Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Visited a few times. Busy place in good weather. Rainy day visit was quiet and great to explore without crowds. Definitely check out the trolls built into the landscape. Take advantage of the free shuttles that drive around, sometimes you get lucky and get one to yourself and get a semi-private tour. We also did the guided tour on the electric cart and the docent was great with the kids and gave us great information. The kids really enjoyed riding on the cart too!

So glad we met someone who suggested visiting here. The gardens are beautiful as are the trails to explore through the woods to find the giant trolls! It’s a great place to bring families, though the hiking on the trails mate be challenging for the elderly (signs are also posted prohibiting strollers on the trails). There is a very nice cafe on site as well. If you order your tickets online you can save a little $. Definitely recommend!!!

If ever there was a truly magical place, it's here! Stunning gardens with something for everyone. So many vibrant flower beds, (one of them shaped like a butterfly if you can find it), a children's garden, a fairy village, many walking trails, a plethora of relaxing areas to sit and chill, a learning center, a cafe, and the trolls! The children's garden was full of whimsy. I FELT like a kid again wandering through it, marveling at the growing things, the quaint workshop, the pond, the book themed areas, and so much more! I walked 23,000 steps in these gardens, but if you have mobility issues or tend toward lazy, there is a free shuttle that is always on the go. I had a marvelous time hunting down the trolls, they are quite a sight to see. I had a preconceived notion of what the fairy village would be, which was nothing like what it actually was, but the interactive nature (pun intended) of it was satisfying. The cafe was nice, although I wish they had more variety of hot meals to choose from. The heirloom tomato sandwich I tried was quite good. The gift shop is fantastic! Beautiful items, many from local artists, along with a great selection of shirts and books. You can see it all in a couple hours, although I would dedicate at least 4 to really immerse yourself in it and not have to rush. It was more than worth the price of admission. A wonderfully soul nurturing experience.

Beautifully landscape gardens. Between the butterfly house, fairy garden, and of course the trolls these alone are worth coming but the grounds offer hidden gems and one of the most kid friendly and interactive botanical gardens I've ever been to. It was a genuine joy to see the children light up and discover the gardens around them.

This botanical garden is routinely listed as one of the ten best in the USA. I understand why, but it could be even better. I loved all of the trails I went on and the excellent variety of plants and trees from the Northeast. There are great options for children including the interactive fairy village. The giant trolls and a huge hit and I particularly enjoyed the woodland garden and the hillside walk. If you get tired, there is a shuttle that will take you to most places in the gardens. What I found lacking was consistent clear signage for the trees and plants. This was notable in the garden of the senses. I needed more guidance above t what to touch, taste, smell, etc. There were at least 20 times we needed to look up a plant or tree on an app because we saw no sign. This was particularly challenging because the cell.coverage was limited and spotty. The cafe seems much nicer online than in person. It was a serve yourself cafeteria style and felt hectic and loud like the sort of cafe I expect in a zoo. I wanted a calmer, fancier dinning experience because I'm a tired old queen and I want my creature comforts served on glass plates. It you are charging $29 for adults admission per person, why not add a swanky restaurant too. In for a penny in for a pound.

The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens offers an enjoyable blend of natural beauty and art. It isn’t just a garden—it’s an immersive experience designed with elements for all ages. One of the garden’s greatest strengths lies in its layout. The paths are smooth, well-maintained, and clearly marked, making it easy to explore comfortably. My mom made it around easily in her wheelchair although it would have been nice to know some pathways led to stairs. There is a vast diversity of plant life. There are native Maine wildflowers to what appeared to be rare species. Much of the gardens were in bloom. There were also veggies and different types of trees. I am sure those who know their flora and fauna would enjoy it as the many kinds were lost on this novice. One thing is for sure, it had areas that were distinct and beautifully curated. Scattered throughout the property are carefully placed sculptures that add whimsy and depth to the landscape. The art is a welcome surprise. Some pieces are playful while others are more contemplative. Also enjoyable is the variety of ponds and fountains. The garden is good for a peaceful walk and there are plenty of benches to sit and enjoy the landscape. It can be very crowded, so it may be best to visit in the off-season.

