Plenty of parking available. Great trails that are challenging for the casual hiker to the more advanced. Definitely worth it to get a season pass if you plan to go more than three times in a year because it is $16 for parking. A season pass is good for a whole car load of people. The bonsai tree area was a unique and special thing to experience. There was also an area inside of the building with a lot of different art to look at. They have seasonal events year round as well. My friend and I got a good workout and a cool experience with the bonsai trees and art.

I would 1000% recommend going here! It is absolutely STUNNING from the Levi structures to the bonsai exhibition. It has beautiful picture spots and pretty flowers to smell. I really enjoyed my time here but I would suggest setting aside a few hours to see everything. I love how it has some trails and very unique artwork (structures). It has something for everyone to enjoy!

I love gardens, and I truly enjoyed this garden. I went there with my teenage daughter, husband and elderly Mom. The walking trails were great, plus they had several places to sit, relax and enjoy the view. We visited in the autumn and spent most of our time in the bonsai area. The fall foliage could also be seen when visiting this area. I liked the Lego display seen interspersed throughout the park, and the train display, and the fountain. There are even flowers there in the autumn. The gift shop is worth a visit, and we bought a couple items, which is unusual for us. I found the staff members to be friendly and helpful. I would definitely return for a visit if Im ever in the area again. If I lived near the NC Arboretum I would get an annual membership, because based on the layout of the garden there would be different plants blooming at different times of the year.

The grounds are beautiful. The bonsai are amazing. Most of it is dog friendly. We walked some of the shorter, easy trails. There are miles of trails that range from easy to moderate to difficult. They were setting up for their winter lights and we want to come back in a few weeks to see that. Some of the buildings were closed due to COVID, but there was enough to keep us busy. Most people were good about masks and social distancing.

Beautiful trails that have a variety of trees and plants to observe. Signs inform you what you are looking at, and there are benches along the way. The gardens have interesting exhibits to walk around and see. The main building features an art exhibit and souvenir shop. Unfortunately the education center was closed. A great spot to come for a stroll or nice day.

The North Carolina Arboretum is a fabulous way to spend a few hours or a whole day, with lots of trails to walk through the gardens and connected forest. The LEGO exhibit is incredible and it was so fun to keep finding them scattered throughout the Arboretum. I highly recommend checking out the bonsai garden! Really appreciate their signage and efforts to encourage mask-wearing by all visitors, even outside. I would definitely return here again!

What a gorgeous place. Price to get in is pretty reasonable. You get $1 off if you show you have AAA card. Very beautiful in the fall. Bonsai is great! My toddler loves to run around here.

Beautiful outdoor space with lots of trails and gorgeous plants. Protocols were in place to enjoy safely. Inexpensive for all the things to see and do. Not far from the interstate and easy to find. The Lego creations were spectacular.

The Winter Lights drive-thru event was fantastic. Perhaps a little pricey for the amount of time involved. On the other hand, if you load up your family or friends and take some hot cocoa and cookies along, you’re all but guaranteed a fun experience.

The arboretum was beautiful. It was fun getting lost on the different trails to explore and see all the flowers.The only negative side is the main building closes at 5 pm but visitors can still wander around the hardens until 7 pm. If you need to go to the bathroom....be one with nature. Maybe thats why the flowers are growing so well?

Went to North Carolina Arboretum 2020 Winter Lights and I was TRULY amazed by this glorious experience. You are probably like why did he put 3 stars if it was so good well I loved spending time with my family here but it was $30 to get in here and it was like 5 to 7 minutes long loved it but high prices BUT WORTH IT!!!!

Our compliments to management and staff for making this years Holiday Lights Show as enjoyable as possible. The displays were well done and everything was well planned and quite efficient. We enjoyed it tremendously.

I just became a member this year and couldn’t be happier I did. I’ve only been twice so far, but the grounds are absolutely gorgeous and wonderfully cared for. I’m taking classes through the Blue Ridge Naturalist program through the Arboretum and am so grateful to be doing so. Each time I’ve been to the Arboretum there’s been a wonderful emphasis on safe distancing and wearing masks and I’ve felt much safer thanks to the care they take to keep us all safe. The staff at the gift shop were particularly incredible about making sure there were only a certain number of people in the shop at any given time. THANK YOU, N.C. Arboretum, for keeping us safe and sane through nature these days.

