locally owned since 1947 garden center. They can do it all and the visit is impressive to see the selections. Highly recommend.

What a great selection! Wide variety of flowers,herbs,veg,ect. Plenty of space to walk around even…read morethough it was getting busy for the event they have going on. And they do quiet a few so keep an eye out for those since the do child and adult events. It was well organized and set up and I just love the indoor area with the carnivorous and house plants.

Gardens by Oz

Gardens by Oz

(4 reviews)

I don't typically like to give a sub-par review due to the nature of companies circumstances at…read morethat given time; however, after doing business with the owner directly I have decided to do so. Originally, I was extremely optimistic as he was knowledgeable. He pushed back on a few of the items my wife and I wanted completed but, I took his word as the subject matter expert. First day, his team was a no show (no phone call or email notifying us). Second day, his team showed (without notice) and did the bare minimum of what he quoted leaving some plants in the front and back of our house. With that, his team only did a portion of the front and the back. We had to call and ask what the issue was. He commented that he is short personnel and would be back to complete the following day. He kept his word and finished; again, it looked like the work of a novice gardener. My wife asked why he didn't keep his promise of replanting and why it looked like it was poorly done. He replied with, "are we done here." That is not the way to treat a customer when running a business. Not being a Karen, just want others to avoid going through the same experience.

Gary and his crew are diligent professionals who truly care about leaving a magnificent footprint…read morebehind with everything they create. Gary is a master of the growing zone here in Hampton Roads, and freely gives great advice on the projects you wish to maintain. He has done magnificent work with our garden space and I can't recommend Gardens By Oz enough!

Chesapeake Arboretum - 2026 camellia PART of the 200 collection

Chesapeake Arboretum

(27 reviews)

What a lovely arboretum. It is a good size for this area. Tons of trees and spring is amazing…read more Camillas are everywhere and are gorgeous. Great walk. Mostly dirt path. Views: TREES, water areas. Barns and structures, bridges, flowers, wildlife , great for adults and kids , gazebo . Also great to book events. Easy hike and even in the summer it is great because it is shaded wooded area My favorite when we arrived one of our visits there was knowledgeable parks and rec. gave us a history lesson that was AWESOME!!!!!!!!

Came here on a whim but probably should have made sure I was ready to visit here. When I arrived,…read moreI actually had to use the restroom. Bad timing as there is only a portapotty in the parking lot for needs. It was so so clean but I wanted to wash my hands after and there was no water, water fountain no water, water hose, sink, and spigot no water. So I used my drinking water fountain for hand washing. Not ideal. After that fiasco, I walked across the street and went to the trails. I luckily took a picture of the map as I almost immediately got lost in the trail while thinking I was going to make it to the lake. There are bridges that are luckily marked and trees that are marked to kind of mark where you are. I found this out only after 30 minutes lost in the woods. There are many splits in the path that throws your sense of direction off. Anyway, I guess I enjoyed being lost on the trail and there was not much to see except a few bugs, squirrels, and trees. There was only one bush that had flowers and the lake was nice, full of turtles but other than that this is just a peaceful walk around the forest. There are little creeks, lots of homes, and different species of trees that line the trail. There also has been some vandalism as there are burn spots where it looks like some firebug was trying to start a fire on the trail. Overall, a peaceful walk but make sure you take a picture of the map in the beginning and pay attention to the markings on the trees and bridge so you don't get lost.

Norfolk Botanical Garden - venues - Updated May 2026

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