Chicago Botanic Garden

Absolutely stunning all year round. I love coming here to relax or even go for a run around the outer pathway. They’ve got great activities all summer long and for the holidays too. It’s a great place to come with friends/​family/​anyone really.

As you can tell by the hundreds of photo’s, this is a world class garden. I’ve been to a handful of BG’s (that’s hip slang for Botanic Garden), and this is probably the best I have visited. Since other reviewers have already summed it up pretty nicely, I thought I might just add a couple important tips;
1. If you are an Illinois resident (or are traveling with one) make sure you have your state I.D. (you really should have your drivers license anyway), this will save you $ 5 off of parking. If you moved from out of state and have been procrastinating on getting your licensed switched over, here’s a good reason.
2. Don’t drive around in circles for 15 minutes trying to get into lot A or B, the lots are all close together and you will only add a few additional steps by parking a little further out. Why do we do this a species? Assuming you are able bodied, 90% of the time, it’s quicker to just park and walk, instead of getting in a honking match with someone over a spot, to avoid walking 40 extra steps. Sorry, got off on a bit of a rant there.
3. While you can’t totally avoid large crowds here, if you go close to opening on Sunday’s (I’ve done this a couple times), even when the weathers nice, the crowds tend to be very manageable.
Now go have fun!

I went to a wedding here and it was absolutely stunning. Part of the wedding had to be moved indoors because of the rain, and I’d say one of few complaints was that the space was very narrow and hard to see the bride and groom. My only other complaint is that parking can be a bit difficult. The food was excellent, space for reception was beautiful, and it didn’t feel too crowded, but enough of a crowd that it really felt like a party.
The botanic gardens are also great for bike riding, walking, concerts for kids, eating, or relaxing. I would definitely recommend going there if you haven’t been. I do not know how parking is if you are not a member, so that would be something to check out before you go.

Well parking is expensive, especially when you are also most likely not to find a good parking spot, a visit the Chicago botanical gardens is always a pleasure. Even when nothing is blooming it is still beautiful because of the landscapes, gardening, and other layouts.
Perfect for dates, picnics, a unique escape from city life, and cheap (bringing your own food will impact your bill at the end of the visit!)
Not the best for kids or babies

Admission is free for this beautiful botanic garden, but parking is not ($ 25 for weekday and $ 30 for weekends and holidays).
«Faculty» (as the employee at the parking booth called it) get parking fee waived
(faculty ID is required to show proof). You can also ride your bike in here for free as there are bike paths that ride along and throughout the garden.
My husband and I arrived here on Mother’s Day Sunday. It was rather crowded (especially when getting into the garden on the street), but only in the front area where most families were coming in and out of the Garden View Café for their special Mother’s Day Brunch (be sure to make reservations early).
This botanic garden is huge! There is truly a LOT to see and most likely visitors do not take in everything (especially the Plant Science Center, roof top garden and sun garden).
By the main entrance, you may notice the great basin with it’s water geyser. I enjoyed seeing the Japanese garden, rose garden and edible garden. But honestly I enjoyed everything thing that we saw (we spent the entire day at the garden). I loved seeing all of the flowers (tulips were definitely in bloom on this visit) and plants in bloom as well.
Unfortunately the butterfly bloom tent was closed on this visit.
By the way, not all parts of the garden are wheel chair friendly and with all of the walking you will be doing, be sure to bring some good walking shoes.
You can also bring food into the garden, which would be a great reason to have a picnic (as there are many wonderful places to sit and take in the scenery).
There is also free WiFi, but only by the registration center. Speaking of the registration center, be sure to use the restroom around here when you come in as there are not too many restrooms throughout the garden.
Although parking is rather pricey, it is well worth coming here. So bookmark this place and make sure you carve out some time to check out the botanic garden.

What more can I say, it’s serene and beautiful! Perfect place for pictures. Come here!

Chicago Botanic Gardens are amazing! Very Great!
Mid-​June is a great time to go if you love roses. The aromas and bouquets of fragrances fill the air. It’s quite an experience. …but the Gardens are open all year! So, you can even go when everything is snow covered or bursting with colors in the fall.
They have a sense garden for people with disabilities (e.g., blindness or wheelchairs). It’s very sensual and tactile. They have a Japanese serenity garden, which is spectacular; ducks, swans, fish, and of course all of the superbly well groomed trees and shrubs abound.
They have a waterfall and lily pad ponds, as well as sections with veggies, fruits, and a grape vine corridor, which is fun to walk through.
You will do a lot of walking. So be prepared. It’s a large property. A dream venue for brides and grooms, and it’s a photographer’s Heaven!
Best of all, it’s free! But don’t be cheap. They rely on donations! So, expect an expensive parking fee (you can also take Metra and walk). Food from their cafeteria is also expensive, but it’s cool because some salads actually have edible flowers!
Stop by the gift shop on your way out and enjoy your day in this Garden in the City!

