I have to say I was skeptical about going here but was well worth it! Its a bit of a drive but it did not disappoint. There are so many rhododendrons and there is a Sequoia tree! Plenty of places to snap some pics and wander the grounds. Lunch on the chairs of the fragrance garden is a good choice! read more

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Tyler Arboretum is a beautiful wedding venue and one that I'd recommend a million times over. The food is so so good and I really feel like they provide a reasonable and fair value in terms of price- you really get a lot for your money! You won't working with Tyler Arboretum and JAM catering! read more

What a cute little arboretum! They have a lot of fun little Easter eggs along the trail to keep both adults and kids happy on their visit. Make sure to hit up the fragrant garden, it really does smell lovely! The entrance fee is a little steep but this is a great way to spend an afternoon on a pleasant day. read more

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This a great place to go for everyone. Kid-friendly. There are a lot of interactive things you can do. The staff is nice and they treat all of the plants well. read more

I cannot say enough about the beautiful venue spaces and the staff at Tyler Arboretum. We hosted a 21st birthday, tea party for our daughter in the barn. The space is beautiful. However, the customer service is even better. Brian made the experience and saved the party with his generous and accommodating spirit. Ruby assisted us the day of the party and was very kind and helpful. I cannot recommend Tyler Arboretum enough. If you're looking for a place to host a special event, Tyler Arboretum is where you want to go. The prices are reasonable, the venue spaces gorgeous, and the customer service is top notch. read more

If you like nature you'll like the Tyler Arboretum because it is packed with trees flowers and wooded areas. The grounds are neatly manicured and easily accessible, it could be a little better for those with special needs but it can be negotiated. I called in advance to make sure they were open to the public. The person answering was polite and helpful, the same for the ticket person who could be one in the same? I meet up with a lot of walkers, this helped to encourage me to move it! Throughout the arboretum signs are posted to help ensure you don't get lost and help direct your viewing choices. There are several patches of flowers that are simply stunning but the various trees are mind boggling. So much to see and enjoy. Throughout there are benches, birdhouses and treehouses. There's a place to rest on each path. This would be a great place to spend hours watching, searching and maybe even reading a book. read more

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More of a woodsy arboretum and not a lot of different flower beds. The treehouses are fun for the kids. Some nice trails.

From their website: "In March of 1681, just 17 days after King Charles II gave William Penn his colony, Quaker Thomas Minshall purchased 625 acres from Penn. One-hundred fifty years later, Minshall's sixth-generation descendants, Minshall and Jacob Painter, began systematically planting trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants on their ancestral farm, thus sowing the seeds for what was to become Tyler Arboretum. After the property was bequeathed to the public in 1944 by Laura Tyler, extensive horticultural exhibits were developed from the mid-1940s through the 1960s by the Arboretum's first director, Dr. John C. Wister." With that out of the way, let me cut right to the point and say that honestly I didn't think all that much of Tyler. Part of that was due to the time of year we visited (i.e. August when it was close to 100 degrees out) and part of it is simply that when you compare this place to Morris (which we visited last year) it's not even close as to where your discretionary dollars should be going. We got to Tyler on a super slow summer weekday where we more or less had the place to ourselves. Maybe we saw four or five other patrons during our entire four hour visit. The only things we saw less of during our visit were staff and things that were actually alive (hyperbole here). After we encountered the two college age girls that were taking care of things in the visitor center, we saw no other staff at any time on the grounds. The Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Lilacs and Hydrangeas were all dead-done-gone for the year already. The meadow maze is underwhelming and the vegetable garden was mostly barren. Where as the air conditioned restrooms over by the garden were a god send when it's that hot out even if the building and set up seems out of place with the rest of the aesthetic of the grounds. Look, I realize that coming late-summer to an Arboretum is kind of a dumb idea but this is when we came and if they're going to charge full priced admission then they're going to have to expect full priced expectations. IMHO, if you like structured/more highly manicured displays then I feel that Morris is a better choice than coming here. If you prefer things more au naturel, then Tyler might be a better fit. Although the same crude thought is still in my head now just as it was when we were driving home after our visit here. The overwhelming bulk of what's here can be experienced at a lot of PA state parks for free. Why did I just pay almost $50 for a visit here? One and done. read more

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I am a massive fan of Tyler Arboretum. My fiancee and I decided to have our wedding here and we could not be happier with our decision. Every time we go to Tyler, we find something new on the property that brings a smile to our face. We are so thankful that a place like Tyler exists where we can bring our friends and families to visit when they are in town! read more

We are members - now as a dual membership ($80) and we want to continue to support our local jewel, the Tyler Arboretum. If you haven't been? go! If you have been - go again and join. Your membership dollars help so much. read more

