Norfolk Botanical Garden
Norfolk Botanical Garden
4.5
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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- Hank HVirginia585 contributionsA Stroll Through BeautyCame here for three hours on a sunny, cool afternoon with my wife, daughter, and infant in a stroller for a lazy stroll through the beautiful gardens. From a Japanese Garden to Hydrangeas, Camellias, Roses, and Rhododendrons - all framed by lakes, streams, and forests of hardwoods - this place has it all for nature lovers. If we lived in the area and weren’t just passing through, we would have become members and planned to visit here often because of the all-season beauty, the many benches for quiet reading, and open areas to picnic. TIP: Although Trip Advisor doesn’t say so, be aware that this place is NOT free (currently $16 pp).Visited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten 4 November 2023
- Angela BTempe, Arizona1,601 contributionsBeautiful gardenNorfolk Botanical Garden is beautiful in April. The weather is warm but not humid. The tram ride is a great orientation tour for first time visitors. Sunday's are when dogs are allowed in most areas. Reserving online tickets is highly recommended.Visited April 2024Travelled soloWritten 7 April 2024
- Pam SBloomfield Hills, Michigan157 contributionsGorgeous Gardens!The Azaleas in full bloom, were incredible. Be sure to take the tram through the gardens. The commentary was educational and spirited! The Bonsai garden was fabulous. The boat rides don't start until Memorial Day, but one should not miss this gorgeous Botanical Garden!Visited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 22 April 2024
- Lawrence G17 contributionsHuge, beautiful campus with a mushroom theme!!!My wife and I LOVE botanical gardens and this is easily one of the best we have visited. This garden is mushroom themed and has a butterfly garden. The campus is huge and could easily be 3+ hour adventure. You can also tell the staff keeps up with the flower maintenance.Visited June 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 4 June 2024
- JillCullStowe, Vermont535 contributionsBeautiful Morning at The Norfolk Botanical GardensWe landed in Norfolk, Virginia early in the morning which allowed us to get to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens and witness the plants, flowers and trees at their best .. still clinging to the fresh morning dew. We walked the paths to beautiful gardens spread across this multi acre park. This is the largest botanical garden in Virginia and has some magnolias and rhododendrons that are 80 years old. The hydrangeas were heaven with some of the bluest blues I’ve ever seen. They had hot pink ones as well. The Lillys smelled amazing as did the roses from the enormous centennial garden. After our self-guided walk, we hopped on the tram for a half hour tour of these stunning gardens!Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 10 June 2024
- Shirley K8 contributionsLittle ones loved sand hill and splash padThe gardens are beautiful! We were visiting with a 6 year old and a 3 year old. They played on the sand hill for about an hour then played on the splash pad for about an hour. There was also a story time and a craft time they enjoyed. A wonderful day!!Visited August 2024Travelled with familyWritten 27 August 2024
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4.5
1,131 reviews
Excellent
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38
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9
hawaiian_rays
Erie, PA191 contributions
Apr 2023
We heard that when staying in Norfolk, this was a must do activity...they were right. We picked a moderate temp day in higher 70's, so as not to be too hot while walking the gardens.
Parking was based on reservation system, which was ample for us when we arrived around 10:15 am. Construction on property impacted the parking and it was a little longer walk to the entrance area. Once on property, be sure to get a guide map--if you haven't been there before, you need it for perspective.
If you time it right, we'd recommend taking the tram tour (was open in April) or boat tour (runs in May) to get an overall perspective on the gardens, the layout and what you can see with more detailed touring. We did the tram tour and that it was very good. It runs hourly and has designated stops where you can get out or get picked up again in an hour.
We really liked the Japanese Garden in particular, as well as some of the gardens with water fountains. The variety of plants and the meticulous design and care in maintenance of the gardens was amazing. The new "Garden of the Future" area looks to be a place well worth visiting when the construction is completed.
We also enjoyed the views from NATO Tower and took some nice photos from there (a couple posted herein).
