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From the only tropical rainforest in the United States to marvels of human engineering in the midst of urban landscapes, here are TripSavvy's favorite parks and gardens for 2018.
Parks & Gardens
- Forest Park: Portland, Ore. — featured in Free Things to Do in Portland
- International Rose Test Garden: Portland, Ore. — featured in Free Things to Do in Portland
- Holliday Park: Indianapolis, Ind. — featured in Free Things to Do Outdoors in Indianapolis
- Shakespeare Garden: New York, N.Y. — featured in The Top Sights in Central Park
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Austin, Texas — featured in Top Things to Do in Austin
- Krohn Conservatory: Cincinnati, Ohio — featured in Free Things to Do in Cincinnati
- Liberty State Park: Jersey City, N.J. — featured in Things to Do With Kids in North Jersey
- Birmingham Botanical Gardens: Birmingham, Ala. — featured in Top Attractions in Birmingham
- Trinity Bellwoods Park: Toronto, Canada — featured in Things to Do in Toronto
- Bellevue Downtown Park: Bellevue, Wash. — featured in Seattle Area Monuments & Memorials
- Camposanto: Pisa, Italy — featured in The Top Sights & Attractions in Pisa
- Wolf River Nature Area: Memphis, Tenn. — featured in Free Things to Do in Memphis
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum: Tucson, Ariz. — featured in Things to Do in Tucson
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El Yunque National Forest: Puerto Rico — featured in Natural Attractions in Puerto Rico
The El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the national forest system. At nearly 29,000 acres, it is one of the smallest in size, yet one of the most biologically diverse of the national forests hosting hundreds of animal and plant species, some of which are found only there. Ample rainfall creates a jungle-like setting — lush foliage, crags, waterfalls, and rivers are a prevalent sight. The forest has a number of trails from which the jungle-like territory's flora and fauna can be appreciated. El Yunque National Rainforest is currently partially closed until further notice due to Hurricane Maria, but every effort is being made to restore it to what it once was. –David Duran
- Conservatory of Flowers: San Francisco, Calif. — featured in Things to Do in Golden Gate Park
- Hamilton Pool Preserve: Austin, Texas — featured in Top Things to Do in Austin
- Louisville Nature Center: Louisville, Ky. — featured in Free Things to Do in Louisville
- Loring Park: Minneapolis, Minn. — featured in The Top Things to Do in Loring Park
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Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Brooklyn, N.Y. — featured in The Top Things to Do in Brooklyn
For well over a century, people have flocked to this verdant, peaceful garden, which neighbors the Brooklyn Museum. The garden is perhaps best known for its spectacular cherry blossoms and the atmospheric annual Sakura Matsuri that takes place during cherry blossom season. Of course, blossom season is brief and there are numerous reasons to visit the garden throughout the year. Highlights include the large rose garden, the interactive children’s garden, Japanese hill-and-pond garden, conservatories with bonsai, succulents and other indoor collections. Don’t miss out on the plethora of programming like yoga, talks, meditation, classes and festivals. –Alison Lowenstein
- VanDusen Botanical Garden: Vancouver, Canada — featured in Things to Do in Vancouver With Kids
- Eno River State Park: Durham, N.C. — featured in Things to Do in the Triangle
- Denver Botanic Gardens: Denver, Colo. — featured in Denver's Top Tourist Attractions
- Volunteer Park Conservatory: Seattle, Wash. — featured in Things to Do in Seattle in the Rain
- Hemisfair Park: San Antonio, Texas — featured in Things to Do in San Antonio, Texas
Lan Su Chinese Garden: Portland, Ore. — featured in The Top Things to Do in Portland
Lan Su Chinese Garden is right in the heart of old town Portland, but as soon as you step inside, you’d never know it. This oasis of a garden is the perfect place to unwind for an hour or two. While the space is small, it packs in a lot of culture and beauty. Wander the garden, take in the details, and stop by the koi pond and gift shop. Sip some tea in the tea room and listen to traditional Chinese music, or even learn a bit about Chinese calligraphy. Special events take place regularly too, but mostly come here to just take in the stunning beauty of the gardens and traditional Chinese buildings within. –Kristin Kendle
- Mt. Cuba Center: Hockessin, Del. — featured in Things to Do in Delaware's Brandywine Valley
- Golden Gardens Park: Seattle, Wash. — featured in The Top Things to Do in Ballard, Seattle
- Bloedel Conservatory: Vancouver, Canada — featured in Things to Do in Vancouver With Kids
- McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park: Scottsdale, Ariz. — featured in Free & Cheap Things to Do in Scottsdale
- Buck Thomas Park: Moore, Okla. — featured in Things to Do in Moore
- Point Defiance Park: Tacoma, Wash. — featured in Kid-Friendly Attractions in Seattle-Tacoma
