Huntsville Botanical Garden

We have had the pleasure and privilege of DJing several weddings at the Huntsville Botanical Garden, and every experience has been outstanding. This venue is always beautifully maintained, incredibly clean, and supported by one of the most professional and friendly staffs in the industry. The Garden offers several stunning ceremony and reception locations for brides to choose from, each one more impressive than the last. The coordinators are truly top tier. They stay on point from start to finish and make sure every bride has exactly what she needs for a smooth and stress free wedding day. As a full service DJ and MC team, we especially appreciate how easy it is to load in and load out. The layout and staff cooperation make production seamless, which allows us to focus on what we do best providing professional DJ services, lighting, and an unforgettable experience for every couple. We highly recommend the Huntsville Botanical Garden to any couple searching for a beautiful venue with exceptional service. We look forward to working with them for many weddings to come.

Always a relaxing walk and something is always blooming. The humongous lily pads at the water garden are worth the visit but don't miss the pitcher plants garden near it. Buy the annual pass as every season has it's own beauty.

We went to the Galaxy of Lights walking tour. Absolutely the best way to see the lights. It's a substantial walk, it took us over an hour of steady walking but it was great. A magical evening.

We love the outdoors. What a beautiful outdoors this place is! We bought membership for 2 and plan to visit often during the year. The walking paths are both paved and unpaved and all are great for just meandering through a lovely garden.

If you’re like us and want to have your wedding outdoors in a garden rather than a barn or a church, PLEASE consider Huntsville Botanical Gardens. We had a vision, and our special day was something we did not take lightly. We opted for a non-traditional wedding with a private ceremony on the garden grounds and celebrated with our family during the reception. Nichols Arbor was everything we dreamed of. The Garden staff was so commutative and extremely accommodating, and everyone was so friendly right from the start. The bathrooms were extremely clean, as well as the dressing suite and kitchen. The landscaping was everything we wanted for the vision we had, it was all very beautiful. One thing I’d like to highlight more than anything else: THE BAR STAFF. They are incredible. We got so many compliments on how kind and efficient they were. We cannot wait to visit the gardens more often to reminisce on this perfect day, that we will remember and cherish forever.

10/10 this place is amazing. We stopped in the afternoon early August - was pretty warm. Shortly after arriving the nicest lady (Michaelle Goforth) saw my son's knee brace and offered to drive us around on a cart - we spent a solid 1.5 hours with her and she showed us all kinds of things - A+ on customer service! Sprawling campus, I could spend days there taking photos. Very well maintained. The butterfly house has some beautiful specimens. Captured an Indigo Bunting and Goldfinch along with a bunch of great butterfly shots. Highly recommend!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 The Huntsville Botanical Garden is an absolute gem! The serene atmosphere and stunning landscapes make it a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle. Every corner offers a beautiful backdrop for photos, making it an ideal spot for a photo shoot. Highly recommended for anyone looking to enjoy nature's beauty!

A friend got us a membership for my son’s birthday and we’ve already had several great trips to the garden! Absolutely gorgeous blooms and so much to look at! I love the new Mama Zelda installation and the butterfly house is my son’s favorite.

I've been coming to the botanical gardens for 5 years now for various events - butterflies, fall/ Halloween events, and annually the Galaxy of Lights Christmas light display. It's one of my favorite things to do during the holiday season. This year they added a tram to make it more accessible and I thought that was amazing! Happy 30th year of the Galaxy of Lights! We will be attending every year!

Had an opportunity to do a quick loop through the botanical gardens. So glad I made the time to visit here. The loop included a stop in their butterfly pavilion. The person working there was so informative and I learned a lot. Apparently if I had been there earlier (between 10-2?), it would have been even more amazing since more butterflies would have been active. Beautiful grounds. Well labeled plants. So glad I stopped in. Would love to return again and spend more time there.

Pricey, little value for dog walking. The price of admission per person with or without a membership is expensive. The light show during Christmas time is not free for paying members. They only allow dogs on Thursdays and you have to pay $5 every visit even if you are a member. The value pack (puppy pass) of $20 for 3 months hardly seems worth it since they close if there's bad weather and close early in the fall/winter/spring months which is tough to accommodate if you work a day job. If you are considering getting a membership to walk your dog here, you would be better off going to a free park.