The price was reasonable, especially if you are taking a tour and exploring some of the gardens in more detail.
Parking was based on reservation system, which was ample for us when we arrived around 10:15 am. Construction on property impacted the parking and it was a little longer walk to the entrance area. Once on property, be sure to get a guide map--if you haven't been there before, you need it for perspective.
If you time it right, we'd recommend taking the tram tour (was open in April) or boat tour (runs in May) to get an overall perspective on the gardens, the layout and what you can see with more detailed touring. We did the tram tour and that it was very good. It runs hourly and has designated stops where you can get out or get picked up again in an hour.
We really liked the Japanese Garden in particular, as well as some of the gardens with water fountains. The variety of plants and the meticulous design and care in maintenance of the gardens was amazing. The new "Garden of the Future" area looks to be a place well worth visiting when the construction is completed.
We also enjoyed the views from NATO Tower and took some nice photos from there (a couple posted herein).
The price was reasonable, especially if you are taking a tour and exploring some of the gardens in more detail.
Written 10 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Happiness631550
1 contribution
May 2021 • Couples
We purchased a family membership to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens in order to enjoy and admire the gardens on a regular basis.
No matter want time of year one visits the gardens, there is always something new to catch one's eye and bring happiness to one's heart.
A few weeks ago, all the azaleas were exhibiting their happy spring colors; last week the rose garden showed off it's magnificent, majestic multitude of roses. Some of the colors I had never seen before. Absolutely amazing.
On Sundays, one can bring their beloved dogs: there is a fabulous area where children can play in the sand, another, hands-on area is devoted to teach youngsters about plants. The Butterfly pavilion is amazing as the Bieke's fly around one's ears, much to the slight of children and adults.
The Norfolk Botanical Gardens never cease to delight all visitors.
No matter want time of year one visits the gardens, there is always something new to catch one's eye and bring happiness to one's heart.
A few weeks ago, all the azaleas were exhibiting their happy spring colors; last week the rose garden showed off it's magnificent, majestic multitude of roses. Some of the colors I had never seen before. Absolutely amazing.
On Sundays, one can bring their beloved dogs: there is a fabulous area where children can play in the sand, another, hands-on area is devoted to teach youngsters about plants. The Butterfly pavilion is amazing as the Bieke's fly around one's ears, much to the slight of children and adults.
The Norfolk Botanical Gardens never cease to delight all visitors.
Written 8 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lorna B.
Bechtelsville, PA884 contributions
Nov 2022
We had visited this garden many years ago and enjoyed our springtime visit. We recently returned to see the Garden of Lights evening event, which we also enjoyed. Overall, the lights were very pretty. We liked that they have a one-way path through the lights; it keeps everyone going the same direction at generally the same pace. The path ends at the parking lot, but you can re-enter the main entrance building to use restrooms and visit the gift shop (but you cannot re-enter the garden to see the lights again). There was a food truck parked near the beginning of the route, but the line was very long; they could use another truck near the end as well. It only took us 75 minutes to walk through (we thought that the ticket price was a bit high for the short time we spent here); since we chose an early entrance time, there was still plentiful parking.
Written 2 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PaleoGypsy
Philadelphia, PA2,347 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
At present, certain parts of the Norfolk Botanical Garden are under construction. Renovation is taking place on the NATO Tower Overlook and some of the paths. With that being said, there is still a lot to do here. It would be quite a challenge to see and experience everything in one day. Many of the activities are seasonal. If you live locally, purchasing an annual membership may be a good idea. On Sundays, visitors are allowed to bring their dogs. If you are not a member and do not live locally, another garden membership that you possess in the area that you reside may qualify you to receive a discounted rate. Look at the web site that specifies the American Horticultural Society’s Reciprocal Admissions Program. If you are seeking a discount, bring that membership card and photo identification with you. The parking lot is spacious. You could park an RV here. Wear comfortable clothes and footwear per the season. Bring snacks and water. Remember to bring your camera, and make sure the battery is fully charged. Portions of the gardens are set up very nicely for those visitors who use strollers and wheelchairs. Get a paper map, load the app, or follow the signs. When we toured, the Legos exhibits was present. So impressive. Legos were available for view inside and out. If you enjoy birdwatching, bring your binoculars and a zoom lens. As the Norfolk Botanical Garden is adjacent to the Norfolk International Airport, be prepared to hear the loud noises emitted from particular jet aircraft that are taking off and landing. If you, or another member of your party has autism or experiences sensory issues, donning some noise reduction headphones may be a good idea. Some people use little wagons to transport their outdoor blankets and other gear to the gardens so they may read or bask in the sun. There is a lot to do at the Norfolk Botanical Garden. If you decide to go, enjoy the magnificent experience.
