Bellevue Botanical Garden Reviews

If you’re visiting at the holiday time, be sure you go see the Garden d’Lights. It’s spectacular. Many hours from dedicated volunteers each year surprise everyone that goes. At other times if the year, this garden is well maintained & beautiful to explore.
The city of Bellevue should be proud.

I will definitely return here. This was a beautiful place to explore even when there wasn't much blooming yet. There is a broad walking loop that circles the garden and so many little trails to explore. My 7 yo had a great time playing his own hiding game from other patrons as it was not very crowded at all. A great way for both of us to burn off some energy.
Lots of great places to sit and enjoy nature. A nice variety of garden exhibits. Even though it was early Spring there were still plenty of flowers in bloom. Several I had never seen before.

Lots of people, but the Garden is large, varied and very well kept. We go to Bellevue Botanical Garden a few times each year and are never disappointed with the seasonal variety.

Gorgeous flora and fauna located at this prime location. The blooms and colors really help you to appreciate what they do at this location.

I visited on July 19, a cloudy morning with occasional breakthroughs of sun. The gardens were beautiful, and when the sun came out, they were spectacular. I had never seen such large hydrangea blossoms. I also enjoyed taking a short hike on the Lake to Lake trail which is accessible from the gardens.

The Bellevue Botanical Garden was a great stop. It is very well maintained and has beautifully placed benches for enjoying the scenery. The suspending bridge is amazing.

This is one place in Bellevue I always try to visit. It has a lot to offer and is always trying to improve both the planting and the general facilities. While botanic gardens usually appeal mainly to adults who love nature and gardening there are always children around in the garden when I visit and there is plenty to interest them, although no playgrounds or specifically child friendly activities are provided. The garden is clearly very closely linked to the local community and there are opportunities for regular involvement. New facilities include improved parking, shop etc... Seasonal specialities include the lighting event in the run up to Christmas but my favourite is the NW border terraces that are spectacular in the late summer to early autumn. Woodland walks are a main attraction with the new bridge being an added attraction and the Japanese garden is really lovely. With the Wilburton park immediately adjacent there are extensive walkways so it is not surprising to find this location popular with joggers and runners as well as plant lovers.

First of all, I was really surprised that this garden is free to visit - I've paid steep admission prices to many other botanical gardens. So I wasn't expecting it to be much. I am happy to say that it exceeded my expectations completely! There are several distinct sections, very different from each other: a dahlia display, a fuchsia garden, a Japanese garden, a waterwise garden, and then a very large wild wooded area called the Ravine, with pathways winding through it. Just a handful of other visitors. Nice little coffee shop on the grounds with an outdoor patio. Great retreat in the city.

We had a meeting in downtown Bellevue and had about an hour and a half to kill before we needed to be there. It was about a 10-15 minute drive to the Garden and was really worth it. It was beautiful and peaceful. Lots of trails and different habitat types. If visiting Bellevue for the day, this would be my number one suggestion for a place to visit.

This is a must for the holidays! Beautiful garden lights! Several nights are free but admission is very reasonable for what you get!

I wouldn't expect a place with free admission and free parking to be this great!

At first, it seemed nice, but small. But then I found the attached park trails!

So, this garden is essentially 2 places in one.
First, is the super manicured, gorgeous flower gardens directly behind the entrance building. I wandered around the paths for about 20 minutes, and had already seen it all... or so I thought!
Then I found the second part that I thought looked like an access road, but it was a hiking trail into the rest of the property.
This was what I was looking for! Gravel trails and smaller natural paths winding through a meadow and forest. There was even a suspension bridge over a ravine, tucked away in the woods!

This is a place that I initially thought I'd spend maybe a half hour visiting, and ended up leaving 3 hours later! And that's only because my battery died and I couldn't take any more pictures!

Very enjoyable stroll along nicely landscaped and combination of manicured and natural gardens mixed in with small water features and ponds. Great variety of plants, flowers, and vegetation.

We visited the Bellevue Botanic a Garden on a sunny afternoon (rare for this area) and were amazed by the lovely and unusual flowers, lush planting seeds, and wide variety in the plant collections. I was especially impressed by the Dalia garden and the fushia garden! Just gorgeous! Treat yourself and spend a relaxing hour or two at this well maintained garden. Admission is free, and the gift shop is adorable!

Beautiful walk on trails with gorgeous flowers, bushes and trees. So relaxing and fun to experience either by yourself or with a friend.

This is a fun spot for a nature walk almost in the heart of downtown. There are lots of beautiful flowers in every season as well as many trails to follow. You can make a quick visit or a leisurely one, depending on your schedule. Be sure to visit the suspension bridge to wee whether the "Beware of cougar" sign is still there. That was certainly a big surprise!

I have been to botanical gardens all across the US, and this is by far one of the most beautifully and well-designed gardens I've ever seen! The fact that it is FREE blows my mind, as I would have easily paid a fee to visit. This is an expansive proterty with many acres of beautiful blooms, greenery and hiking paths. The variety of plants and flowers is excellent: such vibrant colors! There are lots of very happy bees here. You can easily spend two hours here just walking and looking. There are plenty of benches to sit and immerse yourself in the ambiance. There are educational facilities, a gift shop and small coffee shop on site. This is an ADA accessible facility for much of the property, although the hiking trails are not. I highly recommend walking down to the bridge and doing the quick loop. It's beautiful. I imagine this place is very popular with brides and graduates. Talk about amazing backdrops!! If you are in the area, I highly recommend this stop. It was a fantastic experience!!

We have visited during every season, but the winter lights is spectacular. Fun for the kids, but can get a little crowded. Other times of the year, the entire walk is beautiful.

I've been wandering around the Bellevue Botanical Garden for over 15 years and it just keeps getting better and more interesting. Now they've added a community center, learning center, an amazing and beautiful Holiday Light Show, a suspension bridge and open forest walks.

Stumbled upon this beautiful place while looking for a walkable destination from our hotel. We loved the gorgeous flowers. The whole area is so easily accessible. Loved the two hours we spent here. Took about 100 pictures of the beautiful flowers. Good job Bellevue!!!

This is a wonderful way to wile away a lazy afternoon. The garden is beautiful at any time of year. Great classes. Just check online. Also membership is extremely reasonable. If you have time on your hands you can even volunteer. The people there are very helpful when you have questions. also their docent tours are free. Donation only if you wish.
By the way it's free to walk the grounds.

Clean, quiet, and gorgeous gardens. We could have spent much more time here walking and photographing the plants and rabbits. Plenty of parking when we arrived, and the bathrooms are among the cleanest public bathrooms I've seen.

A beautiful walk through the varied grounds of the Bellevue Botanical Garden is a welcome gift on a busy trip to the Seattle/Bellevue area. The grounds are beautifully maintained with a fascinating variety of plants and trees. Nice to stop for a refreshment break in the lovely cafe,

I enjoyed botanical garden in fall and spring. It's a very popular place for photography, walking around and talking with friends and family in a great quiet peaceful place. Don't miss it if you're in Bellevue in spring or fall.

The garden is the prettiest in the summertime when lots of flowers are blooming. A peaceful stroll through a short forest-like paths. And sit outside of the coffee shop enjoy a cup of coffee afterwards is just wonderful!

My daughter and her family took me to the opening night of the D'lights show. Before you enter you are given a list of critters (insects, birds, animals) that you have to search for. So it was like an "I Spy" game for her.

Opening night is always a busy night. Parking was $5. We found parking with no problems. When we arrived there was a long line BUT remember they had to count the number of people who came in and came out. They made sure there was no overcrowding and it wasba safe environment for both children and adults.

My favorite part of the light display was the ocean theme. It was simply amazing.

We took went to the path twice since my granddaughter missed 2 critters the first time. And I would say it was very interesting to see it the second time. We gave our 100% attention to find what we missed.

Highly recommended to school age children 5 to 10. And of course to adults who would appreciate art.

The bellevue botanical gardens are a spectacular enjoyment any day the week anytime of the year. But especially in June most of the gardens are at their prime and you could ask for a more colorful beautiful layout of the gardens and the whole grounds with it’s flowing water, forests, large open spaces with color everywhere you turn. A truly unique and fascinating way to spend part of the day as specially on a weekend not only enjoying the beauty of the gardens but enjoying the place where you can be totally meditative

The park, located close to downtown Bellevue offers a wide variety of attractions from formal flower beds to woodland walks. Generally free to enter there are special occasions and events that may charge admission. A great place to spend a quick visit or a more leisurely time. Take the wooded trail to the suspension bridge - it's worth the effort. During the Holidays the park is illuminated with thousands of lights artfully arranged to represent flowers, animals and other natural sights.

Ever consider forest bathing? The Bellevue Botanical Garden is a great place to enjoy a forest in the city. Bask in all the positive vibes of the trees and drink in the soundings.

Don't miss Garden d'lights over the holidays. Crowd pleaser every year for sure. Tickets can be purchased in advance.

Bellevue Botanical Garden is a wonderful place to experience the natural world of the Pacific Northwest. The paths take you through a great variety of PNW native species of plants and trees. The suspension bridge is fun to walk over. They offer classes to the public on many topics. The "Garden of DeLights" during the holiday season in December is especially beautiful. You will want to wear comfortable shoes and bring your camera.

Visiting the Botanical Gardens in the spring is definitely one of the better times to visit with so many things in bloom. It's really close to downtown Bellevue and easy to find.

Hello! In the park there are many different flowers in this garden. There are also very natural paths in this park and the air is very fresh. The garden is perfect for family.

If you are looking for a winter lights event that will thrill, engage and amaze a sure winner is the light garden held in the the Bellevue Botanical Garden. Get your tickets on line with their website and you have found the best five dollar deal around-kids are free. There is even an easy access pass for the physically challenged. A great delight for all.

We had a great night to see this very well done display of flowers and animals and sea life created by colored lights.
It was free to us due to the night we went but apparently there is usually a $5.00 charge. I would have not felt I had gotten my money's worth had I had to pay due to the size of the display. But what is there is well done. We parked at a school near by to avoid paying for it.

The gardens are thoughtfully laid-out and carefully attended. There is a great mix of plant life, and terrific curated signposting throughout. You can easily wander here for an hour or two. It's quite small, and the only drawback is that you can always hear the freeway noise in the background. Can't wait to return in a few months for the glorious display of color this garden promises! Well worth a visit.

