How have I never reviewed this fine establishment located just outside of Pittsburgh? It's actually in Oakdale, PA about 15 miles from downtown Pittsburgh and worth the drive. I have attended a couple of events here (wedding, birthday) as well as regular visits. With over 65 acres, it was first established in 1988 and has certainly grown in leaps and bounds. It's a wonderfully peaceful and lovely garden that boasts walking paths, light shows (spectacular winter holiday displays), various exhibits, and more. So many plants and flowers to look at and smell. Everything you would expect a botanic garden to be. The last time I went home to Pittsburgh for a visit we took our dog with us and that was amazing. He loved it and I love that he was permitted to visit without issue at all. Everyone who works there is there for a reason, the love of nature and ensuring longevity. read more

A delightful place to walk and enjoy the plants and birds. More than 119 species of birds have been identified on the grounds. They have had several special exhibits in recent years. Their membership plan is worth looking into. read more

One of our local favorites! From the gardens to the cafe and the special events throughout the year. Staff is always friendly at the door when you walk in and at the cafe. I sometimes go to the cafe to work - although not really set up for this (make sure your computer is charged). I love browsing the gift shop. There is always something there to gift or that I want (but don't need) for myself. I usually end up leaving with a new book for my daughter. Great spot for some holiday shopping for your nature loving friends and family or a gift exchange. Good in the cafe is usually fresh and tastes great. I've enjoyed their salads, kids menu options and baked goods. The gardens are a wonderful place to plan a picnic or just walk around and take in all the hard work that goes into maintaining the grounds. They have a few areas geared towards kids and a lovely pond to sit and relax by. We especially love to admire the local art exhibits that routinely change. read more

We recently attended a wedding of about 260 people and it was a great time! There was a small area for the ceremony which was grassy (I was nervous because it rained a lot the days leading up to the wedding but it wasn't too bad to navigate with heels). Then right behind the ceremony area was the seating area to eat our buffet dinner and inside the "barn" was the bar and dance floor. The whole venue was nice and compact and didn't feel disjointed and you could still hear the music from the dj outside while getting some air off the dance floor. I'm not sure if the food was provided through the Bontanic Garden but it was delicious! The buffet had steak and chicken options along with a variety of vegetables and salad sides. The bar tenders and waitstaff were all very nice too. This was a great place to be a wedding guest! read more

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DAZZLING LIGHTS, DAZZLING NIGHT -- 5 STARS! If you're looking to add a little sparkle to your Thanksgiving weekend, let me tell you... the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden in Oakdale understood the assignment and then absolutely decked the halls with it. On our last day visiting family in West Virginia, we bundled up, braved the cold, and made our way to the very first night of Dazzling Lights, the garden's festive holiday walking trail. Short drive, easy parking, perfect vibes. We grabbed the Adult Combo Package, which honestly felt like the Black Friday deal of the century: two adult drinks, a snack, AND free parking. That alone had me feeling jolly. Right from the start you're greeted by a GIANT glowing Christmas tree--like "the tree that would make the Rockefeller Center tree slightly jealous." After snapping approximately 18 photos (minimum), we headed to the big heated tent to pick up our adult drinks and snacks. Pro tip from your friendly neighborhood Yelp Elite alum: get the hot chocolate spiked with Baileys or vanilla vodka. It'll warm your hands, your soul, and possibly your entire lineage. They've got a signature cocktail too if you're feeling festive-fancy. Snacks are simple but fun--cookies or popcorn--and the popcorn comes in a bucket, which is always a win. The trail itself is about a mile long, and yes, it is gorgeous. Whimsical lights, glowing installations, and just enough twinkly magic to make even the Grinchiest heart grow three sizes. But hear me loud and clear, stroller parents: this is not a smooth stroll. Some parts are straight-up stroller off-roading, especially in the dark. Definitely doable, just... bring your adventurous spirit and maybe a little patience. There's a small second drink stand toward the end of the trail, so if you're strategic (like me), you can save your final drink ticket and enjoy it while taking in the last stretch of lights. After the trail wraps up, the experience ends with a cute little gift shop and plenty of warm indoor seating to thaw out before heading home. All in all? Such a wonderful, memorable holiday kickoff with family. The lights were beautiful, the drinks were cozy, the atmosphere was festive, and the whole vibe gave us that perfect "Thanksgiving-meets-Christmas" energy. Big thank you to Pittsburgh Botanic Garden for lighting up our night and our holiday season! read more

