A truly beautiful place to relax and enjoy nature. We've been coming here for years now and always happy to spend a couple hours between here and Whiting Forest next door. The annual pass is an easy decision for us since we end up going more than twice in a year. Whether it's exploring the gardens while there's a new outdoor art exhibit, checking out the butterflies in the conservatory exhibit in the spring, enjoying the rose and herb gardens in the summer, or enjoying the fall colors washing over Midland in the autumn, it's our favorite place in the area. Also a lovely venue for wedding ceremonies and naturally offers excellent scenes for formal photos. The facilities are great and should be improving with the new welcome center being constructed. While definitely child-friendly with the children's garden and school tours, if you're looking for somewhere to let your kid run around, you might find the mall or a park playground more accommodating. read more

I had no clue this place even existed until a few months ago when I was in Midland at a conference down the road. Maybe Michigan's best kept secret? Anyway, I bookmarked it with the intention of coming up here when the weather was nicer, and I finally got around to doing it over this past July 4th! (bonus points for them being open regular business hours during a holiday!) I drove the two hours and walked in and it only costs $15 for a single visit, $30 for a yearly membership. Nice! I wouldn't mind getting a membership, because it truly pays for itself. They have a gift shop in the front area where you pay with a few things to browse and purchase. Maps of the Gardens are by the register to take so you can see all the sights when here. Initially, I didn't know where to start so I wandered down the path to the left. This was towards the Estate Gardens, which were lovely by the way. The downside? I wanted to see the inside of the house but it was locked up. I'm not sure if they give tours, and there was nobody to ask. I continued walking and saw the Ribbit Exhibit which has about 13 different metal frog sculptures throughout. Lots of green areas to view, with some wonderful bridges as well. Eventually I was going to go to the children's garden, but it was starting to get hot outside and my leg and back were getting sore. I walked through the rose garden, which was nice, but on the smaller side. Eventually I ended up by the Educational center and kind of tired out by this point. I don't know how far I'd walked, but it felt like miles. The heat didn't help. Here's where I got frustrated with my experience. First, even with a map, it's easy to get "lost" here. Some paths are a dead end. Some lead you to now where, and it doesn't always connect back to the main pathway. There was at least two instances where I went to look at a bridge, then discovered a water fountain, and couldn't find my way out. There were several paths, but only one lead to the main drag. It's because I heard the golf cart that I was able to determine where to go. Also, they have limited bathrooms here. I don't need one every 5 feet, but I only was able to find two during my visit. The map says there's 5 bathrooms, but they're literally miles apart and you don't know where they're at because there's barely any signage for the bathrooms. If you have kids, or an emergency, I can't imagine this ending well. Also, a big one for me, which really spurred me docking a full star. No scooter rentals, or any form of alternative means for those of us who may need it. No, I'm not handicapped, but the zoo offers them for a charge, which I'm willing to pay. I would've stayed twice as long if I could scoot around the park, along with walking as my leg goes numb after about a mile or so. The good news to this? You can get a golf cart tour, but you have to book it in advance, and they're at select times. I would do that, but I didn't remember to book a tour in advance. But, maybe next time I can bring my own scooter so I can go further. Aside from that, the gardens are fabulous. I'll probably do another trip up to see the canopy walk and a few other things when it's a bit cooler in the fall and not 90 degrees with a 68 degree dew point. LOL. Worth every penny! read more

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A beautiful way to spend the day surrounded by flowers and enjoying the walking paths through gorgeous trees and even a meandering stream. All the material used here is of elevated quality from the sculptures to the stonework. The welcome center has a great exhibit that illustrates the Dow family history. I would say the Dow Gardens are a don't miss when in the area. read more

Dow Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Midland, Michigan

A beautiful 110 acre garden with displays of annuals and perennials highlighted with numerous bridges and pine trees. Originally the home of Herbert Dow back in 1899,these gardens now boast many unique water features and the nation's longest canopy walk. Other features include a playground and Cafe with drinks,sandwiches and ice cream . The gardens are designed to be accessible for all ages and abilities. Cement walkways thru out. Open year round. Closed Mondays. Free parking. Admission is 10.00 per adult and 2.00 for kids. You can spend the day or only a few hours,Dow Gardens is a real gem in Midland Michigan. read more

