Airlie Gardens is one of those places that reminds you why folks used to put on a good pair of walking shoes and spend an afternoon outdoors instead of staring at a screen. The grounds are beautiful, peaceful, and rich with history. Even though only some of the flowers are blooming right now, there is still plenty to enjoy--towering live oaks draped in Spanish moss, winding paths, ponds, sculptures, and the feeling that you've stepped back into old Wilmington. The famous Airlie Oak and the historic chapel make it feel more like wandering through a living postcard than just another garden. Airlie dates back to the late 1800s and was created by Sarah and Pembroke Jones before becoming a public garden preserved for future generations. The gardens are well kept, easy to stroll through, and especially lovely this time of year with the Azalea Festival season beginning. It is the kind of place where you slow down, take a deep breath, and remember that nature did landscaping long before homeowners associations started issuing warning letters. The one drawback--and for us older folks it is a real one--is that there simply are not enough restrooms spread throughout the grounds. With so much walking involved, having a few more bathrooms around the gardens would make a tremendous difference and would make the experience more comfortable for seniors and families. Overall: 4 out of 5 stars. A beautiful, historic Wilmington treasure that is absolutely worth visiting, especially in the spring--just be sure to make a restroom stop before setting out on the trails. read more

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This place is so gorgeous! This week we got lucky and discovered that Airlie was hosting a Bird Walk during our vacation. We had an amazing time and saw so many birds! The gardens were beautiful as always. I also found some more unique earrings at the gift shop, along with a magnet and keychain as souvenirs. read more

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What a wonderful afternoon in tended, maintained, and planted nature gardens. We spent 2.5 hours enjoying every trail and side trails. It felt like we had the place to ourselves for the most part today. read more

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We visited this park and we really enjoyed our time there. It was quiet, peaceful, and very relaxing, with plenty of things to do and see. Overall it was a great place to unwind and spend time outdoors. read more

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Outstanding gardens and beautiful sites. I had a sandwich on a chair with a view of the river. Very nice all around. Most highly recommended. read more

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The gardens are beautiful! I love the old oak trees with Spanish moss. There is even one that is over 400-years old! I purchased a ticket online for $10 and it was well worth it. It was a gorgeous day and I enjoyed my hike around the grounds. The chapel was very beautiful and well built. I loved the history of it. I was hoping for more flowers and azaleas, but maybe I was too early in the season for those. read more

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This place is magical! So much to look at and different places to explore. The staff obviously do a great job keeping everything in order. $10 for adults $4 for kids. Babies are free. My daughter and I could have spent all day here if we brought some snacks. Lots of great spots to have a picnic. There's some cute things in the gift shop, super clean restrooms and a little classroom with a few different critters in there. read more

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Very pretty, I'm very tempted to use it for my wedding. A nice thing to do to kill 1-2 hours. Beware though, the labyrinth is not a hedge maze like I initially thought, but it is still a nice meditation walk. read more

Explore the whimsy and views of the Airlie Gardens! You'll be greeted by friendly staff in the gift shop/ticket office and provided map. It will take you on a scavenger hunt of themed exhibits (sculptures when we were there). The trails snake along the river and marsh and ponds within the gardens. You'll see turtles, egrets, herons, and alligators. The gardens are complete with walkable trails, water features, peaceful seating areas to take in the beauty, and even a labyrinth! One of our favorite spots was a tucked away fountain towards the back to just sit and enjoy the serenity. There's a small pavilion on the pond that poses a beautiful spot for photos too read more

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I went during a heat wave and while it's not blooming season, it's still a nice little stroll around the gardens. Beautiful and well maintained. I have to come back when it's spring! read more

Such a beautiful place to visit! Cannot wait to go back! The Live Oaks are absolutely breathtaking and a very naturally romantic place to visit! read more

One of our favorite places for Easter, Mother's Day and Christmas!!!!! Such a beautiful place to spend an hour or so!

