if you like gardening this is spectacular. Although I visited off season, I could still tell this would make a wonderful visit during warmer climates.
We take our 16 month old daughter to the Arboretum to play several times a month. It is a beautiful location just north of campus. Plan on spending about 1-2 hours with a young child.
Upon my first trip to the Penn State Arboretum, I thought that we would only be seeing trees, which is fine with us, having worked together with bringing back the American Chestnut. However, the diversity of the gardens left me speechless. There were amazing plants from all over the world arranged according to habitat: wetland, desert, tropic, to name a few. The colors, fragrances and textures of the plants were astounding. The settings were a photographer's dream, hence the many weddings that are photographed there. There were a couple of plants I was interested in growing myself, so I called the arboretum the following day. They happily gave me genus and species of each plant about which I had inquired, so now I can grow them in my own garden. Even the grandchildren enjoyed the gardens with all the interesting niches and water features, in addition to visiting butterflies and other insects. If you like to garden and are looking for great ideas and impetus, this would be the place!
The Arboretum is a great place for a quiet stroll or a photo op (during the right season). The paths are beautifully landscaped, and there are fun activities for young children. The variety of flowers, plants, and veggies is quite impressive.
The Arboretum is just lovely in the fall. We visited during the pumpkin festival over Columbus weekend. The display of carved jack-o-lanterns by people from children to adults was beautiful. The flowers and arrangements were gorgeous.
The place is beautiful. I attended a brunch and it was wonderful. The garden was colorful, the weather was nice, everything was perfect.
Finally, a venue that has nothing to do with sports. Nice job on labeling the species, very scenic place. Would I continue to go if there was admission charged? Doubt it. But for now, a very pleasant sanctuary to visit.
Was here last fall for the pumpkin contest and all the beautiful fall foliage ... absolutely beautiful...!!
It was pretty in the fall; I can't wait to return to see it in the spring/summer. Area for kids; water features, etc. Almost all plantings are identified so you know what you're looking at.Even on a rainy day, it was a nice place to visit.
We liked the variety of flowers and plants and the original areas of the gardens.. We were alittle disappointed in the new area, that just opened in the last year. It seems like it does not fit with the rest of the gardens. It is too man made an not natural or nature y like a garden should be. We also stopped by to see the jack o lanterns ands felt the judges must have judged with there eyes closed for the most part. We did like the best of show.