Garvan Woodland Gardens — Attraction in Hot Springs

We loved the 2024 holiday lights. We went Christmas Eve Eve. I knew it would be busy but the parking/getting into to the entrance was at a totally different level of a lack of organization. Ya’ll, I loathe bad reviews so I just hope this can shed some light so next year people can prepare or avoid Christmas week at all costs like we should have 😆 So they had us rerouted through side streets and neighborhoods with traffic stopped for several blocks. We waited for 20-25 minutes—at this time they were not letting any cars move so who knows how many miles of cars were pilling up behind us waiting to get in! We finally pulled out & went around as there was not any signage as to WHY we were waiting and everyone had to pee. (Yes I know, this was a scrooge thing to do. But you gotta do what ya gotta do when you’ve listener to a toddler scream he has to pee for 20 minutes. And of course we can’t pee in someone’s yard 😬) Lo and behold there was not enough parking which means that Garvan Gardens sold WAY too many tickets online for parking spaces. For one—this is super unethical business. And two—those poor people who live in the neighborhoods who are blocked in!! Next year, I hope that Garvan Gardens sells tickets with time slots to help manage the traffic or at least cut way down on how many is sold. Our tickets said come anywhere from 4-9 so apparently that is not working out. Should be selling them 4-6P, 6-8P, 8-10P or something like that. Overall, we DID have a great time. But until the parking is better managed we will probably just drive around neighborhoods to see...

Buy tickets on the website for cheaper tickets. Beautiful, huge garden! The tulips were absolutely stunning! Definitely go see it in the spring when the tulips and Easter lilies are in full bloom! There is a walk up restaurant in the garden. The restaurant was in the process of closing when we walked up there and still served us. Great restaurant staff! However, when walking into the gift shop the lady behind the counter was pretty rude to the customers and argumentative. The chapel closes at least 15-30 minutes early so if you plan on seeing that make sure you get there in plenty of time. If not, the guard will very rudely kick you out. You won't be able to stay on the path either to just get a picture. He will follow you to the exit rope. I'm glad the chapel and the gift shop were the last things we saw because if I had experienced all of those attitudes when I first walked in then I would have demanded a full refund for all 5 of us. So overall a beautiful place, the kids playground has much to be desired. It's hard to believe they spent that amount of money for a rope section and wood structure that no one can really play in. Pretty but a waste of space and money. The staff needs a Dale Carnage course on how to communicate...

I've never been to Garvan Gardens without seeing something of interest and beauty that I hadn't spotted on my last visit to the gardens. Since so many of the areas of the extensive gardens are seasonally different, a visit in springtime will show you beautiful flowers and wooded areas that are different from what you'll find when you visit those very same areas in fall.

One thing I appreciate about the gardens is that different sites are well-marked with plaques, and you're offered a guide to the entire grounds when you pay your entrance fee, and that helps you track what you're seeing as you walk along the paths winding through the gardens.

The Anthony Chapel is impressive, and the main building or visitor center is also worth a visit due to its constantly changing displays that sometimes feature cut flowers from the gardens, as well as for the small gift shop.

Be prepared to walk and walk if you want to see the grounds in their entirety, and be forewarned that some of the walking involves uphill and downhill climbing. Staff are generally helpful and courteous, though, alas, not uniformly so. The entrance fee has also gotten more and more hefty over the years I've made visits to Garvan Gardens — $25 per adult when I went...