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We stopped here on our way up north as a way to stretch our legs and wait for family that left later than us. We spent 2.5 hours here and it flew by! We barely saw anything! I'm sure we could have stayed all day and still felt the same way. Everyone was kind and helpful. The water feature on the children's garden is easily avoidable if you don't want to get wet, but the water at the children's playground would be more difficult to avoid so I would definitely recommend bringing an extra change of clothes, or at least wear shorts instead of pants since there's ankle deep water to stand in (and I saw some kids wearing jeans in it I thought how uncomfortable wet jeans can be!) I look forward to returning in the near future - Wear comfortable walking shoes for climbing! read more

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It was our first time to Dow Gardens today and we were very impressed! Think of this as a smaller, more cozy, yet just as charming cousin of Frederick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. What Dow Gardens lacks in terms of plentiful modern sculpture art, it more than makes for with pristine landscaping, beautiful flora, and a warm and inviting set up. The staff was very friendly, and the park was in great shape when we visited. It is not as well known as larger venues, so the price was very reasonable, and the crowds were not crazy. In fact, it was very comfortable to walk around even with several dozen families around. We never felt crowded-in or intruded-upon. Our favorite attractions are definitely the canopy walk, which is a must see. There is also the stream walk, which features a man-made waterfall and bubbling brook that looks right at home in the natural setting around it. The small, unassuming herb garden was also a pleasant surprise. We saw many different versions of herbs, and the heady smell that they gave out was breathtaking. In all, we really enjoyed our visit and would love to come back during the other seasons. We highly recommend Dow Gardens. read more

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The jewel of the northern part of the lower peninsula. This place is gorgeous in the fall. Try coming during the week and in the mornings to avoid crowds. Weekends are by far the busiest. During pandemic season, they have limited appointments for visitors which fill up fast on the weekends. Dont worry, if you can schedule an appointment, there is plenty of space to spread out once inside. I'd recommend reserving a minimum of two hours. Half a day at Dow Gardens is ideal to see everything without being rushed. My favorite places to visit are the Children's Garden, Canopy Walk, the Secret Garden, and any places with a little bridge. The great thing about Dow Gardens is there there are do many offshoot trails that you can go on and explore. This place is truly beautiful and enormous, it almost feels like Narnia. Yes, you can bring food for a picnic and I highly recommend it! There are so many picturesque places to sit and have a meal, and plenty of trash cans to dump your trash. Wear comfy shoes, sunscreen, and bring your camera. The cafe has a huge variety of drinks so bring some cash if you want a midday pick me up. Finally, the customer service here is great. Im an annual member and they gave me several months free because they had to shut down due to the pandemic. The staff at the Cafe are always friendly. There is also a gift store too! read more

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Dow Gardens are about 90 mins away from us, so I was hoping for an enjoyable day worth the ride and it was! The location was very easy to find and parking was a breeze (and free). During C19, they are only taking appointments for admission to control numbers, but the process was simple and we were let in slightly early, which was a bonus. The visitors center is clean and welcoming. It has a gift shop, bathrooms, and some historical information about Dow Gardens. We were given a map, which made navigation simple and easy. We started the visit venturing to the Children's garden. On the way, I was struck by the beauty of the grounds and how immaculately they are kept. Fall was in full swing in Michigan, so we were treated to a gorgeous display of changing trees. The children's garden was a mix of vegetable gardens, bright floral, and cute statues of farm animals. They also have bathroom facilities conveniently located right off the garden. They were very clean. The rose garden was next. Being Fall, very few were in bloom, but you could imagine how gorgeous they are in the summer. I will definitely return specifically for these. The whole reason we visited was for the tree canopy walk. I will admit, you need to be up for a walk to get there. It is the longest canopy walk in the US and plain awesome! There are several different legs to the walk with their own special experience. The views are breathtaking. Go! Go in the Spring, Summer, and especially in the Fall! My 7 year old was blown away, which isn't all that easy to do. The canopy walk is entirely accessible and a good idea for anyone without a fear of heights. The children's playground is just a short walk from the canopy walk and a great opportunity to let your kiddos run off some steam while you relax. There is a cafe adjacent, but we didn't partake this trip. To conclude...Dow Gardens should be on you MI must visit list! You will not be disappointed! read more