This was my third time being to the gardens. My first being for the Christmas lights, which my family enjoyed! This time I went with my older sister because she is not from this area and she wanted to check them out. We had a relaxing time. If you are going here for the flowers and plants, it is nothing exciting. My sister imagined it to be more vibrant with flowers. If you were going for the hiking trails, I think it’s a great place to go and then you can relax and get something to eat. I think having the trolls there makes it more fun if you want to bring kids but overall, I don’t think it’s worth the money if you’re trying to bring your children there. I wish that when we were roaming the paths that the plants and flowers were put in more of a way where it was exciting and perhaps more vibrant flowers would make the visit more inspiring. After our trip, my sister said she could have just walked in our backyard and taken some pictures by the trees. The gift shop is very nice and they have very nice items for sale. The café is clean and has decent food. If you’re going on a hot day, it’s a nice place to stop and cool off and wash up.

So beautiful! We spend 3 and a half hours there, but I wish it had been all day! A must see for adults and kids a like. The gardens were amazing and there were so many fun sculptures and displays.

In mid October, it was just past peak. There were still some great autumn colors but what we came to see are the 5 troll structures. They do not disappoint. The grounds are fairly accessible with a few steep areas to maneuver. They offer a free shuttle. The parking lot was full but the gardens were vast and spacious

This place is beautiful. We came here to go troll hunting and we had only 2 hours to do so before we had to head to another place before they close too. When I saw how long it takes to see the trolls on the website I was so nervous I wasn't going to get to see them all and I get why - there's always something to stop and look at each step of the way! And had make sure not to give in to the side quests! We made our way to Gro which is the farthest troll from the entrance, where we saw 2 other trolls along the way, and made our way back in to see the rest. We successfully saw all 5 trolls with some time to explore the Fairy Village, the Landing, the Arbor Gardens but at x2 speed lol. If you come for only the trolls you can see them all within an hour while walking briskly. If you want to explore as well as see all 5 trolls comfortably then you need about 3hrs+. There's still so much to explore here that we have to come back.

What a unique experience!! We came here on a recommendation from many locals. Absolutely stunning gardens with all sorts of plants, flowers and trees.. most have easy to read plaques with great information. So many walkable trails ( there is a cart that can help with posted stops throughout) we walked. Lots of benches to rest and take in the peaceful beauty. A highlight of the gardens are finding the five giant trolls made from recycled items, mostly pallets by artist Thomas Dambo. Once you turn a corner and see how tall these guys are it's shocking you have to search for them. The five trolls are; Roskva stands for the trunks Lilja holds the scent of the flowers Birk holds the roots Soren sticks up for the branches Gro smiles with the leaves There is a cafe with quick food and drinks to grab. Had their clam chowder and a water. Back in the lobby area is a large gift shop with everything you could ever want as a souvenir. Great place to vist for the whole family!

This is a very beautiful garden and Wednesday kids are free!! We came without children but it was nice seeing the abundance of them enjoying the gardens as well as the Trolls

The gardens are much bigger than I anticipated, but the highlight was the trolls. Each one was different and I loved them all. Trails are easy to walk and you can get all the steps in you need for the day. Everything is well taken care of and lots of things to see. The Cafe is very nice with some nice choices at reasonable prices

We stopped here on our way to Acadia National Park to break up the trip a little. And, well, because she (my better half) wanted to. While this is not the sort of thing I'd be inclined to do on my own, I was glad to make her happy and I actually ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would. The grounds are beautiful and offer ample shade on a hot summer day. The staff was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. The Trolls are amazing (look it up, they're really cool). And the frequent golf-cart-bus option was a life saver for someone who has a bad back and already had close to 10K steps that day. If you're looking to break up your ride to or from Acadia like we were, I highly recommend a stop at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.

