The Desert Botanical Garden is a 140-acre garden with 55 acres currently under cultivation. The mission of this garden is to display tens of thousands of plants in outdoor exhibits for the public to look at and admire. The Desert Botanical Garden is one of two dozen in the entire world that are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
The mission and vision of this high-end facility is to help educate and advance the world’s view of conservation of desert plants and show the public the wonders of the desert environment. The Desert Botanical Garden features over 50,000 plants and 4,000 species with the help of hundreds of volunteers and full-time staff.
Experiences
There are tons of experiences and events occurring at the Desert Botanical Garden year-round that make it one of the best places to check out during your vacation. Currently, the Desert Botanical Garden is hosting the Playing with the Stars: Rotraut at Desert Botanical Garden event until the end of May 2023. This event features large sculptures, paintings, and small sculptures in the Ottosen Gallery. Rotraut is a famous sculpture that uses a combination of nature and energy elements to create meaningful and flowing sculptures. Another cool event to check out during your stay in Scottsdale is the Majestic Mariposas event, which provides guests with a close-up visual of thousands of butterflies in the Spring Butterfly Exhibit.
We also recommend going to the Cactus Clubhouse, providing the ideal place for younger kids to chill out, play with their friends, and explore the great outdoors in a supervised environment. This place is great for kids 12 years and younger to discover just how fun nature can be!
Lastly, if you are on vacation with your pups, head to the Desert Botanical Garden with your dog to enjoy the Dog Days at the Garden! These days are on select Saturdays to provide your pet with the perfect place to run around, play with other pups, and take great photos in the bright flowers on a beautiful and sunshine-filled Saturday Morning.
Garden Trails
There are dozens of trails and galleries at the Desert Botanical Garden that you are going to love! You will never get bored during your stay here due to the tons of trails, nature paths, and desert plants. We recommend taking the Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail with your kids, providing you with consistent mountain views, cactuses lining the path, telescopes to see far into the distance, and information along the way about how plants survive the harsh environment and the desert animals.
Another cool trail to take for a day out in the sunshine is the Center for Desert Living Trail, a nature path that is ideal for walking with your kids. This trail is the perfect respite from a crowded city, featuring fresh-smelling herbs and flowers, vegetable beds, and shaded trees that are the perfect spot for sitting and reading a book. Lastly, go for a walk along the Desert Discovery Loop Trail to find out information about desert plants, worldwide desert flora n fauna, and succulents that thrive in the desert weather.
Garden Shop
If you feel guilty for not bringing along all of your friends on your fun vacation, you might want to bring them back something from Arizona! If so, head to the Desert Botanical Garden gift shop to find gifts, trinkets, and plants to bring back home. We recommend getting one of the books, like the Desert Landscape Guide to Maintenance, a watercolor cactus print, Arizona wildflower mix seeds, pure raw honey, or a sustainable backpack.
Grab Lunch at Gertrude’s
After a full day of walking around the hiking trails and the nature paths, you might feel a bit peckish. We don’t blame you! Head to Gertrude’s to have a nutritious and filling meal that is perfect for a hot summer day in Arizona. Gertude’s is an organic and locally sourced restaurant that serves brunch plates, ice-cold drinks, kid’s meals, seasonal produce, and sweet treats.
We recommend getting the fried cauliflower and shishito for lunch, featuring cauliflower, shishito peppers, sesame seeds, and agave sambal. Or you can try the lentil chop bowl with lentil medley, onion, tomato, herbs, roasted sweet potato, Sonoran nopales, and garbanzo beans. For those who want something breakfast inspired, try the huevos rancheros scramble with a corn tortilla, refried beans, scrambled eggs, ranchero sauce, and cotija.
And don’t worry — your kids will love the expansive kids’ menu, with a cheese quesadilla and veggie tortilla, junior cheeseburger with a beef patty, or the sunflower butter and jelly sandwich with prickly pear jam.
Plan Your Scottsdale Escape
The Desert Botanical Garden is THE ideal place for a midday excursion out of the bustling and busy city. Plus, once you are done spending your day wandering around the beautiful gardens and getting in some exercise on the nature trails, you can head back to your comfortable and cozy house from Scottsdale Rentals to watch TV and chill out with your guests.