All my pictures are of Lucille's Edible Garden, my favorite place at Tyler Arboretum. This year I got into gardening and when I first visited I was so amazed that this existed, so I began volunteering! I'm sharing more about my volunteer experience with this great organization because I think it's a less traditional experience you'd read about in a review. I'm always impressed by the staff who maintain Lucille's Edible Garden and they are very intentional about giving volunteers like me a good experience as much as they would want someone who pays for admission to enjoy their visit! After filling out an application and doing a quick orientation with the volunteer coordinator, I could sign up for 3 hour volunteer shifts immediately after that. I love that they try to diversify what they are growing to include produce you wouldn't necessarily find at any grocery store. For instance, red okra and purple bok choy! As an Asian American, I was also learning a lot about rare seeds of Asian vegetables I didn't know existed. Not only is it rewarding to help harvest food for the Media Food Bank and address food insecurity in the community, but I have met wonderful people through the experience. I have also learned a lot about the importance of pollinators, what's good/bad for growing in the garden, and really appreciated how Tyler has a community of volunteers who have been serving for years. It really attests to the kind of organization they have they we keep coming back and encouraging others to consider joining us too. read more

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I am not a member of the Arboretum, and when my husband and I came to look for spring birds we weren't sure exactly what the procedure was. Are you supposed to go inside and check-in? There was not a soul around when we arrived, so we just proceeded on our merry way. We didn't see any birds on the day we visited, but we walked the paved trails and got to see the treehouses and various other paths you can go on. The bathrooms were pretty clean. The parking lot was a decent size. If you're supposed to pay an entry fee, I don't think it's quite worth it. There are so many public parks close-by that could satisfy your walking/birding desires. If you're really into learning about trees and want to read the plaques they have on each tree, this is the place for you. read more

[510] I visited this Arboretum years ago and loved it. Came back with my son and he LOVED all the tree houses. Each one was unique and cool to enter. There are so many beautiful trees and flowers. There are different events held here all year long which are very popular. They have an imagination area which has a stage. There is also a big box of costumes so your child and imagine and put a show on for his/her family. The visitor center/entrance has a cool gift shop with tons of unique items such as candy with a big in it (on purpose). The person at the visitor desk was very friendly and answered all of our questions. Maps - Make sure you take one. I felt lost a few times. I really think they need a few more signs pointing you in the right direction. The maze was bit disappointing. The meadow was about 6 inches high and it really hard to tell where the maze started/ended. If it weren't for the sign I would have just thought someone was bad at mowing. We stayed about 2 hours because it was close to closing time. You really need 3-4 hours since the place is large and you don't want to miss anything. Tons of people taking professional photos because the location is beautiful. I will definitely be back. read more

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As I approached Tyler Arboretum, I kept thinking I was in the wrong place. "Wait, Siri, this is Ridley Creek State Park". Then, I see the sign. Ah. Tyler's grounds border Ridley Creek, got it. I went on a bright, warm late summer/early fall afternoon with the goal of a good 2-3 mile easy hike in the woods. The Arboretum is divided into two 'areas' - Inside the deer fence, which is very family and child friendly, with manicured gardens, a summer labyrinth, butterfly house and a barn venue that pretty constantly has a wedding or other event booked in. Then there's outside the deer fence, where the longer trails are. The deer fence gate itself I think resembles the gates in the movie Jurassic Park, I half-jokingly kept my eyes open for velociraptors. I got a trail map - the first one they gave me was the family friendly map, then I asked for the longer map and they gave me the 'outside the fence' map. I checked out a few areas inside the fence, the butterflies were very cool, the labyrinth was unfortunately mostly done for the year. I got to the Jurassic gate, crossed, then headed out to the trails. They are decently well maintained, not as manicured as the 'inner' gardens. They're marked with colors denoting which one you're on, and there are places where they share. The markings are a bit confusing, which is how I ended up on a different trail than I had planned, and then somehow looped back on myself and ended up where I started. OK. My one piece of constructive feedback here would be to consider better markings. It's not quite as bad as PA State trail markings, but it's close. All in all though it was a lovely afternoon, quiet and tranquil once in the outer trails. A good place to go for a relatively easy hike. read more

