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10 Beautiful (& Unique) Gardens in the United States

| Updated May 31, 2023

These beautiful & unique gardens in the United States have towering desert cacti, enormous water lilies, and underground fruit trees…

I don’t know about you, but Jennifer and I love gardens. Walking through an impeccably landscaped garden is refreshing and relaxing. 

There's a wide variety of gardens in the United States, from California to Maine. Some are located in big cities, while others can only be found by venturing to small towns. 

The following list covers everything from a hand-carved underground garden to huge botanical gardens. So, buckle up and hit the road to these beautiful destinations.

And you can use our nifty interactive MAP to get instant information on all the gardens we mention in this post! Give it a try – just click on any of the location points and then click Details. You’ll see the address, the phone number, the website link, the Ratings, and more!

Trip map created using Wanderlog, a travel planner on iOS and Android

10 Amazing Gardens in the United States

The following are some of the most beautiful and unique gardens in the United States. Whether you like cacti or roses or secret gardens, you're sure to find something for you on this list.

(By the way, you may also want to check out these 10 Best Waterfalls Hiking Trails in the U.S.)

1. Washington Park Arboretum, Washington 

Gardens in the United States

If you are traveling through the Seattle area, you don't want to miss this gorgeous gem of a garden. 

Washington Park Arboretum is a botanical garden that borders Lake Washington and features 230 acres of plant life. You can see paperback maple trees, witch hazel, and honeysuckle as you meander down the stone pathway. 

2. Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden, Spokane, Washington 

Tucked away in the city of Spokane is a tranquil Japanese garden that was completed in 1974. 

It was designed by a well-known Japanese architect, Nagao Sakurai. The garden features Japanese plants like flowering cherry trees, along with a koi pond. 

This area is rich with many other gardens, too. Once you are done there, you can go to Spokane’s Lilac Garden, Duncan English Garden, or the city’s Rose Hill.

3. Forestiere Underground Gardens, Fresno, California

Fresno, California, is usually a pass-through destination as people travel to Yosemite National Park. It's known much more for its farming than its gardens, but there's a hidden gem that combines both.

Tucked in a developed area of the city is an incredible underground garden. That's right, it's underground, which is a huge (refreshing) relief to those visiting in the heat of summer.

When you first pull up, you'll wonder if you wasted your time (& gas) coming to this “garden,” but hang in there! It's an incredible hole-in-the-wall (or rather, hole-in-the-ground) destination.

The gardens were carved out of the ground by one very industrious man using only hand tools. The Sicilian immigrant and citrus farmer turned useless farmland into his home and a vast network of rooms, tunnels, and courtyards with the tops of trees poking out at ground level.

It may not be the most luscious of the secret gardens on this list, but it is truly a sight to see.

4. Peninsula Park Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon

Gardens in the United States

Okay, so those of you that are familiar with the Portland area are not surprised by seeing a rose garden on this list. I mean, they don’t call Portland the City of Roses for nothing! 

This garden takes you into the gorgeous and historic Piedmont neighborhood. That is cool in and of itself!

It is also home to Portland’s official rose called Madame Caroline Tesout. 

The best news is that it is free to visit the park that is more than 100 years old. It has a lovely central fountain and features more than 5,000 stems to walk around and view. 

Speaking of Oregon, we visited this incredible Lavendar Farm a few years ago, which you can see in this video…

Like what you see in these videos? We'd appreciate it if you would Subscribe to our YouTube Channel (easy to do right here) and consider “ringing the bell icon” to be notified of any new video from us. 🙂 Thanks!

5. Asticou Azalea Garden, Maine

If you find yourself meandering through Maine, then make sure you stop off to see this wonderful garden. 

Asticou Azalea Garden is a Japanese-inspired garden that features water lilies, cherry trees, and breathtaking azaleas. You can take it all in along a raked gravel path. 


Mike and Jennifer's Summer T-Shirts for your next adventure

10 Beautiful (& Unique) Gardens in the United States 1
Your Adventure Awaits! New colors and designs are waiting for you.

6. Bird Haven Farm, New Jersey

If you like more natural gardens, this ones for you. Featuring a plethora of native plants that form a backdrop of American history, Bird Haven Farm is an off-the-beaten-path destination. 

The farm features barns, outbuildings, and an original stone house built in the nineteenth century with the gardens to match. 

You can explore 25 acres of orchards, hay meadows, perennials and shrubs, and a pond. There is also a children’s maze garden as well as an elf’s stump. 

If you are looking to replace hiking with an enjoyable, meandering walk for the day, this is the place for you.

7. The Met Cloisters, Manhattan, New York

At the top of a hill in northern Manhattan, you can get lost in time in medieval gardens. The museum's three onsite gardens are devoted to period-appropriate flowers and medicinal herbs.

The Middle Age gardens also boast an incredible view of the Hudson River and New Jersey Palisades. Among all of the European architecture and picturesque gardens, you'll forget you're standing in the most populous city in the United States!

8. Topiary Garden, Columbus, Ohio

This one is for the history buffs! It's a small topiary garden located in Columbus, Ohio, and is entirely based on a famous painting: A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by George Seurat

There is no other place where you can walk through dozens of topiaries as if you are part of a famous work of art. 

There are well more than 50 sculpted topiaries, including people, boats, and animals. Talk about a unique experience! 

9. Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona

Desert Botanical Garden Gardens in the United States
Desert Botanical Garden

If a desert oasis is more your speed and you find yourself in the Phoenix area, this garden is worth your time. 

