Beautiful park and gardens to visit while in the Tallahassee area. I loved the beautiful, big oaks overlooking the lake. The trails and flow of the park makes you feel like you're entering a secret garden. We visited in the winter when many plants and flowers were not in bloom, but it was still beautiful. I hope to visit again during the spring to see how the park truly comes to life. read more

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Absolutely beautiful grounds with numerous photo ops. We were able to tour the residence as well and the docent was very sweet and knowledgeable. Would absolutely go there again if I lived nearby! read more

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What a beautiful day to explore this park! Great picnic area by the lake when we arrived and then on to the gardens and a tour of the Maclay house. The staff was amazing! Everything was pristine! Love this park! The pond was so beautiful! I could've sat there all day!!! read more

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The attendant at the entry was very friendly, it was $6 for entry along with the gardens for one. I started at the Lake Overstreet Trail, which was about 3.9 miles, the trail was wide, clear and well shaded. The trail is multi use for biking, hiking and horseback. It goes around the lake, but you can only see it through trees. Trails are very well marked. I visited in mid January, so not a lot was in bloom, but the garden area was beautiful with white brick pathways There are QR code in garden that take you to YouTube videos which are very informative. The Maclay House started as hunting lodge for Alfred Maclay. It was originally called the Killearn plantation. Maclay wanted plants that would bloom when family was there. The house very small and well maintained, the friendly guide played a very informative video about the gardens and Maclay family. Maclay wanted plants that were in bloom when his family would visit during the winter. I spent approximately 2 1/2 hours hiking and in the garden, I highly recommend a visit to Maclay Gardens and State Park when in the Tallahassee area. read more

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Wow. Wow. Wow! What an beautiful experience! If you're in Tally and looking for a half day activity, your $6 will be well spent at the Maclay Gardens. 27 acres of personally handcrafted gardens. Who would love a stroll through this perfectly curated masterpiece. While it's green year round, there are better times for seeing the flowers. I hear March is a great time. I'm not exactly sure when that is, but I'm sure their website gives more info. I got to go into the house the family resided in during their summer months there. Per the tour guide in the house.. it is only open January - April. read more

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This is my favorite garden in the US, or it used to be anyway, before my brother married his first wife here, a red headed fire crotch beeotch. I obviously still haven't gotten over it, I know he hasn't. His second wife was worse if you can imagine that. Ugh. Anyway, the most beautiful breathtaking gardens, trails, and little house with a secret garden & reflection pool. Just a majestic layout & design. It flows so beautifully, it's positively Angelic. The botanical gardens in Dallas, New Orleans, Central Park, New York, or Paris, France have nothing on this place. This garden's beauty shames all others. I rather like the little house all decorated up for Christmas the best, so i'm going to make another fly by then. I didn't exactly have the right shoes with me this past trip either. Yuck. It's a lot of walking so make sure you wear comfortable shoes. Take a backpack, water & a picnic. You will enjoy spending time in this breathtaking beauty, "garden of Eden." The most beautiful garden & wedding venue you will ever find. Bucket list worthy. Highest recommendation. read more

This place is worth the entry fee just for the Native Arboretum section alone! The Native Arboretum is managed by local members of Magnolia Chapter of Florida Native Plant Society. You'll see a stunning variety of native FL flora, located near the Visitors Center. The attendant working at the front (where you pay to get in) and I had a strange interaction, though. I asked for 1 entrance fee for just myself and then he charged me for an Individual Membership (???). After I was flabbergasted at the $64 charge and explained I only asked for an entrance fee, he kept blaming me for his mistake. He repeatedly emphasized the verbiage "ENTRANCE FEE" and I was like... yes, exactly what I said. It was really icky. I didn't appreciate how he was condescendingly smiling either... idk I was just caught off guard by the whole thing. Overall my trip there was great because of the plants but memorable because of my interaction with the attendant read more

