Missouri Botanical Garden

Guide to Driving the Great River Road

"I wandered the Missouri Botanical Garden and appreciated its curated plantings and tranquil spaces." - Katy Spratte Joyce Katy Spratte Joyce Katy Spratte Joyce is a food, business, and travel writer based in Omaha, Nebraska. Her work has appeared in a variety of print and digital outlets, including Lonely Planet, Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy, Hemispheres, Condé Nast Traveler, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

"Founded in 1859, this 79-acre oasis is the nation’s oldest continuously operating botanical garden and a National Historic Landmark. Built by Henry Shaw, whose estate still sits on the grounds, the garden boasts one of the world’s largest collections of rare and endangered orchids, as well as more than 48,000 trees, including a few specimens that date back to the 19th century. Also on-site are Japanese, Chinese, English Woodland, and Ottoman gardens, plus a Victorian district with a labyrinthine maze. After touring the grounds, guests can get their hands dirty with cooking and gardening classes, while senior citizens and those with special needs can take part in a therapeutic horticultural program that provides stimulating nature-based activities."

America’s oldest major botanical garden blends serious science with serene strolls. Wander the rainforest inside the Climatron and Seiwa‑en, one of North America’s largest Japanese gardens. Featured by national travel editors and adored by locals year‑round.