Bellevue Botanical Garden

Nice park in the city for a stroll anytime of the year. Bring the entire family, young and old and there will be something for everyone. The renovations to the park give the place a modern urban oasis feel. Great photo opportunities here too.

My lil one loved the display of lights in different shapes. The ticket charge is nominal, and so was the paid parking charge of 5 dollars. It was a little crowded and were bumping into people every two feet, but that is understandable considering that we went on a national holiday. Overall, a fun experience for my kid. We’ll definitely go back next year

We come every year for the light show. We opted to come on a free night this year. I was thinking it would be crazy busy, but it was just as busy as a paid night like last year. We did pay to park ($ 5) because the lot across the street was not offered this year. The pathway is different than last year. Kids can get a critter map to find all the different animals in the display. I mean, where else can you find a slug made from lights? It’s our favorite critter they make!!! We really liked the underwater display this year on the backside of one building. It was amazing to see what they can do with lights. Makes me want to step up my home light display! As always the water/​salmon display was fun to watch.
My only complaint this year is the new direction the path took. It is reverse from last year, but the beginning and end is two way walking in a thinner path than other areas. It was tight, and hard to just stand and see everything in that spot. I preferred last year’s directional flowchart. I think closer to Christmas this will be crazy busy and hard to navigate, especially with so many strollers/​young kids falling down all the time.
They offer hot chocolate/​coffee/​snacks on site, but the prices are high, so we opted to skip that.
We love the display here and will be back next year

Such a cool place. There’s a lot of walking to do so bring so comfy shoes and expect to be there a few hours to explore the whole place. The suspension bridge is pretty cool.

Love this place during the winter. Bring a camera their is so much too see. During the summer bring your lunch and soak in the beautiful colors of the gardens. This is definetly a place to go to get engaged if your looking for a beautiful backdrop

Most beautiful and amazing Botanic Gardens I have ever had the pleasure of exploring.
HUGE. I mean HUGE. You could get lost here for hours and hours.
They have really created beautiful and varied habitats. Some of it feels like a day out hiking! Other parts feel like a lovely city park.
I also very much like the focus on teaching. It seemed like they were teaching locals on the kinds of plants and flowers they can grow in their own gardens!
Also a nice focus on sustainability.
Lovely place.
OH and free. Boom.

This is a nice place but we happened to go on a day that was 90+ degrees which made it rather hot and tiring. You can do a good amount of walking here so bring good walking shoes. You can also bring a lunch and sit in the shade and eat like we saw a few people doing. We didn’t see too many flowers on our visit but there is a lot of greenery and still plenty to see. I think each time you go you will see something different. You should definitely check this place out but maybe not on a day that is as hot as today (95). The suspension bridge was nice and the gnomes were a really cute touch.
It’s free and there is plenty of free parking.

Very pretty! As a gardener myself it’s clear they work really hard here. The plants are doing great and it’s a marvel to look at. It’s very quiet, lots of birds to listen to, clean, and the little coffee café is tasty without being overpriced. Considering it’s free to come in I would highly recommend it!