I see there are nearly 200 reviews and over 1000 pictures here, so I will just focus on what my main concern was when I planned this as part of our 50th anniversary weekend in the area. And that is accessibility issues, as my wife has limited mobility, using a walker or cane, depending upon the landscape. They have scooters and wheelchairs to rent on a first come, first serve basis, and I worried no scooters would be available. There is also a set of hop on, hop off shuttles. We got there at 11:00, an hour ahead of our time listed on the reservation, and there were scooters available. Some of the trails are foot traffic only, but there was plenty to see from the trails we could use. After a couple of hours, we also use the shuttles, though we stayed on rather than hopping on and off. We saw a lot of beauty and enjoyed exploring. The best part is you can go back a different time of year and see other plants at their peak of beauty.

We love this place. We love their trolls exhibit. This place is fun. Great place to spend a day with the family. Highly recommended.

Beautiful gardens plus TROLLS!! I recently learned of Thomas Dambo's trolls (made from recycled wood) and there were five tucked away among the trees. It was about a two mile walk to see them all. We met Jody, a roving volunteer troll ambassador and got some more background on the trolls. Aside from the trolls, fall color was starting to pop and the signage throughout the gardens made it easy to find our way. Save $2 pp if you buy your tix online in advance. A little disappointed in the limited offerings at the cafe but loved our visit!

Last admission is at 4 p.m., and we got there right before that. You probably need more time to explore the 323 acres and walk the various trails though. My main goal was to view Thomas Dambo's trolls. We sped walked to see all five of them. They are amazing works of art that blend into the environment. Afterwards, we were lucky and spotted a shuttle that took us back to the visitor center. It was a short but sweet visit. I hope I get to see more of Danbo's trolls located around the world in the future!

Lovely property, not a lot of blooms when we were there but the wooded areas beautiful. Finding the trolls fun, we did see some beautiful plants.

I LOVE a good botanical garden, and this one didn't disappoint! The gardens are very thoughtfully arranged and designed, with someone thing for everyone in a family - young and old. My absolute favorite part was the trolls - and the story of each, with their role in helping to protect our world from the harmful effects of deforestation. And how we can support their efforts we are especially grateful to the staff who helped us get the most out of our experience. We arrived right at 4 pm, with the gardens closing in just an hour. They tried to direct us in the direction to maximize our visit, and about 30 mins before closing came to find us via golf cart and drove us to any of the trolls we hadn't yet seen. World-class customer service

We went to the Botanical Gardens on a bright sunny day and were welcomed by the staff with smiles. The volunteer gave us a recommended trail to follow and told us about the trolls. This is a great place to bring your family and not be overwhelmed by the amount of options. They have a "tasting" garden in the 5 senses area that is great for anyone to simply be able to taste herbs that they may not have tasted before. There is an endless amount of photo spots.

Beauty in every step! The children's garden and troll search were favorites. Can imagine if lived close would discover beautiful paths each visit with changing seasons. Was well worth entry and detour from coast.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is an amazing jewel in Midcoast Maine! It has excellent collections and gardens showing off Maine's best native species and collections from all over the world. We are annual members because it has great interest all year around. The Gardens Aglow festival around the holidays is a wonderful gift to the Midcoast community and a destination for people all over New England.

The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is an incredible place. If you're visiting the state: this is a MUST visit. If you live here and haven't been in a while: this is a MUST visit. The mission of CMBG is to "inspire meaningful connections among people, plants, and nature through horticulture, education, and research." And, truly, they are doing exactly that! New England's largest botanical garden is located on more than 300 acres along the midcoast and offers (but is not limited to): - accessible walking paths (as well as one-hour cart tours led by a trained docents, rain or shine, May through October) - botanically inspired art - a bee exhibit - the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses - the Bibby and Harold Alfond Children's Garden (themed after books written by Maine artists) - the Vayo Meditation Garden (a personal favorite spot of mine), and - a trail system that goes through the woods and along the rocky coastline; you might even see a fairy when you're walking through there! But CMBG has become famous, I think, for two reasons: 1) Gardens Aglow: a holiday light display featuring over 750K LED lights woven through 14 acres of central gardens. It's beautiful but it's also very, very, very busy (so much so I feel somehow claustrophobic despite being outside). For me, this isn't something I need to participate in yearly, but for others it's tradition to visit! 2) The Giant Trolls: as a Mainer, I think this is absolutely one of the coolest things I have ever seen in this beautiful state full of absolutely cool things. The Guardians of the Seeds experience by Thomas Dambo is unique, it's immersive, and it's incredibly special. Online, they're described as "magical, mysterious, and mammoth recycled-wood troll sculptures." And they are, but they're so much more. You have to see it in real life to understand. I've done the scavenger hunt, I've found the seeds, and I've spent quality time with my favorite friends Gro (the wanderer) and Birk (who holds the roots). IYKYK. Thank you for existing, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens!

