Missouri Botanical Garden, Saint Louis, Missouri

The Missouri Botanical Garden in Saint Louis has the distinction of being the nation’s oldest continuously operated botanical garden. It opened in 1859, and the home of the founder, Henry Shaw, is still standing. The garden itself, however, is anything but old-fashioned. It is home to a traditional Japanese garden (one of the largest in the U.S.), a tropical rainforest housed beneath a glass dome, and an English woodland garden that features over 300 rhododendrons alone. It also hosts programs for kids, teenagers, and members of the Scouts. The garden’s schedule of events sometimes includes wine-tasting seminars. Hey, grapes are plants too, right?

United States Botanic Garden, Washington, D.C.

Budget travelers, rejoice! The United States Botanic Garden is for you. This garden, one of the oldest in the United States, is absolutely free to visit. That’s enough to attract even the most casual of garden fans, but the garden’s location in central Washington, D.C., is an extra perk. The garden’s conservatory includes a Hawaiian collection, which showcases the native plants of Hawaii; a collection of medicinal plants from all over the world; and rare and/or endangered plants. Be sure to ask for directions to the really old ferns! Outside, the United States Botanic Garden features the First Ladies Water Garden, which honors the spouses of the American presidents. Meanwhile, the rose garden is a work in progress — the staff is experimenting with different organic gardening methods.