Written 17 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ElaineAndGreg
Chesterland, OH3,091 contributions
Jun 2021
A 150+ acre botanical garden near the airport? Yes, and its very much worth a visit.
The Norfolk Botanical Garden started, improbably enough, as a city garden in 1938 during the depression. Many of the plantings were by about 200 African American women and about 20 men. Since then, the garden has been (mostly) saved from expansion of the nearby airport, but has also been helped by still more gardens being planted.
We were here on a nice day and would recommend you do the same. The garden is fun to explore on foot and, as others have noted, basically something is always in bloom. We especially appreciated the wildflower plantings, but there was no shortage of interesting and beautiful things to see. We didn't even try to count all the different plants and flowers.
During our visit they had an ecology-minded exhibit on animals made up of plastics discarded in the ocean. They had sculptures made up of things like plastic bottles, plastic shoe parts, toothbrushes, and just about anything else made of plastic. The results were entertaining (sharks and jellyfish were our favorites), but they also made the point about plastic waste.
This park was featured on a set of stamps by the U.S. Post Office about two years ago.
The park is beautifully laid out with lots of walkways, paths, bridges, and attractive structures. We ended our trip with a picnic lunch near the entrance.
This is a very nice set of gardens with an interesting and unlikely history. If you are anywhere near the area you should take a morning to visit it.
The Norfolk Botanical Garden started, improbably enough, as a city garden in 1938 during the depression. Many of the plantings were by about 200 African American women and about 20 men. Since then, the garden has been (mostly) saved from expansion of the nearby airport, but has also been helped by still more gardens being planted.
We were here on a nice day and would recommend you do the same. The garden is fun to explore on foot and, as others have noted, basically something is always in bloom. We especially appreciated the wildflower plantings, but there was no shortage of interesting and beautiful things to see. We didn't even try to count all the different plants and flowers.
During our visit they had an ecology-minded exhibit on animals made up of plastics discarded in the ocean. They had sculptures made up of things like plastic bottles, plastic shoe parts, toothbrushes, and just about anything else made of plastic. The results were entertaining (sharks and jellyfish were our favorites), but they also made the point about plastic waste.
This park was featured on a set of stamps by the U.S. Post Office about two years ago.
The park is beautifully laid out with lots of walkways, paths, bridges, and attractive structures. We ended our trip with a picnic lunch near the entrance.
This is a very nice set of gardens with an interesting and unlikely history. If you are anywhere near the area you should take a morning to visit it.
Written 31 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
artgurl33
Columbus, OH315 contributions
Jul 2020
We visited the Norfolk Botanical Gardens in July 2020. Because of the times we were trying to find good social distancing activities. The gardens had so much room to spread out we didn't run into people more than twice after we left the visitors center. We visited the sculpture gardens, Zen garden, Mirror Lake, Tropical house and the Hydrangea gardens. There is a shuttle that drives you around the entire park and it runs once an hour. You can pick it up at any stop if you have small children or elderly relatives that can't walk the entire garden. Keep in mind the shuttle has every other row blocked off right now because of COVID, so there is less capacity than normal.