Such a beautiful garden! We have come the past two years to visit. It is always so beautiful. read more

Airlie Gardens - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

A manicured garden that you have to pay to enter; not an enormous amount btu it is per person. The space adjoins a tidal creek, but also has constructed spaces with various statuary, a butterfly garden, and a lot of Spanish Moss. The paths are mostly paved and it is a low intensity experience. It's an easy place to sit a while. There were not any of the carnivorous plants I was looking for. There were a lot of spiders. It's a pretty area. Not one that would divert me away from the beach or various other attractions in the area for too long. read more

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My wife and I were visiting from out of town and this place was recommended to us as a nice place to visit. We couldn't agree more! Lots of beautiful trees, plants and great places to walk, read more

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This location is absolutely beautiful and worth visiting. Upon entering you go through a beautiful gate and down a paved road through some beautiful trees and flowers. Parking was easy and plentiful and the walking paths are well maintained and easy to navigate. There are many restrooms inside the visitors center where you pay before you explore. There is also a tiny gift shop for you to purchase goodies if you'd like. The grounds were breathtaking, serene, and just heavenly. I took my time exploring each trail and took in the entire park. The paths were easy to navigate and there were placards with information for you to read as you embark on the journey. I would absolutely return!!! The butterfly house was unfortunately empty, but ironically enough the exterior of it had many butterflies fluttering around. We visited in early October so maybe the house had more activity earlier in the year. Not a huge deal since we saw so many outside but a smidge of a bummer. read more

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I thoroughly enjoyed this garden just outside of the coastal line in Wilmington, NC. The price to enter was about $10/person depending on if you are a county resident or not. Upon entering, you are greeted by many beautiful trees, plants, and wildlife of varying species. They provide you with a map and there are either paved or dirt paths to follow making it easy to find your way around. Some of my favorite views included the dock overlooking the inlet into the ocean, the various fountains found throughout, the pond which houses different animals including turtles, and the butterfly house. Overall, I would highly recommend this location if you are interested whatsoever in beautiful plants, animals, and views while taking a relaxing and enjoyable stroll. read more

Absolutely beautiful with shaded paths that are wheel friendly for strollers or wheelchairs. It was a lovely place to visit.

What a beautiful botanical garden. Airlie Gardens is a must-visit if you're in Wilmington. We were told by many locals that we gotta go to Airlie, and we went, and we agree. We visited on the most perfect day, weather-wise, so the gardens were really able to show off. As you roam around the grounds, you'll see lots of old trees, lovely flowers, open grassy areas, artwork and many places to take nice photos. In fact, I saw a couple of professional photographers taking what looked like engagement photos. This is the place to take photos, that's for sure. One of my favorite areas of the gardens is the meditation labyrinth. You start on the outside and walk around in a circle until you get to the center, then make your way from the center out. There's a sign nearby that explains the purpose of the labyrinth (to serve as a vehicle for meditation and contemplation). It's located in between a pond and a bank of weeping willows, so the area is very peaceful and conducive to meditating. Another favorite area is the bottle chapel, which is exactly what it sounds like: a chapel made of glass bottles. It's located in the Minnie Edwards Sculpture Garden, which is a space that honors Minnie Evans, who worked as the Airlie Gardens gatekeeper from 1949 to 1974. The chapel is really cool and made from bottles, bits of broken tile, stones, metal and cement. It all comes together into a neat assemblage artwork in the middle of the garden. You can choose to walk around the gardens, or you can choose to hop aboard the tram that makes its way around the grounds. There are several tram stops around the garden, but we never timed it right, so we just ended up walking. I enjoyed the walk, but my children were complaining that their feet hurt by the end, so if you have children, maybe consider taking the tram part of the way. read more

Airlie Gardens is a beautiful and serene place to explore in the Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach area. Although spring is typical bloom season and most things weren't in bloom in October, staff were hard at work with landscaping and watering plants. The massive oak trees were beautiful, and they have one that dates back to the 1500s. The waterfront pergola garden is especially scenic and picturesque. Plenty of filming has taken place here, including television episodes of One Tree Hill, Dawson's Creek, and Sleepy Hollow. You will hear birds chirping as you wander about and may see some wildlife out on Bradley Creek or on the other bodies of water. We saw several turtles out on a log and a few swam right up to the steps of the pergola garden. The butterfly house didn't have any butterflies, but their brochure does mention they are only there seasonally May through October. We did see some butterflies outside while walking the grounds. Admission is a very modest $10, and there's plenty of free parking in their lot. Although there are some unpaved paths, most of the walking paths are paved. They do offer an unguided tram, but it's recommended to call ahead as it's not always running (it wasn't running when I visited since the person that drove it had called out). Overall, I loved my visit to Airlie Gardens and while it's not one of the larger or more elaborate gardens in the country, I'd recommend it to others visiting the Wilmington area who love gardens or exploring peaceful settings. read more