Really beautiful grounds! Well maintained paths and wheelchair accessible. The Lego exhibit was wonderful! My kids loved it as much as I did. Theyre hiking/biking trails as well. Wonderful place to visit!

Nice place! Pretty quiet on the weekdays. Its a good spot to walk with the family or take a quick break outdoors. The trails connect to longer hiking opportunities as well.

This was not a very good Christmas light show. Notice it says Holiday lights. No Manger, no cross, NO CHRIST. Shame on you for collecting upon Gods only sons day and have no representation.Hope the trees and plants look better in the day you have been blessed with.

A wonderful place for a family outing. Plenty of parking and a kind and helpful staff.The exhibits are an amazing display of human ingenuity and the views of the mountains reveal Gods majisty.

We visited this place to check out the Lego exhibit and that was awesome. There was alot of time put into the lego sculptures. There was plenty of hiking trails and exhibits to see. My favorite part was the bonsai exhibit.

The arboretum nis beautiful. It is relaxing and a nice walk. There are so many flowers, plants, and fun things to see. The lego exhibit and Christmas lights are a must! Theres a a neat train with a huge track with a town set up. You can view it from the top. Theres 2 education buildings, a bonsai area, a flower quilt. Just go and enjoy the day.

The WNC Arboetum is one of AVLs shining stars! Everything they do is top notch. The Winter Lights Festival is no exception. It exceeded my expectations! I attended last night with a new friend. Though it is a drive-through affair this year due to the pandemic, I very much liked it. The event was not overcrowded, I think because we went early in the season. The early registration discounted ticket price for the car was an additional benefit. The ticket price is per car, so it is a particularly good deal for families. It was apparent how much time and detail were put into this display. I liked it so much I may go back again before it ends...this time with a video camera that works! If they dont raise membership prices for those on a fixed income, I see myself renewing my membership for many years to come. Go see the Winter Light Festival! It is very well-done. Though plant and animal themed...it put me in the Christmas Spirit!

A great place to visit and walk around the gardens. Paths are well laid out. The little restaurant serves up good food.

Lego sculptures. Beautiful place. Also liked the bonsai garden

The arboretum is a lovely place, and perfect for short hikes and for seeing gorgeous flowers while having a safer outdoor experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Especially recommend checking out the Quilt Garden, which incorporates “carpet bedding” or floral plantings in masses of harmonious or contrasting colored foliage and flowers.

We were so impressed with the Arboretum! Could easily spend hours and hours here without feeling bored.We have visited a number of similar facilities in the US but among all this one is the best so far.

Its a long hike. But it truly is beautiful. If you have the time and energy I definitely recommend going! Bring some water. And prepare for tired legs!

Beautiful! I loved the bonsai garden. Everyone was wearing a mask. It was a great day trip.

So beautiful. This was our second visit. The entry fee is per car, but it is minimal. It would be easy to spend an entire day here. There are so many trails and a variety to accommodate easy walking through a bit strenuous hiking. Its also great because you can bring the dog or kids.

This place was amazing! It had awesome lego sculptures all throughout, gorgeous plants etc. We went the morning of our last day here and wish we would have been sooner and had more time to explore the trails. We will definitely be back there is so much to see and do!

Loved this place and want to recommend every my friends and families. Everything looks so amazing and pretty. But dont forget to wear mask!!!

The bonsai exhibit is stellar. They where setting up for the Christmas event coming next week. Looks like it will be a good time. We walked 5 miles of trails. Park was clean and not very crowded at the time.

Visited with the girls because of the Lego exhibit on a hot July afternoon. It wasnt too crowded, but busy enough. We enjoyed the indoor art exhibit a lot in the upstairs main building. All other indoor facilities were closed unfortunately (like the ed ctr). Staff was friendly enough, but could have mentioned about the one way system of the Bonsai exhibit. Parking lot was being paved and extended which meant no pick-ups in front of the buildings.

Absolutely a must see attraction. The Bonsai trees, the trails, the gardens are not to be missed.

Very beautiful place where to dive into nature between wonderful flowers and unknown plants and a variety of butterflies and birds. Also an incredible bonsai exhibit ... for only $16 for parking.