The flowers are great, yes. But this review is for the café. The café had EXCELLENT FOOD. I ordered a chicken berry salad, and though it was pricey it had a beautiful presentation and was loaded with fresh fruit. Service was friendly and efficient. I would eat here every day if I could.
So, back to the gardens. Give yourself a good 3 – 4 hours to wander and be amazed at the scenery. Each area is so different that it keeps your interest. I know the parking is expensive, but for a botanical garden to have free admission this is a DEAL. I’ve paid upwards of $ 40 to enter gardens in other states.

I’ve visited great botanical gardens in Birmingham, Alabama, Norway, Finland, China, Japan, UK, and Chicago by far (on and Berlin) has the best.
First, it’s freaking huge. Second, parking is 25 bucks for Cook County residents per car and then no admission. Memberships are beyond affordable.
My favorite parts: gift shop, Japanese Garden, bonsai trees, and the lakes. There is so much water here.
Favorite time to go: Middle of May for the peonies, bleeding hearts and even more tulips!

The Chicago botanic gardens is the only way a nature lover can live in the city. This place evolves year round so a membership is smart. The first time I visited I realized that buying the membership was a better idea than paying the almost $ 30 in parking. Since then I’ve been here almost every-​other weekend for the past year. Some tips for a great trip– come early! Avoid the slow walkers, lines, baby carriages, and older folks by coming super early. Bring a picnic and eat on the balcony next to the gift shop. There are more bathrooms through out the garden. Download the app (it’s free), to find all the bathrooms. Check the website to see what’s blooming.
Enjoy yourself!

I recently renewed my membership to the gardens because it’s so wonderful. Spending a day walking around the gardens is not only relaxing, but beautiful. The workers take pride and great care of their facility.
I encourage everyone to visit!

I had never been to the Chicago Botanic Garden before. It was a lovely place to visit on Saturday, ³⁄₂₆. It was a cool but sunny spring day and lots of people were walking around during the Easter weekend. I wish more plants had been blooming but you could tell they were close. My favorite was actually the room filled with cacti and succulents. I thought it was an amazing display. Can’t wait to visit this when the outdoor plants are in bloom!

Not to sound like a broken record… but I attended another beautiful wedding here last year, on another gorgeous sunny, 80-​degree late summer day. What can I say, I live a rough life.
The reception was in the same place as the one I reviewed in the previous review, despite the wedding being twice as large. The good news is, the larger group of guests, AND a large live band (previous reception had a DJ), all fit nicely into the space. This wedding had additional beautiful bonuses of a cocktail hour in a perfect, walled garden with a pool and photography for the family and wedding party in the rose garden. I had an amazing time, and the Chicago Botanic Gardens is definitely a perfect location for a summer Chicago wedding.

The Botanic Garden is a very comprehensive and sprawling museum/​educational space that is worth visiting, even in winter.
I was a bit apprehensive going here before spring, but I was glad to see that they have a lot of educational opportunities as well as an orchid garden that is open year-​round. There’s plenty of indoor space at the Botanic Garden, and I’m sure in spring and summer areas are just amazing. It was kind of bleak driving into here, since there were no buds on the trees, but closer to the buildings, there are plants that thrive in the outdoor cold.
I will say that they definitely have a lot of parking. I got lost for out there where I was trying to go because the parking area here is basically like Disneyland. They even have the trams to take you where you need to go.
This is also seems to be to be a great outing for kids. They were plenty of flowers and plants to look at and pretty things to distract kids. Not much breakable stuff here.
Overall, it’s a good visit. (Though, it is pretty far from downtown Chicago if you are a tourist in the city.)

«I see trees of green, red roses too; I see them bloom for me and you. And I think to myself, ‘What a wonderful world!’»
That’s exactly the song that was playing in my head on a recent trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden.
In the last few years, I have developed an appreciation for horticulture, arboretums, and botanic gardens so you can imagine how excited I was to come here and bask in the acres of natural beauty.
The picturesque environs of the Chicago Botanic Garden is breathtaking. Visualize yourself walking through the Japanese Garden while looking out across the lake where you see bonsai trees. Walk up the steep bridge over the waters and you’ll see another angle of the Japanese Garden.
I enjoyed walking up through the different levels of the Waterfall Gardens. My favorite was the highest peak which gave a gorgeous backdrop for a still portrait. The sound of the waters were calming and I could just stay there and listen to that sound all day.
The English Walled Garden was also a wonderful shaded place to stroll through.
My other favorite was the Rose Garden, which had a large lawn where guests can sit while soaking in the relaxed ambience.
Tips:
— Bring a pair of good walking shoes for different terrains throughout the botanic gardens
— There are bike paths around the perimeter of the garden
— Take lots of photos
— Enjoy every moment
— A trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden is free so don’t complain about parking prices
— Respect nature
If you really take the time to look at all aspects of the garden, you can’t do it all in one day. Plan ahead and come again to visit a different area.
Overall, a wonderful place for people who enjoy plants, flowers, trees, and a semi-​quiet environment!

