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U.S. National Arboretum


TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #10 of 280 attractions in Washington DC
Traveller 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 » 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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Attraction type: Hiking trail, Jogging path/track, Garden, Nature reserve, Other
Activities: Walking
Address: 3501 New York Ave. NE Washington DC, DC 20005
Tel: 202-245-2726

Reviews you can trust

[ Date ] [ Rating ]
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5 of 5 stars
Annapolis, MD
21 Nov 2009

Visited the National Arboretum in D.C. today. Nearly a hundred thousand commuters drive on New York Avenue heading in and out of downtown DC but few realize they passing on the capital's major parks and even fewer ever visit it. This is a shame because the gardens of the park are one of the city's treasures. It was a late... more

24 Jun 2009
1
person found this review helpful

It's not at the mall, nor does it have crowds. This place is beautiful. bring a lunch and stay all day. You can find history here too. Plants, Plants, and more plants. Walking, hiking, over sculptured acres of land, special exhibits too. Japanese gardens, you name it folks, it;s got it. A must for outdoors lovers. Don't miss this. On... more

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4 of 5 stars
Baltimore, Maryland
2 May 2009
2
people found this review helpful

I really enjoyed my day at the National Arboretum. I went during the end of April when the Azaleas were blooming, which was nice. They Azalea collection is on a wooded hill which you can see by walking on the trails. It was neat to see them in full bloom, azaleas of every color. Besides the Azaleas there is a... more

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5 of 5 stars
Alexandria
13 Apr 2009
2
people found this review helpful

My family was visiting from Canada and after spending the previous day in the city with all the crowds, the arboretum was exactly what they needed. We arrived early and spent the morning in the bonsai museum, ate our picnic lunch that we brought with us and then spent the afternoon walking through the dogwood and Asian collections. It was... more

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5 of 5 stars
Sacramento
12 Sep 2008
1
person found this review helpful

This place is fantastic for a relaxing bike ride or for a good exercise as there's lots of hilly terrain. We rented two bikes from "Better Bikes Inc." who delivered them to the Arboretum and picked them up later the same day. Ken, who runs Better Bikes, is awesome. He's very accomadating to whatever the customer requests and he even... more

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5 of 5 stars
Bethesda, Maryland
24 Aug 2008
3
people found this review helpful

What a marvelous retreat from the frenetic crowds that visit DC's museums! A lesser-known and considerably less crowded attraction, the National Arboretum is beautiful. Even by mid-day on a weekend, the research "museum" is hardly crowded. The grounds are divided into various sections and each section has its own trail network. Not only is the National Arboretum peaceful, but it's... more

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5 of 5 stars
Ashburn, Virginia
18 Oct 2007
3
people found this review helpful

Visited on October 6th for the Capitol Orchid Show. Amazed at how large the place is. Seemingly hidden right in downtown. As an avid photog would take more than a day to walk around and do the place justice. Being local I'm lucky enough to have the opportunity to return. Lovely setup, good maps, lots of room to wander. Nice,... more

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5 of 5 stars
Ontario
10 Oct 2007
2
people found this review helpful

This place was beautiful and so peaceful. I went the 3rd of Nov. 06. the leaves were changing colours..it was such a great spot! I can't recommend it enough. It's a bit of a trek to get there..you have to take the subway, bus and than walk a bit..but well worth it!! more

15 Mar 2005
8
people found this review helpful

The Arboretum is perhaps one of the most difficult attractions to find in DC, however it is also one of the most beautiful. Roman-esque columns, water gardens, shark-sized koi, beautiful azaleas and the National Bonsai Collection are just a few things that can be found there. If you're someone who loves gardens and horticulture you'll love the Arboretum. more

9 Nov 2003
22
people found this review helpful

This lesser visited spot is worth the trip and will provide peace from the bustle of the National Mall attractions. The bonsai exhibit and the herb garden are both outstanding, and if I'd had a car I'm sure the rest of the grounds would have been just as peaceful. If you take a taxi, don't go to the street address... more

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U.S. National Arboretum Address

3501 New York Ave. NE, Washington DC, DC 20005
Tel: 202-245-2726