Top Things to do in California
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What to do and see in California, United States: The Best Gardens
California is a fertile, peaceful place where you’ll find a near-equal balance of vineyards and deserts, beaches and mountains, hippies and traditionalists. Catch an epic wave in Big Sur or swirl a glass in Napa Valley. Be dazzled by the Joshua Tree night sky or just star-gaze in Hollywood. Swish down the slopes of a Tahoe ski resort, or cruise across the Golden Gate Bridge with the top down and the music blasting. Above all, don’t forget to soak up some Golden State sunshine.
Restaurants in California
1. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,300 reviews
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens offers everything from colorful displays to thunderous waves. The mild maritime climate makes it a garden for all seasons, attracting gardeners and nature lovers. With manicured formal gardens, a dense coastal pine forest, native flora and habitats, fern-covered canyons, camellias, rhododendrons, magnolias and conifers, heaths, heathers, and flower-filled coastal bluffs overlooking the blue ocean, the garden is a jewel on the Pacific Coast. Your visit is a show of support for our non-profit botanical garden and its mission!
Reviewed By Gardenxoe - Eureka, United States
We’ve never been disappointed by this garden. This time the rhododendrons were in full bloom and it was also a great time to see native wildflowers. We love the transition from beautiful display gardens to native plants (as you head to dramatic ocean overlook). Another good time to visit garden is in July/August, when the dahlias & heathers are blooming.
2. Self Realization Fellowship Hermitage & Meditation Gardens
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 526 reviews
Reviewed By kittymcooper
A peaceful place to meander through and perhaps even meditate. Lush lovely plantings in a wonderful setting. A jewel of a garden beautifully maintained with nooks that have benches for your pleasure
3. The Water Conservation Garden
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 94 reviews
Reviewed By marlicar - San Diego, United States
I attended a composting class put on by the Solana Center, and got to tour this beautiful garden of water conservation/landscaping ideas. Over 5 acres that you can stroll through on your own or with a guide. They have classes, a garden gift shop, butterflies and an amphitheater. They also do weddings. Very relaxing. I highly recommend it!
4. Crystal Hermitage Gardens
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 51 reviews
Ananda Village and Crystal Hermitage gardens are in self isolation. in response to California's stay in place order. All events have been cancelled. No exceptions.
Reviewed By lvlocalgal
We visited Grass Valley last April and with the recommendation of the Grass Valley Chamber, included a trip to the Crystal Hermitage Gardens to experience Springtime at Ananda. WOW barely covers it! The gardens are incredible! The cherry tree was in blossom and the tulips were in full bloom. We learned a bit about the history, and what an incredible act of love, devotion, and perseverance it took to create the gardens, and to learn that new tulips are planted each year with the help of volunteers is astounding! It's an experience we won't forget and highly recommend taking the time to visit-you won't be disappointed!
5. Balboa Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12,833 reviews
One of the most popular urban parks in the United States, this bucolic paradise is packed with an array of attractions, including the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
Reviewed By noeadventures - Los Angeles, United States
Who knew Southern California had an international-like escape. Old buildings and churches, open city squares for dining under umbrellas with fountains and birds, vendors, huge outdoor piano organ, church bells ringing, museums, botanical gardens, bridges, zoo, on and on and on and on...you could spend a whole day here easily. I felt moderately like I was back in Prague or Guatemala. Such a cool place.
6. Cholla Cactus Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 550 reviews
Located inside Joshua Tree National Park, this small area contains awesome man-sized cacti that grow in profusion.
Reviewed By waynefromcali - Yucaipa, United States
Cholla Cactus Garden Trail,located in Joshua TreeNational Park,California,is a great stop on your Joshua Tree National Park adventure! They featurea a cholla cactus garden info sign,a one way covid safe trail start and is about 1/4 mile in length for a nice stop and go! Careful-Cholla Cactus are very pointy sharp! Its a beautiful area all around for beautiful views and photos! . . . . #joshuatreenationalpark #chollacactusgardentrail #chollacactusgarden #jthavn #ilovejoshuatreenationalpark #seejoshuatree #goseejoshuatree #waynesalvatti #photografxworldwide #californiadeserts #californiadreamin #californiadreaming #desertlife #yuccavalley #29palms #gohiking #getoutthere #familyfun #covidsafe #peaceful #calm #outdoorlife #cactus #chollacactus
7. Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 448 reviews
An extraordinary combination of nature preserve and theme park that comprises more than 75 acres of trees, plants, water and rocks combined with rides, picnic grounds, miniature golf and spectacular gardens.
Reviewed By ccrconinc - Concord, United States
Late October and early Nov is the perfect time and place to spend a beautiful fall day with the kid( s ) or just wanted to be a kid yourself amazing trees scape ride for the kids Time for bonding !!!
8. UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 477 reviews
Past Strawberry Canyon is the 34-acre Botanical Garden, which holds about 13,000 species of plants. The species are organized according to regions of the world, and the garden has a great collection of native Californian plants. Bring a picnic basket and enjoy the collections, Garden Store, and Plant Deck. Be sure to check out the glasshouses, Chinese Medicinal Herb Garden, and Redwood Grove. The Garden is open from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. every day of the year except the first Tuesday of each month, Thanksgiving Day, December 24 and 25, December 31, January 1, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Online advanced admission tickets are required for all visitors, including Garden Members.
Reviewed By 107JohnM107
The University of California Botanical Garden is a sneaky attraction. The opening sections of native California plants near the entrance is nice, but not enthralling. But walks farther from the entrance build slowly to a strong crescendo -- so many different plants from so many different areas of the world. The cactus section was particularly impressive; the greenhouse collection of flesh-eating plants was creepy but delightful, too. And throughout the garden are plenty of comfortable wood benches for pondering the wealth of thriving plant life, plus distant views of San Francisco Bay and its bridges. All in all, a magical place for the gardener and plant lover alike.
9. Mission Santa Clara de Asis
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 133 reviews
Founded in 1777, this historic mission is located on the campus of Santa Clara University.
Reviewed By pearlwhite - San Jose, United States
This is a beautiful and well-maintained California mission church on the serene Santa Clara University campus. It has a very active parish and the masses are traditional with great music - especially the student mass Sunday night that pulls from the talent of the student body. You can't drive up to the church anymore, so park in the neighborhood and stroll through the campus.
10. UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 401 reviews
The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden spans the campus’s 5300-plus acres and includes the historic Arboretum – a 100-plus acre campus and regional amenity comprised of demonstration gardens and scientific collections as well as the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve – a rare stream and grassland ecosystem managed for teaching, research, wildlife and habitat protection.
Reviewed By pwillard
I love public gardens all the time, but I appreciate them even more during Covid. The UC Davis Arboretum is a special place. The view of the creek as you walk the paths, the serenity of the gardens, and the wonderful exercise you get there keeps me coming back when I am in Davis. I'd go every time if I could, but my daughter won't let me. I feel very fortunate she was willing to go during my most recent trip to Davis.
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