uc botanical garden at berkeley

I've been visiting the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden since I was just a sprout. ;-) I LOVE taking my kids here now. We've done a few of the kid-centric tours, and they've all been great. And their plant sale is great for finding some neat succulents or other interesting flora. Great for letting kids run, a brisk morning hike, newt watching or napping under a redwood. And the bird watching can't be beat. The visiting woodpeckers are a recent favorite. A must visit if you want a nice quiet day in nature.

Great place to spend a couple hours on a beautiful spring day - in February! I had time to spend before meeting my son for dinner, this was perfect. The trails and vegetation were well maintained, easy to get around, friendly staff. It's up in the hills, so very quiet and peaceful for being so close to the campus and the city. The views were awesome and I took some great shots of the plants, I highly recommend taking the time to visit. The cost is reasonable but you do have to pay for parking. I'm sure there is a bus but I couldn't quite work that out.

There is an amazing collection of plants at this botanical garden; herbs, orchids, sunflowers, ferns, cactus and more arranged by world location/climate zone. This spot is perfect if you have a couple of hours to just wander. The UC Botanical is more than just a wonderful garden to stroll through. Check out their calender before visiting and you might be able to catch a special exhibit, or take part in one of their workshops (my niece and I enjoyed their egg coloring event before Easter a couple of years ago and she still talks about it), there are some dates where the park fee is free, and there are concerts (local groups) in the redwood grove during the summer months. There are events year round.Always wear good, comfortable shoes. Trails are either paved or compacted. There are a few that let you wander through the trees on the hillside. For the most park, I would consider this an easy walk/hike site. Most trails are wide enough for wheelchair access but do note that this on the hillside in Berkeley so there are some mild uphill and downhill climbs. Even though you are in the east bay, wind and fog can make the area cool so check the weather and consider having a light jacket with you (especially if you stay for music). Parking lot is across the street from the main entrance. During the week you can take the UC Berkeley's H line bus from the campus at Hearst Mining Circle to the garden. I don't think this is available on weekends. If you are going to drive, keep in mind that parking on Centennial Drive along the road is not allowed. There is no cafe or restaurant on site. If you plan to spend more than just a couple of hours on site, consider packing a snack or lunch. The lawn is a lovely spot to sit in the sun and enjoy and share a sandwich. If you go yourself or with a couple of other folks, you might want to consider trying to catch a docent tour usually Thursdays through Sundays (check the calendar). Larger groups should definitely call ahead and schedule a tour specific to the type of group. There are options for youths, students and adult groups. All in all a great, spot to enjoy the outdoors. Parking was a couple of dollars, admission for two adults was $20.00, we packed our own lunch and water, then spent 3 hours enjoying the sunshine, marveling at the plants, walking and talking and enjoying each others company in a beautiful outdoor space. Cost about $25.00 total, memories....priceless.

I love looking at the gardens here. They are nice to walk around and enjoy a cup of coffee or to just get lost in your own thoughts.

Huge collection of scare planets is a great legacy for future generation of USA. This is meaning of understanding science.

I love taking my family here to walks under the plants and trees. There are trails on both hills and flats. We like to bring a simple lunch to have to make the visit complete.

a varied yet relaxed experience thru a wide variety of plant types. Always find some plant in bloom mode!

The garden is a perfect place for a quiet relaxing walk. The grounds, plants and flowers are superb. There is ample parking and the walks are easy. Find a nice bench and breath in the beauty.

The botanical garden gives so much. They are masters of cultivating and educating. The docents are so knowledgeable and thoughtful. Fun to follow them around the garden and hear the garden stories and get a better understanding of the plants. The garden is beautiful. Hanging out is a joy.

The Botanical Garden is very large and quite varied. They have sections from all around the planet. Don't miss the cactus garden. Climb the hills and find a bench with a view of San Francisco Bay.

Our visit to the botanical garden was relaxing and enjoyable. The gardens include many plants from all over the world. Visiting in Feb. From the east coast made this spot even motr enjoyable!We will go again on another trip to CA.

Established in 1890, the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley continues to be amazing today. It is in the Strawberry Canyon area of UC Berkeley and has 34 acres. It has a very varied plant collections. I have enjoyed visiting it on a number of occasions.The botanical garden works hard to also maintain rare and endangered plant species.There is also a lovely redwood area I like to walk in.There is a pay for fee parking lot close to the botanical gardens.

Want some nice down time? Come here and get lost for a couple hours. Beautiful and interesting garden.

Lovely and not crowded on a Saturday afternoon in January. The temperature was also very nice. You can actually get lost here. How often does that happen in the middle of a city in a forest?

The Berkeley Botanical Gardens are some of the most magical places I've ever visited. I saw countless hummingbirds and lizards on top of the amazing displays of plants. I love the arrangement of the garden! They do a great job making you feel like you're doing a tour of the world