Limited parking but you can find sun or shade here and lots of paths winding through interesting and beautiful plants.

Knowing the history of this place (the original owners and their attention to rhodys, the partnership between the City of Bellevue and garden groups and the vast number of volunteers) adds to one's enjoyment and appreciate but seriously if you are in Bellevue and just visiting for a bit, then this FREE, easy parking, collection of different plantings/gardens is well worth your time. Sadly, the 'special' plant lighting decorations for Xmas has become a victim of its own success with now more restrictions and less authentic plants (depicted as lights) than it used to be. Full disclosure I was a volunteer there about a decade ago. I have spent many, many hours in this area. The Ravine is a nice addition and the perennial banks area a 'perennial' favorite but the Japanese garden and some other bits are suffering. Still a good place for a gentle stroll or to take visitors who like gardens (on the cheap).

We have been to botanical gardens all over the world, and this one is tops. The flowers were in bloom and it was so colorful. I like that there were different gardens, too. Including a Japanese garden. There are plenty of benches to sit on and rest, meditate, eat lunch, listen to music, whatever. And it's FREE! We did leave a donation. The only minus was we thought maybe more signage was needed. We were a bit challenged by the map. There's a great suspension bridge, too. Lots to see.

The garden is free for normal exhibits so its great to swing by to walk around. When the skies are gray, the flowers here (when in season) will add some color to your day! It's not a huge space, but well done and the cafe onsite is convenient. During the holiday season, they do an excellent job with light displays, some live performances, and creating activities for children. You do have to pay for the light show (Garden D'Lights) and also for parking during that time.

If you are a gardener you will LOVE this place. The combinations are exquisite. I haven't been here in ten years and I can say it is even better than I remember it. Even on a drizzly day you can enjoy the well maintained beds and borders. It is very "northwesty". The fuchsia garden will be amazing this summer. Today we saw lots of beautiful peonies, iris and rhodies. Highly recommend this. Cute little coffee shop & gift store. Plan to spend 1-2 hours here if you are a garden lover.

Absolutely gorgeous in mid-October with the fall colors. Definitely take the Ravine Experience trail. You will love it!

This was so beautiful. I'm not sure how it is all year round but when I visited here mid to late may, everything was in bloom! It is a must see if you like flowers!!

This garden is a treasure for Bellevue thanks to the many people that volunteer for hours to lovingly care for it. My husband and I have visited many times over many years and there is always something blooming or beautiful leaves changing color! Visit the garden anytime and you will be surprised and uplifted on how plants and trees can be so beautiful. Many of the plants are native or suited to the weather here so I go to get plant and landscape ideas for my garden. The garden store is always fun to check out their new merchandise.
The light show in late November and all of December is amazing as volunteers have spent hours making flowers out of different color lights. The creative displays cover almost the full garden. There's a dragon blowing smoke, a frog, swans and lots more hidden animals to find. Walking through the gardens around the Holidays, we hear so many foreign languages, that I know it must be a favorite for visiting friends and relatives.

They have set up a really neat light display throughout the gardens again this year. The aquarium display is especially well crafted. Fun for the kids too as they try to identify the light characters. Costs $5 for parking & $5 per adult. Go at night for best view and dress warm.

Pros: very attractive and educational, nice "green" oasis in suburban environment
Cons: none of significance- main trails can be a little hard to follow

There is a fair amount of traffic noise, but that's to be expected at a metro park, I suppose. The suspended bridge and Yao garden are especially nice. Really like the signs along the paths describing some of the plants and animals.

We had fun exploring this spot and would recommend. Nice shop, quiet trails and I love the fact that nature has been preserved here.

The most amazing wintertime light show! Young children and grandparents all love it. Make sure to find the time for this wonderful event. You will be happy you did!

This is a very nice place to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet near the city.

The gardens are beautiful and well maintained making it an enjoyable place to spend an hour or 2. The garden is about a 20 minute drive from Seattle. The admission is free and there is a cute little snack bar there where you can get a light lunch.

The place would be perfect if there were signs identifying the plants and flowers. Everyone wants to know what they are. The QR code system there does not offer specifics.

Visited on a Sunday afternoon and there was plenty of free parking. I have visited better botanical gardens, but this one was nice as well. Very peaceful and pretty. Unfortunately, the Japanese garden was closed. If you're in the area, it's worth a visit.

This is one of Bellevue's most beautiful sights, featuring an amazing array of flowers and trees. Coincidentally, it also has a great gift shop stocked with plant-related goods from local artisans. A must-see in Bellevue!

Absolutely beautiful, not alot of money to have a good time and that's hard to find now adays. Would absolutely recommend for family's visiting area

For a great evening of light exercise and viewing fun for the whole family Bellevue Botanical Garden is a must.
They also have great programs for children of all ages that are instructional and fun.

Took our 5 year old grandson. He loved the gorgeous flowers, the walk in the "woods" (Lost Meadow Trail), the waterfall, the rock garden and the café. We enjoyed the Fuchsia Garden and the Perennial Border. The free admission and free parking was a wonderful bonus.

I visited this garden years ago during Christmas time for their holiday lighting but never saw it during day time. This garden has free entrance on Mother's Day and my daughter took me there half hour after gate open. Rhododendron and iris were blooming. So were many different tree peonies and different flowers. Garden was well maintained.

I have visited many botanical gardens in various countries and the Bellevue Botanical Gardens is among the best. The parking is convenient, the buildings well designed and the gardens, which are set out in various categories, are very attractively planted and landscaped and are informative about the many species included.
There are open garden areas (eg, dry, rock gardens, vegetable gardens, flower gardens, Chinese garden, Japanese garden, ponds and waterfalls etc) and there are longer walks through forest areas.
We spent about 3 enjoyable hours in the gardens; and there are many pleasant spots to sit on benches among the planting and enjoy the views.
There is an information centre where there are interactive terminals with a lot of information about the plants, a small library of books and a very pleasant cafe. Gardeners can get many ideas and information leaflets from here and learn more about plants they are interested in.

As a Master Gardener, I found Bellevue Botanical Garden to be a beautiful retreat in the center of the city. The walking trails were well maintained and marked. There is a small restaurant on the premises for a scenic lunch overlooking the gardens. We took the self guided tour but I believe there are docents available for a better explanation of the plantings. You won't be disappointed if you enjoy lovely peaceful gardens.

My wife loves botanical garden and I love to photograph them. This place was awesome and free. You could spend several hours here.

Very good garden for children to investigate plants, structures etc. We took the grand daughter and spent two and a half hours there including a stop at the coffee place in the garden and the Japanese house for rest and snack stops for her. Fun if a little hot during mid-summer. A fun map for the children to find various plants and items within the gardens. We found it enjoyable.

Tucked into a quiet spot in Bellevue, my wife and I found a perfect spot for a walk after flying in to SeaTac. This garden has something for everyone. Rock gardens, local plants, and quiet loop trails that are serene and interesting to explore. There is even a suspension brigde over a ravine that gives you an idea of what the local topography looks like. Good for an hour or 4 hours on any day or season as each visit would be different. Offers lots of programs which, while we didn't get to try out, looked interesting and plans are to check schedule next time we are in the city. The spot even had a small coffee house on site that made excellent ice coffees to fuel our wallk. Should note that dogs are not allowed and some parts of the trails are hilly so plan accordingly. Check this garden out!!

A beautiful sanctuary in the city for a peaceful jog or finding a bench to relax and read. The coffee shop makes it extra special. Please drop something in their donation box to keep this place growing.

I love the botanical gardens. Its a beautiful place to hike/walk around, enjoying the flowers, trees, little bridges, etc. This place is gorgeous around the holidays when the garden is lit up in lights. Its stunning!

Family was not listed among the options for type of visit, however my daughter and I went to BBG for a few hours and had a great time! Just a great place to explore and you could easily spend all day there.
The suspension bridge was the best part for me, I think it brought out the kid in me.
It's free and a great place for family members to explore. I'll be back...

I had several hours before I had to be at the airport and it was a lovely, sunny morning. I chose to stop at the Bellevue Botanical garden and spent time walking the trails through Japanese gardens, a magnificent Rhododendron glen in full bloom, a native discovery garden, rock gardens and the ravine experience (with a fun swinging bridge). This garden is a tranquil spot, full of beauty, there is no cost for admission (although donations are appreciated) and it has a small but really wonderful shop for garden inspired gifts. The pictures speak louder than my words.

These botanical gardens were some of the nicest I have ever been to. The volunteer staff that work,there are extremely knowledgeable about the plants and their care. If we didn't have to catch a flight, we would have gladly spent more hours there enjoying the scenery and learning about the various species.

Wonderful place to take a walk, photograph nature, or find a hidden bench to read a book. Great year round

The best time to visit this garden is during the annual festival of lights, in which it's hung with an awe-inspiring number of lights. (Seriously, I don't know how many they are, but it's ~*amazing*~.)

During the rest of the year, though, it's pretty awesome, too! It's perhaps a square mile, with several different really gorgeous gardens. It's fun to wander around, lose yourself in, or show to visitors so they can appreciate the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. It's also free! Did I mention that? Great price point. :)

If you're visiting Seattle, I'm not sure I'd take a trip just to Bellevue to see this. But if you're planning to head onto the Eastside for another reason (visit to the Microsoft Campus? Visit to our super nice mall with the Tesla store?), I'd definitely take an hour to get outside, enjoy the sunshine, and visit this gem.

This is an amazing garden, with a vast variety of plants...primarily Pacific NW plants. It ranges from woodlands to a sunny perennial border to a Japanese garden - and much, much more. Everything is carefully planned and maintained. There are many places to sit and rest, or just enjoy the peace and beauty. My husband and I did have a problem with the phone scans, which (it seemed) did not specifically identify plants - I would have appreciated more individual ID stakes.(A scan just brought up a long list of plants at that particular location.) But overall it was time very well spent, and we look forward to seeing it in other seasons - I'm sure it will always be worth a visit!

My friend and I went to talk and see the gardens today and is lovely this time of year! I would also like to recommend the restaurant. We just had cold drinks but there is s lively menu very reasonably priced and espresso bar. I. Noticed a gift shop but we ended spending so much time checking out the plants we ran out of time!

Nestled within a quiet pocket of a bustling suburb, the Bellevue Botanical Gardens is a pleasant surprise. There are many pluses in its favor: it wins as a place for folks who love botany with a passion as well as for those preferring to take a stroll amid beautifully-maintained flora; there are probably 5-6 distinct gardens within the campus; photographers will find plenty of opportunities to create that home-made calendar; entry is free; there are classes in horticulture and other gardening topics.. the list goes on.

