(I received an email stating they had extended the Garden of Lights and that they offer a mobility shuttle on value nights. )This was a perfect opportunity to enjoy some lights with my husband, and bring another family member who otherwise wouldn't have been able to walk the entire route. The mobility shuttle is included in the price of admission, however one must contact the office to make reservations. They have a limited number of seats on the tram and will assign you a row ( each row has four seats).We had to arrive between 4:30-4:45pm to check in at the visitor center. The tram left at 5pm to tour the entire route of the lights at a good leisurely pace. It took roughly 30 minutes to complete the route. Since it wasn't completely dark when we started the tour of lights, the first half/three fourths weren't as magical and twinkly & sparkly as i'm sure it looks when it's completely dark and the lights illuminate with such fervor and vibrancy.We did enjoy the lights and they are a beautiful, mystical electrical sight, however we weren't able to witness it's full spectacular until the last part of the tour. It would have been a 5 star experience had they started the tram later for better visibility of the holiday lights. I'm guessing several reasons the tram starts right when the lights open are due to high foot traffic during open hours which isn't conducive for a tram to navigate,the other being for everyone's safety. Maybe the idea of starting much later would present additional safety and challenge issues with loading/unloading people on the tram due to lower visibility. If logistically and economically possible, maybe next winter season they can push the opening time a little later to accommodate for sundown and have portable floodlights surrounding the tram area for loading and unloading if those are partly the reasons? If at all?I think it's wonderful they strive to be all encompassing, as everyone should be able to enjoy the outdoors, especially without having to be concerned about navigating the logistics of a desired activity/event. Staff were safe, expeditious, efficient and friendly! Make sure to dress according to the weather, it's an open tram. We made sure we had hats, layers on, including long johns. That night was so frigid and even being bundled up I could still feel the cold creeping through. When we visited, we arrived early prior to check in & loading. It would have been helpful or appreciated if staff had offered /suggested to visitors the food vendor availability & location information to utilize that wait time for us to grab some hot drinks and snacks. We didn't see the food vendors until everyone went outside to load. Nor did anyone else. My husband was a tad irritated that he didn't know he had an option to get some drinks & snacks from Bear house coffee, duck donuts and another vendor prior.
Tina Z.
Visited here during their holiday Garden of Lights on 12/20/23 with my family.The garden of lights was so beautiful they did a fantastic job with all the lights. The path was well lit and you did not have to question if you were going the wrong way. Note: There is time frame you choose when buying tickets for Garden of Lights, ours was 7p-8p we got there around 7p and traffic was backed up to Azalea garden road. It did take about, I believe about 30m or less to park due to the traffic.
Kathryn M.
The family came here for the Norfolk Garden of Lights on family and friends night. It was super easy to go in. The lights were beautiful! There were plenty of parking. They had 2 food trucks available on-site, Bear House Coffee and Duck Donuts. The lighted trails were fun to walk. They had Christmas music playing in the background. It had been over 15 years since I last visited the Botanical Gardens during the day, but even in the evening with these lights, you can picture how beautiful it must be in the broad daylight.
Corey D.
Went to the Dominion Energy Garden of Lights last night at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. It was basically the drive through light show, but walking. Everything looked amazing! I think the experience was a little more immersive walking compared to driving. You can tell very clearly that there is a lot of work that goes into putting this light show together. Kudos to whoever was involved in making this happen! You can also bring your dog(s)!There are snacks, hot cocoa, and other things to purchase, but we didn't end up getting any.
Chelsea D.
I recently spent a beautiful autumn afternoon walking around the gardens with my cousin, despite having lived in the area for 30 years, it was my first time visiting. Although some of the summer flowers had already wilted away, I was still impressed with the beauty of the place. If you're planning to visit, I suggest starting off by checking out their website which provides all the information you need about purchasing tickets, where to park, which exhibits are open or closed, and other useful details to ensure a pleasant visit. Furthermore, they are currently building a new section called the "Garden of Tomorrow," which I'm very excited to see when it opens.During our visit to the gardens, we found out that there are a variety of gardens available to explore. To help visitors navigate through each garden, they provide a map and an app with the garden layout. Tram and boat tours were not available during our off-season visit, hence we had to do a lot of walking. The Tropical Display House was my favorite among all the gardens. I would return each season to explore more. The upcoming winter season has something special to offer, the "Garden of Lights" where the gardens are decorated with holiday lights, and visitors can walk through to see them. Also, they offer season passes for garden enthusiasts.One more thing! Outside of the gift shop, they have a board with plant cuttings. You can take a plant cutting for free! Put it in water and in a few weeks it will grow roots! You can change the water as needed while the roots grow big enough that you can eventually pot it in soil. I picked up a begonia and it is already growing roots!
