We came to see the see the cherry blossoms as a way to avoid the crowds at the Tidal Basin. Never having been here during the day before I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. We arrived 5 minutes after they opened on a blustery cold Sunday. The temperature, without wind chill, was in the low 40's, so I was a bit surprised to see a lot of cars already in the parking lot. There was still plenty of spots available, but all the immediately close to the building spaces filled up quickly. People are very serious about cherry blossoms, regardless of the weather. Regardless, the line to get in was only a few people long, including our family. The main building where you check in, includes bathrooms, a gift shop, and a small seating area by a turtle tank (and another tank with plants and perhaps an unknown animal that we couldn't see). The cherry trees by the entrance seem to reach peak bloom prior to the ones around the pond. Both that spot and the ones by the pond were pretty. Obviously, there are less trees when compared to the Tidal Basin in DC, but still lovely and no crowds. Aside from the cold weather, our kids loved the trails and the hills. Despite the length of the trails looping around the whole park, all of the kids had a great time together. The adults enjoyed the views and the sculptures along the way. As someone who has previously only been here for the Christmas lights, I was surprised at how much larger the gardens are than just the area that is used for the light show. It can be a fairly substantial walk if desired, but all of the trails are smooth. There are no maps, either paper or on posted signs throughout the garden. Be prepared to wander for a while or download the map on your phone. We reached a point towards the end where we were starting to wonder if we were even still in the right place, but very quickly we went around a corner and saw the parking lot and buildings to orient ourselves again.

GORGEOUS!! I found this place by mistake and I’m so glad I did. My family thoroughly enjoyed a lovely relaxed stroll through the gardens on a Sunday a few weeks ago. It’s much larger than I expected it to be and there were a lot of different paved trails we were able to easily push a stroller on. We definitely plan to return. There’s a $6 fee per person.

One of my friends discovered this event on-line, and we had a great time! The Winter Walk of Lights was brilliant. Just walk on the paved paths and enjoy the amazing light sculptures. There's also hot & cold beverages and yummy snacks for sale. Would definitely go again.

Very nice place to visit, have a good time and take beautiful photos. I visited it in summer and it is beautiful. but the autumn colors in the gardens take your breath away. Admission per adult is $6, highly recommended

Very nice holiday light show. A bit busy as expected, but it was well organized and great if you have kids

A very nice little botanical garden! It has a Korean bell and some related architecture, making it interesting and special. The annual membership for an individual is $35, and the person can bring one guest. For one-time visit, it’s only $6. Pretty good value for money. They have large parking space. Visitors should budget 1-1.5hr for this garden to at least finish walking and visiting all the places. We visited around mid-Nov, probably not the best season to come here. Will definitely come back again.

Absolutely lovely. Tons of walking trails that go around ponds, through forests, amid Korean gardens including bonsai and a greenhouse. Highly recommend for anyone - families, couples, solos... we will be back!

This is a lovely place with beautiful grounds that provides an invigorating escape into nature. My family has enjoyed coming in all four seasons. Dogs are welcome every third Wednesday, we took our pup today and he loved it. We enjoy the sculptures, wildlife (various birds, turtles, koi), children’s garden, bonsai pavilion and much more. It’s a regional treasure!

While visiting family in McLean, VA this past weekend, we stopped at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. What a beautiful place to visit! The Visitors center has some background information on how the Botanical Gardens came to be and also some nature exhibits. Paved paths lead you to a greenhouse, butterfly garden, through beautiful flowers, and to a pond with geese, fish, and turtles. Multiple benches are available for those who want to rest or take in a great view!

This place is stunning! Very peaceful and relaxing. The staff there are very nice as well and I love that it’s free range and so much to explore. We had such a great time and I definitely will recommend this garden to everyone I know.

It’s way more light than I expected. And there is musical light shows and dynamic lighting with animals. Definitely a fun lighting show place for family and kids.

A calm and relaxing place away from the city life. A walk through the beautifully curated gardens and pathway is just what you need to put your mind at peace and spend time around with nature. The statues, lake , sculptures all add to the overall beauty of the place and each scene is curated to perfection.

Went for the Christmas lights. Beautiful and my 2 year old daughter had a fantastic time pointing out the different animal lights. Highly recommended.

My husband and I have been a member of the gardens since summer 2024. The experience has always been wonderful and full of curious excitement. My favorite has been the Christmas lights and how much details goes into the Christmas lights and garden appearance. I felt like Alice in Wonderland majority of the time. I recommend buying tickets for the Christmas lights and if you’re local buying a yearly membership to experience the garden during the entire year/seasons.

this is a new favorite pass time, very serene setting, plenty of walking trails and a sizable lake to over look. The plant and tree variety offer a fulfilling color palette and a fresh nature smell of spring foliage.

Nice place for a quiet walk. Well worth the minimal entrance fee. We went a little early in the season so we plan to go back when more of the plants and flowers come out of their winter slumber.

We love the winter lights every year. Lots of parking. Clean bathroom. Hot chocolate and snacks are available onsite. Staff are friendly always. We bought our tickets in person. But towards December, it’s better to purchase online to secure a spot.

Beautiful, well-maintained grounds. Good mix of garden spaces and artwork plus other points of interest. The main trail is accessible but also has some other types of trails. The visitor center has bathrooms and some seating and art. There are also rest benches throughout the park.