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I had never been here before and was super excited to check out Momentum by renowned artist Patrick Shearn of Poetic Kinetics! There's a couple of pieces that are part of this exhibition. The first is the Stream located in the Welcome Center! After looking around we then made our way to Elevated Reflection located above the Lotus Pond. I loved the vibrant colors and how the installation looked when the wind was blowing. It was so cool that we walked around the whole pond to see it from different perspectives. We then decided to make our way over to the Garden of the Five Senses to see Vivid Echo, with some pit stops along the way. This installation was a bit more interactive because you can physically go through it and see it from some unique angles. Overall, I really enjoyed Momentum and my first, and definitely not last, visit to the Botanic Garden. Momentum is open all summer long and is included with daily admission! read more

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Well getting there was over hill, over dale. Lot of windy roads. We saw a huge yellow sign with an arrow pointing right. Based on the curve, the homeowners must have had people miss the turn ending up in their lawn. Although parking is free, it is very limited. Leashed pet friendly. Concrete, gravel, & woodchip paths wind through the property. I saw lots of strollers navigating easily but saw a family struggling with a wheelchair. An outdoor wedding was planned at a gazebo later today. The sail cloth exhibits were beautiful. Benches at both sites allowed us to sit and enjoy the art. We didn't partake of the Cafe but the selections looked inviting. I would like to try the asparagus salad. read more

Pittsburgh Botanic Garden - Everywhere you looked was lush green plants - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Oakdale, Pennsylvania

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This is definitely a hidden gem in Pittsburgh. What a beautiful space! It includes over 30 miles of walking trails and includes lots of things to explore including art, plants, flowers, wildlife and even an apiary. I highly recommend checking it out if you are looking for something to do outside on a nice day! read more

Pittsburgh Botanic Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Oakdale, Pennsylvania

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The botanic gardens has such a lovely event space. We went for a wedding. The outdoor space was open surrounded by trees and a nature trail. The indoor space felt rustic and contemporary. read more

When I visited, I saw a staff member treating a volunteer most unkindly. What kind of people work there?! If that is how they treat their own, imagine how they treat the guests. Also, as a bicycleist, I have learned that the executive director won't allow us to use the nearby trials and is adversarial to our community. There are plenty of other places to support in town. I won't be going back to PBG and giving them my support. read more

First time visitor. Went to see the Patrick Shearn exhibit and it was absolutely beautiful. While I was there, I took a walk around the 3 miles of trails and it was so peaceful and relaxing. The Welxome Center has a cute little cafe in it and the front desk personnel were very helpful answering my questions about the grounds. read more

Pittsburgh Botanic Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Oakdale, Pennsylvania

Found a peaceful spot here for a dining experience in nature! This is very casual, you have to order from the counter. There are some interesting drinking options and I picked a lavender kombucha with the summer salad. Sadly, the summer salad didn't taste very yummy and the watermelon had too many seeds. The fruit was bland. But I would come back to try something else. It's so relaxing to dine with a forest view. Let me add a comment that I saw a flyer showing some special dinners throughout the autumn. read more

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Wide and well marked trails. Beautiful surroundings. It was worth the price and we spent hours walking around! read more

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I was having a hard day when I visited Pittsburgh Botanic Garden which was dressed up for a holiday exhibition, the Dazzling Holidays ( Dates: November 24, 2023 - January 1, 2024) & that all eased with this magical experience set in nature. This experience taught me that taking time to enjoy the holiday lights can truly be nourishing. The bright lights & colors create Chromotherapy (color therapy) which triggers happy hormones & boosts energy levels. Then there's the nostalgia of it all. The memories, magic & joy this time of year brings can literally lift spirits. Festive warm drinks were available from PGH mobile bars I recommend the gingerbread hot chocolate! read more

This was our 2nd visit to see the Dazzlings lights when it was first started. We enjoyed the walk through th lights and displays despite being a cold night. We enjoyed the hot chocolate too. The "dancing lights" display/show on the lake was beautiful. However, we felt the directions and lighting in some parts confusing. This year we went better prepared (with flashlights) and with our family hoping to see the changes and improvements. The staff posted at verious key locations was great idea. However, some aspects of the show was disappointing. To start with, the light show at the lake was a let down. It was very poor quality compared to the first time. The attraction "Holiday Hop" was not open, probably not working); it was cordoned off. We hope this feedback is taken the right spirit and look forward to see our own Pittsburgh Botanical Gardens become a national attraction. read more

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This place is so beautiful. I took my boys here and it's a great place to explore. There's a few interactive features and great scenery.