Many years ago I lived nearby here and visited often, then when I moved I still worked nearby and would come and visit at lunch. Since that time I now live and work much farther away, so my return visits to the Botanical Garden is not as frequent as it once was. I had noticed last summer there was a lot of construction going on, so this spring I was eager to see this place again.
I truly love Bellevue Botanical Garden and am deeply impressed with all the improvements that they have made these last couple years. The parking never was bad, but it did have some blind spots that was tricky to navigate and was built on a rather steep hill. The new parking lot is more level, seems to be more spaces, and there are distinct paths for pedestrians to follow to the park.
The entrance way now is so professional and organic, I quite love it. The gift shop is easily identifiable with a lot of different things from crafts to books. It is larger, roomier, and brighter than the old one and also much more apparent. The old gift shop I would often overlook, but this one is front and center. There are many places where groups can gather, a new reception hall, and areas where pamphlets can be found along the walls. They have installed a beautiful water fountain right in front that is quite captivating.
The rest of the Garden is much as it was except that they have many plants marked for audio information. I haven’t tried that out yet, but it looks rather interesting. There is a Perennial Border full of flowers and plants that blossom depending on the season. It is bright and colorful arranged in rows so that you can wander through the flowers without stepping on them. There is a Japanese Garden full of maple trees, stone lanterns, a shallow stream with rocks that you can use to navigate across or take the path around, and many flowers. It is extremely tranquil. There is a water garden with a large owl in flight sculpture that has various aquatic plants and a natural mulch path around it. Most of the garden is gravel paths, but the mulch paths are a welcome relief at times.
The Garden continues on with wandering trails that walkers, joggers, and runners can run. It is good to watch the sign, because at one point the trail for the Garden does intersect with the Lake-​to-​Lake trail. Further in the Garden is the Ravine Experience, which I believe was opened about four to five years ago. It has a suspension pedestrian bridge that spans the ravine to the other side. The suspension bridge does move when people are walking across it, which is a bit unnerving for some people. Past the bridge is a large looped trail that is arranged through the forest and is especially tranquil and beautiful.
Every December the Garden has their light show which is now a paid entry experience. I enjoyed it when I saw it, but since it was when the Garden was under construction I do not know if I saw it at its best. I thought it was rather lovely, and well worth the $ 5 at the time.
The Garden is well worth the trip if you need a local escape for a few hours.

The Bellevue Botanical Garden is an absolute hidden gem, I feel lucky to have it in our city. I enjoy exercising here in the early hours, the air is fresh, the scenery keeps you happily distracted, the ravine bridge is fun to cross, and the general upkeep is immaculate. As a bonus, I sometimes see little brown bunnies hopping in the greenery, going about their daily routines, and being adorable! My one and only grievance is all of the ‘Tap or Scan’ signs with QR codes scattered throughout the garden, not only are they eyesores but they are encouraging visitors to continuously use their phones-​this should be one place to put your phones away and appreciate nature for some time.

Went here for the first time three weeks ago and so far, I’ve gone back three more times since. It’s so peaceful and serene – not to mention great for jogging, toddler-​led hikes, and hikes for folks with bad knees. Near the entry is a well-​curated gift store and a rainwater garden that constantly has that lovely after-​rain smell. Even the bathrooms are powered by rainwater!
My favorite areas are the Yao Garden and the suspension bridge. Best yet? It’s free!

This is a five star place because it is so awesome and won’t cost you anything. I remember several years ago they barely have anything and it was always under construction. But after the work being done, this is like the model of plants you should have in your backyard. They put a lot of work into this honestly. And you can walk far behind the trees to go deeper into the trail. So don’t forget that.

Caution — don’t come near this place with your dog!
The gardens are accessible from Wilburton park’s mulch paths. You might not realize your dog is about to become Public Enemy #1 as you approach Botanical Garden territory (and the border isn’t clear-​cut), because there is no «no dogs» signage if you approach from Wilburton.
On our way out, we were approached by a woman who felt it her civic duty to scold us for bringing our dog in and lecture us on how dogs «really can’t come in here» (while touching my husband on the arm to make it extra patronizing. eww!).
So we high-​tailed it out of there, carrying our small dog to try to reduce the chances of offending anyone else, but two MORE women got offended and made snide comments to their partners about our dog’s presence as we passed. Jeez!
So yeah, don’t bring your dog here. Some people will act like you personally took a dump in their shoes.

You just have to come spend time at these beautiful in the city gardens that has great trails the suspension bridge huge selection of different types of plants and environments like Alpine planting flowers drought resistant plants a new visitor center what a great place to spend time with your loved ones

WOW 400^th review and this is a good place to do it.
I have always enjoyed the Bellevue Botanical Gardens although I always feel for a city with the money that is in Bellevue — it is a disappointment. I believe Bellevue is in the top 5 cities in the State in size and one of the wealthiest.
As support to my comments above — many of the reviews are about the lights — not the gardens — interesting. There are many much more beautiful gardens in the State including Point Defiance in Tacoma and my favorite in Spokane Manito Park. Woodland park in Seattle has a nice Rose Garden and the Seattle Arboretum is a great place to walk.
So why still give it 4 stars — well it is still a nice place to come and spend some time. The Garden has some beautiful small streams and tiny waterfalls. They have photographic stops and a decent selection of flowers and plants. If you have limited time to walk and enjoy — it is a nice stop. If you are looking for something with a great selection of walks, flowers and lovely Botanical gardens — not necessarily the best place to come. But the lights are worth the trip.

