On my last day in the area before hitting the road, I decided to stop by Asticou Azalea Garden. It was a quiet Tuesday morning, and I was one of the few visitors to the garden. The helpful staff provided me with a map and suggested that I make a donation to visit the garden, which I happily did. I thoroughly enjoyed walking the paths which were delicately raked and taking in the beauty of the garden. I appreciated all of the various sitting areas where I could quietly ponder and reflect, especially the one overlooking the sand garden. If you find yourself near Acadia national park and are looking to do something a little different, I would highly recommend checking this place out. read more

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In mid-May, this small garden was bustling with a colorful assortment of flowers of different shapes and sizes and lots of happy insects buzzing about. The air smelled of flowers, and I had such a peaceful walk around the gardens. The cobra lilies were particularly unique and unlike any other flower I've seen before. One of the highlights for me in Acadia. read more

What???? Never heard of this place but as we were driving around Mount Desert Island we spotted it and just decided to pull over and check it out. This place is amazingly beautiful, and if I lived close to here, I would be there all the time with my Kindle, relaxing, and enjoying it Wow!!!! Literally if you like reading and relaxing, this is the spot for you. Go check it out. read more

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Finding these gardens was pretty much the happiest accident ever. We happened to be driving through the area when we spotted a beautiful little bridge from the road and decided to turn the corner and pull in. There were only a few rows of parking and it was a little tight. I got a little nervous because there was no real signage and I wasn't even sure if I was allowed to be there. I left my husband with our dog in the car and walked up to check out the entrance. Unfortunately it wasn't dog friendly, which meant we couldn't stay very long, but we definitely wanted to check it out. Walking into this garden is like walking into another world. It's so incredibly well manicured and peaceful. There are short trails and the plant life is beautiful, especially considering that we visited outside of what would typically be a blooming season for vegetation. There are beautiful flowers and moss covered stones and carefully shaped trees creating this amazing space that made us want to stay forever. There's also lots of water features like a stream and a pond and little waterfalls. This is definitely a spot that you would want to sit for long periods of time and just relax and meditate. Even though we wanted to stay longer and we had to cut our visit short because we don't like to leave our dog in the car, I'm so grateful that we stumbled upon this garden. It's honestly one of the most serene, beautiful and magical places I have been in a long time. I can't even imagine how beautiful it must be when everything is in bloom. There is a $5 donation requested to visit but it is well worth it. If you ever have a chance to visit this garden, don't pass it up. read more

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Serene! Lovely layout. Well-maintained. Creative use of botanicals in the beds. Wonderful visit.

Great value ($5 recommended donation). Beautiful small gardens, well filled out with lots of plants and water features. Excellently designed and easy to access. read more

Asticou Azalea Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Mount Desert, Maine

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Beautiful Azalea Garden open to everyone. There is no fee, but a suggested donation of $5. Absolutely loved this little garden! Perfect time to see these flowers in bloom! Loved the Japanese garden- it's a very peaceful place! Highly recommend seeing this after a long hike in Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor! read more

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No regrets bring the fam here. It even has an accessible entrance for anyone using a wheelchair or walker. We seriously had a lot of fun and i only wish I'd taken more photos o.0 read more

Asticou Azalea Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Mount Desert, Maine

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A unique treasure on Mount Desert Island you will not want to miss. Spend an hour or two, sit on a bench, bring a camera. read more

Asticou Azalea Garden - Azalea Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Mount Desert, Maine

This place was absolutely stunning. Honestly dare I say it, I enjoyed it more than Acadia National Park. It is beautifully manicured. If I remember right, it was $10 a person (donation). Meandering paths, a sand garden (don't walk in it!), and a small pond driven by a stream. I'm sure it's more incredible in the springtime when the azalea bushes are in full bloom. Take some time and stop here, you won't regret it. read more

This is a unique spot worth going! It is a Japanese garden made up of native Maine plants. Even so, the aesthetic really transported you somewhere else. Everywhere was well manicured although a few parts were being renovated. There are plenty of hidden nooks with benches and small grassy areas for you to contemplate life. It can be really serene. Beautiful spot. It is free to come in, but you should definitely donate if possible to keep this place going. There is a small parking lot attached to the entrance. There is not a large sign to the place so look for the square, small green sign that says "In" read more

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Absolutely stunning! Beautiful and carefully kept. Everything was blooming and fragrant and just gorgeous. There's a donation bin which we'd encourage you to fill. The volunteer, when asked how long we could spend, said happily 'All day!' which I thought was sweet. It's obvious a lot of love goes into keep this garden the serene and contemplative place it is. Every bed was meticulously weeded and maintained. A definite stop if you like flowers, nature and solitude. I could spend a day here with a good book. read more

