Norfolk Botanical Gardens - Norfolk, VA
The Norfolk Botanical Gardens offers a scenic escape from the urban surroundings. There are extensive walking trails as well as tram and boat tours to explore. There are a wide variety of gardens available to explore and many birds and insects to view.
Quality of Entertainment
There are a wide variety of gardens available. They include, but are not limited to a Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, Butterfly House, Native Plant Garden, and Wildflower Meadow. The tram is included in the tickets. However, the boat rides are not included and must be purchased in the visitor center for an additional $10. The gardens are quite relaxing and lush. There are many flowers to view. Additionally, the butterfly house is full of beautiful butterflies as well as caterpillars and chrysalis. I was thrilled to see some blue herons along the waterway. There are also wooded sections to stroll through as well as ponds and streams. The Norfolk Botanical Gardens is a lovely place to go for a relaxing walk.
Who Goes Here?
Anyone interested in scenic walks, flower viewing, butterfly viewing, or gardening.
Venue
It is quite serene and beautiful. It is not crowded. The gardens are very relaxing to walk around and flow into one another.
Organization & Cleanliness
The buildings and grounds are clean. There are several restrooms available around the grounds. They are not very well organized. There are signs indicating conflicting information about the tram and boat tour times. The staff did not know where different facilities were around the grounds, such as restrooms, when I asked for directions. However, the free map was very clear and helpful. There was also construction during our visit, so some areas were closed.
Refreshments
The cafes were closed for renovation when I visited. However, there are food trucks available in the afternoon. The food truck was OKAY. It offered Spanish/American foods such as quesadillas and burgers. It did not seem that clean and took quite a while but the food was alright and the staff were pleasant. I hope the refreshment offerings are better when the café is reopened. You can sit and eat or rest at tables in the visitor center.
Venue Overall
Overall, the Norfolk Botanical Garden is a very serene place to walk and explore. It is large enough to spend a few hours, but not massive.
Location
The Norfolk Botanical Garden is located in Norfolk, Virginia near the Norfolk International Airport. You pay for your tickets while entering the parking area. It is not walking distance to any other attractions but there is plenty of parking available.
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Summary
Overall, Norfolk Botanical Gardens is a lovely place to relax and walk around. It is a nice escape from the urban city of Norfolk and neighboring airport. It is not very well organized and was under construction. Nevertheless, I though it was a very nice experience and enjoyed the flora and fauna.