I finally caved and got a membership to Tyler. I was late returning the library pass for this place too many times, and after all the fun it brings my toddler, it was well worth the money for the membership! Plus, they run specials about every month, so if you time it right, you can get 10% off your membership! Also, they have reciprocity for admission to tons of other arboretums and gardens across the US, AND they have a partnership with nearby Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation, that allows you free admission there!!! So this membership, I couldn't resist, and it's been a pleasure to use the past few months! Unfortunately, due to COVID, Tyler isn't offering the programming and events that they normally do, but the arboretum remains open as usual, and COVID doesn't stop the flora and fauna from putting on a fantastical show! Some of the tree houses are undergoing maintenance, but they are beginning to reopen them, and the oversized log alphabet blocks are now out and in use again. I got an email the other day about a hike they are leading soon, too! So signs of things going back to normal are here! All that said, it's so worth a visit! These are breathtaking trees, and the micro habitats (meadow, pond, hillside, forest, etc.) are so enchanting to wander and explore. The terrain changes from paved path, to gravel, to wood chips, to grass in spots. I am able to get my stroller pretty much everywhere. One can easily spend hours here, and I am so impressed at how much my 2yo wants to run and explore. He is thoroughly exhausted every time we leave. From the tree houses, to the rope/log climbing area, to the toll bridge, bird's nest and house, Goldilocks chairs, meadow maze, kid tunnels, etc., there is a new thrill for him around every corner, and I love this place for that! As a mom, chasing my kid, I appreciate Tyler's great layout, that provides really good exercise, without feeling like effort. There are thoughtful little touches everywhere, which succeed in enhancing your aesthetic and interactive experiences with this burst of nature. Didactics in some spots offer insights into horticulture, history, biology, earth science, and even art and literature! Benches, Adorindack chairs, and other artistic/creative forms of seating, are all thoughtfully located for serene views, or great photo ops. And they are constantly putting funds back into the property, in the form of new projects (like the Serpentine Barrens on Barren Rd), or upkeep and maintenance on all the existing fun stuff to do. Best of all, as the seasons change, and trees grow, the nature is never the same place twice. There is always something new to see across the landscape, and that is the best part! read more

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Tyler arboretum is one of the best places I have been for a day trip hike. It was extremely affordable (especially with the groupon deal they had at the time), and I honestly had no idea what to expect and HOLY COW is this place huuuuge and magical!! The map is very clear, and there are paths for kids with different themes stations along the way. I am a grown woman and I insisted on stopping at each station because they were so cute and creative! There are also different hiking paths that they color code based off of your level. We did the red one which is not terribly long, but boy was it a great workout!! I seriously wanted to spend all day here, and I HIGHlY recommend it as a must-visit! If you are craving a nice hike or if you are looking for an outdoor adventure for the kids, this is the place! read more

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Slightly chilly. Leaves a'changin. Oh, and pumpkins galore. Tyler Arboretum is a beautiful, peaceful, serene, wonderful option for a day trip from Philadelphia. It's not too far from the city, but still basically in the woods. I don't often go exploring in Pennsylvania, so this was a nice treat. I stopped in for the Pumpkin Day they hosted a couple weeks ago. It was so much fun! We walked the one-mile scenic loop -- at one point heading off into the non-paved section too -- before taking a hayride with a bunch of happy/not happy children. After that, we selected pumpkins. They only cost $2!! Mine lasted until my Mischief Night party, which was a relief. A shuttle took us to and from the arboretum, which helped with potential congestion. A nice touch for sure! I'd absolutely come back here in the spring as the flowers start to bloom. I bet it'll be gorgeous yet again! read more

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Review for wacky water festival: not worth the almost hour drive for us from NE Philly to just have some sprinklers and buckets outside. Though food trucks were a nice addition. It happened to be a SUPER hot day in the summer so most families were trying to sit near shade and only spending less than an hour there. *Recommend NOT going on a hot day in summer and instead going in fall or spring as the paths are in direct sunlight* Tree houses were cool. Not sure we'll be back as we have cool nature hikes nearby (briar bush, which has more shade and indoor nature center), but maybe we'll try out in fall for a pumpkin patch. Admission $11 for 16+; $7 for 3-15 and free under 3. read more

Tyler Arboretum - Map - Summer Camps Near Me - Media, Pennsylvania

Muther lover effer tick is what I got, I should have taken a pic but I was too busy sweating, swearing n in a general cold stone freak out. Grab a credit card, a match, tweezers, a flipping sedative..... Thrilled with the trail options that hook up to the arboretum. I can't really give it much of a review since the crud hole of a winter we had "pushed all the blooms back 3 weeks" as per the staff. There were tons of garlic scapes and ramps to munch on. And many neat "tree houses" for the kids, of which I have none but my inner child appreciated them. read more

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Great outdoors in nature. Plenty of interesting paths to take and things to see. Tree houses are great for younger kids.

