The State Arboretum of Virginia has an evil past like many historic sites in Virginia, where America's first enslaved Africans entered. The land was once a plantation that enslaved people before it was willed to the University of Virginia to train students in farming. In the 1980s, it was opened to the public as an arboretum. As you enter the area, you walk through what were likely the slave quarters. Here's what we can do as we visits sites like this with an evil past: -Acknowledge and grieve the evil inflicted on humans by humans -Ask the site to prominently display the history and its impact today so it's not ignored or belittled -Donate to organizations like The Conscious Kid as "admission" Doing all of the above, here's my experience visiting the State Arboretum of Virginia in December 2021: 1) Space: The arboretum is large with a network of trails that weave through forests (including a bamboo forest), gardens, marshland and historic buildings. There are a few lookout areas with binocular stations to see birds and wildlife. 2) Amenities: There's free parking in a lot and admission is free. There are public restrooms open every day and benches throughout the space. Leashed dogs are welcome. They host a number of events, including seed exchanged. They have a Little Free Library by the parking lot. If you go in the morning, drive 16 miles north to Jordan Springs Market, an award-winning, woman-owned BBQ spot inside a gas station market.

I have visited here probably 4 times in the past 2 decades, and I feel like I always found an area that I missed during my previous visits. The parking was a bit full when I arrived because there was a wedding party there. I parked next to the herb garden in the grassy parking area. The garden is very spacious, and I like the pollination garden the best, and the arboretum has so many different types of trees, and plants. I was surprised to see so much flowers considering Spring is when most flowers bloom. The meadows was pretty to walk around and the grass was cut short for ease of walking. This park is also dogfriendly. I saw so many puppies there! It was great to see dog lovers taking their dogs places instead of keeping them at home. There is an audio trail and a drive too.

I can't say enough good things about this place! The collection of Evergreen trees and their pamphlet for a self guided tour were FANTASTIC, a highlight of my vacation. I also enjoyed the herb garden and driving the loop with marked trees and there are other educational sites along it. Horseback riding is allowed and they have an area set up for corralling them, their trucks trailers all have their own designated area.

This place was amazing, all the trails were beautiful and a great place to find wildlife. Would recommend visiting!

Dogs allowed! A wonderful piece of property being maintained by UVA. Really gives a good snapshot of many biomes in the local area. Come here to receive a "sense of place". An exceptional pavillion overlooks the wetlands and I would recommend it being a far point to reach on your visit. The weathered limestone formations found throughout are something to see. Contemplate their lines.

Beautiful park with many amenities. It's lovely to see the different types of trees from Lebanon trees to the ginkgo. You can try to come in fall to see the ginkgo leaves change color. Staff are knowledgeable and there are restrooms in the quarter section.

*This* stop was truly worth the time. A terrific effort has been made to provide an ecological gem thriving as it does here. I was impressed by the sheer expanse of the property, the careful attention given to the pathways, and the variety of flora. Give yourself plenty of time to casually experience the area and to listen to the sounds of nature.

Even better than I expected! There are bathrooms, picnic tables, lots of really cool rock outcroppings, and so many big amazing trees. I can’t wait to come back!

Absolutely beautiful! So much to see! Took all 3 of my kids for a hike. They loved learning about the different plants and trees. They have bathrooms so we could take breaks and walk around for longer. The bamboo forest is a must see! Definitely worth the trip!

A gorgeous place with different stunning views of the nature, you’ll see mountains, farms, animals eating grass, and other tranquil moments along the way driving here. Dog friendly & family friendly Plenty of free parking spaces with clear instructions and care for those with limited mobilities. Came here for the the first time to see the Ginkgo trees. Although almost 80% of the ginkgo leaves had fallen off when we were there, it’s still beautiful and worth exploring around. Its website updates information frequently and you can check as a reference before you go.

The state arboretum is a beautiful space! The landscape is gorgeous with an overlook of mountains, lots of bird life; great for a free area attraction!

Enjoyed a drive and a couple of short hikes in the arboretum. Nice to see so many tags and identity markers on all the trees. I definitely learned a few things.

Such a beautiful scenic area. Wild flowers , birds can be seen here. Nice trails - you can whether hike or drive through most of them. Very clean restrooms. The place is very well kept - awesome that it’s free of charge. Great place to enjoy the beauty of nature.

Many different man-made mini forests, stunningly gorgeous walking around here.

This quiet park is a great place to clear your mind with a walk or take the little ones out for an educational tour. Grounds are well maintained and the scenery is beautiful.

It was a wonderfull experience. It's a beautiful place with so many things to see. We spend about 4 hours and we didn't cover not even half of the place. All the place is very clean and well taken care.

March 30th 2022 had some flowers out and the bamboo forest was very cool. Seen deer and lots of different birds. Also turtles and mushrooms.

I love the peace and tranquility that this place has. I've been here more times than I can count, and every visit is like a brand new experience. My most recent visit was for a bachelorette picnic and it could not have been better.

Beautiful place, lots of areas to walk and a lot of cool places to have a picnic and to seat under the trees to relax.

Beautiful place to come for a walk or adventure with the kids. So much history and so much open space.

Free! What a value. Great grounds to wander around. You can take it all in within 2-3 hours. I recommend coupling this visit with a visit to Sky Meadows State Park for a full day of wonderful scenery any time of year.

Cool place to visit for fall leaf viewing. The Ginko Grove is amazing with sun shining through the canopy. The scenery is fantastic around the grounds, great for photography. The Ginko Grove is about a 10 minute walk, there is nearby parking only for those with limited mobility. Recommend stopping off at Nall's Farm store not far from here for pies, apple cider doughnuts, and great produce or snacks to bring for a picnic.

Beautiful place out in the country. I almost gave it only 4 stars because it wasn't bigger! It is wide open and beautiful, but if you have young children, watch out for the cacti covering some of the large rock outcroppings.