Alvinia J.
It's a shame to say I have been in Hampton Roads since high school and had never been to Norfolk Botanical Gardens, so we decided to go for 4th of July. We arrived as soon as the gardens opened to try and beat the heat. We were able to take the first Tram tour (opened April) of the day and the first boat tour (runs May thru summer) of the day. Both were a must-do. The tram tour was very good. It runs hourly and has designated stops where you can get out or get picked up again in an hour.The boat ride tour was very fun and informative. We received an overall perspective on the gardens, layout, and future plans. The tour guy was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot about the gardens and the city of Norfolk. My husband was born and raised in Norfolk and learned things that he never knew. We will be definitely revisiting in the fall.I
Nikki C.
It was our first time visiting the Norfolk Botanical Garden. It was the perfect day to go. The garden was a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be. There are lots of paths to walk around and view the beautiful flowers and landscape. For entry, you pay per person but there are also memberships you can purchase if you plan to visit multiple times. You can take a tour on the train tram which is free or you can also take a boat ride for a fee. It's a great option if you want a peaceful picnic or some tranquility.
Chris K.
Norfolk Botanical Garden is a treat to visit during any month or season. Something is always in bloom! A tram ride is offered on the hour as part of admission. It takes you around the garden with different drop off and pick up locations. In the spring, we enjoy the many flowers, blooming shrubs like Azaleas and Hydrangeas, the Bicentennial rose garden, sculpture garden, fountain, and Japanese garden. Comfortable spring temperatures make for a pleasant time to visit the 130-acre park. On weekends in May, and every day in the summer, they also offer a guided boat tour through the garden's canals. Lovely!Check out reviews for winter too. They offer a spectacular holiday lights experience through the gardens. Note: The garden cafe is closed, and I don't think they'll open another until their new construction is complete, and it has a long way to go. There are a couple of food trucks that offer beverages, but they didn't offer much in the way of food when we were there in a Wednesday.
Miriam Ross
Norfolk Botanical Gardens is such a BEAUTIFUL place to visit, relax and enjoy any time of the year! There is so much to see and take in for EVERY member of your family! You can either walk, bike, take your pets, ride the Tram and even take a boat ride through the MAGNIFICENT property! They have a Children's area where they can play. They have seats throughout where you can sit and rest. Also, they have a WONDERFUL Venue for Birthdays and Weddings! We had my Mother's Birthday Celebration there last year and it was SPECTACULAR!! Please take out time to visit even if it's just to getaway and relax.
Laura S.
Update. March. 2023. Still loving, and discovering new things, in this park. Discovery: if you walk up the small hill near the parking lot, there is a viewing area of the Norfolk Airport, with narration and at least one bench. Tip: there is some construction going on, so parking spaces are more limited. Recommend reserving a time online, even if you are a pass holder. Tip. It's late March, and the park is abloom with mist if the 500 thousand daffodils, plus many other colorful. flowering trees and plants.
I would love to have stopped by in the spring time! But it was still lovely during the winter/spring cusp. I went in February. I stopped by before my flight out of town since I had some hours to kill. This is right by the Norfolk airport. There's tons to see! And there's more being built. We stopped over by the Japanese garden where there's some nice looking structures. There's a man made canal. Loads of birds around. There's a kid's area that was not really up and running because it was a random weekday in the winter. There was a butterfly garden that also didn't have much activity going on. As you keep wondering down, you hit the edge of the bay. Beautiful views. There was also the Renaissance Court area which I think would be really nice to hold a wedding or some kind of gala. Really beautiful - It bet it would be even more nice during the warmer months!