We were a bit taken back by the price of entry but its much more built up and fleshed out than a typical arboretum. Its very pretty with trails most anyone can handle. Even the longer, toughest, Owl trail was easier than many of the trails around Gatlinburg. There is a cute garden and art exhibit as well.

SNAPSHOT = 11 great walking trails. Make your escape!

Beautiful place for some nice walking trails in the woods, the garden areas are. Bit muted due to the season. Would like to come back in the spring.

We had a great time today taking a slow stroll through the grounds. The facility was not crowded at all, and while it did rain on us a bit we were enjoying the bonsai exhibit too much to care. We will come back again the next time we are in the area.

Dont let your kids run around there is a pandemic going on . Respect everyones space even with a mask!! The grounds are beautiful and well kept which means pick up your dog poop also . All dogs must be on a leash even on trails there are fines if you dont listen to that. So let everyone enjoy their time there peacefully follow rules and respect. Enjoy your visit

Loved the views and the hike! The gardens were amazing and they had a great legos display while we were there!

The N.C. Arboretum is a must see!!! It is in a BEAUTIFUL setting with amazing walking/bike trails complete with small waterfalls, exhibits, a Bonsai Garden, Quilt (flower garden), and so much more. What a wonderful place to spend and share a memorable day with.family and friends. It is also super DOG FRIENDLY! Go on-line to check out current or upcoming exhibits!

Such a beautiful place. Its totally worth the annual membership! We run on the trails at least once a week.

Great trails, neat exhibits and lovely flowers. Signs up to educate you on the flowers, trees and other plants. Highly recommend for a great afternoon. Take a lunch and enjoy the outdoors.

Wonderful dog friendly wooded paths, well marked. Landscaping was well maintained and designed. We enjoyed the informative Bonsai exhibit and the amazing Lego creations throughout the park. Gift shop was open. Bathrooms available throughout the park ( yes, porta potties on the far side of park). Eduactional building was closed. Great family outing to enjoy Nature.

Great family fun. The lego sculptures were awesome.

Love, love, LOVED our visit! Took our son to see the Lego creations on display, but they werent up to the standards weve seen on previous Lego events weve seen there. Maybe its a covid thing, I dunno.But - the grounds were very well kept, signage (plant names, info, etc...) seemed more visible and descriptive and the variety of plants were pretty awesome!At the end of the day, the Lego Letdown was no biggie, because we all had a great time exploring. Thanks for being open!

My Husband and I recently purchased a pass to the arboretum because of the proximity to our home and its beauty and thought it would be an ideal place for walking: unfortunately many of our visits are ending in frustration...we arrive at 8 due to COVID aand my mobility issue..BUT THERE ARE ALWAYS BLOWERS AND MOWERS..that pollute the air and frighten away the birds which we enjoy hearing..please resolve this issue..BLOW the gardens before you open...

We were so impressed! There is no admission price but it does cost $16 to park. The bonsai exhibit was awesome and quite extensive. Another favorite for us was the quilt garden. If you are traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway, this is a conveniently located and well worth a few hours.

Had a amazing time even though we visited during the fall it was still beautiful

Tastefully designed. Miles of trails. Family friendly. I especially enjoyed the river and the bonsai garden. Well maintained.

Very nice. Great walk through garden. Hike and ride bikes. Nice gift shop

Although the Education Center and Gift Shop are closed, the Bistro is open for outdoor dining and the restrooms are open. Beautiful gardens with incredible Lego sculptures on display now. Lots of trails to walk around the property.

Amazing place to walk around. They have everything from greenhouses, pollinator gardens. Bonsai gardens. As well as one of the best botanical gardens I’ve been to. Well-maintained and so much to see. Would definitely recommend visiting. Great place to bring kids. All of the trails are well-maintained and easy to walk. One of my favorite places in Asheville to visit. Has access to Bent Creek trails right out the back door. All of the sculptures made out of Legos we are really amazing to see. Such detail was taken in designing this place. Really great during all seasons due to the variety of different plants that they have in the gardens. The spring time is beautiful to see all the flowers. Flowers are blooming all the way through the summer.

