minnesota landscape arboretum

I spend a lot of time at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum because it is a place of great beauty and solitude. There are so many things to do at the Arboretum, from snowshoeing in the winter to seeing maple syrup tapping in the late winter to walking along Three Mile Drive year round to see the seasonal changes in the landscapes. It is one of the most beautiful places in the Twin Cities. If you are looking for a place to get away in the winter, I suggest you visit the Arboretum and visit the conservatory to see some beautiful plants and flowers. If you're looking for a great place to have brunch, lunch, or an early dinner, the Arb has a great cafeteria with many homemade delicious foods. If you are a frequent visitor to the Arb, you'll probably want to become a member. Admission is free on Thursdays through March 2015.

The Arboretum has lots of opportunities for people who like the outdoors. There is a three-mile walking/driving trail that takes you past most of the specialty gardens with ample parking along the way to get out and explore. There are seasonal events both inside and outside. They range from leisurely teas to snow shoeing and cross country skiing. The Arboretum is a great place to see Spring flowers and Fall leaves. The rose gardens, herb gardens, wild flowers, sculpture garden, water features, etc. are wonderful and relaxing.

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is one of the most beautiful, relaxing, yet invigorating places in the Twin City area to go to, to get away from the hub-bub of daily living. It can be for a half and hour or for a half a day. When my 7 year old grandson complained about having to go to the Arboretum, afterwards he didn't want to leave. I couldn't recommend it any more highly. An absolute must to see and visit....often.

The Landscape Arboretum is a beautiful place to visit all year round. Don't let the snow in MN stop you - on a clear, 30 degree day it is a restful and enjoyable place to walk around, just like during the spring and summer. A must stop of you love the outdoors.

Recently became a member again and had forgotten how peaceful and beautiful this place is. The fall colors were amazing and the way they continue to develop new and different things make this a great place to visit if not join. It has something for everyone...give it a try!

I went to this place for fall colors.Excellent View and enjoyed a lot for this fall. Don't miss this place to visit.

The Minnesota Arboretum offers a number of interesting and beautiful garden areas (Japanese, perennials, iris, annuals, etc.), as well as a very large arboretum with a 3-mile, one-way automobile/biker/walker route through wooded hills. In October we found the colors of the trees spectacular, and the flowers lovely. The visitor center has a large gift shop and a large, affordable restaurant that is reminiscent of the kinds of cafes typical of National Trust properties in the UK. If you are in the Twin Cities area, don't miss this place.

With a Groupon my husband and I took advantage of a beautiful fall afternoon to visit the Arboretum. It was perfect! Tree colors were stunning! Going through the vast areas sectioned to show different plants and tress, we spent three hours walking, lingering and taking pictures. We took the three-mile drive, but made several stops along the way to admire the scenery, take the tails and enter the maze. A wonderful family activity or simply a quiet walk for yourself or a couple.The gift shop offered many beautiful items, fall decor, books and nature-related things. Everyone working/volunteering at the Arboretum was excited to share their knowledge and warm spirit. We truly have a treasure here just outside of Minneapolis.

This place is always great, but to catch it on a beautiful fall day is sublime. What could be better? Oh yeah! How about one of the most superb outdoor theatrical performances I've ever seen! TigerLion Arts staging was extraordinary. Although the production, "Nature", ended Oct 12th, I would encourage anybody to take a chance on ANY future work by TigerLion or Tyson Forbes - amazing - enough to make a burnt out old thespian want to slap on some more grease paint!

Travel from the Twin Cities to the Arboretum is a longer drive than many people would want to do unless they knew what was there. Arboretums are not like amusement parks, and there are certain seasons when it is best to go. In Minnesota this would be from mid-May when the crab apple trees are in bloom until late October when all the leaves have fallen. This Arboretum is different than many I have visited. For one thing there are seasonal displays of all different types. You might find a large number of tree houses built around the grounds, twig huts, scarecrows, or water features. In the winter the large visitor center would have miniature gardens, tree decorations from natural materials, or wood turnings and carvings. There is always something interesting and different. This arboretum also is great at having something for the children. There is a permanent maze that my great grandchildren love, and right now there is a bin of shelled corn for the children to play in. Very creative people are on the staff out there. One thing I enjoy is the different gardens: rose garden, azalea garden, lily pad pond, hosta glade, etc. I like gardens. I am prejudiced in that but if you enjoy spending time in a garden (and there are flowers blooming all the time) visit the Minnesota Arboretum. My only negative is that they no longer have the tea room which was very special and instead have a cafeteria line. Boooo.

Such a beautiful setting, I remember coming here as a teenager 20 plus years ago, they have done so much more. The Visitors Center is stunning, we attended a wedding reception there and greatly enjoyed it.

The Arboretum is a wonderful refuge from the rest of the metro area. A great place for gardeners, plant enthusiasts, landscapers, walkers, joggers, and those who just want to enjoy nature. For a first time visit, I suggest spending the $5 for the tram tour of the Three Mile Road; this ride gives you an overview of the grounds. Hiking it may require a tad more effort than people imagine. The cafeteria food is decently-priced and pretty good--it's not gourmet, but for cafeteria food it beats most hospitals and colleges. If you live nearby, you might consider multiple visits throughout the growing season. We came in early fall and loved it, but missed some of the summer flowering, and certainly missed the tulip display. We will go back in just a few weeks when the colors are changing.

Our most recent visit to this treasure was early Fall. The leaf colors had not changed yet, but there was plenty of botanical beauty to be had. The winding trails take you past countless varieties of plants and landscaping features, and when you are weary of walking, there is a 3-mile drive past gardens and groves, with places to pull-over and step out for a closer look. There's a nice restaurant and shop as well. My favorite spot this time: the dahlia test gardens! Amazing color, variety and size.

Beautifully landscaped flowers gardens. The café food is also good. Many beds of flowers and a lot of different areas to walk around. There is a fee to enter unless you are a member which I encourage if you can get there a few times a year. I try to make it in the summer and then in the Fall.

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a world within itself. It offers walking trails, streams and benches along the way if you want to pause and take in the beauty. The flowers are vibrant in color and creatively arranged creating magnificent views. The shrubs and trees are equally manicured to enhance natural vistas. A true wonderland of beauty. The arboretum has a wonderful gift shop and restaurant with lots of indoor seating.