The Furry Godmother
Lovely garden. On Sundays, you can take your dogs. The paved paths are a plus. There is a tram that runs if you can't do the walking. You might want to download a plant ID app before you go, and definitely stop in the gift shop (bathrooms are right by it). Getting a map is also a very good idea. Allow at least 2 hours if you've never been. The Japanese garden is one of my favorites.
J. Garty
Beautiful, large botanical gardens. Wonderful variety of local and exotic floral. You just feel happy walking around this beautiful garden.We spent several hours here, there is ample parking, a nice visitor center with multiple bathrooms on site throughout the gardens. There's a gift shop, and tour guides available. We did speak with several garden employees, all. We're very friendly and knowledgeable about the different species of plants. The garden was very clean, fragrant, and just plain lovely. Went during the summer months early in the morning before it got warm. It did take several hours, and I'm not even sure if we saw it all. There are many maps throughout the gardens to help you navigate grounds, and you do receive a paper copy when you enter through the gate. The gardens itself is very child friendly, with a large children's garden with interactive splash pads and a center. This would definitely be a cool place to take toddlers to spend the day. We took our two school age children and they enjoyed it very much. They had a good time learning about the plants, exploring the grounds, and also viewing the planes taking off on the other side of the gardens.Would recommend bringing some water, wearing good shoes, and spending several hours here to truly explore the whole thing.
Ann Sinclair
Beautiful gardens. Well maintained with something to see every season of the year. Expansive space makes it easy to get a long walk in. Lots of shade from the forest my areas means you can plan your walk to be a little cooler on hot days. The rose garden, indoor greenhouse with orchids and the bonsai gardens are probably my favorite must see attractions. Sundays are dog friendly. I go to the gardens all the time. You must check them out!!!
Harry Gilbert
We enjoyed a wonderful evening stroll as a travel break as we passed through Norfolk. We had about an hour and a half until closing but were able to enjoy many of the garden ‘rooms’ that have been skillfully created. The gardens range from beautifully manicured to wild and natural. There were two weddings on the Saturday evening we were there celebrating in the beautiful venue. Although there were many people enjoying the gardens we had times we felt we had the gardens to ourselves.
(I received an email stating they had extended the Garden of Lights and that they offer a mobility shuttle on value nights. )This was a perfect opportunity to enjoy some lights with my husband, and bring another family member who otherwise wouldn't have been able to walk the entire route. The mobility shuttle is included in the price of admission, however one must contact the office to make reservations. They have a limited number of seats on the tram and will assign you a row ( each row has four seats).We had to arrive between 4:30-4:45pm to check in at the visitor center. The tram left at 5pm to tour the entire route of the lights at a good leisurely pace. It took roughly 30 minutes to complete the route. Since it wasn't completely dark when we started the tour of lights, the first half/three fourths weren't as magical and twinkly & sparkly as i'm sure it looks when it's completely dark and the lights illuminate with such fervor and vibrancy.We did enjoy the lights and they are a beautiful, mystical electrical sight, however we weren't able to witness it's full spectacular until the last part of the tour. It would have been a 5 star experience had they started the tram later for better visibility of the holiday lights. I'm guessing several reasons the tram starts right when the lights open are due to high foot traffic during open hours which isn't conducive for a tram to navigate,the other being for everyone's safety. Maybe the idea of starting much later would present additional safety and challenge issues with loading/unloading people on the tram due to lower visibility. If logistically and economically possible, maybe next winter season they can push the opening time a little later to accommodate for sundown and have portable floodlights surrounding the tram area for loading and unloading if those are partly the reasons? If at all?I think it's wonderful they strive to be all encompassing, as everyone should be able to enjoy the outdoors, especially without having to be concerned about navigating the logistics of a desired activity/event. Staff were safe, expeditious, efficient and friendly! Make sure to dress according to the weather, it's an open tram. We made sure we had hats, layers on, including long johns. That night was so frigid and even being bundled up I could still feel the cold creeping through. When we visited, we arrived early prior to check in & loading. It would have been helpful or appreciated if staff had offered /suggested to visitors the food vendor availability & location information to utilize that wait time for us to grab some hot drinks and snacks. We didn't see the food vendors until everyone went outside to load. Nor did anyone else. My husband was a tad irritated that he didn't know he had an option to get some drinks & snacks from Bear house coffee, duck donuts and another vendor prior.
