Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

I've been to Jacksonville nearly 100 times and never heard of this gem. Big oversight! This little advertised Park is a fantastic escape from the concrete jungle of the city. LOTS of shady trails to explore (and they are all very well marked so no one will get lost). The daytime admission fee of $3 (when I visited in 2024) is a joke. I've paid three times that for far inferior parks. I especially liked the no-bikes and no-scooters rule. You can walk around these trails without fear of being mowed down by an out of control biker or a speeding electric skateboard. The park has free parking in good supply. Toilets only at the entrance, but they were clean and properly maintained. Lots of placards identifying the various trees and plants along the trails. None of the trails are very long, and I suspect families with kids can handle any of the trails. No steep climbs or technical hiking. Great, shady place to escape the hot Jacksonville Sun, but even better to enjoy on a cooler day when you can hike for hours without getting worn out.

Nov 22, 2024

Stopped in to check out the glowing gardens while we were in town. The parking lot that we prepaid for was full and they said we could park outside of the gate if we couldn't find a space which was a little frustrating because people were parking for free while we paid $12 a head of time but they said we could submit a request for a refund. The park was a bit smaller than other I have been to but the lights were beautiful nonetheless. We walked around twice and grabbed some lattes from A Cup of Job. The BBQ smelled delicious but we didn't have any. A nice hour of some holiday fun.

Dec 29, 2024

Paved path around the lake and garden area. New blooms every season Great walking area. Can get about 5 miles if you walk all the trails. 2 beautiful shelters. 1 new wooden at top of paved path overlooking the lake and 1 brick at bottom of paved path also next to the lake. Plenty of benches along paths and a picnic area. Bathroom trailer next to parking lot. $3 entrances fee

Nov 10, 2024

Love this place! My friends and I had a picnic and walked the trail, it was a wonderful time. There were a lot of people taking professional photos too, it’s a great photo spot! Dogs are welcome also!

Jan 14, 2025

It was our first time going and it was amazing! They did such a great job decorating. We came around 6pm, it was cold and the hot chocolate was a very nice touch! We definitely recommend 👌🏽

Dec 10, 2024