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Wow! This place is stunning. Live oak trees that are hundreds of years old. Spanish moss everywhere. The walking trails are easy but they do have golf carts if you need a lift. The gardens back up to a marsh and have two small lakes inside the gardens. If you haven't been, I strongly recommend coming to see Airlie Gardens. You can buy tickets on site, but I recommend to purchase your tickets online instead. The tickets are not for a set date and can be used anytime, other than during a special event. At the time of this review, the tickets were only $9. Parking is free. read more

Southern coastal charm and natural beauty at every turn. These well-manicured gardens are simply stunning. I'm not sure how I stumbled upon this place, but it was one of the highlights of my vacation. Self-guided and an ease-full walk, (and I think ADA accessible). read more

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Just a beautiful walk no matter what time of the year. I love just sitting and spending time in the butterfly house it's so peaceful - will definitely be back read more

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We had a great time at the gardens. We wandered around the lakes and out toward the river. I was great to see and where we come from they just have places like this. read more

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Airlie Gardens is a beautiful 67 acre garden. The gardens are next to the Bradley Creek Salt Marsh. When you arrive there is a large parking lot and then you go purchase your ticket for your time in the gardens. The only restrooms are at that building. They do offer a golf cart trip around the gardens if you are not a strong walker. There are tram stops throughout the gardens if you want to walk some and ride some. I walked around the gardens but am not positive if I saw everything as I kept getting myself lost as there are many paths to take. I do have a good sense of direction so knew the direction to head when I had my fill of nature and the sun. I didn't follow the map and just wandered and took in my surroundings which was the best way for me to explore the gardens that day and find my zen. The Airlie Oak tree dates back to 1545. The azaleas and camellias were everywhere it seemed. I loved all the tulips. There are lakes and a sculpture garden, a butterfly house and even a pollinator garden. The gift shop areas was under construction so I didn't get to check that out but there is always next time. read more

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Airlie gardens is absolutely perfect for everyone. The garden is beautiful and very peaceful. read more

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Went here for an afternoon stroll! Beautiful place with a mix of everything to see. It's right on the water too but you might not notice given you feel like you're in a forest oasis. The structure with steps down by the pond is probably the coolest. Really liked the oak trees too and the butterfly sanctuary with the glass bottle sculpture. The tree inside the sculpture is amazing... made with metal and birds are on it! Must see. Doesn't take long to walk the entire thing. Good for a quick break of the day. read more

Airlie Gardens - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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This beautiful garden was donated to the city by a family called Xxx, it's no wonder it has been used as a shooting location for not one but two famous series "Dawson's Creek" and " One Tree Hill". It's a lovely venue for weddings and a walk with the kids, friends or family. There is a small sanctuary for butterflies and in one of the spots there are turtles which makes the whole arboretum tour much more fun for kids. I enjoyed it a lot it was a very hot day and the location has ample parking and water fountain, they had sold out on cold water bottles which I would suggest having those on stock maybe perhaps adding a water vending machine with all brands and kinds of water - for mama like me who often forget a few important things for the road (just a random thought). It's absolutely stunning wonderful place for calming and being with nature and it's a must spot to stop by if you are visiting Wilmington as I was for the first time or perhaps every time (at least for me it will be). read more

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Everywhere I go, I have to go to the botanical gardens! Airlie Gardens is a must visit! A relaxing stroll through the entire property takes around 45min-1hour. Beginning of April the Azaleas were in full bloom along with the tulips! Such a serene place to walk alone and gather your thoughts. read more

