The Volunteer Park Conservatory is an absolute beautiful place to visit and is a Capitol Hill gem! I really enjoyed visiting here. There are a lot of beautiful plants to see and it is kept clean today and beautiful year round. There are so many unique plants and types to see. It's very easy to walk around and there are also benches inside to sit down and enjoy yourself or take a break. There are usually volunteers around to help. There is a fee to enter, but it's nominal and not very expensive. I highly recommend visiting the conservatory. It's magical, beautiful, and there is so much color and vibrance. read more

I recently visited the conservatory on the first Thursday of April. The conservatory has a bunch of pretty flowers and few cacti. It's was nice to walk around and spend some time here. This is a Victorian-style greenhouse, housing an extensive collection of exotic plants. Would highly recommend to check out this place if you are in the area. The park is great to stroll around or relax on a warm sunny day. read more

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What a lovely evening we had here. I believe it's not open in the evening that often. It's just like 3 times a year. It will very open these 3 weekends for Santa :) It's usually has a train during the holidays. Don't know what happened this year. Anyway. It is so magical coming here. It's a real gem. Many different plants. Flowers are gorgeous!! Colours pop over the greenery. Water running in the middle. There's also cactai for the desert part. A gorgeous building. So pretty at night. Everything around is calm and ni e for a walk. read more

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Chanced upon this conservatory at Volunteer Park. Walking into this conservatory felt like breaths of fresh air. It feels great to be surrounded by these special blooms. They were gorgeous. Great energies all around. There was a small gift shop inside but I didn't get anything. There were also some unique cactus and plants. read more

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This is a lovely place for a relaxing visit. It's much smaller and not as interesting plants as some others but nicely maintained and relaxing with several water features. read more

It's not often one gets the chance to visit a conservatory. This one, nestled inside Seattle's legendary Volunteer Park, is a sight to behold with its elegant architecture and room after room full of everything from native plant specimens to desert-dwellers, tropical trees, and all sorts of amazingness. It's basically like a zoo, but for plants, and I'm here for it. The space is brightly lit, and each room has its own mini-ecosystem depending on what's planted there. The entry fee (collected at an electronic pay station upon entry) is $6/person with discounts for seniors, kids, and groups. There are a LOT of signs around about not using the facility for your own personal photo shoot during regular hours, but sadly there were still folks there using it for a fashion shoot, which made it that much more difficult to navigate the narrow aisles. I was excited to visit their tiny, but mighty, little gift shop, where I purchased a collectible magnet but was tempted to do some holiday shopping from their sweet collection of handmade jewelry, art, and other items. They also had some interesting books, but they were QUITE expensive. Parking here is free, and be sure to wander around the park when you're done. read more

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Beautiful park! Here in a business trip and so after my inspection I needed some grounding with Mother Nature ! walked barefooted through this gorgeous & lush mini forestry trail . I fell in love with the redwoods, pines, and so many species of trees ! Saunter and engage with Mother Nature and hug a tree, the energy these grandfathers give are amazing . Recharge, Reset and get inspired ‍‍‍ read more

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This is such a beautiful spot! Tickets are $6 and are affordable and when we went on a rainy day it was pretty empty! It's not as big as some of the other conservatories I've been to in other cities but I appreciated this one. The staff are all very friendly and open to providing more information on plants you might be interested in learning more about. They also have little info labels on certain plants they are highlighting. Some area to sit and relax to enjoy the plants. There is also a cute little gift shop to purchase a souvenir or grab something that strikes your fancy. read more

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We dropped into Volunteer Park Conservatory before visiting the Seattle Asian Art Museum. For me personally, I enjoyed the Conservatory more. We dropped in while they were having a Chrysanthemum contest, and thus got to vote on our favorites. Of the four sections the west end was probably the least interesting, with only a few flowers currently blooming. The section where you enter had gorgeous blooms and palm plants and we got a short walk through by the attendant on how they made the hanging beads into palm oil. The next section (towards the east) had the mums and different arrangements you could vote on. Personally, I found the 'no professional photography' signs to be rather confusing and wasn't sure if guests were allowed to snap photos in certain rooms with their phone or not, so I didn't get any pictures of the contest. Finally, the last room was my favorite - the cactus room. I had no idea a cactus could be furry like a sheep. One sported yellow wool and another, long white wool. These and some of the other cacti that develop into designs were the highlight of the visit for me. The service was friendly and helpful and they had student pricing which I always appreciate. If you are are a flower/cactus enthusiast or visiting the art museum, you should definitely drop into the Volunteer Park Conservatory. read more