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This gorgeous state park is hidden off the busy Street Thomasville rd. It only cost me $6 for myself and two kids to enjoy the park for the day. When you enter, the road is met with a pay station ran by the park rangers. They are kind and extremely knowledgeable. She offered a map and I gladly took it. The park has bike and hiking trails. Also, you cannot go to this Florida State Park without walking through the gorgeous gardens. So much fun walking all the winding trails to discover the hidden gardens and ponds. This is the perfect place for pictures whether spontaneous selfies or planned family pictures. They have a wedding reception area as anywhere is the park is just breathtaking for the ceremony. If you are ever in this area, please do yourself a favor and take some time for yourself or for your family to just walk and enjoy nature. read more

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I needed a long walk and got to explore this park on paths and through soft grass. The smell was intoxicating (confederate jasmine and some other flowers!) and I nearly had the entire space to myself to walk amongst the plants. I especially enjoyed the QR codes placed in various spots so I could hear about garden origins or get tips on what to look for. Two suggestions I'd make would be to have stakes with plant names for easy identification and brochures available for visitors despite the visitor center being closed. Some of the gardens seemed in distress but I want to say it's because they haven't fully recovered from hurricane Michael. Not sure if that's the reason or not. A beautiful, not-to-be-missed park for a nice walk and quiet contemplation. read more

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What a beautiful park! You get to one area and you think that's the best part...until you get to the next area, and so on... every area has its own unique beauty. My husband and I captured so many wonderful memories in picture form! The alligator sightseeing was a plus! We're in Florida after all, this is their home. read more

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One of the most picturesque parks in all of Tallahassee! Maclay Gardens State Park is located on the north side of Tallahassee, hidden away down a side road. Yet, this hidden quality seems to be make it almost shocking in its beauty! The park is famous for its flower gardens, which make for a relaxing place to stroll on a Sunday afternoon. You can sit down by the lake, the sunken garden, or the reflecting pond for a gorgeous view. My fiance and I actually decided to get engaged here for just this reason! Otherwise, Maclay is also home to multiple multi-use running, walking, and mountain biking trails that snake through the forest. We used to take our dogs for runs here all the time, but I still have yet to try out the mountain biking trails. But they're on my list! Same here, their's a Lake Overstreet to work your way around and admire the views of. Overall, Maclay Gardens State Park is a great place for a relaxing visit whether meandering in the gardens or running around on the trails! read more

This is a beautiful state park right on the midsts of Tallahassee. The "garden" is expansive and filled with camellia trees, live oaks and Coontie palms. The paths are brick and "accessible " for wheelchairs and strollers, but it's a bumpy ride. There are facilities to rent for weddings, memorials and events though I don't know the cost for rental. Free upon entrance are numerous settings for the perfect photo op. There is Lake Hall to enjoy during summer, but our visit was in fall so we did not. For a 6.00 entrance fee, go spend a few hours in the healing beauty of nature. read more

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I came to see what the big hype was about these beautiful flowers very beautiful gardens must see too appreciate!! Come see the secret garden. read more

Alfred B Maclay Gardens State Park - Miniature book - Parks Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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What a delightful spot for photography, fora stroll, for relaxing on a park bench, for birdwatching, and more. We clocked about 6,000 steps walking through the gardens and spent about 1.5 hours. A gem in Tallahasee. There is a cost to get in. It was $6 per person for our car, in April, and the line to enter moved a bit slow. But we had a nice time exploring the grounds and taking photos! read more

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What a beautiful garden! I live close by MaClay so I try to come take a walk here once in awhile. During bloom season in the spring, it's $6 per person to visit both the park and the garden. But you can pay a small fee to visit the park only. To me, the price is well worth it as I am a huge supporter of all national/state parks and botanic gardens. My most recent visit was on the First Day of Spring. It was a perfect Sunday afternoon and I couldn't think of a better way to spend my time than visiting the MaClay. So I put on a pretty white dress and headed to the garden. I saw tons of camellias, azaleas, magnolias, and some wild flowers blooming through out the garden. The camellias are deff my favorite and the show-stopper here: red, pink, and white everywhere. The garden offers unlimited photo ops: lakeside pavilion, MaClay house, reflection pool, secret garden, etc. I had a wonderful afternoon exploring and took lots of pictures. Come enjoy this beautiful garden and the park! What are you waiting for?! read more