This was my third visit to the garden (not including Christmas lights). It's so beautiful. We had rain all weekend but I didn't want to miss the Maine residents weekend. So glad we opted to go. The light drizzle actually was okay. Flowers need rain and trolls don't mind. The Lupines and allium were my favorite this visit. I want to live in the small garden "shed" near the children's area. Have some time when you go. I easily pass 2-3 hours without any trouble - and without seeing everything.

I've been to the gardens many times, and have walked 90% of the paths and the trails, but this was my visit during the month of June. I had hoped to see the rhododendron and azaleas blooming, but I was a little late...there were still a few in bloom, but most had past. Despite that, the gardens impressed again...this time with so many June blooming plants. The lupine, poppy, baptista and the alliums were spectacular. Worth mentioning the cafe building is under construction, but they did have a food truck selling food and drinks right outside the cafe building. Also worth mentioning, they seem to be adding more stone work to the fairy house area in the woods along the river...it is such a gorgeous spot. Worth the walk for sure!

Came here this winter for Gardens A Glow, it was an amazing experience. They had lots of employees helping with parking, directions, and ticketing. We didn't have to wait in line long to get in. They had many stops open to get warm and get food. They had a popcorn truck, cafe with food and a couple different huts with drinks and snacks. The organization of this event was so well done I can't say more. On to the actual lights. So unbelievable. So many lights, so many different areas and lots of cute light animals. My favorite was the sea with the light house and boat. Just overall a great experience!

One of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the US. Massive grounds, currently an added bonus of the traveling trolls on display, helpful friendly staff. The gardens are always changing with the seasons and come winter you can be in awe of Gardens Aglow. I highly recommend this be in your Boothbay travel plans.

Went to the garden with family in early May. Beautiful weather and it wasn't too crowded. Worth the money and visit. Larger garden than expected. The coffee drinks were mediocre although the staff were quite friendly. Be on the lookout for snakes when hiking. Beautiful water views.

Went today to see the Trolls and had a great time! Got in 3.5 miles in the process. The Trolls are spread out and if you aren't a hiker or have a disability they have a free shuttle service to them but you will still have to hike a little bit to some of them but not all. The butterfly house wasn't open so that was disappointing. You can bring food and drink in. I brought my snacks and yeti in. They have a water refill station to refill your water bottle so that's cool. Overall a great experience.

Maine botanical gardens is a must see. Great idea for gardeners and wonderful groomed trails with amazing trolls. Young and old will love this destination.

You can find the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens at 105 Botanical Gardens Dr, Boothbay, ME 04537. There's a parking lot across from the main access drive and there seems to be plenty of spaces. We met some local friends at the Gardens who had visited previously a few years ago but were interested in our perspective and to view any changes. There's a very large reception area building (Lerner Visitor Center) where you buy admission tickets that somewhat obscure what's happening in the garden itself (you do get a mini preview from the plantings out front). While there you may want to use the bathroom facilities as, depending on how deep you get into the remote areas, opportunities become scarce (there are a few portopotties scattered about at strategic points) These are really expansive gardens with paths that meander between low hills that offer a wide range of landscape opportunities, with the Back River as a boundary towards the West. If you like to hike there are also trails that extend beyond the gardens themselves where you can get some exercise and view much of the local topography (you can pretty much cater your distance using the Gardens signage indicating trail length). Behind the entrance we first went though the Butterfly area, an enclosed "safe" area for butterflies to do their thing with an abundance of active blooms. Walking around you see a variety of exhibits as you would expect - on our date in mid September 2023, quite a lot was in bloom with some really spectacular foliage and color. You'll find various water features, bridges, curved bridges, waterfalls (towards the Northern areas) and of course native and specimen species. We focused on the areas immediately West towards the river and north as those were the location of the fabulous Dambo trolls. Perhaps the biggest (tongue-in-cheek) draw of the gardens are the handful of Thomas Dambo trolls built along paths towards the west and north of the Visitor Center. They provide clear targets-of-opportunity as you plan your stroll - actually some of them are a bit of a hike but the walk will do you good and you'll get to see a lot of native species. Our order: * Roskva * Birk * Soren * Gro * Lilja In all we thought the Gardens really spectacular and enjoyed experiencing the great selection, the exercise and especially the Trolls. Staff were really wonderful putting up with all our dumb questions and very knowledgeable.