The Shorts House is a small but gorgeous testament to a caring couple whose legacy is the 50-odd acre property. Parking spots are adequate (I suspect it may be busy during summer weekends) and the visitor center is stocked with merchandise and wealth of information. Great place to visit.

It was amazing to experience during the winter light, the place was very well decorated, themes of animal decorated via light was nice. I would recommend folks to visit this place with kids or couple to enjoy the beauty of the place.

We had a magical evening viewing the amazing lights. There was a gingerbread village, coffee and cocoa stand. Every year they added more lights

Gardens. Woodlands. Suspension bridge over a ravine. Lots of benches. Well groomed trails. Ample parking. Restrooms. Gift Store. Coffee shop.

Nice trails, lovely gardens. Take a break in the city. Natural gardens, rock gardens, Japanese garden, sunny & water-wise gardens.

Don't come it's so peacefully hidden. :-) Who knew there was a beautiful garden so close to Downtown Bellevue. Great location for taking a walk on a sunny day. Long maze of trails and flowers all times of year. Not sure why I'm writing a positive review cause then more people will come and make the place busy.

A great stroll past thechinese garden to get to the bridge. Fun going over it. You
can get wobbly legs after crossing it.

My wife & I spent an hour of so walking around the Bellevue Botanical Gardens on a sunny afternoon mid week and loved it. We could have easily spent a lot more time wandering around and taking in the beauty but had a prior commitment. It is, as others have aptly described, a lovely urban oasis. We wish we could have walked around longer.

Loads of trails; great plant ideas for garden; peaceful; great every season including the days you bring the umbrella; live in the area so I go often; usually quiet; i like to avoid the events and go when it's not busy; gone alone; as couple; with family with young kids; met friends there...

I was so surprised by the beautiful gardens and natural areas at the botanical gardens. The gardens are free, donations accepted. There are quite a few varied areas with water sculptures and ponds, many places to sit and observe and there is also a lovely snack bar/ coffee shop with indoor and outside seating. A great place for a nature walk and/or a picnic!

Most certainly on the top of your list this is a must see in Seattle. I could have stayed all day. It just flows from one beautiful room of art to the next!

Private gardens donated to the city and improved quite a bit over time. Japanese garden, NW pants, water-wise. Great place to enjoy, learn & relax. The light show (Thanksgiving to Christmas) is a must.

No fees to visit.

We came across the botanical garden while out with friends one weekend. What a treat for eye, nose, and soul.

This is good park. We visited to view fall colours. This just started, hence we could not see fully. It has good trails. For nature loving good place.

The Bellevue Botanical Gardens are beautiful, well-maintained and fun to visit year round. This is simply a lovely day out with beautiful trails, even a swinging bridge! Stop by the gift store, enjoy a picnic lunch or stop by the coffee shop for a delicious latte and snack.

We went about 6:30 on Saturday night. It was already well attended but when we left at 7:45 the lines of cars were long to get in so we were glad we went earlier. Very well organized with designated paths and good flow of people. The displays were well placed and the lights were brilliant. The designs delightful and it was fun to spot the various animals and plants. Especially liked the quetzal and the garden with rabbit and strawberry plant. There were a couple places to stop if you needed an indoor break - the gift shop, coffee and cocoa, and a display of gingerbread houses. No trouble taking a stroller around.

I went there with a friend about ten days ago while I was visiting another friend in Seattle. It's great if you wanna spend half a day walking around beautiful plants. You can talk to your friends, while taking coffees or hot chocolates in the cafe. I like the cafe a lot as it's very cozy and the ambience is very nice. There are different trails and you can eventually walk to two lakes. The ravine experience is sth you should try.

It's a great park in the neighborhood. Enjoy!

The Botanical Garden is my absolute favorite place in Bellevue for beautiful flowers and shady walks. There is still no fee, but donations are appreciated. And now there is a super coffee bar with great coffee, delicious pastries, sandwiches and very friendly service. There are tables inside and quite a few outside to enjoy those items in gorgeous surroundings. And the prices are better than Starbucks.

A quite calm place with less crowd even on weekend . The place is atleast 17 acres and has a beautiful collection of flowers. Being spring time, it was beautiful being here.
Parking is available. Also a good place for photoshoots .

Kids are also permitted however no pets allowed.

The property is an old estate that had been donated to the city for a park. Since then, the mid century home has been added on to for park offices, a gift shop, etc. lovely gardens have been added and it is a wonderful place to go for a walk through the various types of gardens and wooded property. The Christmas season has a beautiful lighted garden display. There is good parking and it is not far from the downtown area.

It is nice place, but not as good as other Botanical Garden gardens I've seen in Vancouver or protland

This is a 'must go' for anyone interested in gardening, or a stroll through on nice paths, including a short forest setting with a super suspension bridge over a ravine. The visitor center has coffee and goodies for purchase or you can bring your own lunch. The gardening library is relaxing as well, and the gift shop is great for holiday shopping.

The Bellevue Botanical Garden was very pretty. It has different areas, and beautiful flowers. We were surprised that it is free (they have a donation box) and the parking is also free.

We've been here a few times during the Christmas season for its wildly popular evening Garden D'Lights, but this time we visited on a sunny October morning. Located in the heart of the city, the Bellevue Botanical Garden is an "urban refuge" beautifully maintained with walk-friendly paths throughout the main gardens. Also, a series of nature paths (Lost Meadow Trail) wind through the outer wooded areas leading down to the Yao Garden and then to the Suspension bridge (the Ravine Experience) and beyond. A nice surprise we found along the trail was “Night Blooming” - a unique structure built completely with salvaged timber.
The autumn season features a quieter but still lovely version of the perennial gardens, but it was fine timing for the dahlias - absolutely delightful with so many varieties and colors! We also had fun visiting the gift shop with its unique garden-themed items. Next door is a small coffee shop with a patio where we could enjoy our snack surrounded by the gardens. For regular day visits, both entrance and ample parking is free! But be aware that to preserve this unique retreat as “a safe place for people, plants and wildlife," no pets are allowed.

If you have spare time in Bellevue, the botanic garden is a very good place to relax. Beautiful gardens and very close to the city center.

If you want a nice walk in the woods right in the middle of Bellevue, this is the place to go. It is as close as you can get to being out in nature without leaving town.

Stunning FALL FOLIAGE!! So beautiful!! The Japanese garden had brilliant reds & pinks! The bridge was gorgeous! Lots leaves had fallen by 2nd week of Nov but still gorgeous!

It is the perfect place to go for a beautiful walk. I saw two deer one day. It has a great variety of plants that there is something wonderful every season.
At Christmas, the garden is alight with flowers made of lights. It is a wonderful treat!

It's a hidden gem in busy Bellevue. Very beautiful and serene. Not a tourist attraction, but a great place for you to relax and appreciate the natural beauty for an hour or so.

Just a very relaxing place to in joy my family . Quite and peaceful beautiful garden. It was reallly fun to see the bunnies running around by us.Love it Love it❤️

This garden is a lovely place to visit anytime. There are easy, accessible walks and some longer more advanced loops. Great spots for photos. Around Christmas the Garden D'lights is a beautiful outing for the whole family (but parking can be a challenge).

Bellevue Botanical Garden is a quite small but incredibly cute green oasis in the middle of Bellevue. Perfect for spending an hour or two even on a workday. They don't have much in terms of rare preserved flowers or plants but its pretty and peaceful there.

They have a wide range of gardens so wear good walking shoes. If you like hummingbirds this is the place to see them. The gardens offer a wide variety of plants and are well cared for. A nice place to get away from it all. There are public bathrooms.

Great time taking beautiful pictures gorgeous setting-all the kids enjoyed it and best of all it's free! Be sure to visit during Christmas time when they have the festival of lights

Best Running Trails in town. Beautiful flower arrangements and awesome forest to enjoy during an early morning run.

We've attended the Bellevue Botanical Gardens every year for the past several years and 2016 has been the best so far! Spectacular lights, beautiful setting, and easy access. We always try to arrive early in the evening when its just dark enough for the lights to pop and the crowds are light.

Went to this fabulous and innovative idea for Christmas lights. Was amazed at all that could be done with lights! (Don't want to spoil it for you all next year with too many details) Took our baby granddaughter and she loved it too. Easy to get around and wonderful treats to enjoy. Highly recommend for all ages. Not too long so all stayed interested.

We enjoyed our visit and the beautiful walking paths. Our group decided to visit after reading other positive reviews on tripadvisor and we were not disappointed! The dahlia garden was a particular highlight. The sun came out as we meandered through both gardens and natural landscapes making the visit - and our pictures! - that much nicer.

The most wonderful Botanical Garden...great descriptions of all the plants...one of best I have experienced...Not to miss. go early so you can spend the day...

Grab a coffee and enjoy a pleasant stroll through the gardens and trees. We visited mid-summer so most of the spring flowers were unfortunately done and gone, non the less, a nice reprieve form the crazy traffic and busy downtown Seattle scene. The suspension bridge was a nice feature and great for photos as was the beehive(?) structure.

This is an amazing place to reflect on anything you need to. It's quiet and with ample to see. Just take in your surroundings and enjoy. Also they have an AMAZING lighted garden at the holidays that EVERYONE should see at least once.

The Autumn splendor was fantastic! Colored leaves on a bright sunny day, combined with one of the most extensive (and labeled!) array of fuschias I have ever seen! The paths allowed for a good walk, and the cafe was a nice touch for those who wanted a cup of coffee. Another gorgeous place that is free! I can imagine what the rhododendrons will look like in the Spring. A volunteer working in the maple tree area was very welcoming and informative. Her pride in the Gardens reflected the beauty of the place. What wonderful way to spend a couple of hours!

The Bellevue Botanical Garden is a wonderful place to go to spend some time with beauty and nature. Everything is very well kept and beautiful. There is a new coffee stand in the center that makes fantastic coffee Highly recommend a stop on your way thru the gardens.

This garden is very beautiful. Its not big, but its aplus in such places. It has this huge hidden bridge and in December its amazing

If you want a relaxing afternoon stroll head to the Bellevue Botanical Garden. It's so peaceful within the city. Parking is easy and the gift shop is inviting.