Visited here during their holiday Garden of Lights on 12/20/23 with my family.The garden of lights was so beautiful they did a fantastic job with all the lights. The path was well lit and you did not have to question if you were going the wrong way. Note: There is time frame you choose when buying tickets for Garden of Lights, ours was 7p-8p we got there around 7p and traffic was backed up to Azalea garden road. It did take about, I believe about 30m or less to park due to the traffic.
The family came here for the Norfolk Garden of Lights on family and friends night. It was super easy to go in. The lights were beautiful! There were plenty of parking. They had 2 food trucks available on-site, Bear House Coffee and Duck Donuts. The lighted trails were fun to walk. They had Christmas music playing in the background. It had been over 15 years since I last visited the Botanical Gardens during the day, but even in the evening with these lights, you can picture how beautiful it must be in the broad daylight.
Went to the Dominion Energy Garden of Lights last night at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. It was basically the drive through light show, but walking. Everything looked amazing! I think the experience was a little more immersive walking compared to driving. You can tell very clearly that there is a lot of work that goes into putting this light show together. Kudos to whoever was involved in making this happen! You can also bring your dog(s)!There are snacks, hot cocoa, and other things to purchase, but we didn't end up getting any.
I recently spent a beautiful autumn afternoon walking around the gardens with my cousin, despite having lived in the area for 30 years, it was my first time visiting. Although some of the summer flowers had already wilted away, I was still impressed with the beauty of the place. If you're planning to visit, I suggest starting off by checking out their website which provides all the information you need about purchasing tickets, where to park, which exhibits are open or closed, and other useful details to ensure a pleasant visit. Furthermore, they are currently building a new section called the "Garden of Tomorrow," which I'm very excited to see when it opens.During our visit to the gardens, we found out that there are a variety of gardens available to explore. To help visitors navigate through each garden, they provide a map and an app with the garden layout. Tram and boat tours were not available during our off-season visit, hence we had to do a lot of walking. The Tropical Display House was my favorite among all the gardens. I would return each season to explore more. The upcoming winter season has something special to offer, the "Garden of Lights" where the gardens are decorated with holiday lights, and visitors can walk through to see them. Also, they offer season passes for garden enthusiasts.One more thing! Outside of the gift shop, they have a board with plant cuttings. You can take a plant cutting for free! Put it in water and in a few weeks it will grow roots! You can change the water as needed while the roots grow big enough that you can eventually pot it in soil. I picked up a begonia and it is already growing roots!
It's a shame to say I have been in Hampton Roads since high school and had never been to Norfolk Botanical Gardens, so we decided to go for 4th of July. We arrived as soon as the gardens opened to try and beat the heat. We were able to take the first Tram tour (opened April) of the day and the first boat tour (runs May thru summer) of the day. Both were a must-do. The tram tour was very good. It runs hourly and has designated stops where you can get out or get picked up again in an hour.The boat ride tour was very fun and informative. We received an overall perspective on the gardens, layout, and future plans. The tour guy was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot about the gardens and the city of Norfolk. My husband was born and raised in Norfolk and learned things that he never knew. We will be definitely revisiting in the fall.I
It was our first time visiting the Norfolk Botanical Garden. It was the perfect day to go. The garden was a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be. There are lots of paths to walk around and view the beautiful flowers and landscape. For entry, you pay per person but there are also memberships you can purchase if you plan to visit multiple times. You can take a tour on the train tram which is free or you can also take a boat ride for a fee. It's a great option if you want a peaceful picnic or some tranquility.