Amazing place for Halloween and esp Christmas with the Festival of Lights. Anytime is a good time to visit the gardens. Very relaxing and well taken care.

A very belated review for those thinking of checking this out for the winter holidays. We had a great time at the Galaxy of Lights last year - the full walk took us 1.5 hours (semi-leisurely). There is a restroom near the "hot chocolate stand" (a big white tent) past the longest loop, which one can by pass on a much shorter path. We may definitely come back time to time during the next winter seasons ahead! FYI, the huntsville passport discount does NOT apply to special events such as Galaxy of Lights, as far as last year was concerned.

Galaxy of Lights Galaxy of Lights was beautiful and relaxing. They did a great job of matching music to the lights to create an immersive experience. I really want to go back and check out the gardens during the day.

The Huntsville Botanical Garden is a lovely place to visit, especially for nature lovers and families. The highlight for me was the Butterfly Center, located inside the Children's Learning Center. It's beautifully screened in, making it a serene spot to admire the butterflies up close. There's ample parking, and plenty of paths to explore, so be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. The garden features wonderful water elements and ponds, though one of my favorite spots was a covered pond area, it did have quite a few hornet and bee nests. There are swings and mini houses within the property that you can explore and they are very well kept. There was one entire woods section with random swings and benches which was nice to get out of the sun and heat. They also had a full mini train village closer to the entrance. I really enjoyed that they had a handicapped swing for those in wheelchairs, a great inclusion! The cafe offers a decent selection of food and drinks at reasonable prices, though the options are somewhat limited. There's also a nice gift shop to browse for souvenirs. Note that one section of the garden, just past the vegetable garden, was under construction during my visit. Despite that, there's so much to see and enjoy-- highly recommend!

Usually I love gardens and I loved this place til Saturday May 31st 2025 I had a bad experience with an employee who works in the butterfly exhibit. I unfortunately lost my enjoyment and plus I noticed the garden is not being kept up 100% like it should be. I noticed many fountains and even some water things for the kids were not working. It wasn't just one it was four. With the money they get this is unacceptable!! Those giving it spectacular reviews must not go often or are not observant. Now back to the employee . Apparently my Autistic son was not fast enough to get in the door cause he screeched stay together. I need you together. I was like what the ... yes my son is slow sometimes I guess? He was behind me. It was uncalled for He could have handled it in a different way but he didn't. Yeah I get the butterflies might escape but screeching at a autistic kid is not acceptable by any means. Here's a thought you don't know who is and isn't Autistic. He is not used to be screeched at by a grown man. We actually deserve an apology. I already have a hard time getting him to go out anywhere that's not his room. I also noticed many decorative things were gone from last year which disappointed me greatly. It just wasn't the same as previous visits. I have been to Bellingrath, Aldridge, etc so I enjoy Gardens alot. I wasn't also thrilled with the new Troll Garden . It looked like a wonderful place for snakes. Uh no thank you on the positive side kids seemed to like it . If I had a little one I don't think I would trust it . This used to be a yearly thing for me but after this experience it just isn't worth it. The expense to be yelled at by an employee is just not worth it. Truly he should be fired if he can't deal with the public in a respectful manner . Don't screech at people. Calmly explain. If He would have said Ma'am if you dont mind because we are afraid the butterflies might escape could you go in together. Thats nice and respectful. I would have understood. Here's the thing my son probably will not want to go back . I dont blame him if he doesnt I will understand. I'm not wanting to go back anytime soon myself. Sighs* just because of a rude employee who doesnt know how to communicate properly. Anyways some of the garden was pretty . You make your own decision. I just hope he doesnt do this to other children. At least my son wasn't small . Some children would have cried right then not understanding. My son doesnt understand still . I dont understand. I asked him he said I dont understand why either. There you go. Also another reason I will not go they have stopped taking *CASH! *Sorry it is a legal tender and as such that was the last straw.

We came here with family and had a really nice day, even though it was a colder time of year before things were in bloom. Unique designs everywhere, and a very tranquil place to walk around. Nice for adults and kids. Bathrooms and a gift shop are in the lobby and there are additional bathrooms located throughout the grounds. Free parking in large lots.

We love exploring new gardens while traveling. Lucky for us the Huntsville Botanical Garden is included in the collection of gardens that we have access to with our pass. This garden was so nice to explore. It's very open with so many little areas to roam, learn and enjoy being in nature.