A free attraction with information regarding the plants and flowers around every corner. A nice and peaceful place to visit any time.

Bellevue Botanical Garden was just delightful. Serene, beautiful, easy to navigate, AND free of charge. (Thank you powers-that-be!) I recommend 100%.

Beautiful botanical garden in Bellevue -- free admission. Lovely walks among typical Pacific Northwest foliage -- in the spring, tulips, daffodils, etc. A cool suspended bridge over a ravine. Well maintained garden donated by a charitable couple. They visited Japan and the garden includes a Japanese garden with a pond and beautiful Japanese maples.

I was most recently here in July 2018, April 2018 previous most recent visit.
Spring is definitely the peak time but truly all year round it is a beautiful place to take a walk.

Beautiful botanic garden close to downtown Bellevue. Worth a visit alone, as a couple, or with kids.

I cannot believe in the middle of the city we have this treasure garden. It is big enough to do a long walk. It is quiet with a very interesting house as a coffee shop. It also has education center and winderful people.

So gorgeous. You can’t understand unless you’ve seen it for yourself. It’s like a wonderland of lights. Many of the flowers made of lights are recognizable: delphiniums; daisies; hollyhocks; lupines. Keep your eyes open for odd little details that are snuck in: creatures made of lights. There might be a snail, rabbit, crocodile, spider, or banana slug hidden among the flowers of lights.

Warning!always seems to be extremely crowded.

During the winter the Botanical Gardens are transformed into a magical light show! Lights are sculpted into beautiful flowers, trees, critters and more. Wander along well designated paths to discover surprises around every corner. A must for the holidays!

If you visit the Seattle area in December the Bellevue Botanical Garden features a very good holiday lights display throughout its grounds. Combine a stroll there with a visit to the ever expanding Bellevue Collection of shops and restaurants and you've got an evening on the Eastside planned.

Not sure what I was expecting after the cold weather that the Seattle area has had recently but the gardens were lacking what you would expect. However, in 3 months they will be gorgeous.

Wonderful gardens and ponds and ever changing. I would go back many times if
possible. High tea just adds to charm of the gardens and gives one a place
to take a break while enjoying the latest the gardens has to offer.

Beautiful. Short level walks for those that don’t like hills. But much nicer and longer if you can handle hills. Quite spectacular!!!

We went to the Garden on a lovely bright day and so could walk around comfortably. The Botanical Garden in Bellevue is a 50+ acre park which has been beautifully laid out. There is an immense variety of beautiful flowers in bloom. Benches and seats are available all over the park if one wants to just sit and soak in nature

The Ravine Experience is a nature trail that meanders thru unique topography and soaring conifers, big-leaf maple and the western red cedar. You get to cross a small bridge suspended over a creek as you walk down the ravine.

The Botanical Garden is indeed a place worth visiting and spending time in

This Botanical Garden has certainly transformed over the past 10 years. The new layout focuses attention to incorporating predominantly native plants and it is exceptional! I could spend the entire morning just walking in and out of each of the beautifully planned garden vignettes.

We found this lightship on TripAdvisor and thought we would give it a try. Wow, it was surely popular with lots of people. However, no line-ups and people, are strolling through the garden watching all the beautiful light creations at their own pace. The imagination of the artists is great and the arrangements of the lights to make them look like different flowers and creatures are very artistic. Great to walk with little children as well as all ages. Doesn't take long if you are in a hurry or you can stroll as long as you want. You can also buy hot drinks and cookies there. They even had a live performance with flutes when we were there. Very talented children.

It was very nice, but I thought for the price the value could have been better! However, there were some interesting and unique plants to spend some time studying. Overall, it was very enjoyable!

We strolled throughout the gardens enjoying the afternoon. Beautiful plants and lots to look at. Make sure to download a scanning app to your phone so you can use it on the informational placards along the paths. I didn't have it at the time and can't wait to go back and try it now that I downloaded it. The kids enjoyed wandering along with us too.

To be honest, I really don't want to write this review. This is such a gem in the middle of a huge city that I'd rather not have more people visit it. Ok, now that the selfishness is over, you MUST visit here. It's a great place for walking, exploring, picture taking, romantic adventures. Just don't get lost like we did trying to find the exit!

We visited (cameras in hand) early on a Sunday morning. Many photographers there enjoying the flowers. Paths not huge, so runners need to keep eyes open.

We went to garden de lights during our stay in bellevue. It was pretty small but great displays! Would be pretty impressive as a young child, and they had a little check off map for kids to find all the animals. Worth the $5 for sure, but don't expect large grand displays.

20 min from airport with gravel paths.
Tall trees, azaleas, fuscias, irises and peaceful sitting areas to relax or read a book
Free!!!

Gorgeous garden, great afternoon outing. We really enjoyed our visit and were pleasantly surprised to find the admission was free.

Recently renovated and always expanding the Botanical Gardens always delight young and old. We've gone there so many times and always have a wonderful expierence. Don't miss the christmas lights which are artfully put up each year. Be sure to make a donation to keep the place beautiful. There are paths tucked away that you might miss, like the one that goes across the bridge into more of a forest-feel - look for the gnomes hidden around.

It's rare to have a beautiful garden just steps from the heart of a city, and the Bellevue Botanical Garden is just that! Visitors have the opportunity to learn as much as they like from the online plant data base as well as through classes and lectures. I'm proud to have signed up for a membership in order to support a garden that is open and free to the public 365 days a year.

We only spent an hour here due to dinner plans. Very few people were here on a Saturday at 3:30pm. Parking was easy and free. On the map, there are many trails. We decided to take the closest one to the entrance. It was very quiet and beautiful. This was relaxing after being in the craft fair crowd earlier. However, we could not take the time to sit on benches and appreciate the scenery. Allow yourself more than one hour to walk this place.

We visited twice during our visit to the Bellevue area. Signage on the (perfectly maintained) trails could be a teeny bit better (I used my Strava map to make sure we weren't veering off course, on our first visit, because we had a time constraint) but overall it was great, especially the suspension bridge at "The Ravine Experience". :-) Highly recommended!

This facility was old and wonderful. Now there is a big building and many of the flower exhibits are gone. While the park is still expansive, the planning was not done very well.

The Garden d'Lights was a most fantastic experience this year - we haven't been able to come for a few years, and were happy to be able to go. It is very well organized and easy to find your way. The new café area was nice to get something hot to drink and they had a lighted winter village displayed. We went around two times to make sure we didn't miss anything! The children around us found all the "animals" before the adults did, much to our delight.
Parking was offered onsite for $5, but we parked just a few steps away in a free lot.

The Bellevue Botanical Garden is a wonderfully located, mid size garden with a nice variety of settings. Educational in that it offers different kinds of horticultural applications focusing on water management, specific plants or other features. There is a coffee shop in a former home offering indoor and outdoor seating and a nice variety of teas, coffees and mostly sweet snacks.

The wooded area offers a relaxed walking experience and plenty of shade on a hot summer day. There is also a miniature Japanese style garden. One of the best parts of the garden is something that it owes due to its location: very little overhead airplane noise. Overall a very enjoyable experience for both a short and longer visit.

Have been twice to the Bellevue Botanical Garden this year (once in June when down for a Mariners game and just in August before a trip to Alaska) both times found it a very refreshing place to enjoy a walk and see some great flora and fauna. We also saw a big buck deer walking around this time! Worth a visit

Foremost, thanks to the volunteer for the painstaking labor of love to give kids something to look forward to during the festive season.

Since these lights are set up by amateurs , leave your expectations at home. If you are here without young kids you might do this once in your life unless you have visitors from out of town who are seeking some nightlife outdoors that is not sports or drinks.

All said, there are streams of cars waiting to place to park to come see the lights . Once is sufficient for me in a lifetime and $5 goes to worthy causes.

Well worth the price to check this place out! Spent almost a hour walking around it. It was on my top things to do, wasen't a fav until I got there to check thigns out

As a gardener, it is nice to walk the gardens year round to watch and learn what is doing well in various conditions. It takes a long time and planning to develop grounds like this where it always seems to be so well kept. A jewel of Bellevue and King County. Good for your soul.

A wonderful place for walks close to the city centre. If you need to forget about everyday problems just go and enjoy the view.

This place is huge. Extremely neat and tidy, and just a wonderful place to explore. This time of year there was an abundance of hydrangeas, dahlias and many other summer bloomers.
The walk through the ravine is fantastic as is the Japanese garden.
During the day there is free admission and parking.
A Bellevue masterpiece.

It was a beautiful morning of garden walking with friends. The grounds are so lovingly maintained. The landscape is so NW!

This is a beautiful place to wander for an hour or two, free, and close to downtown Bellevue. We went in early May when the rhododendrons and azaleas were in bloom, then 3 weeks later for the irises. Now I want to go back when more of the fuchsia are blooming.

Gorgeous park (though quite small) with a variety of plants and flowers. Especially pretty during the summer time and during the winter, when they do "Garden De'Lights". It's a Christmas light installation. Gorgeous!

As a Bellevue native, in my book the top two places for out-of-towners to visit here are the Bellevue Downtown Park and the Bellevue Botanical Garden (unless you're a shopper, in which case Bellevue Square is also key). These botanical gardens are well-established and have been continually upgraded over the years. A wooden suspension bridge spans a classic Northwest ravine, with cool shadows and mature trees. Christmastime brings a mammoth light exhibit, when most of the plants are draped with millions of colored lights - a popular spectacle for both locals and visitors. Springtime brings beautiful rhododendron blooms. Note that the gardens are located across the freeway from the rest of downtown, so keep that in mind when visiting.

The Bellevue Botanical Garden is a nice and relaxing place to visit on any day, even in the rain. I know they have some educational tours on occasion but I usually just go there to see what's blooming and to take photos as I fancy. In the winter, they have a holiday light display at night. That can be quite busy at times but plan ahead and your partner will be sure to appreciate your romantic side.

We were in town for my sons surgery at Overlake Medical Center and found this Beautiful spot a short drive away from our hotel and the hospital. We came her on three separate occasions to just unwind and be one with nature. The grounds are incredibly beautiful and well maintained and after hiking around the various trails I highly recommend a Vanilla Chai Latte (Warm on a cool day, Iced on a warm day) at the Coffee Shop in the center of the gardens. A definite don't miss location for nature lovers!

