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Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Durham

4.9
Must see · Garden · Nature / Park
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A living memorial, Sarah P. Duke Gardens showcases a collection of landscaped gardens. Over 100 flowerbeds with more than 40,000 irises blossomed in the gardens in 1935. These original gardens were washed away in 1936, but Ellen Biddle Shipman redesigned them into an area called the Terraces. The terraced greenery includes a variety of species that release heady scents into Duke University's campus air. This blossoming memorial is open to the public with 8 km (5 mi) of walkways that wrap around different plant life. PutSarah P. Duke Gardens into our Durham tour itinerary planner and find out what's close by, where to stay, and where to head next.
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Sarah P. Duke Gardens reviews

TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 5.0
2,188 reviews
Google
4.9
TripAdvisor
  • Wonderful scenery no matter what time of year. Fantastic walking paths could keep you occupied all day long. Free to experience but sometimes the parking meters require payment and sometimes they... 
    Wonderful scenery no matter what time of year. Fantastic walking paths could keep you occupied all day long. Free to experience but sometimes the parking meters require payment and sometimes they...  more »
  • Come, take a walk, read the labels and just drink in nature! Then have dinner at the Washington Duke. 
    Come, take a walk, read the labels and just drink in nature! Then have dinner at the Washington Duke.  more »
  • Simply beautiful. Our family loved each of the four unique areas of the gardens and the tour was very informative and interesting. 
    Simply beautiful. Our family loved each of the four unique areas of the gardens and the tour was very informative and interesting.  more »
Google
  • It's absolutely stunning, and it's a fantastic spot for a scenic stroll and photography. There's a lot to see, so you'll probably need to come back a couple of times depending on your mood for a long, long walk. A beautiful body of water with this adorable red bridge is only a small part of the scenic beauty that this park has to offer. It's also completely free. ( Parking is only $2/hr) unfortunately gift shop was closed because of private even.
  • This botanical garden took me by surprise! It looks small from the road but it is quite large with plenty of walking paths. Even though it was moderately busy when i went it didn’t feel like it since there’s so much space to walk around in! All the flowers, bushes, and other plants are meticulously maintained and it truly is one of the most beautiful botanical gardens I’ve ever been to.
  • Beautiful gardens with even more various colors of flowers and plants all over the place. Gardens is maintained well and walking through gives you good feel all the way through. It's most famous for its natural light and scenery views for capturing your beautiful memories of any events or occasions😍 better carry strollers if you going with kids or toddlers as the walk can be easy with it instead of carrying them all the time.definitely makes you feel good and worth visiting this place.
  • As part of a day of celebration for my daughter’s birthday, my family and I decided to visit the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. There is no cost to visit these gardens; however, there is a parking fee of $2.00/hr. There is parking available at the main garden entrance area as well as a designated overflow area. Parking could be a bit limited so carpooling is a great idea, and the bus also runs there These gardens provide a serene atmosphere, beautiful sceneries, a peaceful and relaxing environment, and the opportunity to see some wildlife. There are also great areas for a picnic. I would recommend that you give yourself at least 2 to 3 hours to explore all of the grounds as it is huge and requires a lot of walking. We had a marvelous time and will visit again. What a great way to start a birthday celebration!
  • One of my favorite gardens! So beautiful and much bigger than I anticipated. I loved the educational section on growing produce/farming for children. If I lived in Durham, I’d come here all the time to read, picnic, and take a stroll. And it’s free! (Just $2/hr for parking). Photos were taken 10/31/21, so some of the flowers weren’t blooming. Would visit again in the Spring.

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