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Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Lakeside Avenue, Henrico, VA, USA

Open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

$$$

local-highlights, fun-paid-activities, botanical-garden, run

Take in beauty and peace in the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is our top pick when we want to show off our city to out-of-town guests. The garden has miles of easy walking paths that wind through Japanese Gardens, past several fountains, a children's garden, and a treehouse, and there is a huge conservatory, too! It's also a great place to simply wander and enjoy nature or to even go for a fun date before heading out to dinner. 

When planning your visit, purchase your tickets online in advance to save time. Keep in mind a membership to Lewis Ginter pays for itself if you go to the gardens more than twice in a calendar year and includes a discount on summer camps. The parking lot directly in front of the entrance is best when you arrive. From here, you can quickly check in at the reception desk, where you can obtain a map of the entire grounds and a scavenger hunt for children, too!

Throughout the year, there are various events and programs, which can be found via the website or social media. Some favorites are Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights, a holiday event where the garden is beautifully lit up, and s'mores and hot chocolate are sold. Free Admission and half-price admission days in January, and Butterflies Live are other favorite events!

For the kids, Lewis Ginter has plenty of open space to run freely, the children's garden, a huge sand area with sand toys, a 100+-year-old mulberry tree to climb, and other nature play opportunities. Other highlights for kids are building cairns (rocks), playing in the garden keeper's cottage, running to the top of the treehouse (which has the best view of the gardens!), and the library. The library is open to all visitors, but only members can check out items. The children's section has educational, nature-themed toys, like puzzles, blocks, and of course, books. The storytime is every Friday and Saturday at 10:00 AM. Storytime is included with your admission.  

Features

Restrooms Hiking Stroller-friendly Garden library Picnic Tables Storytime
Thoughtfully captured by:
Lindsay Garrison
Lindsay Garrison is a Richmond, Virginia based mom to two young children. A graduate of Chesterfield Schools and Randolph-Macon College, Lindsay is proud to call Richmond home. In the years prior to planning activities and outings with her own children, she was a French teacher. During her tenure she earned accolades for her creative teaching style and ability to connect with her students. She now applies the skills she learned when she was planning student trips to France, to her own family adventures. She can’t wait to take her own children to France one day!
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