🌿 Green oases
Botanical gardens across SoCal
Curated by Simir Shah
10 spots near 92692 — add your zip or city to sort by what's closest to you
Sherman Library & Gardens
Corona del Mar · Garden
A lush, compact 2.2-acre garden with koi ponds, a tropical conservatory, rose gardens, and a butterfly area. Easy and stroller-friendly right on PCH.
🗓️ Open daily ~10:30am–4pm
💵 $ admission (~$5 adult; 3 and under free)
Visit site →Fullerton Arboretum
Fullerton
26 acres of world plant collections on the CSUF campus, with a lake, streams, a waterfall, and a pond full of waterfowl. Wide, stroller-friendly paths.
🗓️ Open daily ~9am–4pm
Visit site →UC Riverside Botanic Gardens
Riverside
40 hilly acres with 4+ miles of trails and 3,500+ plant species from arid and Mediterranean climates. A budget-friendly spot for families who enjoy hiking and birdwatching.
🗓️ Mon–Fri ~8am–3:30pm; also 1st & 3rd Sundays
Visit site →San Diego Botanic Garden
Encinitas · Botanical garden
37 acres of themed gardens with a popular interactive Hamilton Children's Garden, a treehouse, and a model railroad. Trails wind through a tropical rainforest collection.
🗓️ Open daily ~9am–5pm; closed Tue
💵 $$ admission (~$18 adult, ~$10 kids 3–17)
Visit site →South Coast Botanic Garden
Rancho Palos Verdes · Botanical garden
87 acres of themed gardens with a children's discovery area, koi streams, and open lawns. A seasonal butterfly walk-through and winter holiday lights are family highlights.
🗓️ Open daily ~8am–5pm
💵 $$ admission (~$18 adult; special exhibits extra)
Visit site →Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Arcadia · Arboretum
127 acres of gardens, lakes, and historic sites — famous for free-roaming peacocks. Stroller-friendly paths, a waterfall, and frequent family events.
🗓️ Open daily ~9am–5pm; closed Dec 25
💵 $$ admission (~$18 adult, ~$8 kids 3–12, under 2 free)
Visit site →Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden
Avalon · Botanical garden
38 acres of Channel Island endemic plants plus the 130-ft Wrigley Memorial tower with views over Avalon. A scenic add-on for families already taking the ferry to Catalina.
🗓️ Open daily ~8am–5pm
💵 $ admission (~$8 adult, ~$3 kids); ferry to Catalina required
Visit site →The Huntington
San Marino · Botanical garden
130 acres of themed gardens — Japanese, Chinese, and Desert — plus the hands-on Bing Children's Garden built for play. World-class art and library exhibits round out the visit.
🗓️ Wed–Mon ~10am–5pm; closed Tue
💵 $$ admission (~$25–29 adult; timed reservations weekends)
Visit site →Descanso Gardens
La Cañada Flintridge · Botanical garden
150 acres of oak forest, camellias, roses, and a Japanese garden, with seasonal tulip and lilac blooms. Kids love the Enchanted Railroad miniature train.
🗓️ Open daily ~9am–5pm
💵 $$ admission (~$29 adult; higher on event days)
Visit site →Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden (UCLA)
Los Angeles
7 shaded acres with 3,000+ plant species along creekside paths and lily ponds in Westwood. Kids can spot koi, turtles, and birds at one of greater LA's only free gardens.
🗓️ Mon–Fri ~8am–5pm, Sat–Sun ~9am–5pm
Visit site →Get more calm, beautiful outings near you
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Frequently asked questions
Which botanical gardens in SoCal are best for kids?
Gardens with dedicated children's areas are the easiest with little ones: The Huntington's Bing Children's Garden, the LA County Arboretum (with its famous peacocks), Descanso Gardens (with a miniature train), Sherman Library & Gardens, and the San Diego Botanic Garden's interactive Hamilton Children's Garden.
Are any SoCal botanical gardens free?
Yes — the Mildred E. Mathias Garden at UCLA, the Balboa Park Botanical Building in San Diego, Fullerton Arboretum and UC Riverside Botanic Gardens are free or donation-based. Each listing shows the cost, and you can filter to free-only above.
Do I need a reservation?
The big-name gardens (The Huntington, Lotusland, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden) often require timed reservations, especially on weekends and holidays — book ahead. Smaller neighborhood gardens are usually walk-up.