Wonderful! The Winter Lights this year are fabulous! Definitely worth making part of your annual holiday traditions! EASY parking, great traffic flow & friendly staff; hot cocoa shack with homemade marshmallows & adult libations as well. Plenty of restrooms which are easy to find. Everything is wheelchair accessible. Fun for the entire family- the adults were all as thrilled with the lights as the kids!

Great place to hang out and enjoy the forest. They have nice hiking trails all around along with some nice gardens for photo ops. The hiking is mostly gravel with some dirt areas. Can also mountain bike on some paths.

This is a must visit feature of Asheville, facilities, paths, gardens are done wonderfully. And oh yeah, model trains and Lego displays!

This is one of my favorite places on earth to run. Plenty of trails. Beautiful scenery. Getting back to nature is good for the soul. I endeavor to hit Hard Times every time I visit. Hard Times, indeed, 0.8 miles practically straight up the side of the mountain. Not recommemded for the faint of heart or weak of will!

We parked off the river to avoid paying the 16 dollars, it’s a wonderful place to bring your kids to show off the legos and to spend the day, going on trails and enjoying the sights, not sure if it’s worth the 16 bucks to park there but if you are willing to walk 20+ minutes to info center, but you can also walk 10 minutes to the first part of the trail where there’s parking, and walk along the river (or walk on the road to get there quicker like I did but it’s a bit sketchy). If You paid the 16 dollars and you are only with your significant other, I would have ranked this place a 3 but if you are willing to make it free or you have a dozen kids with you, I would recommend it. Overall positive experience.

We went to see the Drive through Winter Lights and it was a WASTE of money. They didnt put much effort into changing it from the walk through to a drive through experience. It was a very short light experience for the price.

We enjoyed our visit to the Arboretum, everything is landscaped so beautifully. The atmosphere is very calming and relaxing for families and those who love nature. The trails are great, and easy on the feet even if you leave your hikers behind. The food at the cafe is inexpensive and quite delicious. We will return and recommend to our family and friends.

Absolutely gorgeous, well maintained grounds, great trails. The only thing I didnt love was that the gift shop closes at 4 (we got there at 4:45) & a number of other things close at 5. To be fair, they made this very clear at the gate. I recommend going early enough you dont have to miss anything!

The winter lights exhibit is amazing, even in full daylight!

The mums were glorious. Many other blossoms were past prime, waiting on winter. Still a lovely place to spend some time with nature.

We were super impressed with our trip and definitely are considering membership. There are tons of trails and special events. The trails we went on were kid friendly to our 3 and 5yr olds. Excited to be living close to this treasure!

Beautiful! It was a great outdoor, socially distanced activity for our family vacation. Beautiful gardens. We would definitely visit again.

Beautiful small landscape walking & there are 5 or 6 small hiking trails that can be walked outside of the actual landscaped area of the Arboretum. There is a nice little Bonzai area and other plant themes. Great views & walks. Currently $16 per vehicle to park there.

Awesome. Easy parking. Interesting art. Beautiful gardens.

Love love! Possibly the most well maintained public gardens Ive ever visited. I feel like you would go numerous times and see something new each visit. Theres also bike trails and hiking. Did I mention that I loved it! Pet and kid friendly.

It was lovely like a nice park but I wasnt blown away by the gardens. Most of them were in need of tending to.

Great family friendly place. Beautifully labdscaped, well manicure gardens, well marked paths and outdoor space. A few overlooks add to the beauty. The education center was closed due to COVID-19, so we will be back. Reasonable price to get in and signage off the interstate was well marked. Cant wait for a return visit.

We had such a good time but there were a lot of people there so make sure you take your mask!

Enjoyed the bonsai exhibit. Lots of variety of plants and trees. Beautiful fountain. Nice short trails. Make sure to eat at the cafe.

This was a really nice surprise, large beautiful grounds with flowers but also wooded trails. Very extensive. You pay $16 for the parking and there is no other admission.

Beautiful place to visit. Nature sculptures made of legos were a highlight.

Beautiful gardens. Stroller and kid friendly. Wonderful in the fall/October. Highly recommended stop on your trip to Asheville

Today was my first visit to the NC Arboretum and it exceeded my expectations. The gardens were amazing. I even saw a hummingbird feeding at one of the plants which really made the visit even more memorable. I plan to become a member to take advantage of future visits.

