50 States of Public Parks, Gardens, Arboretums and Nature Centers

Whether you're looking for a lush flower garden, a park for leaf-peeping or a natural area filled with native plants and wildlife, you'll find incredible green spaces in each of the 50 states. Our guide to US public parks, gardens, nature centers and arboretums will point you to beautiful places and top outdoor experiences across the US.

Before you go, check each website to verify open days and times, which may be seasonal or affected by weather. While these destinations are free to enter, some suggest a small donation or sell tickets for optional attractions and experiences.

Shown here: Bienville Square in Alabama. While we associate Mardi Gras with New Orleans, it began in Alabama in the early 1700s. Today, Mobile's Bienville Square is the site of the state's Mardi Gras festivities. This historic park takes up an entire city block and also hosts events like weddings, live concerts and Kids Days. Damaged by Hurricane Sally in 2020, the Square reopened in spring 2024, just in time to mark its bicentennial. Its large trees, iconic cast iron fountain, lawns, benches and paved paths make it a favorite.

Look for some of the most beautiful sunsets in Anchorage in Alaska's Kincaid Park, located on 1,400 acres of wooded hills. The park juts out into Cook Inlet, on the western tip of Anchorage, so the views are amazing. It's considered one of the premier destinations for cross-country skiing, thanks to a variety of climbs, descents and other routes for every experience level. The park is like a huge playground with more than 40 miles of walking trails, 20 miles of single-track bike runs and an 18-hole disc golf course. It's also a great place to see urban wildlife (think bald eagles or an occasional bear). In the winter, snowshoe, sled, skijor (an activity in which a skiier is pulled by a horse, motor vehicle or dog) or test yourself on the biathlon course (a cross-country trail with ranges for rifle shooting). In the summer, fish in the lake (with a fishing license and following all state regulations) or relax on a sandy beach on the Cook Inlet coast.

Mission Garden is both a living garden and an agricultural museum. The four-acre garden features a number of multicultural heritage plots. Each one represents an ethnic group that farmed Arizona's Tucson Basin, which has become one of the fastest growing urban areas in the country. Mission Garden is in Tucson on the site of Cuk Son, a village sacred to the Tohono O'odham people. Archeologists say the crops in this sustainable garden have been continuously grown in the Sonoran Desert climate for 4,100 years. Take a self-guided garden tour or request a docent tour (they're free, but donations are welcome). Before you leave, purchase some fresh or dried herbs and eggs at the garden shop. Special events and classes are offered, and many are free. Check the schedule for topics, times and dates.

Little Rock's Riverfront Park stretches over 33 acres and 11 city blocks, linking the downtown area and the Arkansas River. More than 100 pieces of art are exhibited in landscaped, outdoor "rooms," with most concentrated in the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden. This top urban park has five bridges that cross over the park. Three, including the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge, are beautifully lit at night with LEDs for the River Lights in the Rock show. Don't miss the park's Little Rock Civil War Marker, Riverfront History Pavilion, nature center, 13 acres of wetlands, Peabody Splash Park and more.