Beauty and quiet in beautiful Bellevue. From the inquisitive hortorculturalist, to the home gardener, or the health conscious just looking for a very "zen" close-in-to-the-city walk, this place has it all. Great informational programs and places to sit and contemplate nature with a beverage. And make sure you visit in winter for the amazing lights at night!

I have been coming here since 1990 and every year there have been improvements in design, variety of plants and interpretive materials. Today it has even exceeded its past treatments, with expanded trails, cell phone activated labels, and a huge variety of late summer and Fall plants, including natives. A lovely gift shop, coffee shop, periodic plants sales, and Garden De Lights over the Christmas holidays...spectacular ! For visitors and residents alike this garden is not to be missed. Great volunteer opportunities are available here as well.

This garden was so beautiful I had a hard time leaving. And before I left, I bought a membership just so I could get a copy of the picture book. It's a must-see attraction. And I heard at Christmas they light up the entire garden...I will go back just for that experience.

Earlier this year my husband attended at conference at the Microsoft main campus, I joined him for the trip and explored the area a bit on my own. I visited the Bellevue Botanical Garden and was quite impressed.
There were multiple areas in these gardens: Spring Courtyard, Rock Garden, Waterwise Garden, Fuchsia Garden, Ground Cover Garden, Yao Garden, Rhododendron Glen, Nature Discovery Garden, The Ravine Experience, and several trails. Some gardens had lots of flowers, others were more about feeling surrounded by nature. The Japanese Garden was smaller than I would have hoped but had curving trails along a stream with maple trees and Japanese lanterns.
The Lost Meadow trail is just 1/3 mile and takes you to the suspension bridge which is quite pretty.
There was plenty of parking and when you enter there is a store and visitor center which is open from 9 am to 4 pm daily. The gardens themselves are open from dawn to dusk and there is no admission fee though several places where you are encouraged to make a donation, which I did.
It wasn't very crowded on my visit though it was around 3:30 pm on a weekday and it was quite quiet. The gardens were close enough to a street that I heard cars once, but overall it felt serene and peaceful. I am so glad I visited these gardens.

Very nice outdoorsy walk.. it's a nice walk, a bit long.. nice for some pictures, especially at the bridge

This park has plenty of room to roam. A real gem close to the big city. Calm with plenty of flowers and trees and walking trails. And it is FREE.

The garden is a great place for a retreat from the busyness of the day. Nice trails in the area too.

This is a beautiful refuge in a busy urban area. Well worth an hour or more to enjoy the woods and gardens. The "ravine experience" suspension bridge was great, as it doesn't have the sway that makes so many of them uncomfortable.

My family and I enjoyed a lovely walk through the gardens. The plants and flowers are so beautiful and peaceful. The bridge and little river running through is calming. You see all kinds of birds, but I'm sure you'd see all kinds of wildlife as you make your way from one end of the gardens to the other. A very nice and quiet walk enjoyed by all.

Wonderful place to wander and enjoy all the plants and flowers. Lots of little trails. Sit and enjoy the Coffee shop!

Botanical garden is located in Bellevue area. The garden includes display of woodlands, meadows, a variety of plant species, wetlands, gardens, etc.
Entry to garden is free and it is open all the day.
Highly recommended place to be visited while in Seattle.

I always take house guests here especially those people who love plants. They all rave about this place. I also take guest during the holidays when they have the lights. It is amazing.

I loved the Japanese garden. I loved the little details of the original owners (the gnome door was a door to the root cellar). I loved the hybrid rhododendron "Harriet". I was sorry the Native Plants path was closed. Specialized gardens like the rock garden and other spaces are available. I liked seeing the girls in graduation robes taking pictures, and the little restaurant and coffee house in the original home is charming.

If you are new at gardening or been at for awhile, there is something to learn at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens. Friendly, knowledgable people. Went in for a class, end of joining. Additional plus is a discount at some
Local nurseries

clean & enjoyable. easy to access and no reservations required. inexpensive daytrip. My wife particularly enjoyed as she is a water color artist and she was able to photograph many things to paint.

I visit often as I own a small garden design/horticultural therapy business. This is a great place to see a variety of plants and go for a walk. It is a treat any time of the year and has a lighted Christmas display that is great for the family. All of the plants are identified, they have a nice little gift shop, and a lovely meeting space where I have attended lectures and gone to meetings.

Unexpectedly nice place to visit right in Bellevue. Main garden area was had nice variety of beautiful flowering plants. Nice shop to purchase coffee and enjoy it on the patio area. Wooded trails to meander along if you are so inclined. No charge to enter. Would be a great place to spend an extended lunch hour if you work nearby.

We had some time to burn so decided to stop here. We were pleased with the unexpected size of this park! Spent a very enjoyable 4 hours wandering the beautiful grounds!

We were in Bellevue visiting family over the holidays and enjoyed seeing the gorgeous lights at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens! I loved that it was 100% stroller/wheelchair accessible and could go around more than once! Great giftshop and friendly staff/volunteers. Definitely our favorite activity in Bellevue, my only gripe is the weather- it was raining, but that is typical for the area! Definitely recommend and very affordable!

Washington should protect its land more than ever. This garden is huge - I'd call it mini forest. It's beautiful just like others described. Sad thing is there are so many active construction happening around this garden. They chop trees down here and there. Go to Bellevue/Lincoln square, or Bravern square, do you spot any trees? You'll feel sunburn on your skin walking around those areas. Shades come only from tall buildings. The city quickly turn to tree-less expensive to live place. Sad...

Great place to get outside and see great flora and fauna. They also do an amazing job decorating the gardens with lights during the holiday season.

We've been to botanical gardens around the country and the Bellevue Botanical Garden was one of our top picks. Not only is this gem free, it has a gorgeous and interesting mixture of perennials in fantastic combinations. The lunch cafe was good also.

Pretty gardens with winding paths and beautiful water features. Plants and display are so well done. Very relaxing way to spend a few hours. Accessible paths as well for strollers and wheelchairs.

We discovered this hidden gem near beautiful Downtown Bellevue that is well worth the trip. Parking is free as is admission to the grounds. I would say it's friendly for kids, families, the elderly, is accessible and a treasure for NW garden lovers. Walk the paths, take classes, shop the garden boutique, be inspired by the creative use of local plant species and enjoy a GREAT cup of coffee from their coffee house with both indoor and outdoor seating. Baked goods are from the local bakery, Macrina, and the excellent coffee is from The Sleepy Monk out of Cannon Beach, Oregon. Enjoy the respite of peace, beauty and a bit of Seattle's famous repast--coffee and pastries : )

Beautiful garden grounds, with lots of wooded trails & flower beds that aren't showy but add splashes of color to the greenery. Land is on the side of a hill, so be aware as you're walking down than you'll need to walk back up. Parking was at a premium on Labor Day, and the main lot looks too small even for a busy weekday. I dropped my wife off at the garden entrance (no admission fee - much appreciated) and parked down the hill on a school property. The gift shop is small but has quality product, and the attendant was very friendly. Bellevue Garden is worth a stop & a stroll if you have an hour or two to spare when you're in the vicinity.

As someone wrote, it is a beautiful respite in Bellevue and free. You can get lost somehow because there are many trails within the trails and very wooded in some places. There are some point of interests such as a garden akin to a Japanese garden.
The companion who went with me started by saying that there were bear sighting nearby the garden, which got me off the wrong way. I started looking over my shoulders since there are places where you may not see any other human beings.
I quickly got over my fear because the serenity and tranquil nature of this place and a lot of beautiful plants and flowers. At the top of the hill and almost back at the starting point, there is a small coffee shop, which ended my visit to the garden at a high note drinking coffee with a muffin.
There are classes on gardening and other side activities geared towards grown ups and children as well.
Recommend it highly, if you have 1-2 hours of free time. There aren't too many places of interests in Bellevue in any case unless you go lakeside on a boat, so why not!

A visit to the Bellevue garden kickstarted a day's sightseeing in Seattle and got our day off to a great start.

There was plenty of variety between the gardens, woodlands and wetlands and the whole area is cared for and presented to a high standard.

It's a delightful, restful place that we really enjoyed strolling in.

We would have loved to have spent more time there but there were other places we wanted to visit as well.

Title says it all! Close to downtown. Been here many times usually for the lights but well kept and very accessible.

The botanical gardens had to be one of our top highlights from our trip. It started with a 7 acre donation by the former owners, the Shorts, who lived on the grounds and through additional acquisitions by the city it evolved into the gardens of today..

The Shorts left behind their house, now converted into a coffee shop (and the only place open due to COVID), Rhododendron Grove (their favorite) and more. It’s amazing what they did.

The Tateuichi Viewing Platform was an open air wooden structure that offered some protection from the cold but was a great spot to rest and take in the garden views.

From here we made our way across a small babbling stream down towards a smaller viewing area over a pond being filled by a waterfall.

Nearby was the gnome house (an old root cellar). You could make a small game or challenge by having your kids search for it (we walked by it twice) or even add to it by looking out for a sculptures randomly scattered about.

Yao Garden was a beautiful Japanese inspired garden that demonstrated how a storm water detention site (per signage)can be incorporated invisibly. The other gardens of note were Rock, Fuchsia and the Perennial Border.

The riot of the fall colors were so beautiful here and the huge variety of plants, flowers and trees offered a lot for the eye to see and enjoy.

We did not get to make it to the ravine experience so will come back for the suspension bridge on the next visit. We’ll definitely wear more comfortable shoes then.

Free admission and free parking.

We spent three consecutive winter at the garden for the d'light photography. Really cool. It's been 12 years since we last took pictures of me pregnant.

Summer time is simply gorgeous. It has everything for everybody. They added a cafe in which i am yet to visit but I'd like to go there to support their new addition.

Walking in the trail in the midst of busy day is awesome. A park in the city.

I come all year round to this place. Spring to see the flowers blooming and the bird nests being built. Summer to hear the birds and frogs, Fall to see the leaves changing and winter to see the holiday lights. If you just want to chill out and take a walk in the woods you would NEVER know its so close to a freeway, you cannot hear the traffic. Great walk with or without strollers. Kids love to see the waterfalls and fish. just come and enjoy!

Great gardens with both formal planting & wider natural areas. Small Japanese garden. Tap & discover plant identification on the phone . Small onsite shop with separate cafe. Free parking.

Lovely autumn stroll through the gardens. Super peaceful with beautiful foliage with all autumn colours. Highly recommended for a few hours escape into the nature. Easily accessible and fun for all ages.

