Visiting a local botanical garden is a great way to get outside and enjoy the beauty of nature. There are many to choose from and most offer a variety of educational activities geared toward children.

Do you know of any locations not listed? Please email us with the details and we’ll get them added.

Note: As usual, contact information is provided. Please call to confirm hours and pricing, or check the websites listed before planning your trip.

Beech Creek Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve
Located in Alliance, OH, Beech Creek Garden is a great place to relax and interact with nature. There is something for all ages and interests to enjoy, including hiking trails, 2-acre Nature Playce playground, butterfly house (open in the summer months), and a plant science and nature center. They also host several events throughout the year including hand-feeding wild chickadees and family yoga.
11929 Beech St. NE, Alliance, OH 44601
(330) 829-7050
Website | Our Review

Canton Garden Center
The Canton Garden Center was organized in 1946 to maintain a Garden Center with a library offering free gardening information, unite the clubs and individuals in the common interest of home and community beautification, and to encourage and train youth in the appreciation of our natural resources.
1615 Stadium Park Dr. NW, Canton, OH 44718
(330) 455-6172
Website

Clary Gardens
The 20-acre site is sustained by staff, volunteer service, and donations. They host several special events, workshops, and offer a Kid's Club for children ages 3 to 12. They are open daily and FREE to the public.
588 W. Chestnut St., Coshocton, OH 43812
(740) 622-6524
Website

Cleveland Botanical Gardens
This garden is an ever-changing urban oasis that provides enrichment and inspiration through 10 acres of beautiful outdoor gardens, the 18,000-square-foot Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse, featuring the biomes of Madagascar and Costa Rica, as well as seasonal celebrations and exhibitions throughout the year. Children 2 and under are FREE!
11030 East Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 721-1600
Website

Fellows Riverside Gardens
Fellows Riverside Gardens is a free public garden located at the northern end of Mill Creek Park. This 12-acre display garden features a landscape of remarkable beauty with diverse and colorful plant displays, roses of all classes, seasonal displays of annuals, perennials, flowering bulbs, and scenic vistas.
123 McKinley Ave., Youngstown, OH 44509
(330) 740-7116
Website

Gardenview Horticultural Park
Open from April until mid-October, enjoy 6 acres of rare plants and flowers in a natural, cottage-style landscape. Non-members are welcome but are charged a small admission fee; children under age 5 are FREE.
16711 Pearl Rd., Strongsville, OH 44136
(440) 238-6653
Website

Hershey Children’s Garden
Part of Cleveland Botanical Gardens, Hershey Children's Garden was one of the first such gardens in the country and the first in Ohio when it opened in 1999 and still serves as a model for children's gardens around the world. With its mix of mini ecological areas, including the pond, prairie, and woodland, as well as the manicured flower gardens, it is a place for guests of all ages to explore, learn and find adventure. They are open late March through the end of October.
11030 East Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 721-1600
Website

Holden Arboretum
This hidden gem, located in Lake and Geauga Counties, is a must-visit spot for anyone in Northeast Ohio. The arboretum covers 3,500 acres and features hiking trails, cultivated gardens and special collections, a Canopy Walk, the Emergent Tower, and a natural play area for kids. It's a great destination for families and people of all ages. Plus, it's dog-friendly, so you can bring your pup along to enjoy the fun.
9550 Sperry Rd., Kirtland, OH 44094
(440) 946-4400
Website | Our Review

Kingwood Center
Open from April until October, Kingwood Center Gardens in Mansfield is a 47-acre former estate garden open to the public since 1953. The center offers several workshops and events, and children ages 12 and under are FREE!
50 N. Trimble Rd., Mansfield, OH 44906
(419) 522-0211
Website

Rockefeller Park Greenhouse
The greenhouse is dedicated to educating, fostering, and supporting gardening and how it enhances the quality of life both in itself and in partnership with the arts, education, and science. Explore luxuriant and peaceful specialty gardens featuring ADA-accessible walkways, tropical fruit trees, a garden for the blind, and spectacular seasonal displays. Parking and admission are free to the public.
750 E. 88th St., Cleveland, OH 44108
(216) 664-3103
Website

Schedel Arboretum & Gardens
Open from April until the end of October, the gardens are home to many exotic species of trees and 10,000+ annual plants and flowers in several themed garden displays. Children 5 and under are FREE!
19255 W. Portage River South Rd., Elmore, OH 43416
(419) 862-3182
Website

Schoepfle Garden & Children’s Garden
This truly unique park in the Lorain County Metro Parks system contains 70 acres of botanical gardens and natural woodland bordered on one side by the Vermilion River. The garden features collections of rhododendrons, roses, cannas, hostas, shade plants, and varieties of shrubs, topiaries and trees. Enjoy the natural beauty of the garden by participating in a guided tour or wandering at your own pace. Be sure to bring a camera!
11106 Market St., Wakeman, OH 44889
(440) 965-7237
Website

Secrest Arboretum & Gardens
This beautiful arboretum offers many trails and themed gardens to enjoy as well as a natural play fortress and huge slide built into the hill. Well behaved, leashed pets are welcome to enjoy the gardens as well. They are open year-round and FREE to the public.
1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691
(330) 263-3761
Website | Our Review

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
Open from April to December, the estate features a historic 65-room Tudor Revival Manor House, Curved Eave Corbin Conservatory, Gate Lodge, and approximately 70 acres of artistically landscaped grounds and formal gardens. Several events are held throughout the year. Children 5 and under are FREE!
714 N. Portage Path, Akron, OH 44303
(330) 836-5533
Website | Our Review