Ventura Botanical Gardens - Ventura, California

Ariadna S.

Nice dog-friendly area with beautiful views over the city of Buenaventura. It is only dog-friendly on Wednesdays and Fridays and admission is free on Fridays. There are many rocks with inscriptions in them, mostly quotes from popular culture a la "all you need is love" and the like. There are great places to sit down and take in the breath-taking views. The dog enjoyed the varied smells of all the plants and trees. It is a great place for a stroll and a little exercise.

Emily M.

A great spot to take a hike. The views from every bend in the trail are breathtaking. At the top of the hill, the South African gardens are stunning year round. My favorite time to come is in May, when the hillsides are in full bloom. Take advantage of the monthly free days posted on the website, and Wednesday and Fridays are dog friendly!

Timothy R.

This place is absolutely beautiful the gardens have so many amazing California native flowers...it is awe-inspiring. The views are gorgeous and as you hike up the terraced hill you keep seeing different angles of the coast. I love how they've taken the natural rocks and help Terrace the hill with those stones. It is really a beautiful place to walk, sit, and relax ...very calming and soothing

Bree G.

Finally had a chance to visit and it was a wonderful day. It's free for under 18 so our toddler was free, $7 for adults, unless you have EBT, then it's free. The hike up is a little steep but there's different paths, or stairs that make it manageable. We even saw a couple strollers and double strollers on the paths up. The flowers were in full bloom and everything was so beautiful and colorful. The views from the top are incredible and breathtaking. It took less then 2 hours up and down, but we didn't make it fullly to the top as our 2 year old tapped out. Definitely worth a visit. We turned into the parking lot behind city hall and followed the sign up to the free parking right by the entrance. The gift shop is a cute addition. We'll go back for sure another day soon.

Rogelio J.

Hello everyone, if you guys love the outdoors and a moderate hike with a spectacular view, with the awesome aroma of flowers, plants, and vegetation, this is the place to come see. Im always at "awe" when I hike here. It is truly a gift from God. God bless everyone.

Cindy D.

It"s a great, yet substantial hike.
For anyone who has trouble on uneven ground, or some difficulty with up hill climbs it will be tougher for them. It's quite beautiful and tranquil. Recommend treating this visit like you would any 2+mile hike, bring good footwear, water, etc. It's very affordable and Fridays are free and children under eighteen can visit for free anytime.

Kim D.

Definitely a different type of botanical garden than I’m use to in NC; however, the smell and aroma of the garden is very therapeutic.

I was expecting a nice stroll, but this is more of a hike. Yes, watch out for snakes 🐍

Erin H.

A lovely uphill walk through the Chilean gardens to the upper gardens. The South African garden was particularly lovely this past week. The views of the ocean from the gardens were stunning as well. The only downfall is those with mobility issues may find this garden a bit harder to navigate than others in the area. There are multiple benches along the route for those that need or desire them.