Awful Christmas light display do not waste your time or money! Have tried both walking and driving and there's very little christmas spirit in the lights. It's very dependent on being the only major christmas attraction in Huntsville. I will not be attending this event again until changes are made I suggest people take the same approach.

Ohhh my heavens, if there was ever a place to unwind and go for an adventure this is it. To turn every corner is a treat. There is something everywhere you look, exploring galore!!! It's such an inner kid experience here and also a rest for the weary here. It's beyond beautiful and jaw dropping and ahhh with a smile ear to ear. It's beyond beauty!!

A must-visit gem in Huntsville. The gardens, café, and store offer a thoughtful, immersive experience. October brings ideal weather, and the $4 tram makes exploring effortless ride through or hop off at each stop. Staff, especially tram drivers and receptionists, were exceptionally kind and welcoming. Murray Hall is a standout venue for events. The edible and herb gardens, including Biblical plants, were a personal highlight. I'll return every time I pass through Huntsville.

By far the best botanical gardens I have ever been too. Thank you all for keep nature so pretty for us all I can't wait to return when I come back out from California

If you have never been to the Galaxy of Lights GO! GO! GO! And GO again!! It was absolutely magical. I've been to the galaxy on "driving nights" and it's been wonderful. To be honest, I've always been too cheap to spend $20 on admission for a "walking night". Let me tell you, after visiting last night, I would be willing to pay $20 EVERY night! First things first, you need tickets. Easy-peasy buying them online. They do have general admission but that's not until later in the evening. A quick note - when you order, you will receive two emails. Open the second and there is a link to your actual tickets. Second, bundle up, it's Christmas time after all! And third, wear comfy shoes - the trail is 1.5 miles long though there is a cut through that makes it only a mile. The Garden does have a few wheelchairs to borrow but no strollers. For you puppy parents, there are a few nights when you can bring your fur baby - just check the website. And for you runners - they have a few "race nights" though I can't imagine why you'd want to run through and miss this enchanting world. Now for the wonderment...there are lights. And lights and lights. Sparkling lights playing off of the trees greet you as you walk the gently lit path. You will soon approach "icicles". and SNOW! I literally put my arms out and spun in circles under the fluffy powder gently falling around me. There are colored rings that are actually swings. Bring your cameras! I can't describe the swings, you just have to experience them. There is a "wonderland" full of giant trees wrapped in thousands and thousands of lights. There are even stepping stones that change color as you step on them. My favorite part? The "fubbles". (Yes, that's what they are called). Fubbles are fog filled bubbles. Pop one and it looks like fog is coming off of you fingertips. I have no idea how long I stood there popping bubbles but it wasn't long enough. Like I said, I've done the drive through several times over the years. While you do walk through some of the driving tour, the majority of the trail is completely different. I already said it is magical but I need to say it again. It is MAGICAL! I need to get my nerd out...there are well over a million lights (imagine having to untangle those every year!) There are over 14 MILES of extension cord and well over ten miles of ethernet cable making everything happen. The numbers are staggering. I've got to say it one more time...the Galaxy of lights is absolutely, positively magical. Please DO NOT miss it!

Huntsville's Botanical Garden is a city gem at this point. I cant remember how long it's been since ths remodel, but I've been a member since. For the most part, i don't get to the garden enough. I'm reminded of that fact the moment i park and move thru the double doors of the main entrance. During the summer, there are camps for kids to suck up at least a week or two of the not-so-long break. Kids get to get just dirty and sweaty enough to pass as kids playing outdoors... plus they learn a few things from the fairies. At various times during the year, the Garden hosts shows on all sorts of things from raptors to wushu at the Classroom under the Sky Amphithéâtre. Also, as growing seasons and weather permit, there are themes and other events deserving of at least a visit or two. There are a few spots in the garden that aet my absolute favorite (in no particular order) - Damson Aquatic Garden - Herb Garden - Matthew's Trail - Butterfly House - Children's Garden (and the 3 little houses - - the red one being the absolute most popular every-single- freaking-time) When my secretly stressful job starts acting up, a quick visit to the gardens puts a perspective on things and a pause to time...just long enough for me to remember to stop and smell the... well, you get it.

This was the best cafe food I have ever had! Homemade pumpkin soup and sandwich was on the best sourdough bread. I would stop by just for lunch!