The trails here are lovely, a bit like a mini-, mini- Olympic peninsula tour. The trails here also connect to a greater trail system and parks.

We spent an hour wandering the shady paths, so beautiful & peaceful. It is free entrance & parking. I envy those who live nearby who can enjoy this gem of a site year round!

We were staying in Bellevue and needed something to do with a 2-year-old on a Sunday morning. The botanical garden opens early, so we headed that way. We had a nice walk. It is lovely, but there was less to catch your eye than you might expect. The water features and Japanese garden were the highlights.

Onine, I kept on seeing Holiday d'lights as a winter activity to do with the family. So we went and I really not impressed. They charged $5 per person older than 10. Once we went in, the lights were quite a sight but only lasted 10 minutes because then, we hit the exit. In my opinion, it wasn't the best useeof our time.

A beautiful place with a variety of well-kept gardens, waterfalls, forests, sculptures, and scenic views across the city of Bellevue. Summer is full of fragrances. Winter shares the excitement of the Festival of Lights celebration with holiday lights that mimic the plants and animals you'll find in the garden during the warmer months of the year.

My wife and I visited the popular botanical gardens this month. Now, for a guy like me to say that it was a spectacular place to visit, is rare. Good crowd, great surroundings and the price was very reasonable. Canada is a great country, and a great ally.

A must see if you like nature. Oh, don't forget the ice cream on the premises. We used a cab to get us there and it cost around 50 Canadian dollars from Victoria. There is no Uber service available in Victoria, but there're working on it.

OK, after hearing about this place for many years my expectations were rather high. Having reviewed Renton's Kubota Gardens, a few years ago, and having been to The Buchart Gardens, and VanDuesin Gardens up in British Columbia on several occasions, I expected a true delight. Not really. Pretty darn commercial, with restaurant, store etc. Honestly plants that I see walking around my neighborhood. Nothing special or spectacular, and yes we went there in season. If you live in a apartment or condo in downtown Bellevue it would be a nice little escape in city. Don't waste your time driving there otherwise.

It is very pretty there, especially when they put the lights up in the winter. The suspension bridge is very nice, and there are many good opportunities to take photos. It is also very nice to run here.

Garden Delights hosted in winters is a beautiful light display and have hunt activities for kids too. Overall a "Should Visit" for watching the lights.

This was about my 3rd visit to their Christmas light show.

The garden is decorated with lights in fanciful shapes depicting plants, waterfalls, birds and insects.

This is a fun activityfor the whole family to do in an evening over the holidays.

This was a lovely find, a pleasant surprise to find not far from the hotel. Not crowded on a the week day I went. Beautiful flowers, they serve Sleepy Monk Coffee which is the best.. only down side was the gift shop was not open even though the doors hours showed that it should be.

Can access by bus from center of Bellevue, followed by steep walk up. Then get to walk through series of well-shaded gardens and mini-woods for at least 1 hour. Nice bridge, Japanese garden. There is coffee shop but closes early. Nice get-away from bustle of Bellevue.

If you are in the Bellevue area, and have some time to truly relax and enjoy a sampling of Mother Nature, the Bellevue Botanical Garden is one of the most relaxing and peaceful venues of which I am aware -- ANYWHERE.

Volunteers continually maintain this facility - and their love for botany/beauty shows. The paths are easy to maneuver and for those with mobility issues, these by-ways are very gradual and easy to travel.

Aside from the well-managed flowers/plants, these paths include some unique and beautiful trees, which provide a break from the hustle and bustle of Washington's second-largest city. The Municipality itself supports this little haven, although the majority of the support comes from civic donations.

During the Christmas Holiday period, these volunteers go well out of their way to provide a pleasant, colorful environment to stroll through and provides a special treat for young ones. My Grandkids have grown up enjoying these diverse paths and displays.

Will definitely go again. Gorgeous. Free. The bridge was awesome. Cute gift shop. I'm sure it looks different every season.

This is the first time my husband and I have gone to see the Garden d’Lights. It was a beautiful evening so we walked through several times. I had visited the Butchart Garden last December which was spectacular but Bellevue has done a spectacular job too on a smaller scale. I hope that this now will be an annual event for us.

Whether you love hiking, have a peaceful time or be with the family out, this place is an amazing spot. Located at the heart of Bellevue, you will feel that you have been suddenly teleported.

This place is simply beautiful. They have a beautiful variety of flowers and trees. The lawn is lovely. There is a rest room and a gift store. During winter they have garden of lights.. that's truly wonderful. They do have a very good coffee shop inside the garden, It's called "Copper Kettle Coffee Bar" is a very lovely coffee shop. Sipping a warm cup of cocoa and enjoying the beautiful garden on a quite sunny afternoon is amazing.

This was our second visit to the Christmas Lights in the Bellevue Botanical Gardens.It was still wonderful. Our now 3 yr old granddaughter was amazed and found it all delightful. We had fun drinking our hot chocolate, looking at the displays and drinking it all in. Thank you and please keep it up and growing!!!!!!!!

I was visiting in mid May 2017. It was late spring, and the flowers were all blooming. It is one of the best attraction in Seattle.

Beautiful park like so many in the area. There was an art fair the day we visited which was very nice. Would recommend a visit if in the Bellevue area. Admission was free the day we went.

The Bellevue Botanical Garden wraps the traditional garden experience into a modern, welcome and inspirational package. I enjoy visiting any time of year if only as part of a mindfulness routine. The only downside of winter is increased noise penetration from the nearby 405 freeway due to a lack of an artificial soundbarrier. In other seasons natural foliage brings welcome relief. The advantage of the BBG is that is not, unlike other gardens in the Seattle area, directly in an airport flightpath.

The beauty of BBG is that it offers so many different things in a relatively condensed amount of acreage: educational facilities and tours, an incredible variety of flora including one area with over 700 border plants and flowers, various landscape settings including a wooded area with a real ravine and a miniature Japanese garden, many different walkways, an authentic gift shop and a coffee bar (the latter with more limited opening hours compared to the garden itself).

The BBG lends itself to photo opportunities, for moments of contemplation, and for volunteering in one of the many gardening related work areas. Sometimes exercise enthusiasts mistake the garden for next door’s Willburton Park so hopefully the Garden management will post signs like they have for dogs that jogging is not allowed.

The BBG is ideal for a quick break in a busy schedule, for an educational visit with children and for a leisurely Sunday afternoon stroll plus much more. Highly recommended.

Well maintained place with free entry and parking. Themes gardens and lot of walkways to explore. Good for long walks. I've attended the lighting they have during Christmas. Looks cool but I prefer the natural garden during the day better.

So many plants and flowers with so many informative cues you truly can get lost in this beautiful wonderland. Came on a date with the hope of being able to spend about 20 minutes, but to my amazement I was able to spend close to an hour and a half learning and discovering all sorts of Flora

What a pleasant surprise this garden turned out to be! We loved meandering through the paths and discovering different gardens, like the Japanese, Native, etc.

The Cherry Blossom trees were absolutely stunning as we were there in April!

Bellevue Botanical Garden is scenic and free. The Fuchsia Garden and Perennial Border Garden are particularly interesting.

For soul satisfaction
The people who loves nature beauty should visit there as much as they can
Beautiful place

The Bellevue Botanical gardens host the Garden D’Lights every Christmas season!!! Entrance is $5.00!! So enjoyable for every age. Wear boots (muddy) and take a hot cup of coffee!!!

Quite close to downtown, up a hill, and just south of the Bellevue School District building, this is a lovely garden with nice views (flowers and otherwise) and well cared for walkways and gardens. It's very peaceful "up there."

The closest that public transportation gets is to take a Metro #271 from downtown Bellevue, then walk up the hill, then head east at the north side of the first traffic light...the latter has no sidewalk for part of it, but once you're past that segment, safely cross the street to join up with one of the paths around the gardens. In about five minutes, you'll reach the main building for the gardens. It will be on your right.

We came for the lights and were not disappointed. They have a great light show and are very detailed. Our 17 month old daughter enjoyed it so much. This is a must see during the Christmas season. We will be back to check it out without the lights as well.

We’ve been going to the Garden DeLights show for many years at the Bellevue Botanical Garden. During construction a few years ago the display was limited and sub-par. But this year is easily their best ever! Nicely re-arranged route, lots of new light displays, and plenty of whimsical “creatures” along the way! It’s amazing what the volunteers are able to create every year. If you haven’t seen it this year you simply must go before the end of the season!

Caution!! Car Prowl Area!!! We parked our car in the first row today without any valuables in sight around mid-morning. When we returned after walking around the garden our car's lock was bent out of shape and the lock was no longer functional. It appears someone jammed a screwdriver and broke the lock's pins. No valuables were stolen, but the lock will be a bit pricey to repair.

As stated on the website FAQ please make sure to take all belongings with you. This was very unexpected and hopefully some security can be placed during daytime in future.

Beautiful urban botanical gardens in the heart of Bellevue. Nice walking paths with beautiful footbridge.

It's clear a lot of time is spent creating these clusters of lights into something more magical. It changes year to year, and unfortunately, it seems to get a little smaller every few years. Nonetheless, it's worthwhile to go and gaze at these wonderful works of light art.

We love walking through this garden which also has a forest trail complete with gnomes! The plants are pretty, so much better than our desert landscape, so lush and green. The fall colors were beautiful! Worth the detour!

Having panned the Bellevue Botanical Garden as of my visit there in 2016, five years have passed, and a recent visit there was so very heartwarming. These Botanical Gardens are finally well worth the trip and I can only say bravo to all the botanists and planters involved. So many interesting plants, more walkways, larger Alpine garden, and lots of things in bloom! I'm eager to go again! So, everyone please go out to Bellevue and support their fine program!!

One great thing about this garden is that you can spend one hour, or three hours, it's up to your interest and activity level. It's rewarding no matter how much time you have to make the visit.

The day was sunny and bright and we couldn't get to Victoria due to time constraints. I had heard about this garden so off we went. Tucked away in a residential neighborhood is this large and beautiful garden. We were blown away by the size, the variety, the beauty and it's free. What? Yes, free. Speaking for May only, everything was blooming. The paths are easy to walk, many are paved. There are some nice nature walks through the forest, over a sturdy suspension bridge and loop back around. We saw several of the local birds called out on signs around the park as well. There's also a Japanese garden that's lovely and a few nice water features. The gift shop had some unique gift items. Highly recommend for a nice walk and great garden. If you enjoy this type of walk and garden, allow a couple hours so you're not rushed.