The 460-acre Pittsburgh Botanic Garden was founded in 1988, but many decades of time and millions of dollars were needed to clean up the site, which sits on a former coal mine. In recent years, more plants have been planted, and more buildings have been constructed. The garden now has a welcome center and gift shop, an event center, an administration building, a picnic area, a homestead with a chicken coop and an apple orchard, a log house, a pavilion, a gazebo, an apiary (for beehives), a pond, a bird's nest, and, of course, many gardens, meadows, and woodlands. Paths are mostly concrete, gravel, mulch, or grass, and they are easy to follow during the day but might need a flashlight for certain sections during the night. So far, I have visited this garden three times: during the day in both warm and cold seasons and then most recently during the night during the Dazzling Nights holiday event. Each time, I walked through most of the gardens in under one hour. The focus of the Dazzling Nights event was not plants but rather Christmas lights, which you can see in my attached photos. My favorite lights were the "Peaceful Passage" light tunnel and the "Firefly Field" with rotating lights on the ground. This event also had souvenirs and a few food vendors. I recommend checking their website for their current hours and prices. For regular admission, I paid $12 per adult. For the Dazzling Nights event, I paid $25 per adult plus $12 for parking (which is limited, so most people used a shuttle bus from CCAC), $5 for taxes, and $6 for other charges. read more

Pittsburgh Botanic Garden - Map of the holiday lights - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Oakdale, Pennsylvania

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It was a beautiful evening to be out and exploring the dazzling lights show at the botanical garden. It was a slight adventure getting there as we got lost a couple of times and then learned when we arrived of the shuttle bus from CCAC. The display was well worth the trip to Oakdale. read more

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It was my first time visit and the people were so friendly and helpful and it was a gorgeous autumn day. Enjoy the art installation entitled momentum. read more

Beautiful place! The grounds are taken care of very well. There is also a lot of art around the pathway which was so cool. The best part - it is dog friendly! We took the dogs and walked the trails it took us about 2.5 hours to see everything (about 3 miles). The only thing that kind of stinks is the admission price is $15. I would go more if it was cheaper but I understand it is to cover the cost of maintenance. I recommend going between May and September! read more

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What a beautiful place! I've lived in Pittsburgh for quite a while now and am surprised it took me so long to visit PBG. However, it's not in a place you'd pass by accident so I feel as if it's sometimes forgotten about in comparison to places like Phipps. I visited on a warm Sunday afternoon and it wasn't too busy. Staff was friendly and the gift shop was super cute! The gardens were well maintained and lovely - I'd definitely like to visit in the spring/fall though when more things are potentially in bloom. Seems like a great event space as well. read more

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The "garden" was a huge disappointment for the price - $60 for a family of 4! there are very few flowers here, while flowers are thriving everywhere --- including my neighborhood in Pittsburgh. The momentum display is interesting, but the only item that you would not find in most parks. The paths are narrow gravel or wood chips and people were struggling with strollers - listed as ADA????? where????? minimal benches if you want to sit and rest. Also the cafe would have added another $50 or more for snack/beverages for 4. You can have a better experience, especially of woodlands and flowers, at Frick or Schenley Parks. Easy paved paths and sensory installations available at the frick environmental center area, and free art installations. Miles of paths to fit your plans. Bring a snack/lunch and enjoy the benches/picnic tables/shelters all for FREE!!!!! read more

We traveled to Pittsburgh for a weekend getaway to check out Phipps and thought we'd stop by since we were in the area. Wow we're so glad we did!! The well maintained garden was a delight. It's well thought out, which was more and more evident the longer we stayed. Our favorite area was the Japanese garden. We even decided to lengthen our stay by taking a break and having a light lunch at the cafe, and that was an unexpectedly incredible meal. We will definitely return! read more

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We decided to check out the Pittsburg Botanic Garden. It is a participating garden in a Reciprocal Admissions Program. Finding this location was a little jaunt and GPS journey. It is a little outside downtown Pittsburgh and guessing about a 20 minute drive in Oakdale. We were so happy we came here. We almost turned around due to the rain but so glad we kept going. We checked in and the main facility is beautiful. There is a nice cafe and cute little gift shop. The views were amazing with the back floor to ceiling windows looking into the woodlands. As it was slightly raining during our visit but we were loaned umbrellas to use as we explored the gardens. The staff and employees were wonderful, friendly, and you could tell they were proud of the grounds like loved their jobs. The Gardens and grounds are beautiful. A very calm and relaxing presence to the gardens and area. Evidently the history was something similar to the area being devastated to strip mining and water contamination and the garden was a part of a restoration effort. I will definitely go back for a visit my next time in town. It was such a great little side stop to our trip and hope more folks get a chance to check out this beautiful area. read more

