Descanso Gardens

Plan your visit to Descanso Gardens

Researched from the venue and public sources, not a first-hand visit. How we write these

How long to spend

Plan on a half day; the gardens cover 150 acres, and many families start with a ride on the Enchanted Railroad to get an overview before walking to favorite areas.

Best time to go

Spring is peak bloom and the busiest season; early morning or the last hour before closing is calmest. Winter brings the separately ticketed Enchanted: Forest of Light nighttime event, and summer can be hot.

Parking & getting there

Parking in the on-site lot is free, with valet added on busy weekends. The gardens sit near the 210 and 2 freeway interchange, and the nearest bus stops are about a half mile away.

Best ages

Toddlers and young kids do best with the Enchanted Railroad (riders must be 30 inches tall and able to sit on their own), the koi ponds and bridges in the Japanese Garden, and duck and turtle watching at the Lakeside lookout. The Rose Garden has a fountain and a stone animal hedge maze.

Food

On-site options are The Market (grab-and-go) and Jones Coffee Roasters in the Descanso Courtyard, plus the sit-down Farmhouse restaurant, where reservations are recommended. Picnicking inside the gardens is not allowed; outside food can only be eaten in designated areas such as the tables near the entrance.

What to bring

Bring a stroller (main paths are paved asphalt), refillable water and sun protection, especially May through October when temperatures can reach the 90s. Pets (other than service animals) and bikes are not allowed.

Rain or heat plan

On hot days, head for the shaded oak forest and the indoor Boddy House and Sturt Haaga Gallery. Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena is a nearby indoor alternative.