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Had a good time taking a quick stroll with my friend (who loves plants). Cost is $6 per person. We came in with about 30 min before they closed, and that is about how long it takes for you to go through the spot, maybe faster if you zoom through. You can take pictures, but there is no photoshoots for prom/weddings/etc. That is separate and needs private appointments. The weird thing was buying the tickets. Someone was there when we entered and helped us order tickets through a machine and he had to hit a ton of buttons to simply get 2 tickets. I hope they change this system as it can definitely be improved. Street parking available. We were lucky to get a spot right in front of the conservatory. read more

Cool! If you live in Seattle you should stop by just to see especially if you like plants read more

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Best date spot ever $6 Not overly crowded or loud, but water features and small talk make it not awkwardly silent either (rec: go ~2/3 - Last entry 3:45, slows down around 2). avoid eye contact and look at some of the oldest random plants instead (i.e. cacti, air plants, ferns, monsteras, etc) a few (4?) sitting spots. The 2 nooks by the big monstera are big and you can sit against the window and paint or read or just be present (see photo) In volunteer park so not far from food and drinkage, and nature and epic views of course. read more

Volunteer Park Conservatory - Sitting from bench/nook near waterfall and monstera - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A little greenhouse on a hill basically, we came on a 70* day and it was already unbearably hot in there and they had every door open. I would not pay to enter again. This should be a free attraction it took 5 minutes to sweat our way through a greenhouse. I've shopped at bigger greenhouses for free and saw way more flora and fauna... read more

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The conservatory is such a pretty space! They have parking around the area/park that is completely free and you can walk up to the conservatory. The admissions is $4 per person and they accept cash or card. The lady at the front was very informative on how to walk to conservatory and what there is inside (a little cute shop is located inside). If you have the time and love plants, this is a nice place to drop by. Definitely recommend! read more

Volunteer Park Conservatory - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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A tranquil, tropical oasis tucked away in the heart of Volunteer Park. The Conservatory is a beautiful glass greenhouse, eye-catching in all seasons with flora blooming year-round. Growing up in Arizona, the cozy cacti collection is charming to explore. The carnivorous pitcher plants are very fun to look at. During Christmastime, the Conservatory is bedecked in poinsettias and has a holiday train set running, complete with a miniature village - whimsical and fun! Admission is quite reasonable at $4 and helps fund the greenhouse's maintenance. The Conservatory's modest collection takes about 30 minutes to tour leisurely. Admission is not timed - tickets are sold on a walk-in basis, sold through a ticket machine, contact free. Highly recommend this urban gem - a quite welcome escape in Capitol Hill! read more

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This conservatory is small but very very nice. All the plants were in excellent shape and well-manicured. I visited with my sister, who is a plant goddess now due to the pandemic. She needed her plant fix so I thought why not go to one of the better conservatories in the area. It was nice to get out of the cold into the warm conservatory and watch my sister work her magic identifying all the plants in the conservatory. She's really quite good if I do say so myself. I digress. I'm glad the conservatory was open during the pandemic. Masks were required and so was proof of vaccination. The docent at the door showed us how to use the pay station to purchase our tickets to the conservatory and we made our way through the 4 different rooms of the conservatory and the gift shop. The majority of the plants were tropical but there were also a variety of desert plants and they had a room specifically set up with Christmas decor and poinsettias. Had my sister not been a plant geek, it probably would have been a quick stop but we were in there for about an hour and a half which is totally fine. Parking is free and seems to be abundant since the Asian Art Museum is close by and there is a huge park in the surrounding area so it's a great place for people just to hang out or play with their dog or picnic. read more

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For years this has been one of my favorites attractions in the area perfect for a photoshoot. I'm a photographer myself and I'm always looking for good background and this place is perfect. Basically is place to learn and admire all types of plants. The have common ones and exotic ones, they even have an area with desert plants (cacti). It's open from 10-4pm, prices are very accesible ($4 per adult , child under 5 are free) Parking is also free and once you're done plant watching you can walk around into the arboretum. read more

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The conservatory is packed full of colorful vibrant plants. Each plants is so special on its own, but when combined makes you feel as if you're in a jungle. The tour for us took about 30 minutes. It was a nice little break from being outside in the rain. The gentleman working the door told my little ones he'd hid two little ducks that needed to be found to get a sticker. Soooo we couldn't leave until we found them of course. Such a fun little bonus! read more