One of the more beautiful places I've visited recently! We bought our tickets ahead of time but I don't think it's necessary as there were over 100 tickets available when we bought ours, only 2 hours ahead of time. We went at 11am on a Saturday and it was busy but not so busy you couldn't get around easily. You enter through a visitors center which does have maps available. I saw plenty of motorized scooters around, if needed. The grounds are absolutely beautiful. Visiting the trolls is a must. The website says five hours required to see all five trolls but our group of four adults made it to all five in under 1.5 hours. Definitely wear sneakers; I did not and I did regret it! There is a butterfly garden which was closed for the season; I guess it's only open in the summer time. Definitely worth the hour drive from Portland.

If you didn't know Maine has a botanical garden well here's your sign to go. It's gorgeous. Sprawling. Full of flowers in September. It has kid play scapes and adult plays apes in the form of a build your own fairy house area with all the materials available. Plenty of shade and programs including one on bees. Did you know Maine has 236 varieties of bees? No? Do yourself a favor. Get here.

Went to Gardens Aglow for first time ever and it was magical!! I was blown away by the lights and how smoothly it was to get through. If you haven't been...GO! We had my elderly mother with us in a wheelchair. There was no snow on walkways, but there was some mud. Pretty easy to get through, but not sure it would be handicap accessible if there was snow on the trail. There were a few local businesses with their products that were neat. Huga Heated seats, kettle korn, blueberry items, hot cocoa & holy donuts, etc.

From CALIFORNIA... WOW such a wonderful experience, so much to see and good exercise. Sprinkled a bit but not too bad. Can't help but to think about how amazing it is to intertwine nature with art in a fascinating way.

We drove about 1 hr to see the Xmas lights and it was definitely worth it!! The lights were truly amazing! They had awesome popcorn to buy (cash only). But it bc smelling it and not getting any sucks. The trolls were the top hits. Super fun and cute! The boys loved climbing the playhouse and bridge. The lights were so very impressive!! Bundle up, bring a Hot HOT drinks and make the trek to get some jungle in your jangle!

One of my favorite places to go in all of Maine. I love the Trolls, but most of all I love all the plants and flowers and trees. I love that you can walk through the woods along the water and I love that there are so many things for the children to do sometimes I just go to walk around one of my favorite places.

OMG, since we retired to Maine back in 2021, we've been going here for a couple years already -- we're members! -- and I can't believe I've never reviewed the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (CMBG)!! Well, without saying much more about this immensely beautiful destination, I've already given it its highest praise by the fact that we are members! Living a few hours north ("downeast" to Boothbay), the membership is well-worth our seasonal jaunts to see the changing of the floral seasons, including their annual, late-season "Gardens Aglow" event, where the gardens are literally aglow with hundreds of thousands (if not a million!) Christmas lights -- it's quite the gasp and wholly-enveloping of the seasonal spirit!! It never fails to leave one in such high spirits, I swear! :) Being able to see the seasonal transformation of gazillion plants and trees, to see the labor of love given by the dozens of volunteers -- who wouldn't want to spend their days being outdoors working with plants, if they could?! -- and docents, it's a true paradise to spend time there. They've got a very fine gift store, and some good bites, too -- we're plant-based and are able to find noshing stuffs -- you're gonna be spending at least a couple of hours. (At least!) And, too, one cannot review the CMBG without mention of the ginormous Trolls!!! Astounding pieces of construction art!!! Utterly delightful to behold!!! (I shan't go into detail since you can easily Wikipedia-it. Suffice to say, pictures don't do them justice.... ;) To sum this up, if you're ever in the vicinity of Boothbay Harbor (which is a big Maine getaway), I cannot implore you enough to make that short drive "inland" to visit the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. :D