A very young botanical garden opening its gates in 1972, this is a North Shore of Chicago gem that does nothing but improve like a fine wine. To think that it was made out of a swampy area that was problematic and became so beautiful! It has something for everyone, indoor and out, and is beautiful at every moment, whether it is raining or the sun is shining. It even has educational programs; I have done yoga there and it is the PERFECT locale for it. Want to take a good nature picture? Pull out your camera or smartphone and you will not be disappointed.
The café is something worth checking out as it has a beautiful view and their croissants and coffee (among many other choices) are wonderful. The Garden Shop is a great place to find gifts for people.
The garden is free but the parking is not. We are members so we can just re-​up our membership each year and the electronic tag on our windshield allows easy entry into the garden. We are more than happy to support it. I am concerned that those who don’t have the funds for the expensive parking might not be able to afford entry; I think this is something they should work on.

winter wonderland only between Nov 27-​Jan 3. Great minatures of local Chicago landmarks as children are amazed at the various freight trains and even Thomas the tank engine!
The gardens are lit up beautifully with lighting that is just stunning at night. A must see if you enjoy Christmas lights and train minatures!

The admission to Chicago Botanic Garden is free. However, if you decide to drive your own vehicle, I believe it costs $ 20 to $ 25 for parking. Rosa J. and Daddy J. knew the CTA and Pace buses quite well. Wanna know the trick for not paying for parking? Hop on the Pace #213 bus (to Northbrook Court) from the Davis St. Transportation Center. This bus will take you to the front entrance of the CBG. Do NOT confuse with the other #213 Pace bus to Highland Park, because that won’t stop at the CBG and will have a terminal stop at Highland Park Metra Station instead.
There’s a pedestrian entrance to the CBG, just follow the sign. It was our first time visiting the CBG. Daddy J. and I spotted a shuttle bus to the garden at the Glencoe Metra Station last month. I was curious about it and looked up all the necessary info.
Daddy J. is fond of plants, flowers, and gardening. CBG gives away a free plant every month starting May. I thought it was a neat idea, except I don’t own a garden or yard… at least not yet until I close out the deal with our house.
Other than receiving educations and tips for gardening, strolling around the entire venue was one of the greatest pleasure on earth! God’s creations are beautiful, breathtaking, and magnificent. If you’re someone like me enjoying photography, pull out your phone or your most expensive gadget to capture the moment. I definitely went crazy with the daisies, sunflowers, and sage.
We spent approximately two (2) hours at the CBG. I didn’t really rely on the map. All the signs were clearly marked and very easy to follow along. Nevertheless, grab a map from the visitor center, just in case you’re looking for restrooms or water fountains.
There’s also a café available at the visitor center, since there’s no eateries or coffee shops within walking distance once stepping out of the CBG territories.
Daddy J. and I spent a wonderful afternoon at the CBG, and we both swore that we will hurry back when weather is favorable.

I had the pleasure of visiting here during the 4^th of July weekend. Although we didn’t spend a lot of time here from what I saw I had a really good impression of the place. I can certainly see why the parking fee is so steep as it is rather well maintained and very beautiful. I was here with my extended family and we spent about 3 hours here during the noon time. Most of the time was spent in the cooking class they were having during the day where they actually pass out samples for everyone after the demonstration.
The other part we visited were the Japanese garden where it was actually bigger than i expected. We actually saw one of the caretakers explaining traditional Japanese tea ceremony in one of the tea huts. It was a pleasant surprise indeed. During the day there was also an Art and Crafts fair where merchants were peddling their unique and interesting paintings and arts.
Definitely wish we had more time to explore the Garden further as we probably only touched on 10−20% of the garden but from what we experienced its a really great time. I think being further away from the city it’s considerably much less crowded even on the busy season around summer. This will be a place for many visits in the future for kids to adults really all ages.

I have been a life-​long resident of the Chicago area, and can honestly say that my first visit to the Chicago Botanic Garden was two years ago — crazy right!!! If you have ever been, you’ll know why waiting a lifetime to pay them a visit is just crazy talk. The most gorgeous plants, gardens, and flowers reside here and you’d be remiss not to get there as soon as you can.
We all know that botanic gardens have some gorgeous plants and flowers that you’d expect to see at a botanic garden, but I was blown away at how kid-​friendly the Chicago Botanic Garden was. The Enchanted Railroad Garden was a big hit for my entire family. My 4-​year-​old loved keeping an eye out for the train, while the adults enjoyed seeing so many miniature Chicago landmarks.
We also loved playing BINGO with the handout we picked up at the information desk. The BINGO game has you look throughout the park for common items and you put a sticker on each item as you find it, hoping you’ll find a «BINGO» row. It was great to have my 4-​year-​old engaged throughout the day by looking for various items on the sheet.
But by far, our favorite part of the day was spent at the Children’s Growing Garden. There are so many activities that are explained at a child’s level, and my son did not want to leave. There was a kid’s treasure hunt, books, puzzles, toys, teaching kids about gardening and even spray bottles for the kids to water the plants themselves. Great fun and a valuable learning experience for kids.
Admission is free, but as of May 2015, there is a $ 25 parking fee per car.