Was here for an event and while the coordination of the event on site was a bit rough, the grounds were fantastic. Lots of areas to explore, picnic, and play. Improvements are being made to the grounds but it's lovely as is! Glad we purchased a membership! read more

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It's not worth $15. It's not maintained and very few flowers to see. Looks like they are building a new one and nothing is being done to current garden. It should be free but honestly it's not worth that Save your time for something else Parking is limited too. Avoid read more

Fairy Garden starts 5/3 and ends 5/31...worth the drive and the walk. My 6yr old can't stop talking about it and wants to build her own at home now. We will definitely be coming back again. read more

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A great spot to get engaged!!!!! Obviously biased, but we had a great time at the Idaho botanical garden. The koi pond, the different gardens, everything was beautiful. We downloaded the app, so it was nice to follow along and hear the history behind the old prison grounds and buildings. Plaques and such from donors and people who've passed were very touching. Lewis and Clark and Sacajawea area was the toughest walk. But overall a very peaceful, nice experience. Including a photo of the bridge in the meditation garden where I became a fiancée! read more

Idaho Botanical Garden - Museums Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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I had a wonderful time wandering around with the family. It's a beautiful place with plenty to explore. It's also got a bit of dark atmosphere being on the old prison grounds. read more

Got to experience the Christmas lights at the Idaho botanical garden this weekend. It is such a beautiful place to walk to see Christmas lights. They had hot drink booths as well! read more

Idaho Botanical Garden - Museums Near Me - Boise, Idaho

I went to the Winter Garden A Glow Christmas event with my fiancé this evening for the very first time after hearing about it over the radio and we weren't very impressed. Yes the lights are colorful and pretty and I appreciated the complimentary cookie and hot chocolate and the fire pits, the snow globe bar was also adorable but aside from those things I just mentioned, it's not really worth the admission price they charge. At Christmas events I expect holiday music to follow you everywhere you go.. here they played some jazz music that had nothing to do with Christmas and they didn't even play it in all areas of the garden. Additionally, they only have honey buckets on site, no regular restrooms available. it's overly crowded. The gift shop is tiny and dosen't offer much. The walkways are uneven. This was essentially a good walk to do for an hour but also a mostly boring one that offered very little Christmas spirit. I'd skip this one and would suggest you check out Christmas in Color instead. Their drive thru Christmas light show is much more impressive and inspiring. read more

Visited Winter Garden aGlow. Super disappointing for the cost. It was $80 for 4 adults. Scentsy lights were better and they're free or download the treasure Valley lights tour, which is also free and much better entertainment. The Winter Garden of glow had little to know holiday music, no light shows and the lights they had up were mediocre best. read more

Excellent gardens and staff! Concerts are always on time and high quality. Appreciate that they are so organized and welcoming.

Listen, before anyone comes for me.. I realize that we visited in March and it is still winter conditions in Idaho! With that being said, it was the mere fact that this company was still okay charging us $14/person and claiming "oh it's still very pretty year round, things just haven't fully bloomed yet". Understatement of the year. We were walked over to the entry gate by an employee (that was locked) to be let in and were told, just unlock the gate when you're done. This should have been our first clue. I can't explain how ugly and dead everything was, which again, we understand how nature works... but do not charge for this! The koi fish pond was covered in tarp, all water fountains turned off, most pathways blocked with a "staff only" sign. It was comical at this point. So my best advice to people is not to even add this to your to-do list until late April may be even later, unless you want to walk through what appears to be a cemetery. My advice to the company, do NOT charge for winter walk through's... $28 for me and my friend ?! Insane. We quickly ended this tour, found our way out through the huge locked gate and made our way to the old penitentiary, which was worth every dollar and cheaper ! Botanical Gardens was a HUGE bust. read more

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We had the best time here! It's so beautiful and a great activity for families. My husband sister invited us to the garden. She is a member and was able to get us in for free! We loved all the different areas. Most notable was the koi pond, fairy houses, sand pit, and the picturesque fern tunnel! Free parking too! read more

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My family and I enjoyed our day here. The gardens are well done. The view of the mountains here were so pretty

I love visiting botanical gardens when I go somewhere new, and the Idaho botanical gardens were awesome! I could see how it would be an awesome concert venue as well. The one thing that freaked us out was all the hornets and bees but that's to be expected haha. The plants were beautiful and there was a lot to see. We paid to get into the garden and penitentiary and it was a good deal. Glad we checked it out! read more