Loved it here! We could literally spend days exploring here! Gardens are beautiful, educational for kids and adults, fun to see the trolls and the children's garden kept my little guy entertained - it was hard to drag him away at the end of the day! Only downside is the food at the cafe. I don't want to eat there again...

We visited the gardens during their Gardens Aglow event. I can say I was just blown away by how much work they put into this event. The gardens were just magical! Everywhere you looked there was something cool and interesting to see. I think one of my favorite things to see was the stained glass along the bottom of one of the small trees. Don't forget to stop and see the massive troll! On your way out be sure to visit Fields Fields Blueberry Truck for some phenomenal Blueberry Crisp. They even offer a Vegan Blueberry Crisp with Dairy Free Whipped. Overall such an amazing experience and totally worth the drive if you are visiting Maine like we were.

This location is another reason to stay in Boothbay. It is the ONLY botanical garden in the state of Maine. In the beginning a forward thinking group found this property and borrowed against their homes to come up with the base funding. Amazing. There are so many types of plants here. Only a few roses. Ponds, River frontage , and forest. Nothing is a difficult walk. It is ADA for most areas. There is dining in the property Great 4 hours.

My first time here and I was on a mission to find all 5 trolls. It's an adventure with lots of paths and following a map. The first troll was the easiest. But as we went further into the woods it became a challenge. It's like a scavenger hunt! Yes, we were on a mission! 1 1/2 hours later, a bottle of water and a granola bar we found all 5 trolls!! Mission accomplished! It's a beautiful place to visit for the day.

This was my first visit. My advice is to park at the offsite parking and take the shuttle. Both drivers each way were great, very friendly. The walking path of the light show was laid out perfectly. Such a beautiful place to see at least in the winter for the holiday light show. Everyone that we encountered that worked the night we visited was awesome. We are definitely planning on visiting this summer

Please note that they stop admissions at 3PM. Of course, we arrived at 3PM and we barely had enough time to explore the gorgeous 148 acre of plants/flowers and things. I wanted to go see the trolls and it's worth a visit. We stopped in the café and were happy about the sandwiches. They were very good for being a café. The rosemary potato chips are something I still think about and can't get in Texas, I'm sure. Anyways, stroll the gardens and visit the trolls and take your time going through the fairy gardens and meditation space. Wish I had more time than 2 hours, so plan your time accordingly. I came on a monday and didn't need reservations but you might want to consider that for the weekend.

Recommendation for children - Must see the butterfly house and children's garden at the very least. If your little one can make it to the top of the map, visit the fairy garden in the woods too! I saw plenty of strollers on the trails, but warning, once you leave the children's garden/Lilja area, keep an eye out for rocks, roots, etc. I'd highly recommend using a jogging stroller (high quality wheels w shock absorbers) if you can. There is a shuttle too if you prefer to use it! Children's Garden - so much to do! "Catch" a lobster, visit and go inside little houses, go to the larger house to read a book to your friends or have a puppet show. Visit the little fairy house collection made w wood and shells, cross the rope bridge at the treehouse! Also, there is an outdoor musical area near Lilja. Parking is free and easy, bathrooms were clean. We went to downtown Boothbay for lunch - Harborside 1901 Bar and Grill - delicious!

This place is amazing, especially around the holidays. It's a bit of a drive for me but very worth it. They have food stands/trucks on site if you want a snack. They have wheel chairs to make it accessible and the staff is very helpful.