Recognizing the various plants and finding the little insects and animals created with lights in each setting is just part of the fun that makes this winter light event a charming and original holiday walk for families and "children" of all ages!

The kids suggested we go here and they were right. We're big plant folks and this place was just amazing! Clean, well kept and just gorgeous plants and settings. Nice gift shop, free parking and everything was labeled though a lot of signs require a smart phone with a code scanner. Walk length varies but nothing too taxing and dogs were not welcome.

Went with the family with two kids and not only is it nicely kept and pristine, its a good walk for the family to walk off that dinner~ and its free

My wife and I love taking walks in the Botanical Garden in Bellevue...especially in the Spring time when new buds are popping and the place comes alive. We enjoy most anytime in the garden for quiet strolls of reflection and discussions on upcoming plans. We always leave the garden refreshed and energized. Thank you BBG for the calm you bring to our lives.

We went for a short hike and it was great. We spent over and hour and everyone in our group including 4 yr old enjoyed. The Japanese garden is awesome. They is a bridge over a creek which is dramatic and very enjoyable. We learned a lot about history in that area and how trees nurse and help each other grow. Highly recommend.

I discovered this gem with my sister - in- law when we were both here on business from eastern Canada and Midwest US a year ago. When I returned to Seattle for a business trip this week, it was one of the first places I wanted to visit. I love gardens and this one - free and open 365 days of the year - is such a treat - a quiet oasis really in the heart of the city. There are So many interesting varieties of perennials and huge sizes of blooms it leaves you wanting to return again and again. I have already been 3x in 3 days this trip. Every flower is exquisite and yet the planting is arranged in such a natural English garden sort of way. Volunteers keep things weeded and pruned. Some plants are for sale but sadly I can’t get them back to OH.
I encountered one of the helpful paid staff, Alex, who was more than happy to walk around with me and show me and explain about some of my favorite varieties. He gave me some tips as to where I could visit other gardens - specifically for iris varieties.
Make a visit to these gardens part of your itinerary for things to do in Seattle. You won’t be disappointed. I just wish I could return every season. So far it’s been June 15 2 years in a row!

Maybe it's the time in the year we went. There was nothing to write home about. There is a suspension bridge that is worth a pic and there were barely any flowers.

A paradise for teens to pose for was other with bridges, small waterfalls, big rocks and, oh yea, plants.

Bellevue Botanical Garden is located on a slope not far from downtown Bellevue and is beautiful almost all year around. It is lit up for Christmas time until New Year's Eve. Spring, fall and summer are all beautiful. If you live in the area check it out each season.

Enjoyed a great walk though these delightful gardens. Not too big, not too small, just right.

Great color in the perennial flower beds. Scenic trails were also peaceful.

A smaller portion of the walking path is sectioned off for the holiday lights event. There are free nights and we decided to take advantage of a free Wednesday to take a 5 year old. Parking is $5, though there are free areas down the street. There was a staffed donation box at the entrance and a handful of volunteers to point the way. The creativity is evident and I'm sure it took staff/volunteers many hours to complete the creations. The exhibit is short, though, and I was glad that we hadn't paid $$ as a family to enter because I'm not sure I would have thought it was worth the expense. However, the 5 year old thought it was magical; especially the large tree that appears to drip lights and the aquarium. I saw signs for hot cocoa and coffee, but couldn't figure out where it was. Of course the gift shop was open and, more importantly when you have kids in tow, the restrooms were open and easily accessible. We were there probably 20 minutes and that was stretching it by walking slowly and playing "I spy with my little eye." We can now check it off our list and look for a new display next year.

This garden was a fabulous place during the years from about 1999-2006 or so. It was an outstanding place to view many rare and unusual lush perennials, shrubs, blooming trees, etc., but small enough to allow you to wend your way comfortable within 2 hours. Some time after that, they yanked out most of the interesting plantings and have replaced things with more mundane, typical fare, along with more buildings, and a whole lot of dogmatic displays about saving water. Sorry folks. I go to gardens to see plants. If I want education, I go online. They also have supposed link-ups to smartphones so you can whip out your phone and supposedly discover what you are looking at. Well, it surely didn't tell me much when I was there a year ago, and the metal thingies spoil the landscape. I don't think the leadership of this park is really a plant-lover, and I haven't enjoyed my infrequent visits to the garden nearly as much as I used to, nor do I bring visitors here. Obviously the admin has its own agenda here. Gardens are about beautiful plants, gardeners who want to see what the plants actually look like in person, and to be inspired about interesting new plants or plant combinations. These days, I go to Molbak's nursery if I want to look at plants.

A truly serene experience each time. A perfect blend of a very well groomed garden and dense forest. Ravine trail is not to be missed. Kids love the bridge that connects the trail to the main garden

I had visited the Bellevue Botanic Gardens years ago, and I was pleased and surprised to see its growth and development. Our first, short visit with other family members was not enough so my mother and I returned the next day for a longer walk amid beauty. We stopped at the cafe for lunch and enjoyed tasty sandwiches outdoors by inquisitive birds. Insect repellent was helpful, especially in the wetlands areas. The larger garden is divided into smaller gardens and paths are marked so that guests can predetermine a path and the length of the walk. I enjoyed the sculpture intermingled with the flowers, trees and other plants. Historic buildings are also included in the location. While there is no admission fee, the cafe and gift shop provide a way to support the gardens. Donations and memberships are also encouraged. The gift shop and cafe both accepted credit cards.

Just minutes from the downtown Bellevue City core this is a small but pleasant garden to visit. Great for families to enjoy a stroll through the gardens. Take your lunch and have a peaceful afternoon.

This is a very quiet place to walk or to spend time with your friends or family. It is very interesting to see the plants, trees, and animals on the trails. There is also a bridge and a small river. The walks are very beautiful and there are new things to see all the way. It is a beautiful place all year round, but in winter, tickets to see the lights are very expensive. When we went, we really liked the nature of Bellevue Botanical Garden.

Terrific park with hiking trails and peaceful venue Not just a Christmas destination. Easy paths for elderly and kids.

We did an engagement photoshoot this month and the colors were dynamic. Beautiful all year, Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.

We spent the morning in the Botanical Gardens. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about the gardens. I believe it is staffed by quite a few volunteers. Be sure and wear sneakers or walking shoes as the paths are gravel. The flowers are beautiful and the cedar trees smell absolutely fantastic!

Beautiful!!! Superb, diversity of plants, flowers, trees in short everything is splendid and maintained perfectly. Free parking on site. To do absolutely.
The park is also free!!
I highly recommend it.

Despite the rain spring definitely evident and you can tell it will be glorious in the summer. Lovely coffee room and if you have mobile data there are codes which you can scan to give you information about the plants you are viewing.

My new favorite spot in Bellevue. Worth visiting any time. Many paths, beautiful plants and flowers and reasonable prices at the coffee shop (and very nice coffee too).

Lovely gardens and gift shop. No cost except for Garden Delights at Christmas time,
There's always something to see and the Gardens connect with other walking paths.

We went to the winter presentation of garden lights in December and even went on the last "free" night.

The display was spectacular with garden displays made out of lights. They looked so realistic you could make out each type of flower.

The most difficult part was the parking. The walk from the overflow lots to the garden is a dark one and many people were not watching their children, which was nerve wracking for me.

It was a beautiful evening.

This beautiful botanical garden is free and a great way to spend a few hours wandering the garden pathways with your family or friends. The coffee shop looked cute, but I didn't have time to check it out. Maybe next time!

So you're likely here in Bellevue for business or family and OK perhaps just to shop. The pace & traffic here has become so intense since I moved there with two very young boys in 2000, that more than ever one needs a get-away IN the city! This is it for family of all ages, romantic couples (and for those difficult conversations), a walk in fresh, forested air or a jog (which can include the attached Wilburton Hill Park track, photography (graduation & wedding photo favorite), a super solo moment to refresh, meditate/read/write or even for a unique, undistracted business tete a tete instead of golf:) A recent renovation even includes a gorgeous, hidden suspension bridge! The year-end holidays are most special for all if they include the glorious display of interwoven lights among the trees and flowers, Garden d'Lights - really never seen such a natural, spectacular light show. It's a treat to make the kids enjoy with family and they can even use their cell phone appendages to post awesome shots! Don't check that out on line - save the surprise for a genuine shared experience.

This attraction is free, both parking and entrance. Some lovely blooms and nice structures.There is a lovely canyon area with a footbridge. For a longer walk the gardens access trails that go to Lake Washington and Sammamish. This park is a work in progress, the volunteers are planting more and more of the areas.

A lovely garden in the heart of Bellevue...worth a visit!
Stroll through the different sections....all are beautiful and well tended by volunteers.

We loved Christmas lights that was adorned the Botanical Garden. It was beautiful and unique and the whole family enjoyed it. 2 concerns is, the path is not really handicap assessable so I was planning on bringing my grandmother but I don't think it will be possible. Another concern is the line to buy tickets, this can be easily avoided by buying online, so I highly suggest that.

Overall a great time!

We visited at the end of May, when the rhododendrons were in full bloom. The park and parking is free except for the Japanese Garden which was nice but small.

The Botanical gardens are beautiful all year round, but my favorite time is at Christmas where the plants blooms are made of Cgristmas lights. It is magical!

What a nicely kept garden just a little ways outside of downtown. I went to the garden expecting a quiet stroll through the grounds and was surprised to find an art show in process. Lovely artwork and plenty of people. The walk through the garden was very nice, particularly the Japanese Garden and the suspension bridge. Definitely a place to go to get away from the city environment for a little while.

I discovered the Bellevue Botanical Gardens one afternoon while waiting for an appointment. A lovely place to stop to think, read or walk!

We enjoyed an afternoon here strolling through the various themed areas. The flowers were beautiful. My only negative was that over half of the trees and flowers were labeled with those QR Codes that you have to scan with your phone to look up what they are. There were a few lettered signs, but mostly the Code ones which detracted from my enjoyment because the codes pulled up a whole list of plants you had to scan through to find the one you wanted. All the QR Codes did this and a woman asked me if they were malfunctioning or supposed to do that. I didn’t know and it was a Sunday and the gift shop was closed so I couldn’t ask. The admission is free and there are restrooms and a play area for children. It was a nice way to spend an afternoon.