Norfolk Botanical Garden is a treat to visit during any month or season. Something is always in bloom! A tram ride is offered on the hour as part of admission. It takes you around the garden with different drop off and pick up locations. In the spring, we enjoy the many flowers, blooming shrubs like Azaleas and Hydrangeas, the Bicentennial rose garden, sculpture garden, fountain, and Japanese garden. Comfortable spring temperatures make for a pleasant time to visit the 130-acre park. On weekends in May, and every day in the summer, they also offer a guided boat tour through the garden's canals. Lovely!Check out reviews for winter too. They offer a spectacular holiday lights experience through the gardens. Note: The garden cafe is closed, and I don't think they'll open another until their new construction is complete, and it has a long way to go. There are a couple of food trucks that offer beverages, but they didn't offer much in the way of food when we were there in a Wednesday.
Norfolk Botanical Gardens is such a BEAUTIFUL place to visit, relax and enjoy any time of the year! There is so much to see and take in for EVERY member of your family! You can either walk, bike, take your pets, ride the Tram and even take a boat ride through the MAGNIFICENT property! They have a Children's area where they can play. They have seats throughout where you can sit and rest. Also, they have a WONDERFUL Venue for Birthdays and Weddings! We had my Mother's Birthday Celebration there last year and it was SPECTACULAR!! Please take out time to visit even if it's just to getaway and relax.
Update. March. 2023. Still loving, and discovering new things, in this park. Discovery: if you walk up the small hill near the parking lot, there is a viewing area of the Norfolk Airport, with narration and at least one bench. Tip: there is some construction going on, so parking spaces are more limited. Recommend reserving a time online, even if you are a pass holder. Tip. It's late March, and the park is abloom with mist if the 500 thousand daffodils, plus many other colorful. flowering trees and plants.
Restaurantji Recommends
I would love to have stopped by in the spring time! But it was still lovely during the winter/spring cusp. I went in February. I stopped by before my flight out of town since I had some hours to kill. This is right by the Norfolk airport. There's tons to see! And there's more being built. We stopped over by the Japanese garden where there's some nice looking structures. There's a man made canal. Loads of birds around. There's a kid's area that was not really up and running because it was a random weekday in the winter. There was a butterfly garden that also didn't have much activity going on. As you keep wondering down, you hit the edge of the bay. Beautiful views. There was also the Renaissance Court area which I think would be really nice to hold a wedding or some kind of gala. Really beautiful - It bet it would be even more nice during the warmer months!
Lovely garden. On Sundays, you can take your dogs. The paved paths are a plus. There is a tram that runs if you can't do the walking. You might want to download a plant ID app before you go, and definitely stop in the gift shop (bathrooms are right by it). Getting a map is also a very good idea. Allow at least 2 hours if you've never been. The Japanese garden is one of my favorites.
Beautiful, large botanical gardens. Wonderful variety of local and exotic floral. You just feel happy walking around this beautiful garden.We spent several hours here, there is ample parking, a nice visitor center with multiple bathrooms on site throughout the gardens. There's a gift shop, and tour guides available. We did speak with several garden employees, all. We're very friendly and knowledgeable about the different species of plants. The garden was very clean, fragrant, and just plain lovely. Went during the summer months early in the morning before it got warm. It did take several hours, and I'm not even sure if we saw it all. There are many maps throughout the gardens to help you navigate grounds, and you do receive a paper copy when you enter through the gate. The gardens itself is very child friendly, with a large children's garden with interactive splash pads and a center. This would definitely be a cool place to take toddlers to spend the day. We took our two school age children and they enjoyed it very much. They had a good time learning about the plants, exploring the grounds, and also viewing the planes taking off on the other side of the gardens.Would recommend bringing some water, wearing good shoes, and spending several hours here to truly explore the whole thing.
Beautiful gardens. Well maintained with something to see every season of the year. Expansive space makes it easy to get a long walk in. Lots of shade from the forest my areas means you can plan your walk to be a little cooler on hot days. The rose garden, indoor greenhouse with orchids and the bonsai gardens are probably my favorite must see attractions. Sundays are dog friendly. I go to the gardens all the time. You must check them out!!!
We enjoyed a wonderful evening stroll as a travel break as we passed through Norfolk. We had about an hour and a half until closing but were able to enjoy many of the garden ‘rooms’ that have been skillfully created. The gardens range from beautifully manicured to wild and natural. There were two weddings on the Saturday evening we were there celebrating in the beautiful venue. Although there were many people enjoying the gardens we had times we felt we had the gardens to ourselves.