This is an amazing place to spend a day or extended afternoon in the twin cities. I was gifted a…read moremembership and have had the chance to come here twice, once for an event and once for the 3 mile walk, and both times have been blown away by the breadth of planning and botanical mastery that has gone into these gardens. We saw the setup for a wedding while we were there and it was breathtaking. The small gardens near the front are beautiful, but it's a true feat to walk (or drive) the three mile walk and to see the entirety of the gardens. There's a fun (and quite difficult) maze, a sculpture garden, many different tree and flower displays, shrub displays, and way more! We haven't had the chance to check out the farm that's on the property, but are really looking forward to it! This is a great place to spend a day with energetic kiddos, or to just lose yourself in nature for a little while. And each month something new is in bloom, so there's always new to see and do!

The Landscape Arboretum is another one of the Twin Cities treasures that is overlooked or taken for…read moregranted. It was founded in 1958 and has 1200 acres located in Chaska. It is different experience depending upon the season and what you choose to do. Today I went to their annual pancake breakfast, highlighted with their own maple syrup. They also showed how maple sap is collected (there are plastic tubes running between trees leading to collection bags), to the process of reducing the sap into syrup. They also process Black Walnut and Birch syrup, with tastings of each. At other times, highlights include a three mile drive that loops through the forests, variety of shrubs and plants, sculpture garden, and heads to a farm with a variety of displays. You can also take a narrated shuttle trip. Seasonally, the tulips (40,000 tulip bulbs!), roses, and daffodils are amazing and worth a visit just for that. In addition, there are miles of walking trails, and surprises around every corner. In their library there is even a collection of Nakashima furniture, from a world-famous furniture maker. There is something that will delight every age from toddler to grandparent in this everchanging environment. Tickets are a bit on the expensive side ($20 for 16 and older), but free for under 16 with an adult. If you are going to make multiple visits within a year, you might want to consider membership, which entitles you to unlimited free visits, plus a discount in their gift store. You can apply your paid visit to the cost of an annual membership. Pro-tip: Although they have a cafeteria, it's not their strong suit. I recommend eating before hand, or bring a picnic if the weather is nice and warm.