It’s a gem in all seasons! Check out the winter lights and in warmer weather or cold, walk around the vast space. Explore and find secret paths and hidden sculptures. I’ve been coming here for years and still see something new every time. Look for the Koi and turtles in the pond, check out the beautiful bell garden and find a nice bench to take it all in.

Beautiful experience. The park is well kept, peaceful, full of nature in its natural habitat & so many great photo ops!!! Would definitely recommend if you’re looking for an inexpensive outdoor adventure. Plenty of parking, kid friendly & there are even some hidden benches for a nice spot to get away with a good book if you need some alone time!

This park has beautiful landscaping and the layout is gorgeous. It has several trails for walking and many benches with excellent views which family members have put there as dedication to loved ones who have passed. There is a couple of ponds . I highly recommend visiting this park/garden.

Loved these gardens. Very. Beautiful and relaxing. Highly recommend, bring a camera for lovely photos, great lighting. Visit solo with friends or family. Don't forget to see the turtles. You can find educational exhibits inside the Pavillion or in the wild in the ponds.

The holiday lights were amazing! The whole place is like a magic forest with amazing animals and flowers. Very kid friendly!

I'm a NOVA based wedding photographer and have captured several engagement sessions at Meadowlark! I love this venue because it's has a BUNCH of variety for portraits throughout the garden. If you have a hard time walking, it may not be the venue for you, simply because it's a larger garden and has a big hill. You need a permit to have your engagement photos here, so be prompt with chatting with their office for a time that works best for you and your photographer!

You'll feel like you're in another world! Having documented many weddings at Meadowlark, I've found it to be one of the most diverse locations for photography in the DMV area. Plus, whether for full weddings or small elopements, the meadowlark team is always easy to work 👍

Wonderful park to visit during the Christmas holiday. A million and one hundred thousand bulbs light up the gardens and walkways. Grab a hot chocolate with a shot of peppermint schnapps on your way out!

A gorgeous property! Beautiful banquet facilities. Gardens you can spend hours in. A lovely pond with a charming gazebo. An outstanding location for any type of event. Currently they have their Christmas display. Well worth a visit. Beautiful lights, s'mores, hot chocolate are available.

It was spectacular but it was crowded. We came at 530pm. The Lanes did get congested and it wasn’t Where you’d go if you wanted to social distance. There were plenty of people who did not wear masks 🥴🥴🥴The people who worked there were kind and nice. Customer service was amazing. However I wish it wasn’t so crowded. My children loved it. It was well worth the money. Next year we will buy tickets way in advance and try harder for the 5pm slot. They did a really amazing job on this display and it definitely was a labor of love.

Great light display with lots of creative animations! From animals to a music synced show, it's a great walk. Very family friendly and they offer s'mores and hot chocolate. Be sure to book your online tickets since they don't sell them on site. The only minor downside was a section of the display was out while we were there, but it didn't take away from the overall experience too much. They are somewhat COVID conscious and request people wear masks, especially for the indoor portions, have limited numbers of guests entering at the same time, and try to have traffic all move in the same direction.

Beautiful grounds. Small conservatory. I came during the cherry blossoms/nesting season for geese, that was a bit scary lol. They are aggressive! But there are signs warning you. A bit of a hill to come back to the parking lot so keep that in mind if you’re with someone that doesn’t walk well or for long. The bell garden is a site to see! I wish the bonsai collection was on public display at the time I went. Looked impressive!

Annual trip with my daughter. Loved the new light displays this year! Hot chocolate is always on point!

I enjoy visiting Meadowlark Gardens. There's never a bad time to visit. The gardens are beautiful in spring, summer and fall. There are lots of walking paths and indoor greenhouse. The Korean bell gardens is one of my favorite sections. In winter, I visit to see the Christmas lights. They always go all out and they make changes every year. I like that you walk through instead of driving. This review is for 12/13/2021. It took me about 90 minutes to walk through. I didn't stop for hot chocalate, or the gift shop. There are places to sit throughout or you can bring your own chair. There's a warming fire going if you get cold.

Beautiful garden and landscape. It’s also an event venue. We enjoyed walking through the trails. Did scavenger hunts with my kid. Saw historical log cabin, Japanese garden, a pond full of colorful fishes. It’s a nice venue for wedding photography.

Stunning park, lots of trails to walk and things to see. Wasn't very crowded, even on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Will definitely come back soon. Tip: Make sure you eat before coming here because they only sell a very small assortment of prepackaged snacks, there is no cafe or restaurant.

My son took us to this garden last week in mid-December. It was overcast and cold with temperature in late 30s. It was a beautiful big place with lots of great photo spots only could be described by photos like what you see here. Due to the cold weather, we stayed at there for only about half-an-hour with much more left to be seen. We definitely will re-visit this place in summer time to see the landscape in colorful.

Great place to visit. Right now, beautiful flowers. This past weekend, they sponsored an Egg scavenger hunt that my kids loved it. Spacious grounds to walk with a pleasant atmosphere. It has different landscapes, which are great for pictures.

Wonderful place to visit with family , have a picnic or just enjoy the beautiful nature surrounding you. Lots of Canada Geese, birds, and Koi fish. A must see in Northern Virginia.

Free parking. Dog/pet allowed but only on certain dates be sure to ask. You will need to buy ticket to get in but pretty cheap 6 per adult or you can buy an annual pass. Went in in the early spring, not all flowers are booming but nice landscape and some small trails. You can easily spend 1-2 hours here. Plenty of benches all over the places, like very corners! Also has a small garden for kids to learn stuff but not opened now.