The d’lights show at Bellevue Botanical Garden between Nov. 29 and Jan 3 is incredibly impressive! I highly recommend visiting during the Christmas Holiday Season to attend their d’lights show. The entire botanical garden transforms in a beautiful holiday lighting display. They decorate bushes, trees, and flowers with bright colorful lights — it is incredibly exciting and worth seeing (at least once!) Also, the show is only $ 5, so it is a relatively cheap and affordable Christmas event :)

Pretty lights in many colors imitate the flowers of the summer. This little garden is a delight in the middle of Bellevue. There are many little installations and one can walk through all of them in 20 – 25 minutes, just the right time on cold evenings. Some routes are wheelchair accessible.
There is also a gift shop, and a Tibet café for coffee and hot cocoa on site.
Parking at site is $ 5 but there is plenty of free parking down the hill or across the road in Bellevue School District offices after hours, the access road for that parking is different.

A beautiful garden 6 min away from downtown Bellevue, this place offers serenity and peace in just min. Trails, parks and places to picnic is is stunning all year around

I have been meaning to visit the Bellevue Botanical Garden for years, but never got around to it until recently.
The garden has a Garden d’Lights festival during the holiday season here in which the garden is lighted up with lights. I don’t go because it is cold out. Still, I did not want to delay a visit any longer so I visited it recently in the middle of summer.
The garden is located in the Wilburton neighborhood in Bellevue and is adjacent to Wilburton Hill Park which is full of plenty playing fields and a children’s playground. You need to walk past this park’s soccer field to reach the garden.
Inside the garden, you will find a nature reserve. This is not like a conservatory in which plants and flowers are labeled, it seems more like a place to hike really. There is a Japanese garden near the front which is quite tranquil, albeit small compared to other ones that I have visited.
Once you are past the Japanese garden area, the garden really spreads out. There are numerous trails in which you can choose to walk through. There is even one with a rickety bridge to walk across a ravine.
This park has got a lot of interesting trees, plants and flowers. I forgot to bring insect repellent and was wearing a tank while here. There are insects and bugs flying about here, but fortunately I did not get stung. Though I would still recommend wearing repellent or a sweatshirt.
Despite the hot weather, I actually felt cold here because the greenery covers the sun up and makes it feel cool while you are walking in the garden. So add that as another reason to cover up.
It is quite surprising that this piece of nature is just under 2 miles and less than a 10 minute drive away from downtown Bellevue and Bellevue Square. If you want to go on a nature hike/​walk without having to drive into the wilderness, a visit to the Bellevue Botanical Garden is a place to do so.

How have I not reviewed the Bellevue Botanical Garden!!! I seriously love this place and have been there so many times since moving up to the area! It’s such a great escape from all of the traffic and city stuff, and it’s right in Bellevue so it’s not a long drive away or anything!
There are several different areas within the whole garden and each are wonderful in their own way. There are even viewing pagodas mixed in with the landscaping which almost seem hidden — great for a mental escape or meditation! There are wooded trails as well as very well-​maintained flower areas. There are statues along the trail (a big owl one!), waterfalls (small ones) and even a tiny little Hobbit-​like door. Lots of great photo opportunities throughout.
I personally love the area with all of the blooming flowers. After we get a bit of sunshine in the area, they seem to burst to life in color. It’s gorgeous! The garden is also planned so that there should always be something in bloom too. There was a rock garden, but now that things are under construction I don’t know if there are plans to put it back in or not. The Yao Garden is beautiful too. Lots of shady areas and also some that allow for good sunshine… and benches too!
In the winter, there is also the amazing light show that I’ve heard so much about but never actually have made it to go view during the night. I’ve seen it during the day when things are set up for the spectacular show and I’m sure it’s incredible. I actually cannot wait to go with my little one — she LOVES twinkle lights!
This is a great destination — wonderful way to spend the day. A must see!