The gardens are absolutely beautiful. We enjoyed the different gardens and the butterfly house. We hope to utilize the golf cart tour next visit.

Such a fun experience & place to visit. The kids loved the kid play area. The butterfly area was beautiful & there was soooo many butterflies. The kids area had multiple water play areas & play house like areas. We enjoyed our time there.

Such a great place! So many areas to explore. Everyone was so kind. Laura in the butterfly exhibit took the time to show up caterpillars and explain the exhibit to us - so lovely! The hammock swings are fabulous. The new troll exhibit is so fun. Will be back!

This is a great place to spend the day outdoors and in nature Plenty of places to rest and many things to be learned.

Made my first visit to Huntsville Botanical Gardens to see the Galaxy of Lights. We purchased timed entry tickets but you can also purchase when you arrive. Nice outing for kids and adults. We did the walking tour. There are plenty of lights displays, some bubbles and an area of snow blowing. If you're in or near the Huntsville area, be sure to make a visit. Happy Holidays

It started off with a bang, but quickly faded into a sigh of disappointment. The entrance and the main building to the botanical garden promises a spectacular experience. Walking through the main building, you are greeted by lovely staff members, a welcoming café, and a gift shop, all the things you expect at a botanical garden. Walking into the garden there is a gorgeous water fountain, origami art, and of course beautiful flowers everywhere. However, after that, you quickly learn that the botanical gardens should be called Huntsville City Park. Most of the land is really just grass and trees. There are no exhibits of plant species, separated by regions of the world. There's no display of flowers and plants in any kind of artistic formation. It really just becomes a regular city park. And when that Alabama sun starts hitting you, you are ready to go right away. The children's garden, however, was the main attraction. Perfect for a day out with the kids. All the children seem to be really enjoying themselves. A huge improvement to the children's garden would be an actual water fountain that the kids can play in.

10 out of 10! I love this garden, and I can't wait to come back! So many things to see, so quiet, so peaceful, so beautiful!!

This is my first review of 2021! It has been years since I had visited the Huntsville Botanical Garden. Ironically, the last time I was there was for a wedding reception. The reason I visited recently was for a family member's wedding and reception. This beautiful place is located not too far from 565. There's adequate parking and their spaces and rooms are great for wedding ceremonies and celebrations. I am not sure about pricing, but I know my little brother's wedding/vow renewal ceremony and reception were lovely.

I like the Botanical Garden. My brother got married in the gazebo on the pond (it is a great place for a smaller sized wedding ceremony!) and my sweet Momma volunteered there for years and years. She drove the golf cart with garden patrons around and provided information about the various areas to see. We memorialized my sweet grandma with a nice garden bench with her name on a plaque on the bench that (I believe) is still there. The hubs and I enjoy the annual outdoor plant sale which is 2 and a half days (opens early to Members only). It isn't limited to plants, they have other vendors such as homemade candles and bath and body products. The quality of the plants/herbs/etc., is always very good. I like their gift shop. Before the remodel (my words not theirs) the gift shop was pretty smallish and now it is more sizeable. It had unique gifts the times I have been in it. The building (I can't find it on the online map on the website) past the smallish restaurant/café and outside to the right, was the location of several catered work functions and is really nice and well decorated. It seems like it would hold ~ 100 guests. Both events were buffet style with A/V presentations. The 100+ year dogwood tree was such a local landmark and it was sad when it had to be removed due to decay - the details are here https://www.al.com/living-times/2010/12/the_120-year_dogwood_the_hunts.html To this day, Mom has a sizeable print of the dogwood beautifully framed and hanging in her apartment. We purchased the print from the BG. They offer mulching services for your discarded Christmas tree and I think the mulch is free to the public and available by the truckload - call to confirm, I've never done it myself. Mom and I had a snack together in the newish café last time we went to BG and it was okay - nothing really to write home about. I don't recall what we had or the name of the café. There are other BG Memorials and Honoraria opportunities such as purchasing engraved brick pavers, Butterfly Tribute - which is (from the web page) "a symbolic gesture in which the donor may recognize the person or family of their choice; (and includes a nice looking butterfly print of the giver's choice)" or you can purchase shrubs/trees. I think they have a cancer or breast cancer-specific garden also especially for Memorials and Honoraria. Years ago we participated in the annual Galaxy of Lights (many corporations offer discounted tickets) as a Christmas tradition and frankly, it got boring and always has such a long line! I have this perspective because I lived two blocks off of the beach at Virginia Beach and they turned the beach boardwalk into an extremely fantastic Christmas light show each year which just spoiled me as far as Christmas light shows go. They offer a scarecrow trail annually and several children's programs, the butterfly house (seasonally) and I believe a dog walk event, among many other special events. There is no admission to visit the gift shop or the café which is nice. You can enjoy the nice view from the café area even if you do not want to visit the entire garden/s. Thanks for keeping Huntsville beautiful and helping hone our horticultural skills HBG!