Such a beautiful spot in Maine - another place I can't believe I've just visited for the first time. We went to go on the troll hunt. It took us about 1.5 hours to find the 5 trolls and seeds (about 3.5 miles). The hike was easy enough for strollers to move throughout but definitely wear your hiking shoes. The downside was the map to find the troll. It is by far the worst map ever made - we even had a map maker in our party who couldn't follow it. Just ask others around you for directions and you'll be good. The guests that were there were also awesome. Everyone was super friendly, polite, etc. I hope it's always like that! While the trolls were the main event, there were many other sites to see: butterfly garden, several meadows, beautiful scenery of flowers, bridges, water, and a few kids play areas. We will definitely visit this winter for the lights. I highly recommend!

I absolutely fell in love with this location. I cannot stress if enough that everyone needs to visit! It was wonderful being greeted by staff who are very welcoming. The entrance fee is $22 for adults. I was attracted to visit the trolls but the entire garden is gorgeous. There was an area that was kid friendly and I felt enthralled to the activities that were set-up. There are trails visitors can walk through off the botanical garden, which I highly recommend. I am so excited to visit in the near future!

The botanical gardens are a beautiful place, spread out over quite a bit of acreage. Plan on at least 2 hours to cover it all at a brisk pace or longer for a more casual stroll. I'm not sure if it's a permanent installation or a temporary exhibit but the trolls are by far the best attraction. It's really hard to do on a hot day or on a midsummer's afternoon. It's best to go earlier in the morning when it's cooler. Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! Good footwear for walks on earthen trails, which can be soft or mushy if wet. There are shuttles available but they're always full. Consider sunscreen and bug spray too. Check for ticks when done.

Fun, family friendly place to spend the day outside with beautiful, easy walking trail. Wonderfully maintained with gorgeous flowers and plants to see and fun trolls to find. Highly recommend

I drove there from Boston area and stayed in the garden for the show for two hours. fantastic experience in 2023!

What can I say about Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens? Well, one word comes to mind...Trolls. Not the kind that annoy you on social media, but Trolls, as in five giant wooden sculptures that will tower above you in the woods and you will just be in awe at how amazing of a time you are having. Two friends and I went all-in on an experience that will stick with us for the rest of our lives. Danish artist Thomas Dambo's mammoth recycled-wood sculptures are hidden throughout the woods in beautiful Boothbay, Maine and all you have is your trusty map to find them all. It was a 4 hour drive to get there from Connecticut and it was so worth the trip! Each troll has a name and a teaching. There are clues at each troll. When you put all the clues together, you learn the secret of the Guardians of the Seeds. We made it through and found out the secret. It takes a good three hours or so to complete the puzzle, but once you do, it's all worth it. Wear comfortable shoes or hiking boots. I registered 12,000 steps on my fitbit for the duration of the quest. Make sure to take lots of pics. This is one experience you will always want to remember! They will reopen again in the spring. Can't wait to return! P.S. Besides the trolls, if you love beautiful flowers- you will also hit the jackpot here!

This place is a great way to spend an afternoon. For full disclosure, I don't do plants. I'm a white girl and my thumbs are blacker than they are green. I only chose to visit here for my aunt, but I still enjoyed it and wouldn't hesitate to go back. Speaking of my aunt, botany *is* her thing, and she loved it so much she's planning on getting a membership. It's an ideal place to relax and enjoy the beauty, and to keep kids busy while they burn off some of their infinite energy.

If I'd have brought my hiking shoes, we would have stayed even longer. Even in late fall (closing day as a matter of fact ), it was still really lovely here. The Dahlia garden was still in bloom, as were the hydrangeas, the Fall odors of the remaining plants and trees were also quite lovely and the wooded areas and trails smelled so freshly of pine and cedar. Plus, the trolls are absolutely adorable. We got in 5 miles of walking and felt wonderfully refreshed after the 3+ hour drive up from our hotel.

What an amazing Botanical Garden! The flowers, trails and trolls were awesome! This may be a little bit out of the way but we'll worth the time!

Our first time was a perfect fall day in early October and it was GORGEOUS. Of course now we feel the need to experience it in each season, but if we must we must. We really enjoyed our visit. We got there at noon and spent about 4 hours hiking and were able to see all of the trolls. We'll take some of the deeper trails next time and really explore. Already looking forward to our next visit!