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I'm surprised I've never posted a review on Airlie Gardens. It's one of my favorite places to visit when I want to photograph a variety of birds. I've been visiting this place for quite a while. I purchase on an annul basis their yearly membership pass. I can come by anytime I want to. The grounds are beautiful and well manicured. Lots of variety of trees, bushes, and flowers. When the flowers are in bloom, there are many butterflies and bees. So pretty! During December, Airlie Gardens hosts "Enchanted Airlie" where you can see hundreds festive lights. It's quite colorful and fun for everyone of all ages. I love to photograph the birds that visit and/or nest in the area. You can see Osprey, hawks, Black-Crowned Night Herons, assorted waterfowl, White Ibis, egrets, owls, woodpeckers, anhingas, cormorants, and much more. People can bring picnic foods and enjoy an afternoon on the lawns. There's a walking path to enjoy all of the gardens. It's best to go on a week day, rather than the weekend, as it can be pretty crowded during the summer. read more

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This was a very cute place to walk around, kill time, and just enjoy the beauty outside! My kids and I had a lot of fun walking around, although there was not as much to see and do as I thought there was, it was still well worth stopping in. read more

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Wow! What an amazing place. I had no idea this place was filled with so much history dating back to the 1800's. We walked the garden and were able to walk on the grass, take pictures with 300-400+ year old oak trees. We also opted in for a tour with Juanita (she was amazing and two thumbs up shout out to her) who really knew her history about this garden, and the areas around in Wilmington. Juanita was wonderful and took so much time to answer our questions on the tour and make sure we knew what we were looking at and knew our history. The garden is gorgeous and a must see and history know if you visit Wilmington, NC. It's only a 10$ entry. And yes, Dawsons Creek was fumed here as well. Pacey lost his virginity here. read more

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Our visit to these botanical gardens was nice while we were spending time in Wilmington. It's not crazy expensive so that's nice. Paths are easy to navigate and there were lots of places to sit in the shade and just admire the scenery. It was extremely, 99° on the day we visited, but there was plenty of shade and an occasional trolley driving through that. I'm sure would pick you up if you needed a ride. We spent maybe an hour and a half walking through. read more

Airlie Gardens - Botanical Gardens - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Definitely a must visit in Wilmington if you're an outdoorsy type of person. Come prepared because it is especially hot during the spring/summer time. I've been to many botanical gardens and while this isn't my top pick of them all it is still beautiful and well maintained. The price is quite affordable at $9 and discounted if you're military. Overall, I think $9 is not bad for how large the park is. I would give it at least 2 hours to fully enjoy exploring the garden. read more

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A nice respite and forest walk. We visited this week for the first time and bought a season pass as we exited.

Such a beautiful little park and garden area that epitomizes the sleepy south. The butterfly haus was the highlight of the trip and we were so happy that they were in full abundance fluttering around and landing on us! I bet this place is gorgeous during the Fall too! Will be back if in area. read more

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A nice walk for a January afternoon. Many paths, both paved and unpaved. I especially enjoyed the view and serenity in the cemetery. Gift shop was disappointing. Lots of noise from construction onsite and across the street. read more

Enchanted Airlie was great tonight. They did a beautiful job of adding new lights and making it more fun than ever. The trees were so magical and the aura of the place was fantastic as always! I love going to Enchanted Airlie every year! read more

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Really enjoyed our walk here today with the kids. Weather held out and it was a beautiful day but hot! They have concrete rabbit statues you can find all over the property.. I think there's 10 we found 8.. prob could have found them all but heat was too much! The property is very well kept.. beautiful flower beds all over.. trees with moss just beautiful along path. There is a really cool butterfly pavilion and they are amazing.. different kinds flying and landing on flowers was really cool!! They have a small gift shop as well as some tanks with local wildlife like snakes and lizards.. it's $9 a person over age of 12.. not a bad day at all and kids ran all over so they enjoyed it and wore them out lol.. I would go again for sure! read more

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Airlie Gardens is so pretty, especially during their Christmas lights season. It really starts feeling like Christmas after a visit to Enchanted Airlie. A much loved tradition to wander around the Christmas lights. read more