Lovely place for a walk in nature that has nice paved established paths. Also plenty of unpaved trailed for more adventurous hikers. I have wandered these trails pregnant, with a stroller, and now with my 2 year old who adores the tree houses. There is something to see with each new season and we are here every few weeks. It's nice being able to escape to the trees but be close to home as well. read more

Tyler Arboretum - Tree house fun - Summer Camps Near Me - Media, Pennsylvania

Very pretty with a gorgeous lookout point from the main building! Be aware that it's a steep walk, so pack light and make sure your group can handle the uphills. All paved walkways which was great for us with a stroller (although again, steep!) read more

My 2 year old loves the butterfly house and tree houses. The pond and Meadow Maze are pretty cool. This place is bigger than we realized and I recommend downloading a map if it's your first time. Membership and admission rates are very reasonable. The volunteers in the butterfly house are awesome and so knowledgeable. The hours are great and free, easy parking. read more

We visited years ago to see all the tree houses and the pond full of creatures. It was worth it. HOWEVER we visited today so my youngest could see all the tree houses, pond, and flowers AND we were very disappointed. Almost all the tree houses were closed and shut down for safety reasons. The few that were open where very ratty and need lots of work and boring. WHY did they let them all simply rot AND worse yet why don't you tell visitors that they are closed. The flowers, trees, and other plants are very nice but we feel cheated and deceived. Fix them up and we will be back otherwise we will skip the trip. read more

Coming from south philly,it was a nice up and downhill ride with scenic views. Came here using groupon which cost us $12.00 for two people instead of paying the original cost of $11.00/person. Good deal to start off. We purchased our tickets inside a gift shop and there I would highly recommend buying a drink or two because you will get very thirsty after hiking miles of trails especially if your under a hot sun. The arboretum is very spacious with lots of different flowers , trees, treehouses, and hiking trails to follow. On a spring day we were able to see magnolias,azaleas,& Japanese cherry blossoms. There were also few tree houses which were very intricate and artistic. I was very pleased with my visit and I would come back here again. read more

Came here for a wedding with my bud. Seems like a rad place to go with all the trees and whatnot. Big outdoorsman kind of guy so I appreciated it. The staff was very good and the food and hors d'ouerves were very good. Main course was your typical food at a wedding - very very good. The grounds also were applicable to having a wedding or gathering. I will be back to see what is cooking when it's just business as usual. read more

It's beautiful in the Spring and Summer...I haven't experienced Tyler in the fall yet. It's a great place for kids. When the weather is nice I always see little ones running around. I also see people pushing strollers around. The roads are paved in the inside loop and the longer trails are gravel and/or wood mulch. There are picnic tables and a small pond. There are benches inside the fenced trails. Entrance fee is $7 for adults or $75 for a family membership for a year. read more

Tyler Arboretum - Strummin' & Drummin' Tree House - Summer Camps Near Me - Media, Pennsylvania

My Fiancé and I are planning our wedding at Tyler Arboretum and it has been such a pleasure to work with the Tyler Team! We feel like we are in great hands and cannot wait for our wedding day at this beautiful venue. Not only is the venue stunning but our venue coordinator Dana has been so responsive and helpful with the planning tools and guidance. It has made the planning process so much easier! read more

We bought the membership to the Tyler Arboritum mainly because of their butterfly house. My son loves butterflies. We came to the Arboritum several times and the butterfly house was closed all the way through July when we saw butterflies in our garden. We were very dissapointed. Additionally, the tree houses, which were also of interest to us are rotten and look like they need some work and renovations. A few tree houses were closed because they need rennovations but we did not see that anyone was working on them. The flowers and the landscape are nice but it seems that this place needs much better care for people with kids to truly enjoy it. We will not be renewing our membership next year. read more

I went for the first time today in November and there wasn't much to look at. I don't like how they make you go through the gift shop to get in to the park, yet they don't want the kids touching anything. The pond had one frog that we saw still underwater hibernating. The Treehouse sculpture things were open and I guess people were saying that they're closed sometimes but I think they should stay open since it's something for the kids to climb on. It's a nice walk and paved but everything looks pretty dead while I was there in the off-season and it didn't hold the children's attention that well. There were lots of places to sit though and drink hot chocolate or have snacks in the summertime. read more

We came for the bug exhibit and LOVED it! Had a chance to meet the artist and really enjoyed the bugs. We came without kids and were still enthralled! read more