The Desert Botanical Garden is made up of more than 140 acres. There are five different loops to explore, like the Hummingbird Garden Cactus and Succulent Galleries, and an Edible Garden. 

There is also a loop called the Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail, which offers the best views. There you can see panoramic mountain views of the surrounding landscape. 

10. Vizcaya Museum and Garden, Miami, Florida

Gardens in the United States

Florida isn't all beaches and palm trees. Tucked inside Miami is a “breathtaking Gilded Age estate on Biscayne Bay surrounded by ten acres of formal gardens, a mangrove shoreline, and rockland hammock.”

The geometric gardens are just the beginning of all there is to see at this 5-acre estate. on Biscayne Bay. This estate used to be the private winter home of businessman James Deering, but is now open to the public to enjoy.

Your Favorite Gardens in the United States

Of course, this list is only a glimpse of all of the amazing gardens in the United States. We'd love for you to share some of your favorite gardens in the comments below.

Mike and Jennifer's Favorite Places in Florida – all 3 ebooks!

10 Beautiful (& Unique) Gardens in the United States 2

We RVers may wander far and wide but it’s true for most of us that we end up with some favorite “Go-To” places – places that draw us back again and again.

Florida is one of those places for us. And we know it is for many RVers looking to get away and explore during the winter. 

That's why we've created three guides, covering Florida's Atlantic Coast, the Gulf Coast, and the Keys. 

Each of these guides is a seven-day guided exploration of one of the coasts. And each stop is a curated view of the best things that we’ve enjoyed on this trip and want you to experience.

Altogether these guides are over 300 pages of content! 


Mike Wendland

Published on 2022-07-26

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

18 Responses to “10 Beautiful (& Unique) Gardens in the United States”

May 24, 2024at12:32 pm, Janet McAllister said:

Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge/Watertown, MA. This is a magnificent, 174 acre Garden Cemetery established in 1831. A National Historic Landmark, it the first cemetery designed to be both a burial ground and a beautiful landscape, and is considered the beginning of the American public parks and gardens movement. It is free to enter, and has many walking paths leading through an amazing collection of over 5,000 trees, shrubs and other plants and past the final resting places of many notable, historic figures. Great for birding in the spring too.

July 28, 2022at10:53 am, Mona Scott said:

Thank you for these garden suggestions. I have been to 3, will find the others. Suggest further: Brook green Gardens in S Carolina, near Myrtle Beach…And Int’l Garden N Dakota at Canadian border

July 29, 2022at1:35 pm, Team RV Lifestyle said:

thank you for adding to our list – so many beautiful places to explore! Happy Trails- Team RV Lifestyle

July 27, 2022at7:31 pm, Nancy Eberhardt said:

Here in Southern California, we are so lucky to have many beautiful gardens to visit year round. My favorites are Huntington, Descanso, Japanese Friendship Garden in San Diego and all of Balboa Park in San Diego. The Nixon Library has a pretty rose garden.

July 29, 2022at1:32 pm, Team RV Lifestyle said:

You are lucky! Thanks for sharing these so others can see and enjoy, too. Happy Trails! Team RV Lifestyle

July 26, 2022at11:09 am, Charlotte Donn said:

Thank you for including Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. 2022 is the 100th anniversary of the completion of our gardens and a great time to visit. http://www.vizcaya.org
-Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

July 26, 2022at10:32 am, Eileen Herberger said:

In addition to my post regarding Longwood Gardens I would strongly recommend Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay Maine. We went in June and experienced Henry Red Rhododendrons in bloom. We had never seen them before. The day was thoroughly enjoyed with much to see.

July 26, 2022at10:22 am, Karen Staats said:

Fioli’s garden San Mateo Calif; owner of estate would have a truck delivered weekly filled with luscious gems!

July 26, 2022at10:18 am, Eileen Herberger said:

We have been to most of the gardens mentioned in the replies and feel strongly that Longwood Gardens is a must visit for garden lovers. As with most gardens, timing is everything. Longwood Gardens is in Kennett Square just outside of the Philadelphia area. Fountains, concerts and magnificent greenhouses along with a magical Christmas display warrant multiple visits.

July 27, 2022at11:28 am, Team RV Lifestyle said:

Thank you for this information – sounds gorgeous – Team RV Lifestyle

July 26, 2022at9:37 am, susan Macdonnell said:

Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island km

July 26, 2022at8:59 am, Paula Norton said:

The Bok Tower gardens in Lake Wales, Florida are beautiful and serene. Also the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden in Boothbay, Maine is one you don’t want to miss.

July 27, 2022at11:28 am, Team RV Lifestyle said:

We love all these additional suggestions – thank you so much for listing them – Team RV Lifestyle

July 26, 2022at8:38 am, Phil Work said:

Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, SC. Big bonus is the awesome Huntington Beach State Park right across US 17 from the Gardens.

July 26, 2022at7:31 am, christine fleming said:

I think Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square PA is a definite must see. Maybe number one. Absolutely gorgeous and lots of activity at night and on holidays. Stay safe!

July 26, 2022at8:07 am, tamara barabasz said:

Gardens at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. Spectacular!

July 26, 2022at5:19 pm, Vicki Penzenstadler said:

West of the Lake Gardens in Manitowoc WI, right along Lake Michigan. Free admission.

July 27, 2022at11:27 am, Team RV Lifestyle said:

Thank you for sharing this, Christine – Team RV Lifestyle

Comments are closed.

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