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The Garden is a happy place to learn and play with my grandchild. We visit regularly each year. read more

Pittsburgh Botanic Garden - A child running through the meadow. - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Oakdale, Pennsylvania

I don't normally do reviews on Yelp for anything except food anymore but my experience with this company needs to be known. I have attached screenshots of my review on Google as well as the emails I received. I will take full accountability for us not showing up on time for our slot to see the Dazzling Lights set up. My gripe is with the lack of human kindness, customer service, and the straight up miss leading response from the owner. Please PLEASE take my review with a grain of salt and understand that the original problem falls onto our shoulders. I'm just putting this out there because I don't like the way we've been treated from the time we tried to figure out parking all the way up until today when I was given an email "to make it right" read more

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My wife saw this in a news paper add, we do not know how long they have been doing it but it was worth the time. It is a walk not a drive thru. It is incredibly beautiful there are a few benches along the way but not enough for the elderly that might need a break at the top of the hills . There are stands to buy hot chocolate and hot cider. You do however have to reserve a time, they do not sell tickets at the door for this event. The only problem that we came across was that they need more benches closer to the top and on the downside. All in all it was awesome. Please look this up next Christmas. You won't be sorry that you did. read more

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A super nice, relaxing spot to visit for part of the day. The gardens are mainly trails, so good places to walk/hike more so than look at lots of plants to understand their species, etc. I particularly liked the wildflower meadow and the wooded areas. I did not get hit by any walnuts (see picture). The cafe here was also very good and a super reasonable place to have a relaxing, light lunch overlooking the beautiful canopy of trees. read more

Pittsburgh Botanic Garden - Meadow - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Oakdale, Pennsylvania

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We were really excited to experience the dazzling lights on Christmas Eve. Sadly, we were underwhelmed with the display for the cost. On top of the ticket fee, there's a $5 online booking fee for each ticket. I would pay $15 tops for this level of display. The lasers were the coolest part to us. I would think there would be a cool display of a holiday scene and some displays in the shape of flowers. read more

Beautiful little hidden garden outside of the city! I wasn't sure what to expect when we arrived, but I was delighted to wander through their trails lined with lovely flowers and shady woodlands. For social distancing activities, this is a great place to come explore. In addition to the picturesque scenery, there's a decent sized event space that looks like it would be perfect for an engagement party or private gathering. The paths are easily walkable and entertaining enough that it's excellent for kids as well as adults, and I'm sure is even better when interactive exhibits and playgrounds feel safe to touch again. Some highlights include the lotus pond, apiary, chickens, and storybook house to play in. The site is also working on an expansion, which I'm sure will add even more to the experience. We spent roughly 2-2.5 hours there. Definitely worth checking out while the weathers still nice! read more

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This is absolutely one of my favorite spots in the area, and is worth visiting at least once - although I have no idea how you could be satisfied with that single visit, seeing as this place is still evolving and constantly changing. The botanic garden as a whole has been cultivated on land that was once logged and mined as part of the city's industrial past. Like so many parts of Pittsburgh, today you would never know about its gritty past at a glance, nor would you imagine that the area was once polluted with acid mine drainage. Now there are tall trees and lush meadows that pop with the color of seasonal blooms (and presumably fall foliage, which I need to come back to see!), and it's absolutely beautiful. Visitors can walk along trails that take you through wooded areas, around a pond and Japanese garden, and through a meadow filled with greenery that's grown to a taller height than myself (to name a few highlights). I like to come here as an alternative to just walking in the park, as things never look the same during your visits. Sure, that's partly because of the seasons and weather and whatnot, but it's also because the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is always working on building, well, gardens. They recently put in a Japanese garden that I hope one day reaches its full potential, but for now is a peaceful addition to their lilly-padded pond. The trails here are relatively easy to walk along (well, for me at least), and are well worth exploring as there are log cabins and child-friendly areas to be seen and found in the woods. Beehives and chicken coops add a little extra excitement to enjoy as well, and are a key part of the preservation and expansion of the botanic garden overall. In addition to being a lovely place for a walk in the woods or through a meadow or two, this nonprofit often hosts special events on-site for guests to enjoy (as well as private parties for those who want to reserve their special events area), so it's worth checking out their calendar before you visit. The only thing I want to warn about is to give yourself time to get here. Map apps tend to get confused about the best route to take due to the surrounding area's road structures, but you'll make it eventually! And your eyes (and ears) won't be disappointed by this little slice of nature. Be sure to give this place a chance, and remember that it's still growing - and that its staff and volunteers are working hard to help this once polluted area of land thrive during its new life as the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. read more