Very beautiful. The Legos sculptures were amazing

Absolutely stunning and so many different things to learn about. You can spend 20 minutes or a whole day there depending on what you want to do/see and learn about. Cant wait to go back to spend more time there!

So well thought out and well maintained. Thanks for the hard work, yall!

Shady hiking trails with a variety of foliage. I cant wait to return in fall when the colors will be changing and then in the spring when flowers will bloom (there is a great variety of azaleas and rhododendrons.)

Great place to spend the afternoon. Mums and other flowers were a great treat to top the beautiful fall foliage.

Beautiful collection with plenty to see and do. Enough room for everyone to spread out. Very pleasant visit, hope to return in the spring!

It was good but the green room didnt open. There are nice paces and miniature trees bonsai are displayed. Luckily, we paid half price tickets on Tuesday.

Omg! This place is amazing.There are lego sculptures that are so detailed, bonsai exhibition, gardens and fountains.We enjoyed so much our visit here.

Beautiful scenes, bonsai gardens were cute, gift shop have something for everyone at reasonable prices. Staff was friendly and helpful. Facility is clean and accessible. This place is great for any venue, for a nice walk and relax, for learning too.At this time of our visit there was a nice and colorful paper exposition . Very enjoyable. Only fee is parking .

Beautiful Fall colors!! Loved it

This is my first trip there after being in the area for 15 years! Family friendly, very well said out, its mostly outdoors, so social distance friendly. The Lego sculptures are incredible! Young and old kids will enjoy them. Beautiful designed parks, gardens, and displays of all kinds of trees and plants.

Very beautiful. Didnt get to see it all due to covid (thats on me) but the $16 parking/entrance fee is a bit steep considering the Clemson SC arboretum is free AND in my opinion, better. Still, a fun time non the less.

One of the most beautiful natural gardens surrounded by fun hiking trails with tons of opportunities to view the Appalachian mountains and diverse flora and fauna. With roughly a dozen trails, pick your adventure with all easy, moderate, and difficult hikes. Pet and child friendly. Beautiful in all weathers.

We live about 3.5 hours away but love stopping by when were in town. Its quite beautiful and theres always some sort of event going on.

Gorgeous! Loved the plant varieties and small gardens. The Lego exhibit is lots of fun.

Beautiful campus, we went on October 17 and the trees were beautiful, perfect weather. Went with our 1 year old and he loved it too.

Wonderful place to walk amongst first class plantings and hike great forest and creekside trails. Nice Bistro for lunch. Dogs are allowed on leash.

It is a beautiful place, we had a lovely picnic. The one complaint I have is because of Covid the restrooms were not open and we sadly had to leave early because of this. Overall it is always fun and cheap.

Absolutely beautiful! Make sure you’re wearing shoes that walk well on gravel and bring some water. There is so much to see and it seems as if there are trails everywhere! I liked that they provide you a detailed map so you’re able to plan out your walk. Dog friendly!

Beautiful place for a walk. The majority of the plants are tagged so you can learn the names of almost everything you see. Its also impressive how well the space is planned out.

Make a day of it! Bring water and snacks if needed and find a table in the courtyard or camp out. We were blown away by this place in the best way. There’s truly something for everyone here: Stunning grounds, beautiful gardens, and a really special bonsai exhibit the likes of which I’ve only seen in Oregon and Japan. Make sure to take the Bent Creek Trail (pedestrian only) and enjoy the wooded beauty and calming sounds of the creek at your side. Very impressed with the calm, comfortable approach to mask wearing and social distancing employed by the guests and staff, even on a holiday weekend. Will return any time I’m in the Asheville area, maybe with bikes.

Were so glad we decided to stop in here! We all loved it here! Theres tons of hiking trails, and special exhibits from time to time. We went during their lego exhibit. From the bonsai trees, to the visitor center and hiking trails, theres lots to see and do.

Went with my 2 year old son in his stroller. We had a great time checking out the Lego sculptures. The Bonsai exhibit was my favorite.

Worth the parking fee of $16. Light rain did not stop the enjoyment. Just beautiful. Bonsai garden, neat!

Beautiful place! Serene and peaceful.