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Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens: Cape Town, South Africa — featured in Three Days in Cape Town
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens covers 528 hectares of land beneath Cape Town’s Table Mountain. Part of the UNESCO-recognized Cape Floristic Region, some of it is carefully cultivated into magnificent beds and borders; while the rest is a riotous tangle of natural forest and fynbos. You can explore this South African Eden via a network of trails or the new Canopy Walkway. Keep an eye out for indigenous wildlife, and for art installations including life-sized tin dinosaurs in the Cycad Amphitheatre and majestic Shona sculptures. Free guided tours are offered every day except Sunday and in summer, the garden hosts popular open-air concerts. –Jessica Macdonald
- Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens: Pittsburgh, Pa. — featured in The Top Attractions in Pittsburgh
- John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge: Philadelphia, Pa. — featured in Free Things to Do With Kids in Philly
- North Carolina Arboretum: Asheville, N.C. — featured in Things to Do in Asheville
- Shaker Lakes Nature Center: Cleveland, Ohio — featured in Free Things to Do With Kids in Cleveland
- Spring Grove Cemetery: Cincinnati, Ohio — featured in Free Things to Do in Cincinnati
- White River State Park: Indianapolis, Ind. — featured in Things to Do in Indianapolis
- Mitchell Park Domes: Milwaukee, Wis. — featured in The Top Attractions in Milwaukee
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Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: Columbus, Ohio — featured in Free Things to Do in Columbus
Just two miles from the hustle and bustle of downtown Columbus is an oasis otherwise known as the Franklin Park Conservatory. Home to over 400 plant species (and a permanent Dale Chihuly glass exhibit), the conservatory is must-see for any visitor of Ohio's capital city. Its exhibits are separated into different climates and regions, including the Himalayas, the rainforest, the desert, and the Pacific Ocean. One of the conservatory's biggest draws is its annual butterfly show, which features over 2,000 tropical butterflies throughout the gardens. Come early or on weekdays to beat the crowds — and take a few extra minutes to bask in the sun in the historic, Victorian-style Palm House. –Ashley Knierim
- Gorky Park: Moscow, Russia — featured in The Top Things to Do in Moscow With Kids
- Montreal Botanical Garden: Montreal, Canada — featured in Things to Do in Montreal's Olympic Park
- Red Butte Garden: Salt Lake City, Utah — featured in The Top Attractions in Salt Lake City
- Crowders Mountain: Charlotte, N.C. — featured in Free Things to Do in Charlotte
- Elmwood Cemetery: Memphis, Tenn. — featured in Free Things to Do in Memphis
- Mission Trails Regional Park: San Diego, Calif. — featured in Free Things to Do in San Diego
- Butterfly Conservatory: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada — featured in Things to Do in Niagara Falls
- Hoyt Arboretum: Portland, Ore. — featured in Free Things to Do in Portland
- El Dorado Regional Park and Nature Center: Long Beach, Calif. — featured in The Top Things to Do in Long Beach
- Bonaventure Cemetery: Savannah, Ga. — featured in Things to Do in Savannah
- McDowell Sonoran Preserve: Scottsdale, Ariz. — featured in Free & Cheap Things to Do in Scottsdale
- Manassas National Battlefield Park: Manassas, Va. — featured in Top Northern Virginia Attractions
- Lake View Cemetery: Seattle, Wash. — featured in Seattle Area Monuments & Memorials
- Tohono Chul Park: Tucson, Ariz. — featured in Things to Do in Tucson
- Meadowlark Botanical Gardens: Vienna, Va. — featured in Top Northern Virginia Attractions
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Desert Botanical Garden: Phoenix, Ariz. — featured in The Top Things to Do in Phoenix
You’ll never look at cacti the same way again after visiting the 140-acre Desert Botanical Garden. In this environment, every plant represents stunning beauty. Five marked trails, such as the Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail, capitalize on views (whether of mountains or flowers) and fragrances. Learn how native ancestors and current ethnic groups survived in the desert climate by traveling along the Plants & People of the Sonoran Desert Loop Trail, which documents Hispanic, Tohono O’odham and Western Apache people’s connection to plants. Tip: If you can get here during December, that’s when Las Noches de Las Luminarias happens: imagine 8,000 hand-lit luminaries sprinkled throughout the gardens. –Kristine Hansen
- Cylburn Arboretum: Baltimore, Md. — featured in Free Things to Do in Baltimore
- Cave Hill Cemetery: Louisville, Ky. — featured in Free Things to Do in Louisville
- Garfield Park Conservatory: Indianapolis, Ind. — featured in Things to Do Indoors in Indianapolis
- Glasnevin Cemetery: Dublin, Ireland — featured in Free Things to Do in Dublin
- Pioneer Park: Seattle, Wash. — featured in Seattle Area Monuments & Memorials
- Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery: Point Loma, Calif. — featured in Things to Do in Point Loma