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Absolutely amazing and gorgeous!! We love it here so much we purchased the annual pass ($20 a person) because of course just coming once will not be enough!! Make sure you give yourself a lot of time to walk around. The grounds are kept up so immaculately. There are so many places to discover and explore. Red Asian inspired Bridges, little paths overlooking streams, a small waterfall, origami, flower gardens. Don't forget some furry friends..squirrels and Chipmunks running everywhere. This place truly is one of our favorites to visit. Don't forget to sit on the porch of the Pine House and relax while taking in the views for a bit. read more

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What a beautiful garden great hike...my sister and I enjoyed 4 hours of this making garden I will most definitely come back ... what a peaceful place to go have a nice picnic read more

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I have to say I was a bit underwhelmed by the gardens and the forest. The grounds were very nice and well tended but not much interesting to see. We started with the forest which is quite a walk from the visitor center. While again it was very nice, it looks like any other pine forest that I've been to in Michigan. The canopy walk just puts you up at a higher elevation to see things. Not that exciting. The Garden grounds were peaceful and pretty but not very many flowers at all. The conservatory was closed because of covid so we didn't get to see inside. The streams and the different trees were well laid out, but I was really looking forward to gardens which we did not see. We went in the last weekend of June so I would have expected to see a lot more flowers and things in bloom. I guess the good news was it was only $10 each to get in so it didn't break the bank. You have to make an appointment now to get in because of covid. We picked a 5 o'clock appointment and a Friday thinking that we would come back on Saturday to do the forest. When we get there they told us that the gardens closed at 6 so we only had an hour and that they weren't open on Saturday. Since the forest is a really long walk from the visitor we decided to start with that first and hustle through as quickly as we could. We then speedwalked back to the gardens. Disappointed that the website wasn't clearer that they were going to close at 6 and that they weren't open on Saturday. read more

Absolutely beautiful. The Christmas walk was gorgeous and the canopy walk is one of the best I've been to in the country. I continue to wish they'd reopen whiting forest but I understand it's hard to find part time employees. read more

A 2hr drive from home, but worth it! Dow Gardens is lovely place for walking the canopy walk, through the gardens and orchard and seeing various wildlife (mainly chipmunks, frogs, dragonflies and some butterflies) and just relaxing. The gift shop was loaded with goodies, and the trails through the woods are clean, meaning not a whole lot of sticks and things to jump over. Even though we went through them all, it feels like I missed something, really want to visit again soon. Now I have one sight checked off on my Michigan native - tourist list read more

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My family and I came to Dow Gardens and were a little disappointed. We did the canopy walk and thought it would be quite a long walk but it ended up being very short. If we didn't have toddlers the group, we could have done the entire canopy walk in 20 minutes. It was nice to see but make sure that your expectations are for a short walk. I would not recommend this if you are driving from further away. read more

Just when I thought this place cohosh n by become more magical, they partnered with a glass artist for a glass in the gardens exhibition that's positively lovely. Take note: these glass artworks depart on October 15. While this glass installation Isn't quite as divine as a Dale Chihuly exhibit It is still fairly spectacular and most worth seeing. As this garden park is Is pretty expansive and now also includes a secondary park (Whiting Forest, a tree canopy climbing park) that's also participating in the glass art installation, expect to spend 2-4 hours exploring depending on your pace. Much of the park is ADA accessible, but some portions aren't. I'd also highly recommended not wearing heels of any kind as metal grating on some of the canopy walk and bridges would be tretcherous. If you experience vertigo or have a fear of heights, the canopy walk and bridge between the two parks might not be for you. While the floral areas of the gardens hit peak splendor in the summer, there's still oodles of beauty to enjoy in the fall. I was surprised how man my roses were still in bloom in the rise garden area ( I always make a point of smelling each and every variety -- there's such a huge range of aromas). A trip to Midland is never complete without a stop at this local treasure! Splurge on the annual membership (it costs the same as 2 daily passes) so you'll have an excuse to visit every day while you're in town. read more

