The Most Stunning Urban Gardens and Green Spaces in US Cities

Cities are exciting places filled with bright lights and unique attractions you won’t find anywhere else. However, navigating the concrete jungle on a daily basis can leave one longing for a more natural setting. Luckily, many US cities have incredible urban gardens and green spaces where you can escape, relax, and reset amongst the greenery. So if you’re looking to mix a little peace into your typical hustle and bustle, check out one of these beautiful locations. 

Portland Japanese Garden, Oregon

Various cities across the country boast beautiful Japanese gardens, but none are quite as picturesque and serene as the Portland Japanese Garden. The popular destination receives high praise from locals and visitors and was once called  “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan.”

The garden is situated inside Portland’s Washington Park and features 12.5 acres of themed gardens, an authentic Japanese tea house, and distant views of Mt. Hood. Plants inside the garden are not labeled but you can expect to see azaleas, tree peonies, Camellia japonica, Japanese maples, and Japanese wisteria. The garden is closed on Tuesdays but remains open between 10 AM and 3:30 PM the rest of the week.

Forest Park, Missouri

Proudly dubbed “one of the nation’s greatest urban public parks,” Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri is a beautiful green space tucked into the heart of the city. A reported 15.5 million people visit Forest Park annually to experience all that the 1,300-acre space has to offer. When it originally opened in 1876, the park was designed to be a welcoming place for everyone, regardless of their circumstances in life.

Today, park visitors will find 30 miles of pathways and trails to explore as well as sparkling waterways, a 190-acre nature reserve, and thousands of trees. Tree varieties in the park include oaks, maples, hickories, redbuds, magnolias, and dogwoods. Some of the city’s most important cultural institutions are also located in the park. These institutions include the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Saint Louis Science Center, the Missouri History Museum, The Muny, and the Saint Louis Zoo. While hours for these institutions vary, the park itself is open daily from 6 AM to 10 PM.

United States Botanic Garden, Washington, D.C.

As the oldest continuously operating public garden in the country, the United States Botanic Garden offers plants and heritage in abundance. The Botanic Garden was originally established in 1820 and has gone through a handful of moves, revisions, and add-ons since then. Today, you can join the million annual garden visitors and spend an afternoon enjoying the National Gardens, The Conservatory, and The Bartholdi Fountain.

In total, there are roughly 44,000 plants here ranging from carnivorous plants and cacti to orchids and medicinal plants. The garden is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM. Depending on the time of year, visitors can expect to see a wide variety of seasonal exhibits including the annual Season's Greenings event which features trees, model train sets, and poinsettias as far as the eye can see.

Golden Gate Park, California

Golden Gate Park is an iconic urban park in San Fransico, California spanning roughly 1,017 acres. An estimated 24 million visitors make their way to the park each year to explore the various gardens on site. One of the most unique gardens in the park is the Queen Wilhelmina Garden. Complete with a grand Dutch windmill and thousands of vibrant tulips, the annual garden is a site you won't want to miss. Additionally, visitors will find a Japanese tea Garden, a flower conservatory, and an outdoor botanical garden within the park.

The Japanese Tea Garden is a peaceful area lined with Japanese maples, pines, azaleas, and cherry trees. Meanwhile, the Conservatory of Flowers, which exists in an old landmark building is the perfect place to see everything from aquatic plants to highland tropics. Finally, the San Fransico Botanical Garden boasts 55 acres of landscaped gardens and over 8,000 plant varieties. Here, you can expect to see magnolias, orchids, water lilies, pansies, poppies, and more. Golden Gate Park is open 24 hours a day but hours for each garden vary, be sure to check the times prior to your visit.

Chicago Botanic Garden, Illinois

When it comes to beautiful natural areas in the Windy City, it’s tough to beat the Chicago Botanic Garden. The garden grounds stretch 385 acres and feature all kinds of flowers, shrubs, trees, greenhouses, and plenty of birds. More than 14,000 different plants thrive here including everything from apples and asparagus to lavender and spruce trees. There is also a library and a quaint cafe on site for those who need a little break.

Walking paths wind throughout the gardens and are a delight in any season. Those looking to get the most out of their garden walks can find outlined walking tour stops on the Chicago Botanic Garden website. Typically the botanic garden is open daily from 10 AM to 4 PM however the on-site amenities, such as the cafe, hold different hours.                          

Patterson Park, Maryland

Patterson Park, located in Southeast Baltimore is a hidden gem within the city. The park features an abundance of amenities including an ice rink, playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts, open fields, a swimming pool, gardens, a boat launch, and several pavilions and picnic areas. One of the park's major highlights includes the Patterson Park Observatory. The observatory is inspired by the Pagoda’s seen in places such as Thailand, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and various other Asian countries.

In the spring, visitors will be delighted by the soft pink cherry blossoms and magnolias that thrive in Patterson Park. The park is also home to historic battle sites and walking paths that make exploring easy.

Embracing Nature in the Heart of the City

Connecting with nature encourages calmness, creativity, and stress relief and those are just a few of the benefits associated with spending time amongst the greenery. Luckily in the US, even major cities have access to beautiful urban parks and gardens where connecting with nature is easy and accessible. So whether you’re in need of a little mental health break or simply want to stop and smell the roses, these US cities have you covered.