Idaho Botanical Garden - Museums Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Very relaxing and beautiful environment. Took a class and it was so much fun! I didn't get to see everything but I enjoyed all that I was able to see. Will be back again soon. read more

We have seen the Botanical Gardens and they are worth a visit. What I thought would be helpful was to share a few tips if plan to attend a concert at Outlaw Field: Tickets: discounted tickets are available if you are a member of the Botanical Gardens. Also, you can purchase seating in a "VIP" area and sit in comfy There is a VIP Adirondacks. The Sun and grass: The VIP section is very private, but be forewarned that the sun is going to beat down on that area until sundown, so if it goes you are in the midst of a Boise heat dome, it can be uncomfortable. Better choice might be to just find the 3-4 shady places, set up your chairs, and enjoy the music from there--- you can move forward later if needed. The field is grassy, very comfortable, bring a blanket too. Security: the security folks, friendly as they are, are militantly thorough in checking every single item coming in. A fan who drove in from Missoula complained about them taking his stash (he wasn't arrested though). Chairs: They even measure the actual height of your chair which is limited to 30". We saw several people unhappy with that predicament. It can be a long walk back to the car. Water and other containers: containers are allowed, but must be empty. They don't care what's in it. They literally open the bottle and pour out the contents. Reason? To preserve alcohol sales for the inside vendors. Tip: put ice in the container only-- helpful later and they will allow that in. Beer: purchase one token ($10) for two cans of beer-- a bargain and they have a good selection. Tip: as SOON as you enter, get your wristband and head for one of the beer lines. Send one of your friends. They can buy 4 cans. Travel to & from: As far as getting there is concerned, if you can ride your bike, even better. Stay for the encore if you want, but exiting can take a while. Hope this helps someone! It really is a great venue. read more

This is a beautiful and unique botanical garden, with great native plant areas. The gardens and pathways include both traditional more formal areas along with lots of meandering pathways through wild areas. There's a great section on fire-wise plantings. And the area paying tribute to Lewis & Clark, along with Sacajawea & Native Americans was especially interesting. We took about an hour to enjoy the garden, but could have used another hour to do it justice. read more

We went to see the Christmas lights at the Botanical Garden's and they were nothing short of amazing! You have to pay $15 a piece to enter the "exhibit", which I thought was so worth it. They have beautiful lights everywhere as well as interactive experiences along the way. They have free hot chocolate and cookies as well as items to purchase (food trucks, kettle corn, coffee, etc). I will definitely make this an annual trip! read more

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Idaho's Botanical Garden is a serene oasis of beauty. The flowers are stunning and expertly arranged, creating a peaceful and visually captivating experience. A must-visit for nature lovers and those seeking a tranquil escape. read more

Have a map that works on the app. And the paper map was useless as well. The garden was ok but it had lots of head plants. Nothing exciting to see. Not worth the money. read more

Don't go in early Spring There is hardly anything blooming in early May. Not really worth your time. I hear it's nice later in Summer.

Went here for the Winter Garden Aglow on Dec 28. It was fantastic. We are new to Boise, but found the lights and walk to be amazing even in the cold - just bundle up. They had hot cider or hot chocolate and cookies (please donate!). They also had a few stands set up if you wanted a beer or food. But the treat was the lights! Since this is a night event, and we had never been here before, it is hard to comment on the Garden itself, but we did note a few of the areas that were lit up by lights and noted that we HAD to come back in nicer weather and with items abloom. Definitely will be back for a totally different experience. read more

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One of my favorite venues for an outdoor concert in Idaho! I've been so many shows there and will continue to go to shows!

I was looking for something to do one Sunday morning and was hoping to shoot some nice images. The Botanical Garden was recommended by several people. There happened to also be a wedding as the same time I was visiting. The guy at the ticket booth was very nice and gave me some of suggestions for my visit. I avoided the wedding area and walked the well laid out paths. I found some beautiful flowers and trees. One of my favorite things was the petrified tree and the flowers near by. If you are looking for a few hours of peace and quiet and would like a leisure walk you can't go wrong. read more

