Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix

Was one of the highlights on our trip to Scottsdale. The only negative is holy cow is it hot out and there are a lot of options to cool down. The garden is set up with 4-5 little loop trails off the main trail and easily doable in an hour or two. The vending machines could have been more plentiful and perhaps an ice cream stand or something to help cool off. A few misters on the trail would be amazing but I can’t blame them for desert heat, just be prepared for it. Would definitely go back.

We loved this place. The people were friendly and helpful. This place is open enough that it can safely accommodate large crowds. Masks are required, which gives us peace of mind during this pandemic. Great place to visit. Visit in the early the morning to avoid the heat. Who thought that cacti and succulents could be so beautiful!

We love going to the Botanical Garden ..early in the morning , first thing in the winter months. The lighting is sublime and the air can be very fresh and a bit brisk. Their gift shop is very nice ..not the usual touristy stuff. In the summer, they have concerts under the stars with a lighted desert hillside as the back drop. Stunning. Great place to bring out of state visitors you want to impress. Kids ( maybe) under 18 might not appreciate it as much, however.

Serene and calming, this random "on a whim" stop turned out to be better than anticipated. I love botanical gardens, especially the care taken in curating them- this one in particular is teeming with desert flora AND fauna. The staff are friendly, and judging by the thriving plants, and booming animal and insect population, they're doing great! Take your time and pay attention to each section you go through. Every time there's a rustling in the brush, you're usually rewarded with some playful lizards, timid rabbits or fiendishly hungry baby chipmunks. Birds flit and call throughout the garden, letting visitors peer into their behavior and characteristics. If nature and curated desert plants wasn't enough, there's art currently sprawled throughout the space, changing as the scape does with the lighting. Plaques are posted throughout with identifications, facts and more, easily inviting you to look and explore further. Well worth the visit, and highly recommended! My only complaint is there were multiple sections closed off for a private event, but then again, who can blame them? This is truly a magical place! Free parking, maps provided and gift shop and well maintained bathrooms are all present to boot!

This is so lovely!!! Much bigger than I initially thought, definitely bring a water bottle (there are convenient refilling stations) and take breaks in the shade when needed. I'm not from a hot climate so maybe locals are better off but the heat was definitely a challenge. Amply made up for by the seemingly infinite varieties of cactus and desert plants everywhere. I was super appreciative of the labels, so handy to have. Also! I want to note that you need reservations, but we were able to make them same day, for two hours after we made the booking.