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This is a beautiful State Park that wraps the banks of Lake Hall there are plenty of things to see and do if you have a few hours to kill. Florida is filled with SP's and purchasing the Florida's State Park Annual Pass is a real bargain and more than pays for itself if you love exploring some of the more beautiful landscape in the country. This is a great place to stop and relax if you're traveling across I-10 so grab a sandwich and your favorite beverage and make the short drive to relax with nature it's so much better than spending time at one of the fast food chains, even a Big Mac taste better when eaten here... read more

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Very cool place to spend the day. It was only like $6 per car for the whole day. They have hiking and biking trails, a lake to go kayaking or swimming. The garden trails were nice. Definitely a place to explore for all ages read more

Alfred B Maclay Gardens State Park - Parks Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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I've grown up coming to Maclay Gardens for years, as it's only a few miles from the home I grew up in. A minimal entry fee is paid at the front: per car or pedestrian. Bring your receipt back throughout the day for free re-entry. The gardens are beautiful, even in the early morning humid Florida heat. I love the gardens, especially the canopy shaded brick walkway before reaching the foot pool. The gardens are perfect for pictures or even just for a picturesque walk. I spotted a bunny on the way to the foot pool, and he casually ate some grass while I snapped a couple pictures. I have no other words to say about Maclay, other than that you'll have to see it for yourself! read more

Alfred B Maclay Gardens State Park - Little bunny foo foo - Parks Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

I love this hidden gem of a park! Everything is so well-maintained and there are so many activities to participate in! All of the staff are also very sweet and helpful! I keep coming here for weekend hikes and absolutely love every trail, but also walking in the gardens! read more

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Beautiful state park. I walked the paved trail and loved the little waterfront shelter area and of course, the insta-famous Secret Garden. Didn't see any flowers in bloom, so I suspect I visited out of season. read more

Walking, Biking, Horse Riding allowed in this big park located in our state's capital. There are entrance fees and an additional charge to see the gardens. The only animal I saw was a squirrel but there are signs warning of alligators- I'm ok without seeing one of those. read more

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Stopped by Maclay Gardens while visiting Tally, I always saw the sign from the interstate but never stopped in. It is one of the smaller Florida State Parks but it is beautiful. There were some flowers in bloom but not a large amount. I enjoyed the reflecting pool and walled garden, which resembles a secret garden, it was very impressive I could have stayed there a while, the maintenance of that area was meticulous. There is a pavilion that overlooks the lake which is a great place to relax and take the view in. We went on a cloudy Saturday afternoon, it was not crowded. There were several large oak trees. This is NOT a pet-friendly park. Pets other than service animals are NOT allowed in the garden area, outside of the garden is acceptable. If you want to take some time to relax in a diverse garden area, I highly recommend Maclay Gardens. read more

Alfred B Maclay Gardens State Park - Park entrance. - Parks Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

The most magical, spectacular and beautiful trail and garden I've ever seen in Florida. I've never seen so many butterflies flying around! When I walked through the first gates to get to the main path, canopied under Spanish moss trees, the site literally took my breath away. I was giddy to walk down the never ending path of these drapey trees to explore more. There are little benches and sitting areas nestled along the path for you to take in the views. I thought this park couldn't get better until I got to the secret garden - it is absolutely picturesque and peaceful. Although there were (very few) people walking around the trail, everyone seemed to respect the quietness and peacefulness of the nature. The garden is meticulously well kept, and makes you feel like you're inside the set of a garden magazine. If you go a little further, there's a trail that's more woodsy - also a great trail to walk through. read more

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House tours available from Jan. 1 through March! They charge a bit extra for it though. I have an annual park pass and the ranger didn't charge me extra, but the Garden Keeper (at the info house at the front) explained that I should have been charged. I didn't take the tour though. I did love the intertwining paths throughout the gardens. The Japanese Magnolias were my favorites- the tops of those trees were blooming while the bottoms were still buds, but that's what a telephoto lens is for! The lake view gives you a sense of calm, the live oaks are simply serene.... so much history in a tree. The blooms! I wish I lived closer so I could see the varying stages of blooms! Very knowledgeable staff, beautiful property. Take your camera! We spent an hour touring the grounds. I could've packed a lunch and spent all day! Love our Florida Parks!!! read more