This was a terrific place for Northwest gardeners to compare how well the species grown on their own properties rate to those grown by the Garden's horticulturalists

Beautiful gardens.
I cannot believe how many plants there are and grounds are so well kept..
I cannot believe that admission is free.

This gem is staffed by many dedicated volunteers, so the various types of gardens displayed (perennial border, japanese etc) are always tidy. Many plants are labeled, and there is a scannable code for more info. It's a reliable, gorgeous walk (of .1 to 1.5 miles). Map at entrance accurately states accessibility: which trails are dirt/gravel vs paved, which are sloped vs flat. Lots to benches to rest. I always see all ages here, infants to 99+, and all physical abilities from wheelchairs/strollers to runners. Not open at night - check hours. Abundant parking. Water fountain, bathrooms and gift shop. This weekend the irises were at peak!

A hidden gem that improves each time I visit. The Holiday Light Show is delightful. Located 12001 Main Street, Bellevue, Washington and admission is free. Quiet and peaceful but well loved. This 54 acre property includes a rock garden, water garden, fuchsia and dahlia garden, plus much more. I can spend three hours here plus. Parking is easy.

Great walk, with pretty views. We've been to larger gardens but this is nice for short visits. Great location

Love seeing all the flowers and plants through the changing seasons. My family loved the variety wandering the trails, and it’s nice to see volunteers tending to the gardens so well.

The botanical garden is so serene. I loved to see the flowers, plants and trees growing in natural habitats. We followed a trail and end up in the Japanese garden. I admires the garden and the dedication of its staff, volunteers and donors. Such a great refuge in the city. A place where you can sit alone, reading a book or day-dreaming.

Always so fun to take a walk through stories through lights. Amazing garden space transformed into so many wonderful scenes from underwater to farmland cornfields and lots of flowers everywhere all made with lights.

My 85-year-old mother and her four daughters met with one of my sister's sons here and it was just fantastic!

I come here all the time. It is a very nice place to just walk around and enjoy all of the great trails and flowers.

My son and I go to Bellevue Botanic Garden at least once a week to walk around the grounds and enjoy a latte at the terrific little cafe inside the gardens. There is something to see year round. Highly recommend!

The places describes the hard work put in by the volunteers. The lightings were nicely done and it is a great experience to walk in the garden in the beautifully lit garden. I had a great time here but please make sure you are warm and covered well since it is quite cold out there.

Hubby and I came here for a swell time. Weather was rainy and not fun but gardens were so super gorgeous and pretty. Some flowers are blooming now. Staff at the store were rude and ruined the ambiance - there was a african american person in the store and the woman at the counter kept yelling at them even though thomas and i didnt see them doing anything wrong. weird. but the flowers were so pretty and lots of walking paths.

A refreshing sanctuary in the heart of Bellevue off Auto Row, there is really no bad time to visit this site. Well cared for, ever-changing, varied and lovely with just the right amount of trails this public (free) garden has been updated and offers a nice gift shop, restaurants and great photo opportunities. Lots of parking and for a donation a winter wonderland of thousands of lights and colorful design on weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Great place to explore & let off excess kid(or grown-up) energy... meandering trails through the forest, paths with a beautiful display of colorful flowers & a variety birds make the Bellevue Botanical Gardens a wonderful 1-2 hour get-away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

what a gem of a garden.....a total surprise....so glad I decided to take an uber from downtown seattle to visit on a grey and rainy day. the gardens were just stunning...so many plants and trees I had never seen before....so beautifully designed, hard and soft landscaping to the paths and trails and cafe....everything was top notch...very sophisticated...

We found a Botanical Garden in Bellevue that looked nice. Bellevue Botanical Garden is composed of 53-acres of beautifully maintained gardens, restored woodlands, and natural wetlands. The collection showcases plants that thrive in the Pacific Northwest. They also have a small Japanese Garden section. The unique displays, textures and colors are amazing in the flowers. The bees and hummingbirds are in paradise here. They have educational programs, a gift shop, and a coffee shop. You can easily get lost in the trails through the woods as we found out quickly.

Great layout with 100's of plants and Japanese Garden and retreat. Great location for a wedding too.

While this garden is actually smaller than I had expected, it is packed with charming plants and has a sophisticated style - fitting for its neighborhood! Wish they had more plant identifiers located actually on the plants but I also appreciate that they can distract from the beauty of the plantings and they do have a plant identifier you can use with your smart phone. Lots of perennials in bloom now.

4*
I am recommending this to anyone who loves to see Spring in Bloom. A plus is the Ravine Bridge. It was an enjoyable for exploring & strolling. My eyes were in feast of appreciating in visually of the colours. There’s a cafe to enjoy tea and snacks. Just do bring sunscreen, bring a hat and bottle of water as it can be hot during the middle of the day & afternoon. See my photos which I took.

Be ready for some healthy walking as you view the myriad of plants and flowers in this exceptional botanical garden. The variety of vegetation gives an excellent understanding of what grows in the Northwest. Lots of info and fun trails. A good way to spend a morning.

The Christmas lights are not to be missed. A really easy and fun family activity. I highly recommend it.

As far as botanical gardens go, this one is absolutely enormous. It's connected to some parks nearby, and the trails sprawl all over into all kinds of beautiful scenery. It's relaxed, it's clean, it's well-kept, and there are some sculptures and other artistic assemblies placed around the area if you're inclined to look for them.

Parking is free, which is always a huge plus in Bellevue, and the parking lot is actually reasonably large. There are some small places to get coffee and/or snacks inside the garden.

A winter light event that a friend had told me about, didn't realize it was so close to our son's house so we decided to go for Christmas. I love lights so it was fun for me. It would be fun for kids and families with young kids, not too long of a walk. We parked in the free lot, we were so lucky the way we went in and avoided all the lines and crowds...yahoo. There is $5.00 parking and the line of cars was very long but it took us only 5 minutes to find a space and park...Yahoo! Entrance is $5.00 per person and you can buy tickets ahead on your phone if you have one. Beautiful light display, price is reasonable for what they have. I think the Lights of Christmas in Stanwood is bigger and better but i think they also charge more. I would say this is a small display but your family will have fun.

Great Garden D’Lights. Beautiful Christmas lights. Enjoyed seeing the beautiful lights with friends. Volunteers did great job with all the light creations from flowers to sea scene to river to animals etc. Great job! Even had live music and hot chocolate/coffee stand. And gift shop was fun too.

We visited during an art fair.it was fun to see the art. The flowers were starting to be done for the summer. The trails are nice to walk on. I enjoy seeing the native plants to this area.

Went here with my partner for a pleasant spring walk. The garden itself is beautiful and well maintained. Unfortunately, our experience was ruined by the staff at the Bellevue garden store who were rude and disrespectful towards us but polite towards the previous and next customers who were both middle aged blond caucasian men & women.

A great city escape, expansive property with Pacific Northwestern plants, impressive Japanese Garden, Suspension Bridge and walking trails. Pretty all times of the year, even in the rain. Will be back in December for the lights.

Saw the lights on a Friday night right when it opened to avoid large crowds, parking issues, and lines. Adults pay and children under 10 are free. It was beautiful and enjoyable for $5. The details they put into creating the displays is amazing. Banana slug with a slime trail, fire breathing dragon, owl up on a tree, aquarium, and more. Yes it is small, but remember this isn't put on by some large profit making corporation like Enchant. The kids loved it, but we love Christmas lights and my camera did no justice to show how pretty it was.

This is an oasis in our city. Much used and appreciated. Solitude can still be found here on one of the trails; yet a nice outside and inside area awaits for a coffee or tea break if desired also. Gift Shop worth a visit too!

I've always enjoyed walking through the garden lights during the Holiday season.
It seems to get better every year as they change things up a bit. All the people I"ve
gone with have been really impressed when seeing it for the first time.

If you've been sitting too much and just want a walk, or you want to be inspired by garden suggestions for a lot of different conditions, or you're looking to spend some time in nature -- this garden offers it all. There are sections for water-wise plantings, native plants, meadow, woods, a Japanese-inspired garden, and lots of rhododendrons. Spacious paths where children can ramble. Interesting structures from the property's early days as a working farm. Many benches, if you'd like to stop and read a book or just listen to the birds and think your thoughts. There are signs with QR codes that allow visitors to see on their smartphones what plants are growing in the area.

We have been to the Bellevue Botanical Garden several times over the last year. Each season brings a different beauty. Our favorite season is spring. The spring blossoms are absolutely stunning. With all of the trails, you can make it a short stay or spend hours. Good walking shoes are important especially if you plan on doing very much walking and don't forget to bring a camera. As far as I know, it is free admission except for the Christmas light display which is wonderful and worth the small charge.

Not a big garden, but good enough for one-two hours of relaxation. It's very close to Bellevue downtown, which means no long drive! Choose a sunny day in autumn (it's hard to find such a day in Seattle though >.<) and you won't be disappointed.

Nice escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. We took the Circuit ride that was free and glad we came to this place. Beautiful garden and saw many amazing bee pollinators.

The display of Xmas lights on plant life is very colorful. Also many other Xmas theme decorations to see.Kids will enjoy all the bright lights.

Imperative to be there when opens as parking is a challenge. Becomes very crowded as strollers, toddlers, conjestion.

Not far from the bustling downtown Bellevue is this beautiful & quiet garden. It is actually a collection of gardens each displaying different botanical interests. We enjoy the seasonal flowers as well as the beautiful landscape. A great place to enjoy a quiet moment in between appointments.

Wonderful walking trails and beautiful plantings and a nice coffee house with sandwiches and drinks other than coffee.

It's very beautiful and family friendly place. Play ground near by is great for kids. Bunch of educational poster in the trail. Love it!

I was impressed by the beautiful garden as well as hard working organization to keep clean for the community.

This time of year, the botanical gardens are ablaze with colorful lighted creations made by the many volunteers. It's a beautiful holiday tradition that should not be missed. There is a $5 admission charge, but there are some free days, so check for that. Free parking is available to the east of the park.

Beautiful. Hilly. Private. Classic Northwest plants. Green. Full bloom flowers in March! Romantic. Free. Must see if you are visiting Seattle.

Showed up here mostly by accident while looking for geocaches while having an overnight in Bellevue. What a pleasant surprise! We spent a good chunk of our afternoon here, enjoying the walk and views. Would easily recommend popping in if you're in the area, but it's not so amazing that it warrants an out of the way trip.