Tyler Arboretum - Summer Camps Near Me - Media, Pennsylvania

Tyler was the perfect backdrop for my best friend's wedding. The ceremony was in the grove and the reception was in the barn. Both were the perfect size (for about 150 guests) and setting, surrounding the group perfectly and making it feel intimate but not crowded. The caterers were the ones that you have to use for Tyler (not sure of the name), and they did a fabulous job of everything. There was a table with water and lemonade for the arriving guests, to help make the summer heat bearable. The cocktail hour was set up by the yellow house - a great combination of shade and sun, and made it feel very cozy and personal, even with plenty of guests. The passed appetizers for the cocktail hour were amazing - particularly the grape nuts (grapes balled in roquefort cheese with chopped pistachios), the love notes (phyllo dough with figs), and the coconut shrimp. The dinner wasn't bad, but the appetizers were the best part. The surroundings also made some great pictures - the frog statues, the treehouse exhibit, and the butterfly garden. One of the bridesmaids was on crutches, but there was a golf cart to cart her and the other elderly guests. And the bride and groom drove off in the same golf cart once we had it appropriately decorated. Everything was still open to the general public, and there were lots of kids around who seemed to be having a good time, so I bet that cuts down on the cost of having to rent out/close down an entire facility. read more

This is a great place to take your kids. Or your out-of-town parents that don't like to just sit in your living room and relax. It was a gorgeous day on Saturday so this seemed like a perfect and peaceful place to go. And it was. Right now, they have 8 tree house displays up until September and they are awesome. I don't want to give too much away, but one tree house is in the shape of a guitar and there are even wire strings to strum. Impressive. There is a small butterfly garden in the summer, but go early, I think butterflies just sleep in the afternoon. I believe there are some hiking paths you can take if you want to be "one with nature", but for those that like to see how pretty nature is without really getting dirty, this is also a good place for you. (we're the latter) read more

If you are looking for a nice place to relax and enjoy the scenery, but at the same time entertain your kids, this is the place. I went here to take pictures of the scenery. There were plenty of kids around having a blast. The tree houses were great. I believe there were 8 different tree houses for the children to explore. They also had a section for younger children to hang out complete with a table and chairs made out of stumps. It was sooo cute. If the "chairs" weren't wet from recent rain I would have sat for pictures. I loved the butterfly garden and the Myth Buster-esque project in the small farm. They were trying to determine if vegetables would grow differently if different items were placed in the soil. I believe egg shells were tried and coal as well. It was easy to get around the place. The trail leads you from one tree house to another. There are also other trails for hiking and a picnic area. If I remember correctly, the entrance fee was $7. read more

I got married here last Saturday (5/7/11) and let me tell you, this was the PERFECT place to get married. (For me anyway- I didn't want a ballroom wedding for sure) They were very accommodating and flexible in terms of ceremony location (we chose the Butterflly Garden) and we were allowed to roam the grounds for pictures. We got so many compliments on the surroundings- our guests totally loved it. One bonus is that we were given a free one-year membership as a wedding gift. I hope we can visit often this year to relive our wonderful day. read more

Beautiful place in all seasons but winter of course.... There is plenty to see and alot to do for kids and adults alike. The admission fee is peanuts next to other places of its kind. They encourage picnicing, hiking and even offer classes for the horticulture lover, home gardener or nature lover. Buy an annual membership even if you go only once - it is partially tax deductible and the funds encourage places of this nature to thrive in a world where open space is nearly a figment of our imagination. read more

My husband and I went down here for their special Magical Habitats exhibit because I am obsessed with fairies and gnomes. Some of the "habitats" (houses) and displays were a little cheesy, but it was definitely cute. They also have treehouses on display which were very neat. I think they will be there for the foreseeable future. Also in July and August they have a butterfly house filled with native insects - very cool! They have a very large collection of rhododendron and they must be spectacular when in bloom. I was surprised to learn that the whole complex is 650 acres or so with 20 miles of trails. If you're a serious hiker I think you'd like it here. An excellent place to bring the kids and just wreck around. Pack a picnic (permitted in the park) and go! read more

I hate to give any park filled with beautiful trees a 3 star BUT compared with the other local arboretums this one is just OK in my book. The pond was neat and filled with frogs. The Rhodedendrons were in bloom but kind of unkempt. A lot of the trees seemed to be unattended to and surrounded by weeds. All that said I am perfectly happy to pay the ticket price if that will allow them to spiff up the trees a bit! read more

Really nice even in the off season. Got trapped in the park and a helpful staff member helped us out

Tyler Arboretum is a beautiful, family friendly park. The staff is wonderful. Everyone was incredibly friendly and helpful. One staff member encouraged us to go to the butterfly house. Once there another staff member, Mr. Minner gave us a personal tour. He was so kind and sweet. He told us all about the butterflies. I learned a lot. My daughter enjoyed the tree houses. There's a lot for children. Fortunately, we visited on a summer day when it was sunny and in the mid 80s. It was a perfect day to be outdoors. I can't wait to go again. read more