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What an amazing treat to tour the Winter Garden a Glow! We attended this fabulous light display at the Idaho Botanical Gardens on December 27th. Walking the paths, trying to hit each one open, we spent two and a half hours enjoying the displays. It was fun to meander to the top, take in the breath catching display of lights in the gardens and of Boise as well. We waited until after Christmas so the crowds would be less and went early for the same reason, arriving at 6:00pm. We had some of the paths to ourselves as we sauntered which made the evening more enjoyable. Through all the paths my mind I kept saying..."I want to come back when Spring hits," even buy a season membership because watching the plants as they bloom at different times will be something spectacular! I did take a few minutes to warm up in the gift shop and peruse the items for sale. I will be back for sure as I found several items I'd like to own. Of course I visited when the Century Link outage happened, so I thought I'd wait to buy. As an avid gardener I was able to imagine the different garden settings and put pictures in my mind of what they would look like when Spring and Summer show these plants in full glory. As one of the winners of the Yelp ticket give-away...I am honored to be able to see this event, enjoy myself through the cold winter night, and take home some beautiful memories. My one regret...I need a new phone. My camera didn't do any of the amazing scenes justice. If you glance at the photos you will probably agree. Just know that the garden lights were so much better than I was able to portray through my photography. read more

I absolutely love botanical gardens and this little gem in Boise is a great spot to visit. It's near some other choice spots in east Boise, including the Old Penitentiary, the trail head to Table Rock and Eagle Rock park. Several parts of the garden are unique to the arid desert climate in the Boise area, with some great trails and interactive displays. Cool art & statues can also be found throughout the garden. There's a lot for young families to enjoy on the grounds. It's a smaller grounds so you can easily make it around in an hour or so. Don't skip the koi pond! Above and beyond there are seasonal events, music, educational events, and special events always happening here. Don't miss Winter Garden Aglow! My only wish would be for a paved parking lot as visiting the garden in snow or rain can get a little messy. read more

Idaho Botanical Garden - Museums Near Me - Boise, Idaho

I love this place. We get the membership and come visit when the kids are not at school during the summer. Their highlights are the fairy houses, koi pond and the rose garden. We bring picnic and play and enjoy the garden. Membership offers 2 free additions to your choice of event like garden aglow in December that is beautiful albeit COLD. But they have vendors to warm you us with hot cocoa and snacks. They also have monthly pop ups and many activities. Beautiful location. read more

First time visitor to the gardens. We haven't yet been during regular daytime hours. The event we attended was a nighttime holiday extravaganza called Winder Garden Aglow. We paid extra for the nighttime tickets to see the lights. They open at 6 and go until 9. I highly recommend buying your tickets online for a small discount and getting there right at 6 or a bit before to enjoy the gardens before the crowds arrive. It was a bit too crowded by 7:30 and lines got long for the free apple cider, hot cocoa, and cookies after that time. Earlier, we were able to quickly get through the free refreshment line as well as the wait to see Santa was short. In addition to the free refreshments, they also have a few vendors for purchasing coffee, sweetened nuts, etc... There is a gift store with pricey gift items on site. The garden is tiered and if you follow the paths, you will end up above the gardens to see a nice view of downtown and the gardens below. Some of the lights were really pretty but some were just ok, overall it was a nice walk around. My favorite was the blue and white tree, the lighted tunnel, small train, and light tent. They do have fire cans for warmth but that doesn't help much when you aren't standing right by one. Bundle up! read more

Really great place to take kids or just go for a nice stroll. Our family has a pass and it's a great deal! read more

Idaho Botanical Garden - weird flower! - Museums Near Me - Boise, Idaho

One of Boise gems near downtown. Pretty accessible and definitely a place to visit if you want to find a quiet place to heal and breathe. Please be mindful many parents bring their children here to educate them or for some quality time with family. That said try to plan your visit if you truly need a quiet time. To bad gardens are not treated as a church. Parents should be considered of people that are trying to find a quiet place or meditate. read more

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There was plenty of picturesque spots throughout the garden. They have a small information spot that serve as a snack store, over priced. I asked for a map of the place . They have a kids spot, I saw some musical instruments that the kids can interact and play with and a kid section that looks like a nice jungle gym . The parking is a dirt parking lot . read more

Great venue except the people wait too long for the beer line if you show up with tokens ready to pay. The scam is you skip the line and buy tokens and they bypass everyone who came prepared. My biggest complaint is can someone from this place explain why we couldn't show up with chairs over 27 inches, but you allow adults to stand? I am fairly close to the front and I have been listening to Whiskey Myers for over 30 minutes and couldn't even tell you what they look like. read more