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Simply Stunning. My first time here and I cannot wait to come back! The tulips were in full bloom and were breathtaking. Do yourself a favor and get to guided golf cart tour. Our driver was very friendly and knowledgeable. It was a perfect way to see the grounds. read more

Dow Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Midland, Michigan

Love living in Midland and being able to while away an afternoon here any time we want. The cost of a yearly membership is beyond reasonable and we love spending time in the gardens and Whiting Forest. read more

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This place is beautiful anytime of the year you go. It's just a gorgeous place to go look at different plants and all species of plants that they have their. It's just beautiful. read more

Very cool place to check out to see some amazing gardens, outdoor water features and great trails. The kids had a blast playing in the Children's garden and playground. Recommend to bring extra clothes or swim suit for them. They have rubber ducks to play in the water. We did the canopy treetop trails. Which was a gorgeous view and a couple treehouses to check out. The rose garden smelled amazing. Can't wait to check out more next time. read more

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DOW Gardens is absolutely wonderful; my only complaint is that I didn't visit enough while living in the area! The installations they bring into the garden are beautiful - I especially loved the origami. There is so much room to walk around, hang out, picnic, etc. You could easily spend hours here taking it all in. In addition, the staff (and visitors) are incredibly friendly. The first time we visited was for a "tea party" - another great aspect of the Gardens is the special events they hold - we had no idea where to go, and when we checked in, a lovely gentleman offered to walk us the entire way, providing insider tips and facts about the Gardens en route. It was such a great day. I recommend purchasing the annual pass, especially if you love the outdoors and ogling at foliage, art, and love history! read more

I love walking around this peaceful garden with art work and flowers. There are hidden paths to explore and benches everywhere if you just want to sit and relax. Sometimes I'll make videos, take photos or just read a book. It really is worth a visit and although I'm a pass holder and visit often - I can't recommend it enough! read more

Beautiful spot for a long walk with lots of variety of foliage throughout. The canopy walks are very unique and impressive too. The highlight for us was the large playground for the kids. It is really unique and blends into the landscape well offering a lot of cool features. The kids were happy to take their shoes off and play in the water as long as we would let them. They have bathroom facilities throughout the property that were well maintained and a cafe near the playground, which was convenient but we did not buy anything. The entrance price is steep, but if you live in the area the season pass seems like a definite must whether you have kids or just enjoy walking/running. read more

This park is a special place in Midland. You can stay all day long and with each step you can discover beautiful things read more

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A friend told me about this place; we checked it out a few weeks ago and I've already visited twice! It's still winter so there weren't any flowers to enjoy in the gardens however, the butterfly exhibit was a lot of fun and you can still enjoy walking around the trails and bridges. The butterfly exhibit is small but you can enjoy watching the butterflies fly around and eat- you can even touch them (just make sure not to touch the food as that will contaminate it)! You can also see the caterpillars in the chrysalis stage and emerge as butterflies. We also checked out the Whiting Forest and the canopy walk was so much fun! There's also trails in the forest that you can walk around, though one of the paths was flooded when we went. There's also a playground for the kids to enjoy with elements from the canopy walk present there also. If you want a snack, there's a cafe in Whiting Forest that serves baked goods and soups. I went twice, once with my friend and the second time with my nieces. Each time we were there for 4 hours. Once spring comes, I can imagine spending more time there enjoying and photographing the flowers. There's plenty of parking and open space to have a picnic. Admission is now $10 for adults ($2 for 6-17years old; free for those less than 6) with an annual pass being $20. I immediately brought the annual pass on my first visit and I can't wait to visit again when everything's bloomed! The only suggestion I have to make is having more signage directing guests (the first time I was there with my friend, we had a difficult time discerning where we were, even with a map). read more

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Glad I made a weekend trip out here to Dow Gardens. They're located in Midland and quite the experience! Dow Gardens is known for their beautiful varieties of gardens and nature scenery, along with the Whiting forest canopy trails. There's plenty of public parking, public restrooms, and even a gift shop. The customer service reps were very helpful and welcoming. Even though it was a rainy and gloomy day, the views were still spectacular. The crispy fall air, sounds of rain pattering on the trees and streams, all complemented the whole walk. It's recommended to wear comfortable shoes, hand warmers, and jackets. Grab a map so you don't get lost wandering in circles! My favorite part were the red bridges that connects each section- such a subtle but striking architectural move, bravo! Prices are extremely fair, for the whole family or even a date activity, just remember to book Whiting forest tours online during weekends, and enjoy a good couple hours with Mother Nature :) read more

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A plethora of acres of beautiful colorful varieties of fount&fauna&foliage&blooming botanical vegetation.

