The North Carolina Arboretum

If you’re looking for a great spot to visit and unwind for a couple of hours, you won’t want to miss the NC Arboretum. There is a perfect mix of manicured gardens and natural landscapes. The world-class gardens have a wide range of plant and tree species, all very well-identified, so we always leave with more botanical knowledge than we came with.

The NC Arboretum is an excellent spot for kids! We visit often with ours and have a whole post on why we love going to the NC Arboretum with our kids here.

Within the garden, you will find several attractions, including the quilt garden (the centerpiece of the gardens), Forest Meadow, Plants of Promise Garden, Bonsai Exhibition Garden, Rocky Cove Railroad model train (runs Sat/Sun 12-4pm Apr-Oct) and several paths and trails meandering throughout the property.

If you’re looking for a bite to eat while there, the Bent Creek Bistro is an excellent choice. You can eat at the outdoor tables at the bistro or take a picnic to eat anywhere on the grounds.

There is a $16 parking fee for personal vehicles, but if you’re up for a hike you can hike into the gardens for free. Their annual membership is definitely worth it if you are local or plan to visit more than a few times per year.