If you’re looking for your garden fix — and a little hope for better weather — you’ll want to take your family to the Bellevue Botanical Garden. The park teems with beautiful landscapes and trees and has sculpture gardens and a suspension bridge. It does not disappoint. With so many things to see, it’s easy to keep little legs moving along paved pathways to catch the next attraction.
My kids enjoyed their time so much that “That’s so cool!” and “Mom, this smells really good” were all I heard on our trip around the garden. We highly recommend this park for a day trip and outing, rain or shine.
Location, location, location
East of downtown Bellevue and connected to Wilburton Park (a must-see with large playground structures AND a zip line), the garden welcomes you with tree-lined paths, a colorful, moving sculpture, and a waterfall wall. After running up to the wall, my kids stick their hands in the water and squeal at how frigid it feels.
Garden layout, small doors and waterfalls
The Bellevue Botanical Garden park is divided into specialty gardens — native, perennial, rock and water gardens — each exhibiting the diversity of plants and flowers that grow in the Pacific Northwest. We turn to the left and walk up a ramp into a lush forested grove, heading into the Native Discovery Garden. Along the way, we used my phone and the QR codes posted around the park to learn more about the foliage.
Hopping over to the other side in the Japanese Garden.
Daffodils and tulips have started to emerge out of the ground. Rhododendron buds bulge from the tips of stems, and the last of the dried leaves and flowers that survived through much of winter fall to the ground. We follow a path to the Yao Garden through a traditional Japanese gate. (The Yao Garden honors the sister-city relationship between Bellevue and Yao, Japan.) We find a Japanese lantern to sit by in this peaceful space, taking in the scenery and enjoying the maples, huge basalt stones, and other greenery.
Exiting the garden, we spot waterfalls and a curious door built into a stone wall. The door is locked, but we decide it must be a Hobbit door and imagine all the beautiful places it leads to. We spot another curious statue, a chair named “The Nature of Sitting.” We take turns sitting on the sculpture, “I’m the King of the garden!” claim both kids.
The Hobbit door
Moving on, we pass through the Native Discovery Garden and observe ducks dunking their heads into the ponds and run to see a sculpture of an owl, about to take flight, with a fierce look on its face.
The Ravine Experience
Signs point us to The Ravine Experience, which is why we came to the park! A 150-foot suspension bridge hangs over a rushing stream, surrounded by native foliage and tall trees. We walk along the bridge, which sways under our feet, and stop in the middle to take pictures and look down the ravine. We walk back and forth a few more times and eventually head back to the Lost Meadow Trail.
The Lost Meadow Trail and interactive sculptures
The trail is a 1/3-mile loop through ten acres of woodlands, meadows and wetlands. We spot birds and squirrels, balance our way back and forth on moss-covered stone garden hedges, and see many sculptures. There are many favorite sculptures – one in particular is “Night Blooming,” a structure resembling a beehive with an opening so visitors can check out the inside. My kids pretend to be bees and buzz ourselves into the sculpture and find the afternoon light passing through the tiny gaps, creating a remarkable image. We stay a while, sitting on the ground, just looking up.
“Night Blooming”
Inside the “Night Blooming” sculpture
Continuing on the trail, we see many more sculptures. Some we sit in or on, touch, and investigate. The loop brought us around to the front of the park. We were near Waterwise Garden, the Urban Meadow and the Rock Garden. Near the cafe, we see tables and chairs so visitors can rest and a large green lawn where visitors can set out a picnic. We also see photographers scattered around, taking photos, since it’s a special place for family pictures too.
Last Looks
Heading back out to the parking lot, my kids can’t resist getting another splash of water at the waterfall wall. We took another look at the “Large Galaxy” statue at the main entrance. The flowers on the path leading to the parking lot smell so good that visitors should stop at these potted plants for another sensory experience.
Like many garden parks, the Bellevue Botanical Garden is worth checking out more than once a year, with blooming flowers, changing leaves, and plenty of wildlife passing through. We know we’ll be back soon for another visit. Maybe next time, the Hobbit will have made his way back.
Know Before You Go
- The Trillium Store, the gift shop has seasonal hours. Please check the website for the latest hours of operation. They also have a virtual shop that you can preorder and pick up.
- The Copper Kettle Coffee Bar serves sandwiches, snacks, coffee, tea, juices and treats. Check the website for hours.
- Supervise children and stay on pathways and lawns at all times.
- Do not enter plant beds or climb on rocks.
- Pets are not allowed. (Service animals only.)
- No bicycles, skates, scooters or skateboards allowed.
- Parking and admission are free.
- The paths are stroller-friendly.
- Restrooms are open.