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Simple tranquil garden with few flowering plants to offer when the azaleas are not in bloom. We visited Asticou Azalea Gardens on a Sunday afternoon, and there were only a few patrons. There was not much to see in July, but it was a peaceful place to walk around besides the traffic noise from the nearby street. If you are on Mount Desert island for a week, then the Asticou Azalea Gardens are worth a stop, but otherwise you should focus on other pursuits when the azaleas are not in bloom. read more

One of the most beautiful gardens I have ever seen. We were lucky that most of the plants were in bloom and there was such a variety of color. Red, purple, blue, yellow, orange, pink, white, green! We went on a rainy day so it wasn't so crowded which suited us fine. The pathways are well marked and while there is a $5 suggested donation, there isn't anyone to hassle you about it or make you feel guilty in paying up. It is definitely worth the visit. There is a bathroom at the end if that entices you. The artwork is subtle but expertly placed. The sand garden was calm and embraced serenity. There was ample parking. Expect to spend about 30 minutes there, more if you just want some time to meditate and be at peace with nature. read more

This is such an underrated spot to visit if you're at Acadia/Bar Harbor! My family came here one afternoon for a leisurely stroll and it was such a lovely place - the garden felt like it was bigger than you'd expect once you enter. There's mostly flat ground with a few stepping stones in the middle to cross a tiny stream. True to its name, there were tons of azaleas in all colors and sizes, but also so many other plants to observe and admire. A lot of the elements we saw were inspired by classic Japanese gardens, including some of the cherry blossom trees and sand garden. It's free and open to the public, but an entrance donation is strongly encouraged - a little can go a long way to keep this place beautifully maintained. It was truly so serene and calming to be surrounded by such pretty nature and I couldn't stop taking pictures :) highly recommend setting some time aside to come here while you're in the area. read more

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We visit here every time we're in the area. The best time as far as I'm concerned is early October. I love this garden!

This place was great. I went with my 4 year old son, 3 year old daughter, husband and mother in law. We all enjoyed walking the path and how peaceful it was. My daughter is autistic and rode on her dad's shoulders. She liked the bridge and stream. My son had too much energy and was very un-zen and tried to climb on plants and run around. If you're looking for something for 4 year old boys, this ain't it but everyone else loved it. read more

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A must see if in Northeast Hbr area. A nice spot on a gray day. Parking can get tight, but more parking across the street.

If you are in the area this is a nice place to spend some time. Not a large garden but very well done and maintained. Donation based entry. Does have a restroom. Easy and flat for older visitors. Easy parking. Very much worth your time. gardenpreserve.org is their website. read more

Northeast Harbor's hidden treasure. While Bar Harbor is the tourist hub, this is a Zen garden hiding in plain sight. One can watch tour buses&cars rush by as they head into Acadia NP. There is an understated main entrance with a small parking lot. While there are many Japanese gardens in the US, Northeast Harbor's Azalea Garden is unique in that it uses New England&Maine plants. The sand garden is meant to imitate the wild Maine coast. Most of the plants are marked. It's an easy, mostly level walk with well-marked trails. Despite the name, there are more than azaleas. It's not a picnicking spot, but one can savor the beautiful Mt. Desert landscape. It's very Zen. One can get pamphlets for about $5 each (they have an honor system) The views are priceless. In late summer, the garden is very much in bloom. Mt. Desert is an oasis. read more

Very cute view from the road, but even nicer to walk through. Worth the stop

Lovely, peaceful gardens to wander through and relax. Only downside was the lawn mowing occurring during the visit, partially blocking a path and disrupted the calm. However the gardens were wonderful, water features relaxing, and the sand garden was done well. read more

The flowers were not in bloom during my visit but that didn't take away from the natural beauty of this place. Well maintained garden with a walking path to follow as to not disturb the wild life. There is visitor parking and a public clean bathroom. At the end of the walkthrough donations can be made for the preservation of the garden. Very relaxing and peaceful. This place even includes a full sand garden. Don't miss out on this Zen location read more

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This place was beautiful. We saw it in passing and backtracked to park and check it out. Kudos to the gardener for her excellent vision and care. read more

This is a beautiful little garden. The atmosphere was peaceful and the flowers and plants were very picturesque and there was a small pond in the center of the trails. I highly recommend this botanical garden, admission is free/donation and you can stop by quickly. read more