My family and I have enjoyed Dow Gardens many times in spring, summer and fall. We really enjoyed the new elevated walkway.

Very beautiful a wonderful place to just go and walk thur great smells and perfect location They now offer food and cafes at the end of the location A great place to go with the family or take a loved one on a date Great for senior pictures, wedding photos or just family pics Just a great place to be read more

Love. Love. Love. It is so peaceful and beautiful. So many gorgeous things to see. Love that everything is labeled so you can get ideas. The newish canopy walk at Whiting Forest is super cool. My favorite thing is the meandering stream and waterfalls. Definitely a great day trip. read more

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This place. Can't say enough good things about it. It's so gorgeous, there's so many hidden benches and quirky little things. I can't imagine the upkeep that goes into keeping it immaculate, but they do it and they do it well. The tree canopy was fabulous. It just feels magical here. read more

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So beautiful. Tons to see. Spend the day wandering. I wish we lived closer. Very artistic. Sculpture accents the lovely landscapes. Incredible variety of foliage. Peaceful and expansive, but not expensive . read more

I love taking my girls here in the summer. The children's garden is so much fun and keeps them entertained. We now enjoy walking the bridge to Whiting forest and enjoying the Canopy Walk and play park they have too! Great exercise for mom as well! ;-) read more

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Beautiful!! It is $5 or $10 for a pass. It is $1 with a student ID...College included. If you get the pass, you have access to Whitings Forest too. They are open 7 days a week, from 9am-8:30 pm until September 4th....then hours shorten. They have a children's garden, rose garden, waterfall... read more

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In Midland there doesn't seem to be that much to do besides shopping and going out to eat, so walking through Dow Gardens was a welcome activity. As others have mentioned, admission only costs $5 for adults and an annual pass is $10. It's easy to see that this money goes towards maintaining this lovely garden. Don't forget to fill your bottle at the water fountain as well as use the stellar restroom (well, I can't speak for the mens' room but the ladies' was lovely!) in the visitors' center before entering the park. It can be quite a long walk, but most paths are easygoing for scooters and wheelchairs. There are some areas it is not clear where there is a path; some benches are out on the grass so I assume one can walk across the lawn to get there. When you get tired, there are lots of places to sit as well as ample shade all over the gardens. And if you play Pokemon Go, there are so many Pokestops. SO MANY. It doesn't seem like much attention is paid to the boundaries of the gardens, so it would probably be easy to sneak in. Whiting Forest was unfortunately under construction during our visit, but I look forward to seeing it in December when said work is scheduled to be completed. read more

Dow Gardens - alden b. dow home & studio - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Midland, Michigan

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As always a pleasant place to just wander and relax Did a photo shoot with a group of teens before Homecoming, and like many more it was nice I have also hostes a few weddings at the gardens. Also a wonderful venue Took an old Army buddy and his family there when they visited. His wife and kids are now planning a trip for the butterfly house read more

Beautiful and fun for little ones! The playground is awesome and when the weather is nice, this is a great place to spend your day!

This place is beautiful. The many different places are soo much fun to explore. With the new canapy walk it is even better. The children's garden used to be one of my favorite places to play in the summer as a kid. read more

Such a gorgeous place to walk and enjoy some quality time with the people you love. Let me just say, the gift shop chocolate cherries are a must have! So beautiful, a must see. read more

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Whiting Forest. Great for the family. Imaginative, creative - a very special place. Great to get out and explore art and nature at the same time. A gem!! read more

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Great place to have a relaxing stroll through the gardens. Hearing just the natures sound felt very zen. Just make sure you go when the plants are fully bloomed. But overall, the canopy walk was breathtaking! Enjoy your visit read more

Dow Gardens - Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Midland, Michigan

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