This is beautiful park. We were only in Tallahassee for the day and had a just over an hour to view the park. We headed straight for the gardens. Although it was in December and there weren't a lot of flowers in bloom, it was still pretty. We were there the day after Camilla Christmas, so we were able to see the Christmas Tree that was completely decorated in Camilla blooms. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. I hope that we can make another trip back to Tallahassee to see the Maclay Gardens when more things are in bloom. read more

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This was our first time here and we loved it. The trails are beautiful and also challenging which is nice if you're into hiking and don't want just flat ground! We did the Overstreet trail which was super pretty because it follows along the lake. Great place to hike or bike and is also dog friendly! The only downfall I had was the fee to get in, but that's probably what keeps the trails so nicely trimmed. read more

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1. Less than a mile from Highway 10 exit 203 North. 2. Clean Facilities 3. Beautiful Lake and Gardens read more

Alfred B Maclay Gardens State Park - Parks Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

Now my rating is low compared to others and that might be because I went at the wrong time of the year. Their website listed the best time to go is April and May to see the flowers so when I arrived late in late June there were basically no flowering plants. Pretty disappointing and made the experience just average. Very clean and very friendly staff. It was nice for a park, I wish they had some sort of canoe or kayak rental or perhaps better maps of the park and where to go. Cool wildlife though, saw a nice hawk flying low and a few other neat birds. If you go, really try to go during their peak months. Maybe if I had this park would get a fifth star. read more

Alfred B Maclay Gardens State Park - Hawk in McClay Gardens Park - Parks Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

Wow, this place is absolutely beautiful, serene, and relaxing. We decided to stop by this park while traveling through Tallahassee back in October. It was decorated with scare crows for Halloween. There are all sorts of scenes and wildlife to be admired once you explore the whole park. It is a state park, so we paid a couple dollars to park. One piece of advice-- make sure you have the correct address of this park. Depending on where you get the address (online sources), it may lead you in the wrong place. We drove around the park and into a neighborhood looking for the right place. If you've done this yourself, you know what I mean! Anyways, it was definitely worth the trip! read more

This place is really special! The garden area was so pretty even though many of the plants were not in bloom. I could just imagine what it would be like in the Spring. The small reflection pool was a neat idea and the pond was beautiful as well. I'm really glad I decided to go. It was $6 per car to get in and well worth it. There is also a recreation area on the lake that you can launch boat or even go swimming (netted off area). It's definitely worth a visit. read more

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Consistently a treat for the senses to be able to walk on the paths and sit on the benches taking in the meticulously maintained, picturesque array of varied vegetation all at our own pace. The recent rains have given the entire park a brighter and more vibrant hue of green. read more

Not a lot going on at this park and not a lot to see. We opted to not purchase admission for the botanical garden at the park entrance because we thought we'd do more walking trails in the park. We paid the main park fee and left it at that. After realizing the park has nothing to do by way of walking trails, we went over to the garden center thinking we'd purchase tickets there and see the botanical garden after all. As we were walking up, a lady working in the office yelled at us that we couldn't come in without tickets. Like, based on the fact we weren't senior citizens, she assumed we'd be trying to pull a fast one on her and sneak in to the park. We are both working professionals in our 30s but she made us feel like we were some sort of botanical garden hooligans. It was incredibly offensive and she was extremely rude the more we interacted with her. We tried to explain that we just wanted to see if we could buy garden tickets at the office rather than drive back to the park entrance. She was so rude, we just cut her short and decided to leave altogether. She also had a small child in the office with her, so she was obviously busy with other things. I hate to give any state park a bad review, but this place deserves one. Poor service and nothing to see. I'd skip it. read more

Price has increased from $6 per vehicle, to $6 per person! No senior discount was available, either. The house is open only during the months that the Maclays would have been there. That was Mrs. Maclay's stipulation, as this was their winter home. You can only get to the house by taking a half-mile path up thru the garden. You cannot drive to the house. So, come dressed appropriately for walking outdoors thru the current weather. read more

Beautiful park! They are constantly keeping it up and this is the perfect place for outdoor photography/ family photos.

