Editor’s note: Know Before You Go is an occasional series exploring metro Denver area attractions. Next up: Glenwood Caverns.

The sunshine is out and summer is in full swing. Spring and early summer are the most ideal times of year for a stroll in the 24-acre labyrinth of paths at the Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York Street. We have a guide to help make the most of your experience.

Parking

The Denver Botanic Gardens offers an on-site parking garage, between York and Josephine Streets, which fills up fast. There is additional parking in the neighborhoods around Cheesman or Congress parks, but if you like to be guaranteed a spot with a short walk, we recommend booking a time slot for 9 a.m., right when they open up.

For van-accessible parking, the Denver Botanic Gardens web site suggests that vans park on the upper deck of the parking garage. There are elevators and ramps available for those who need them, and plentiful handicap spaces available.

Since there is limited free parking, if you are not able to get a spot in the garage, don’t fret. We did not find it difficult (even during busy times like Blossoms of Lights and other events) to find parking in the neighborhood surrounding the gardens.

If you are able on a sunny day, it is always worth parking a little father away and enjoying a walk around Cheesman or Congress parks in Denver and taking in the urban scenery.

There is more information about parking here.

Disability Accessibility

The gardens are the perfect place to enjoy nature, no matter your level of ability. With its winding, gravel paths and areas of serenity, accompanied by the sights, sounds and smells of nature make the Denver Botanic Gardens an oasis amongst the surrounding concrete structures.

There is something for everyone at the gardens. While some visitors are enjoying a book on a bench in the shade, others are watching the busy bees and observing the natural pollinators. In another area of the garden, visitors are invited to touch and smell different plants such as a chocolate flower, while other patrons enjoy lunch on the grassy area outside of the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory.

The sensory garden offers the perfect experience for learning about plants and we found it to be our favorite area to start off the adventure at the botanic gardens! When you enter the gardens through the main entrance, take a sharp right down the path beside the streets to find the perfect place for a photo opportunity, as well as the Sensory Gardens where you can touch and smell different plants. There is also a wall of various plants for visitors who are unable to crouch to stop and smell the flowers themselves, as well as garden boxes at various heights for viewing opportunities for those who might be using a wheelchair.

While pets are not permitted at the Denver Botanic Gardens, service dogs are welcome but not allowed in the The Kathryn Kalmbach Herbarium due to the sensitive nature of the plant specimins. If you have a service dog/animal and would like to tour the herbaria, call 720-865-3500 or email [email protected].

You can find more details on the sensory garden here.

Denver Botanic Gardens also offers a sensory processing and autism resource kit for those who need it.

Additional visitor guidelines and information can be found here.

More information on the gardens here.

A map of the gardens in case you need it.

Food and Drink

The Denver Botanic Gardens is the perfect place for a picnic. We didn’t bring ours and we regretted it. For the best experience, pack a small, rollable cooler or backpack cooler and stroll through the gardens in the morning sipping your coffee. When you get parched, find a nice spot in a grassy area or bench and have lunch! The gardens invited you to pack your own cooler, just not any alcoholic beverages.

Forgot your lunch like we did? Not a problem at the gardens with four dining options located throughout the property, with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options for all dietary restrictions. The food we tried from the Offshoots Café at the conservatory was top-notch food for a small venue space such as the gardens. The café offered menu items such as breakfast bowls, burritos and quiches, along with coffee and pastries, all of which were fresh and delicious.

A guide to food options for people with dietary restrictions can be found here.

Other considerations — The gardens can be an enjoyable place to take in the scenery of nature and to people-watch, but if you are an avid garden attendee then you can step your game up by bringing the following items:

• A sun hat/sunglasses for best coverage from the sun while you walk the gardens
• Layers your clothes to optimize your day (rain or sunshine)
• Good walking shoes
• A book to read
• A camera to take some photos
• A plant ID guide
• A magnifying glass

Kid Friendly

The botanic gardens is a great place to take the children to learn and enjoy flowers and botany. There are tons of great ways to optimize this day both for yourself and the kiddos. We recommend bringing a picnic and making a day of the gardens with your children. Explore the Science Pyramid Exhibition and learn about Colorado’s native plant and pollinator species or walk around the gardens to see if you can find all the spirit guides in their new art exhibition.

Another way to optimize this day for minors is by bringing a magnifying glass and ID book to see how many plant and animal species you can identify. Make it a challenge and see if you can get other families around you involved or see who can identify the most species!

We enjoyed going into the various buildings and centers to read about the plants and animals, but if you are looking for specific educational experiences for your little ones, consider checking out one of the many education programs, offered year-round.

Education experiences offered here.

More info on the summer concert series here.