What a beautiful and peaceful time I spent here. Almost 6 hours! I was solo traveling so it was nice I can take all the time I want to explore. Plenty of seating to choose from to just sit and enjoy the garden. They have hammocks, mattresses, and different kinds of swings to rest and enjoy nature, some are located in shaded areas. I would recommend wearing tennis shoes or comfortable walking shoes. There are trails you can take. There is a fun kids area for the young ones and near it is the butterfly building. There is a herb garden to check out also.

I attended the Christmas lights experience in 2021, and it was an interesting experience. I love that it supports the community and it was quite impressive how many local businesses and community members participate in this tradition. It definitely feels like this is something very special to the community, a tradition that should be continued. In 2021, you could not exit your car. Not sure if this will change post pandemic, but as-is, do expect a long line of cars to get in and that it will take a good hour to get through all of the lights since you are stuck going the pace of the slowest car. Sit back and enjoy, but don't expect to "swing by" and see the lights as we naively did.

Beautiful park and its flowers. Lots trees and shade. Loved the swings for guests sit and use and benches.

Christmas light show was great. The rest of the park was nice as well. Solid way to spend a few hours.

Very nice place. Beautiful walkways. Serene water features and benches. I enjoyed the origami displays. We also had a tasty lunch at the Café inside the main building. Nice gift shop.

I have been here three times. I have absolutely loved each visit and am bummed I'm missing their fall extravaganza with the pumpkins. Look, this is like the best pandemic activity EVER. You get to walk around outside, look at pretty things, get a little exercise or sunshine or whatever you "outdoorsy" people want to call it, and feel cultured. It's also a reasonably priced, family friendly activity. The Garden is gorgeous on a regular day, but they have so many fun activities year-round. I highly recommend their Christmas nighttime shows (just a note, some nights are dog friendly!) and--assuming the weather is okay--you really can't go wrong any time of the year. Take plenty of pictures, soak in the scenery, do some people watching, whatever floats your boat--there's something for pretty much everyone here, even outdoors-phobic grouches like me.

Student discount for the win! Spent our first day in Huntsville at the botanical garden. Beautiful area to walk around in, lots of areas if you have children and beautiful backdrops for weddings around every corner. The only thing keeping this from being 5 stars was the lack of flowers, not their fault I decided to visit in October, but was sad that there weren't more fall items out for viewing. Neat to say we've done.

One word: azaleas. Come in April & go on the bush azalea trail and you will be blown away. A few years ago I came in late May and missed all the beautiful azaleas which I deeply regret. The beauty was remarkable and the scent was just amazing. My eyes and nose were happy. The sprawling land and beautiful flowers really are something.

Absolutely gorgeous botanical garden. The grounds were well landscaped the plant selection was beautiful. The butterfly garden is amazing. The water features throughout our incredible. The people are super friendly. There's a great café and gift shop. Love this place whole heartedly. I travel from Nashville there several times a year Because it's the best. I've been to other botanical gardens in Nashville and they don't compete at all. Totally worth the drive and downtown. Huntsville is great as well. Enjoy.

A lovely oasis to enjoy, especially with small children. There are numerous opportunities for imaginative play, with buildings scaled for children. The many play areas are surrounded by fences, so as to keep little ones safe and contained. A butterfly sanctuary in the education building is a delight as well as a cool respite on a hot day, with a babbling brook running through the building and out into the surrounding area. Some of the paths offer shade, although the main walkways from the entrance building to the theme areas could benefit from a tree canopy, especially on a sunny day. I'd recommend that trees be added to the parking lots as well. The entry lobby is spacious and allows for a rest on comfortable couches. An adjacent cafe offers snacks and drinks (which I did not sample). Around the corner are clean and spacious restrooms and a water bottle filling station, and water bottles on your walks are essential. The venue would be fantastic for weddings and parties.