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This is not a rose garden instead think meandering outdoors through woodlands, meadows, a homestead (complete with chickens), pollinator plant lined walk ways. A bonus for kids is an interactive five senses activity section. Our (9 senior adults plus me) group visit included a guided tour of 3 sections with a variety of paved, pebbled, dirt, grass pathways with inclines. They have more, even some in the near future plans for opening more sections of the land. With basically gifted land, one cannot be choosey of its location. Thankfully, it's not too far from I-376 but using GPS is needed as the last mile is driving through a residential area before after the last curve the entrance pops up fast. This was my first visit after they opened their new Visitors Center. The old building that was the original visitors center has been transformed into a lovely barn-decor special events center that can be opened up to include a tent covered outdoor patio space. The new Visitors Center is modern and gorgeous as its glass walls made we feel like I was inside a glass treehouse. During my September 2021 visit, the interior walls were covered with canvases of beautiful watercolors by artist Gary Bukovnik. We also enjoyed lunch in their Canopy Cafe and shopping in their gift shop. All the staff we encountered were friendly and welcoming. They offer lots of programming worth the trek for checking out this off the beaten path hidden gem experience. read more

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The Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is truly something special. Upon entering the newly built welcome center, we were greeted by a friendly staff member and given an overview of the gardens. We had a lovely time trekking through the various gardens and woodlands. My favorite was the interactive sensory garden. The grounds are large enough to make you feel "away" from the city, but small enough to be manageable. I've visited a fair amount of arboretums and gardens, and this one was by far the most calm and serene. We visited for free because we are members of our Cleveland Botanical Garden, but it is definitely worth the admission price. read more

Pittsburgh Botanic Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Oakdale, Pennsylvania

I think it was stupid I could've just drove around the neighborhood then spend money here I took some pictures and my husband just sat on his phone I think it was also overpriced read more

Beautiful gardens just outside of Pittsburgh. Easy to get to for the most part, with some narrow roads (not really narrow by east coast standards). Parking is available on both sides of the street, but one side says reserved or something. read more

Pittsburgh Botanic Garden - Congrats Liz and Nolan! - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Oakdale, Pennsylvania

Had a great visit on a Sunday at 2pm during Covid-19. There was timed ticketing and masked staff and glass at check in in the visitor center. I was disappointed to see some patrons not wearing their mask despite the sign, and not and tried to avoid them. I believe the one staff member did not see them. We spent about an hour and had a great walk. It was not very crowded but occasionally you would have to pass someone on the path that wasn't wearing a mask (it is all outside) this was mostly just frustrating that people saw you coming toward them and couldn't put their mask on for a few moments. Otherwise it was easy to distance in most spots. I would recommend wearing close toed shoes as it was a tad more uneven and rugged than I realized. But a beautiful day. The event space looks like it would perfect for a wedding or other event. Will return! read more

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Beautiful place but not a whole lot to see. We walked around the grounds, and part of them are under construction so we couldn't see everything. It is a great place to come and walk, but just not so much to see. read more

I am OBSESSED with the Pittsburgh botanic garden. We spend so much time here. I have two kids (under two) and this is so much fun for us. We walk around the garden, play, and have lunch in the cafe! And - they even have a comfort room so I don't have to stress about where to nurse my baby. Honestly - one of the best places to go, can't say enough good stuff! read more

Keep in mind that this botanical garden is still under construction when going, which means be prepared for some closed trails and some construction going on. It didn't bother us at all because the place is huge and once they're done with construction it is supposed to be the largest in the ! The preschooler loved it! We visited the lotus pond, which was so peaceful. It was fun to cross the pond on rocks and peek down into the water below. The storybook forest was next with a tiny house built by the council of carpenters. There were giant tree huts and also fairy houses. It was magical! Also along the trails there was a dragon, a stone castle, statues everywhere and plenty of plaques identifying wildlife. We will be back to this serene and magical garden! read more

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My wife and I have visited many botanical gardens in the tri-state area. Pittsburgh is the most beautiful. It was disappointing, however, at every turn asked to go green, then have a lawnmower, drive-by that is billowing smoke. It seemed rather hypocritical. They are building a new parking lot and in doing so using massive amounts of carbon with the heavy equipment to move the dirt. if I am expected to go green, so should they. read more