I've been visiting Maclay Gardens - alone, on dates, with friends, with children - for nearly a decade. It is wonderfully maintained and well worth the price of entrance. Concerts, swimming, Florida flora and fauna - just beautiful. Bring a picnic, bring a swim suit, and/or bring an eye for local nature's best. read more

Nice view of a lake, small fountains, and some flowers. And you have to pay. Instead go walk for free around the park across meridian from this one, it's called Klapp Phipps. Go to Phipps gate C it's huge. Great huge fields, big natural pond, and lake Jackson. Otherwise if your set on Maclay, go back farther there's a cool lake that doesn't have houses on it back towards meridian road. I think it's called lake overstreet read more

It was the perfect Fall day in Tallahassee, Florida and we took advantage of it by visiting the Maclay Gardens for an easy, afternoon stroll with our grandma. We may not have utilized the other recreational activities available, such as the bike trail, or the picnic and swimming areas, but their availability is greatly appreciated. Perhaps we can partake in these activities the next time we visit Tallahassee. The "Gardens" itself is by no means large and one can stroll its entirety in approximately an hour. But add to that a relaxing moment at the pavilion right by the lake, or a picnic on a blanket in the field by the estate house, or read a book with your feet in the reflection pool, and you extend your relaxation time significantly. This would also be a great place for a photo shoot. There is a $6 admission per vehicle, and there was a park employee in the booth when we visited. Not sure if the honor system is no longer in use, or if we just got lucky. I would suggest having an exact change for $6 if you really don't want to be disappointed by a possible lack of change being returned to you. read more

I got engaged at this beautiful park and was eager to start looking for a wedding venue. After looking around not falling in love with any of the places I looked at, my fiancé and I figured it would be super romantic to get married the same place we got engaged which was, the beautiful Maclay Gardens. I quickly emailed the venue asking for prices and it took a couple days to get back with me, which was just fine. So we chose the place and was getting ready for wedding preparations, excited with many questions about the venue (as any bride would) and didn't get responses for days. As the wedding was approaching, I kept on messaging them hoping I would get a response. After 5-7 times of messaging them everyday, then they responded. My friends got married there and said they were on top of things and always responded quickly. Sadly, I cannot say the same. With 4 months to plan a wedding, I was very stressed bride with the very poor communication they offer. Wedding day is here and everything goes as visioned. Just beautiful. Everyone had a wonderful time. After a couple days, i message them about my security deposit back, and they send me a long message saying they went "above and beyond" for me, everything was left a disaster, no one helped to clean, and they did all the work, etc. So for that, I will not be getting my deposit back. So I spoke with my family/friends who helped clean and they said everything went great and they didn't get home till 1AM due to clean up. So I emailed the venue, and said there must have been a miscommunication considering my family/friends said everything went good and I should get my deposit back as promised. Diane responded with going "above and beyond" for me again and offered to share pictures of the "mess" we left so I said okay and I have yet to receive pictures from our "mess" and it has been 4 days. Fact of the matter is, super gorgeous place but extremely poor communication and they will not reimburse your security deposit because they feel going "above and beyond" cost 200$ when you've already spent over $2,000 and had to deal with they're poor communication skills. For someone working for government property, I think it should be a little better. Maybe I was the only one that got the bad treatment, but I'm very disappointed in the way things have been handled. Sorry for it to go this far, Diane. read more

Beautiful park. Really great for just taking a casual walk. Some little plaques and things to see along the way (a pond, beautiful hanging moss and a really cool infinity pool,) but not a whole lot else to do besides wander, basically. Definitely worth a trip. read more

Amazing hiking trails! Went there to see some wildlife and was not disappointed. Lots of deer, birds snakes and frogs! The trail has gentle to short but steep inclines, and some of the trail is rough so you'll definitely burn lots of calories! read more