Visit a Garden

Alaska is home to many eye-popping public gardens. Make a fun family field trip to one (or more!).

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• Alaska Botanical Garden, Anchorage. Take in the beauty of Alaska's native flora and northern-hardy perennials at this tranquil garden located within 110 acres of boreal forest. Walk the Wild­flower Trail, relax in the Herb Gar­den, delight in the peren­ni­al gar­dens (with dramatic displays of peonies and Himalayan blue poppies from late June through July), or explore the 1.1 mile Lowen­fels Fam­i­ly Nature Trail. alaskabg.org

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• Georgeson Botanical Garden, Fairbanks. The gardens on the site include a Children's Garden, an herb garden, ornamental trees, and vegetables and flowers that flourish during the growing season’s non-stop sunlight. Check out the new pollinator exhibit and take a scavenger hunt of pollinator insects throughout the garden. uaf.edu/afes/places/gbg

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• Palmer Showcase Garden. Located on the grounds of the Palmer Museum of History and Art and Visitor Center, this garden features thematic garden beds filled with annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs and fruits. palmermuseum.org

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• Alaska State Fairgrounds, Palmer. The Alaska State Fair showcases record-setting giant vegetables and features specialty gardens with herbs, annuals and perennials throughout the fairgrounds. alaskastatefair.org

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• Pratt Museum, Homer. A stroll through the garden paths in front of the Museum reveals an array of 150 plant species native to the Kenai Peninsula. Forget-me-nots, wild geranium, chocolate lilies, wild roses and Labrador tea are only a few of the many that bloom there. prattmuseum.org

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• Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure, Juneau. This uniquely designed botanical garden, nestled inside the lush Tongass National Rainforest, offers guided tours through this rainforest wonderland and features 15-foot-tall upside down “Flower Towers.” glaciergardens.com