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The Positive: We love coming here for the beautiful botanical gardens, museums etc. During the spring and summer months, the amphitheater has live music, which is also fun to check out. They often have food trucks, and lots of fun activities for the kiddos. If you're visiting Seattle on vacation, this park is a must-see attraction. The Negative: The ginormous houses in this neighborhood are absolutely beautiful, but (low key) it made me a little angry, bc it reminds me of just how F'd up our country is, where you can really only buy a large house in a beautiful area if you're rich, white, and you were old enough to have purchased a home decades ago, when the American Dream was actually obtainable for a working class family. Income inequality in this country is a real thing, so if stuffy old white boomers are your demographic, or, you're wealthy enough to afford a multi-million dollar mansion, then this neighborhood is definitely for you. read more

Oh through the years such a world away. to enter in and see such a wonderful collection of exceptional and exquisite floral and plant specimens from different climates well worth at visit ,we are so lucky here. I Really love the Orchids in bloom. And the stag ferns. The architecture is so inspiring. Will return again. read more

I LOVE glass conservatories! I make sure to go to them whenever I am in a city with one. Volunteer Park is great, and the glass building was phenomenal. It was only a few dollars to get in, and you can do a lap in about 20 min. I ended up chatting with the guy in the gift shop and didn't realize they closed so early, so I missed out on some of the plants. I wish they had told me when I was purchasing the ticket, 'btw you only have 15 minutes'. I prob would've come back when I had more time and coulda gotten my $6 worth. read more

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This greenhouse has been in Volunteer Park since the early 1900s. Its architecture is based off of London's Crystal Palace and it includes five greenhouse rooms dedicated to certain plant categories: palm, bromeliad, fern, seasonal, and cactus. Cool little plant showcase, though I wished that there were more plant species labeled especially as some of them were quite hidden. For example, one of the staff members directed me specifically towards the "Life Saver" cactus as it was easy to overlook since it was concealed by surrounding cacti and had no label (this cactus has parts that look just like red Life Savers candies hence its nickname). The rooms are fairly small and taking my time I spent about a total of 30 minutes here. Overall not a bad spot if you have a little extra time in your day to see a nice array of plants. $4 admission. read more

Weather was rainy, so thought I'd scope out the conservatory during a trip to Seattle. Walking in, there's a self serve kiosk where you pay the $6 admission fee. There's a decent selection of plants, but the place isn't very large. There are a few rooms to walk through and going at a steady place, you can view the entire place in about 30 minutes. It was an OK spot to check out, but unless you're a true plant geek and take time to look at each specimen, it'll be a quick trip. I didn't feel it was fully worth the $6 admission, but it did help me kill some time on a rainy day. read more

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Great place to walk around and see the beautiful flowers. Reasonable admission at $4 per person and you can easily walk through it in an afternoon. Would recommend if you are in the area and want to see some pretty gardening. read more

Volunteer Park Conservatory - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Volunteer Park Conservatory is the best place to go to during winter for much needed plant therapy during the cold winter months. They currently have beautiful Christmas trees and a holiday train (running only on weekends). It's always so warm and inviting inside and it's the best place to go to when my seasonal depression flares up. read more

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A beautiful, semi-tropical greenhouse located in the heart of Volunteer Park. Easy access to the playground and water tower, not to mention fields for relaxing, picnics and play. Few parking spots can be found at the roundabout directly ahead of the Conservatory entrance. Friendly docents welcome guests and even offer tours - solicited and otherwise. But so sweet, kind and helpful. The plants are extraordinary! Some were familiar, but most were amazing and new, beautiful and surreal. A room of ferns, another with cacti, and yet another with varying orchids. Wonderful, thoughtful and such a neat place to spend a little time. Free entry on the first Thursday of the month, but paying to get in is worthwhile, and helps support the efforts of everyone involved. read more

Volunteer Park Conservatory - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The conservatory is pretty small but nice and worth the 4 dollar entrance fee. Good place to find refuge from a downpour. When we were there, it was split into two climates, tropical and desert. read more

The Volunteer Park Conservatory is pretty small, but is still most definitely worth the visit!! It's $4 for adults and there's a surprising amount of plants to see. It's free entry on the first Thursday of each month if you're not inclined to pay the price. Take your time and really savor the plants and try to look for things that aren't readily obvious and you'll have a lovely time. I went in mid-January and several of the plants still had their flowers! There's a few places to park nearby. If not, there's a ton of street parking and then you have an excuse to walk through the park! read more