Idaho Botanical Garden - Museums Near Me - Boise, Idaho

The Idaho Botanical Garden offers a 15 acre lush, blooming paradise just a few short minutes from downtown Boise. A few of my favorite things about the garden: + I love the area that shows the different sorts of lawn, how it grows, and what it looks like in Idaho's climate. A surprisingly handy thing when you're purchasing lawn seed. +I love that they display indigenous plants that flourish here without watering (aside from natural rain/snow) +Outlaw Field! Great concerts in a beautiful setting! +The fact that you can bring in a picnic! We did this last Mother's Day and it was a lovely treat. There are tables here and there at picturesque spots throughout the gardens, so we were able to dine amidst colorful abundance +October Fall Harvest Festival, The Scarecrow Stroll, and Winter Garden Aglow! A relaxing, gorgeous, and reasonably priced (general admission is $7) way to spend an afternoon. Get to it! read more

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I was a little underwhelmed by the Idaho Botanical Garden, but I appreciate the effort of showing off the beauty of nature in the area. The garden is directly next door to the Old Penitentiary east of downtown Boise. Parking is free and abundant. The gardens have clearly evolved over the years with the older exhibits lacking the detail and labeling of the newer ones. The classic English and meditation gardens are lush and attractive, but lack much description. The newer sections have much more information and structure. The garden is a bit awkward to navigate especially with morning field trips and classes. It can get hot here during the summer so be prepared. This would be a nice combination trip with the penitentiary in cool weather. With so much natural beauty in and around Boise, there is just too much competition outside the garden! read more

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Awesome place, well kept and lots of secret places to see! The rock formations are beautiful

Really nice Botanical Garden. My wife was a fan and enjoyed a variety of plant life, much never seen or not in a long time. The path gets a little confusing but there are areas to sit and/or hide in shade. I really liked the Lewis and Clark history info and Walking the Labyrinth, but hey, that's just me. If you like Botanical gardens you'll like this one. read more

My fav time to go to the gardens is on the winter... their Winter Aglow event is lovely, & very well staffed. No gluten free items, & accessibility is challenging due to the hilly, winding paths- on uneven gravel/asphalt mixed paths... but doable with assistance. I had the delight of attending a sneak peak via a private party. I was impressed that cocoa, cider & a bar was available throughout the night. read more

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Checked out the Winter Garden aGlow event. Although online tickets state you can enter over a window of time, they do close the front gates at 8:30 so don't arrive too late. We pretty much had the lights to ourselves. All vendor booths and Santa were already closed, but we came for the lights so it was fine for us. The garden was literally aGlow with various light displays, tunnels of lights, and many feature items lit up. Was very nice to wander through and enjoy all that was put together. Bundle up though..... it's a bit chilly out there. read more

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The gardens, located next to the Old Idaho State Penitentiary, are an Idaho gem. The garden was established in 1984 and operates without government funding. There are several themed gardens, including an Idaho native garden, a rose garden, English garden and even one featuring plants matching those collected by the Lewis and Clark expedition between Great Falls, Montana, and The Dalles, Ore. Other highlights include a garden comprised of plants that don't require a lot of water and a firewise garden of plants meant to increase the safety around homes in areas prone to wildfires. Around the holidays, the Winter Garden aGlow attracts thousands of visitors nightly for a lighted display. Buy a household membership for $30 during August and save 50 percent on the regular price. Get $1 off each admission with a AAA card. read more

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When you are looking for a wonderful place to have a concert in the summer look no further! You can bring your own food in and enjoy the sunset over the hills why you listen to great music. There's also local bands on Thursday night with dancing in the garden with wine for sale. It is an amazing place to spend some of your summer. read more

Idaho Botanical Garden - Museums Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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Stopped by the Botanical Gardens for a quick self guided tour this weekend, and even though it's still early in the season (some flowers haven't bloomed yet) it was such a beautiful and interesting adventure! I'm going to apologize in advance, I didn't take any pictures for you all. But that just means there aren't any spoilers for you to see here and you get to experience it first hand! The Botanical Gardens are directly behind the Old Idaho State Penitentiary which provides the garden with an interesting history which you can read about on several placards around the property. The Gardens are a great way to get the family outdoors, with plenty of routes and trails for walking, and endless beauty. My favorite parts of the property were the Meditation Graden, the Fairy Garden, the Old Penitentiary Cemetery, and the Koi Fish pond! At $9 for an adult ticket, you simply cannot pass this up. *Date night tip: the Meditation Garden is a gorgeous place to have a picnic for you and your significant other :) read more