Written 19 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Veronica D
1 contribution
May 2022
I have the Reciprocal pass I bought from the Milwaukee Domes Milwaukee Wisconsin that allows 4 people to get in for one pass. $50 annually. I am from Suffolk VA. This allowed me to get into the Norfolk Botanical Gardens with 3 other guests for free. This pass is good for one year. This pass is good for many gardens throughout the USA. The gardens were beautiful especially the Enchanted Forest. They have a tram that will take you around the gardens and drop you off at desiginated stopping points. Beautiful gardens my guests and I truly enjoyed our trip at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens.
Written 24 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kim S
Wisconsin454 contributions
Oct 2021
Something for everyone - regardless of age and time of year! We loved the the Washed Ashore artistic statues made of debris collected from the Pacific Coast. The tram ride was informative so you didn't have to walk the entire facility. Just a very nice and peaceful day!!
Written 19 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
luvtotravel6768
Simcoe, Canada153 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
What a beautiful place to enjoy flowers, canals, tours, food trucks, artwork. We took the tram tour, which was nice to be able to ride the acreage and see lots of flowers, shrubs, and forestry. We did find it was very hard to hear the guide who was also driving. Perhaps better if the commentary was done by a 2nd person. The canal tour was much better, with a boat driver and a lady explaining everything we were seeing. We enjoyed the rose garden, the magnolia trees and lots of plant life that was new to us. The building was very well maintained, washrooms were clean, gift shop had something for anyone, the artwork on the walls was very unique and fun to look at. Food was served by 3 food trucks in the rose garden - we purchased 2 hot dogs (the smallest weiner I ever saw!) and 2 small bags of potato chips = $18.00USD !!! OMG - won't do that again!!! BUT the ice cream truck was GR8888! All in all, it was a good day, glad we went. Should you go? YES, but decide if you want to bring your own lunch or pay the prices of "a captive audience".
Written 9 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark D
22 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
A great place to spend a hot day. Splash area for kids to cool down (pack your swimsuit and swim diapers). Also, a giant sand hill to entertain the kiddos.
Take the tram tour (included in the entry) early in order to get an idea of the size and layout of the gardens. Then stroll to the areas you want to see. The children’s garden is very educational. The Renaissance garden romantic and cooler under the big trees. The rose garden fills your senses in the spring. The Japanese garden behind the cafe is also a must see. Outside food and drink is welcome in the park, and the picnic area near friendship lake is shaded and beautiful.
Note- We visited the zoo, the aquarium, and the botanical gardens all within a week. We preferred the gardens to the other two attractions because of its diversity and size.
Take the tram tour (included in the entry) early in order to get an idea of the size and layout of the gardens. Then stroll to the areas you want to see. The children’s garden is very educational. The Renaissance garden romantic and cooler under the big trees. The rose garden fills your senses in the spring. The Japanese garden behind the cafe is also a must see. Outside food and drink is welcome in the park, and the picnic area near friendship lake is shaded and beautiful.
Note- We visited the zoo, the aquarium, and the botanical gardens all within a week. We preferred the gardens to the other two attractions because of its diversity and size.
Written 5 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The garden honors reciprocal entry for members of other gardens. We have membership at the Morris Arboretum and there was no entry fee at the Norfolk botanical gardens. All you in such a case is to show membership cards from a participating partner.
Written 22 May 2019
Where can I find Info about Marigold & Honey; is it the only eatery there?
Written 17 April 2018
NBGStaff
Norfolk, Virginia
Marigold and Honey Café is located in our Japanese Garden and offers both indoor and outdoor seating. The Café is open April-October from 11am-4pm Monday -Friday and 11am-5pm on weekends and offer fresh seasonal fare from their garden inspired menu.
Written 21 June 2018
I saw strollers on the tram, so I will say yes
Written 6 August 2017
Yes, there is still lots to see even though it's not peak season. Right now the roses are in full bloom, but there's always something wonderful in the gardens, no matter the season. Hope this helps.
Written 7 June 2017
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