I went in February when it was still free to attend due to a nice donation from a family in the community. Since it was free during this time, it was packed! It was hard to truly enjoy the plants when I felt I had to keep moving cause of the line. Regardless, that is nice that people in the community or even out of town can enjoy the conservatory. The plants are all well taken care of and they have a great variations of what is showcased. My favorite had to be the succulents and cacti portion of the conservatory. They're labelled nicely and are planted well in terms of landscape. Everywhere I turn and look there's a plant! read more

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I've been to Volunteer Park several times but had never been into the conservatory, until this past weekend (we were enticed by the free admission, which continues through Feb 2019). The conservatory is located on the northern part of the park (pretty close to the circular Isamu Noguchi sculpture). We arrived shortly after it opened (around 10:30 a.m.) and the place was pretty empty, so we were able to look around fairly leisurely and take some pics (without tons of people in them). By the time we left, it was definitely starting to get more crowded! At the entrance, they have a laminated document that you can carry with you -- the document has some tidbits about each of the different rooms and some of the plants featured in each room so you can take yourself on a "guided" tour. I also learned that the conservatory has been around since 1912! So impressive. My husband and I both really enjoyed our visit! Having been to the botanical gardens in DC and several other gardens, etc. I was unsure what the conservatory would offer, but I was truly impressed! It is a bit smaller than some other botanical gardens, yet there are still MANY unique and interesting plans to look at, study, photograph and enjoy. There were plenty that I had never seen before and was fascinated by. The cactus/succulent room was great, as well! Also, for you Instagrammers...lots of photo opps! :) read more

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I first visited this place back in February, so entering the conservatory was great because it was warm! Besides that, there were so many varieties of flowers, plants, trees, and cacti which were well taken care of. I felt like I was somewhere else, it was truly very beautiful and green. read more

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love this place! my fav park; great place for all ages and those who like to have a picnic or a private smoke sesh

Great spot to spend an hour or so. For a reasonable price of admission you can tour the conservatory, which includes orchids and a desert garden area. We keep coming back and always include it in a Seattle day in or around Volunteer Park. Definitely put it on your list, especially during the rainy winter months! read more

We have been to Volunteer park a few times, but never went inside the conservatory before. We decided to check it out this time, at $4 per person it is affordable. They have an amazing collection of tropical plants, cacti, etc. Its warm once you enter, and a little humid, and a nice change for sometime when it's cold outside. We enjoyed our time in conservatory, and would recommend it to everyone, visit it at least once. read more

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Free first Thursday of the month- score!!! Orchid collection from the era of private glass houses Bromeliads rub shoulders w coleus Ferns & Fuscia & fringed orchid read more

What an oasis! This was just what I need for my winter blues. It's only $4 dollars per person. They also have a cute little gift shop. It appears to be broken up into 5 different rooms. I absolutely loved the room with the tulips and hydrangeas. It reminds me of Easters back East when I was a little girl. It was wonderful. Definitely loose yourself in the desert room! It's nothing like the Seattle Surroundings. This is the perfect activity To do on a cold rainy Seattle day read more

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Volunteer Park Conservatory is awesome! Came here for the first time last weekend with a group of friends and we all loved the place! Location and parking: located in North Cap Hill area, the park it's located in has a good view of the city! Parking was plenty when we were there and it was free! I think there's usually an admission fee of $4 or something, but the machine had a sign on it saying free admission so we didn't pay anything. They have 3 main rooms you can walk through and a gift shop in the back. I loved all the plants! So many giant air plants! Such an awesome place. It is a lil warmer inside the greenhouse, and it's a great spot to get some great pictures! I will be bringing all out of towners here from now on! read more

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so cool to visit and first saturday's are free which was a cool surprise! looking forward to visiting more often :) read more

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Oh yes! Such a wonderful selection of succulents and tropical! So many examples, usually seen only in lesser forms, grown to gigantic sizes, so well loved and cared for! For plant and nature lovers, this is a wonderful hidden gem! Pro tip: if you don't have a credit card or $1 bills for the $2.25 admission, feel free to head to the gift shop for other payment options. read more

UPDATED: The conservatory is no longer free. Admission is $4 (18+), $2 (13-17), and free for under 12. Definitely worth the cost, despite it being small. I brought my three kiddos (ages 2-7) and the older two were fascinated by all the plants (especially the stag horn ferns and the air plants) and loved taking pictures of plants that they wanted to sketch at home. On a sunny winter day, this place was such a warm refuge from the cold! read more

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