Galaxy of lights is Total waste of money. It's gone downhill bad. I attached a picture of my review on trip advisor. Their customer service? That made it so much worse.

I love this botanical garden so much, we ended up buying memberships which is a really good deal! It's usually $15 a ticket and a member for 2 is $85 so as long as you go at least 3 times in a 12 month period, it will pay for itself. My husband likes coming to see the art sculpture he calls the "BudLight Platinum tree"‍. The facilities are always well maintained and they always have some sort of event happening in the garden throughout the year. I'm excited for October when they bring the pumpkins out!

Don't go in the fall/winter there's nothing to see. Would have been better just donating $20 and left. What a waste of money.

Extremely disappointed in the Huntsville botanical gardens. I don't even know what to say about this customer service. The lady at the front desk that sold us the tickets which was for myself and my two daughters (2&11) $32, was unpleasant to say the least. She also missed to tell us that the butterfly house, which was the main exhibit we came for, was not open at the time. Unfortunately it is closed for repairs. Obviously we did not come for the flowers. Because at this time of year there is nothing but sticks to see. Another family that just spent over $70 on entry fees also came to see the butterfly house. We all went back to the front desk right away to ask them what they can do since they missed to tell us that the exhibit we came for is closed. Remark: We did not walk the park. We went straight to the butterfly house which is right next door to the entry! The lady at the front desk, same one that sold us a tickets, wasn't just unpleasant but also extremely rude and told us that it is too bad, people come here for different reason. I will never come back here again, and I would not recommend this place to anyone else. She also proceeded to tell us that we might need to check the website next time maybe in the future their website will be updated. Right now the website is apparently not updated.

if I could leave zero stars I would. I do t mind paying their prices if the food and quality is up to par. we had a medium size group shortly ago and the food was to die for. I bragged and built this place up. this past weekend went back with a larger group. I will put it as kind.y as I can for you money, go to McDonald's. we over spent for sub par food.

My family and I went to the botanical gardens while we were in Huntsville Alabama. It had some pretty sites nice flowers good walking trails and very informative little place I would highly recommend it check it out when you're in Huntsville

This is one of my new favorite places in town. I'm no plant nerd, but who doesn't love being out in nature? The Gardens have something for everyone so grab your walking shoes and leave plenty of time to mosey around. The guest center houses a cafe, gift shop, and beautiful works of art. Throughout the grounds you'll find multiple ponds, statues, and activities and special exhibits. On this particular visit, they featured LEGO statues and work from a local artist, Nall. There are a variety of activities for the little ones including climbing and play structures, treasure mining, and a children's garden with nature center. The butterfly garden is truly serene and the turtles are fun to watch tool around. Definitely a must see in HSV. A great way to stretch your legs on your first day!

Beautiful garden with variety of flowers and lots of open space to walk, Picnic. You have to either park in the garden parking lot or Uber there. Don't try to park outside and walk in, that's a long walk. I come here frequently. There's a cute little cafe and beautiful gift shop! The butterfly house is a must visit!

Outrageously priced for what is offered. Scarecrows we're old & not maintained. Staff was not very informative on what is on the grounds to see. BUT....they do tell you multiple times what time they close & send a person out on the grounds to tell you to leave. Overall not impressed!

Beautiful gardens, butterfly house, gazebos - fun day with the family Plenty of places to sit or grounds for a picnic

Came down from Nashville for a day trip. What a beautiful surprise! While it's a rather small garden, you could easily get lost for hours with all the little books and crannies. Plan on making it a routine day trip, I'll look for one or two other things to do either in Huntsville or on the way. Plan on needing at least an hour and a half to see it all.

All of it is beautiful! Especially loved the Butterfly House and Biblical garden! Very well maintained paths. Allow a couple of hours to see it all.

Well done! This place is beautiful, relaxing, and educational. The other side of the garden, past the coy pond has a walking trail through the woods. We had a bunny guide us down this trail, it was awesome! The kids garden area is awesome. My husband and I were so happy to be able to let our 6 year old be a kid without having to tell him not to do something. We got to relax while he played. It was great for all of us! Don't forget to buy the mining gyms bag for the kids ($7 in the gift shop). The butterfly exhibit is magical! It is $100 for a family membership, we will be joining!