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All 340 Washington DC Attractions »

U.S. National Arboretum

3501 New York Ave. NE, Washington DC, DC 20005
202-245-2726
Ranked #23 of 215 attractions in Washington DC
4.5 of 5 stars 70 Reviews
Type: Gardens, Nature/ Wildlife Areas, Hiking Trails
Activities: Walking
Owner description: Established in 1927 by an Act of the United States Congress, this national treasure contains 446 acres of fabulous flora and fauna and is especially... more » Owner description: Established in 1927 by an Act of the United States Congress, this national treasure contains 446 acres of fabulous flora and fauna and is especially known for its Asian, azalea and conifer collections. « less
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70 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
    48
    16
    6
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Date Rating
new jersey
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 28 May 2012 NEW
1
person found this review helpful

My husband is a bonsai enthusiast, and made it a point to visit the National Arboretum when we were in DC last month. You need a car to visit, since it is on the outskirts of the city, in the far northeast. Admission is free, and while it is not a must see, the bonsai exhibits are truly spectacular. The... More

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See 6 more reviews by kt1952 for Washington DC
Burke, Virginia
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 28 May 2012 NEW

The bonsai exhibit is wonderful for all ages.This can be a quick, free stop or you can spend all day. Azalea drive is great, as are the columns. Koi to feed, too.

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See 5 more reviews by MaryPatS for Washington DC
Centreville, Virginia
Top Contributor
76 reviews 76 reviews
Reviews in 42 cities Reviews in 42 cities
27 helpful votes 27 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 27 May 2012 NEW

We were lucky to be there when the azalea bonsai were on display and they were just incredible! The bonsai exhibit is wonderful and even without the azalea bonsais, it would be worth it. The grounds are extensive and there is a lot to see during any season. The guides were very helpful in pointing us to the places where... More

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See 5 more reviews by RYC88 for Washington DC
Alexandria, Virginia
Senior Contributor
48 reviews 48 reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 24 May 2012 NEW

Go to see the old Capitol colums, and azalias, and be sure to check out the bonsi exhibit. Wonderful way to pass a spring saturday, hiking around.

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See 14 more reviews by krewerka for Washington DC
Washington DC
Top Contributor
140 reviews 140 reviews
Reviews in 38 cities Reviews in 38 cities
92 helpful votes 92 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 18 May 2012

Step inside away from the bustle of Washington DC and find yourself in a peaceful world of trees. Don't miss the fascinating Bonsai Garden!

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See 49 more reviews by sailingboat for Washington DC
TN
Top Contributor
55 reviews 55 reviews
Reviews in 19 cities Reviews in 19 cities
21 helpful votes 21 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 May 2012
2
people found this review helpful

What an amazing arboretum! This is definitely an often overlooked gem of DC. We arrived at 8a (opening), and noted very few other visitors. We drove around, and parked near each of the specialty gardens. Visiting in early May mid-week, there were plenty of flowers still in bloom and plenty of parking. We loved the dwarf conifer garden, the dogwood... More

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See 6 more reviews by TNAnia for Washington DC
Virginia
Senior Contributor
38 reviews 38 reviews
Reviews in 18 cities Reviews in 18 cities
15 helpful votes 15 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 6 May 2012
1
person found this review helpful

This is the greatest in the Spring when all of the dogwood and azaleas are in bloom, but we went in the fall just to see their collection of bonzai trees. (Yes, bonzai trees' (that are not evergreens) leaves turn colors in the fall and drop off. Some of the multi-tree displays in one big display pot with rocks and... More

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See 8 more reviews by WineloverVirginia for Washington DC
Fresno
Contributor
14 reviews 14 reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 4 May 2012
1
person found this review helpful

You need a car to see everything, but the flowers are beautiful. It is seperated into different areas so you can see plants from around the world. We especially enjoyed the herb garden and the bonsai exhibit (there was one bonsai tree that was over 400 years old)

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See 8 more reviews by Miata-lover for Washington DC
Washington DC, District of Columbia
Senior Contributor
25 reviews 25 reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
15 helpful votes 15 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 4 May 2012
1
person found this review helpful

We live about a 5 minute drive from the Arboretum, and it is one of my most favorite spots in all of DC. Tucked away on the north east corner of DC, this massive park has endless paths, gardens and exhibits to explore. We like to spend our Sundays leisurely roaming the open fields with our toddler, climbing around the... More

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See 11 more reviews by liliribs for Washington DC
Northern Virginia
Senior Contributor
45 reviews 45 reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
20 helpful votes 20 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 28 April 2012
1
person found this review helpful

This is a beautiful experience for outdoor nature lovers, with rolling hills and exhibits of different groups of plant environments. Visiting in the early spring with the azaleas in bloom is a glorious experience. Visiting the bonsai section anytime is impressive as well.

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See 19 more reviews by Snailkite for Washington DC

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