- Saguaro National Park: Tucson, Ariz. — featured in Things to Do in Tucson
- Shenandoah National Park: Va. — featured in Top Things to Do in Virginia
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Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts: Vienna, Va. — featured in The Top Attractions in Northern Virginia
Yes, world-class performers appear at Wolf Trap National Park, but the setting here makes each show even more spectacular. Nestled in a beautiful 117-acre park, the wooden 7,000-seat outdoor amphitheater Filene Center is a truly special place to commune with nature while watching artists like Harry Connick, Jr., Gipsy Kings, Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, and Robyn. If you can't score tickets inside the amphitheater, it's just as fun to bring a picnic and sit on the sloping lawn under the stars. –Adele O'Donnell
- New York Botanical Garden: Bronx, N.Y. — featured in Things to Do in the Bronx
- Lakeshore State Park: Milwaukee, Wis. — featured in Things to Do in Downtown Milwaukee
- Longwood Gardens: Wilmington, Del. — featured in Things to Do in Wilmington
- Missouri Botanical Garden: St. Louis, Mo. — featured in Top Things to Do in St. Louis
- Butterfly House: St. Louis, Mo. — featured in Cheap Things to Do in St. Louis
- Martin Park Nature Center: Oklahoma City, Okla. — featured in Underrated Attractions in OKC
- Gas Works Park: Seattle, Wash. — featured in Kid-Friendly Attractions in Seattle-Tacoma
Urban Parks
- Central Park: New York, N.Y. — featured in Top Attractions in NYC
- Piazza Santo Spirito: Florence, Italy — featured in Top Sights & Attractions in Florence
- Lake Eola Park: Orlando, Fla. — featured in Orlando's Lake Eola Park
- Barton Creek Greenbelt: Austin, Texas — featured in The Top Outdoor Attractions in Austin
- Dufferin Terrace: Quebec City, Canada — featured in Top Things to Do in Quebec City
- Millennium Park: Chicago, Ill. — featured in The Most Instagrammable Attractions in Chicago
- Washington Park: Denver, Colo. — featured in Denver's Top Tourist Attractions
- Buffalo Bayou Park: Houston, Texas — featured in Free Things to Do in Houston
- Lady Bird Lake: Austin, Texas — featured in The Top Outdoor Attractions in Austin
Wave Hill: Bronx, N.Y. — featured in The Top Things to Do in the Bronx
If you think the Bronx is all high-rises and crowded streets, think again: it's also home to Wave Hill, 28 acres of pure outdoor beauty along the Hudson River. The estate's multiple gardens include the Herb and Dry Garden, Conifer Slope, Abrons Woodland, and various flower gardens. The Conservatory includes the Tropical House and the Cactus and Succulent House, while the Elliptical Garden is in the former swimming pool of the estate. And don't miss the Wild Garden, which offers sweeping river views thanks to being at the estate's highest point. Wave Hill also offers various workshops, lectures, and events on everything from beekeeping to photography to cooking. –Devorah Lev-Tov
- Stanley Park: Vancouver, Canada — featured in Things to Do in Vancouver on a Budget
- Granville Island: Vancouver, Canada — featured in Things to Do in Vancouver on a Budget
- Forsyth Park: Savannah, Ga. — featured in Things to Do in Savannah
- Old Town Square: Prague, Czechia — featured in Free Things to Do in Prague
- Citygarden: St. Louis, Mo. — featured in Free Summer Events in St. Louis
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Brooklyn Bridge Park: Brooklyn, N.Y. — featured in the Top Things to Do in Brooklyn
There is one view of Manhattan that’s iconic beyond all others, in countless rom-coms and photographs and TV moments, straight out onto the downtown skyline, with the Brooklyn Bridge arching over the river. And that’s the view from Brooklyn Bridge Park. On the Brooklyn side of the East River, the park has recently undergone a complete rehabilitation, such that there’s now more than a mile of walkable waterfront. There are playgrounds and basketball courts, eateries and food stands, and landmarks like the beautiful Jane's Carousel, first opened in 1920. On a warm summer day, there’s no nicer walk in the city. –Carey Jones
- Piazza dell'Anfiteatro: Lucca, Italy — featured in The Top Sights in Lucca
- Federal Hill Park: Baltimore, Md. — featured in Free Things to Do in Baltimore
- Zilker Park: Austin, Texas — featured in The Top Outdoor Attractions in Austin
- Golden Gate Park: San Francisco, Calif. — featured in Things to Do With Kids in San Francisco
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Balboa Park: San Diego, Calif. — featured in What to See and Do Balboa Park
Set in the heart of San Diego, Balboa Park is an extensive recreational area and one of the oldest urban parks ever created in the United States. More than a simple outdoor space, Balboa Park is home to some of the city’s best museums, a botanical garden, a timeless organ pavilion and even the San Diego Zoo. Many of the Spanish Colonial-style buildings date back to when the park was used for the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition. The unique architecture and world-class cultural attractions make the park one of San Diego’s most beloved destinations. –Natalie Kennedy