I love the botanical gardens! If you like desert plants/want to learn more about our desert, you really should visit the DBG! I really enjoyed wandering around the whole place (the trails are all pretty short), and taking my time to read placards, and then trying to identify plants as I walked further through the gardens! When we visited, there were also some tables set up for people to ask gardening questions, which I think is awesome! Be sure to check out the pollinator garden area, and stop to see some hummingbirds if you're not from around here! I also think this would be a great place to take kids, as previously mentioned, the trails are pretty short, and they have some stuff I know I would have loved as a kid, like the butterfly pavilion. If you're reading this before May 11, 2025, check out the orchid fever exhibit! I would say it's about 60% phalenopsis orchids and 40% other types, so if you are new to orchids, it's a great opportunity to see something more than your standard fare! If you have a ton of experience with orchids, you might not see anything new, but I still think it's worth a visit as it is a rather visually stunning exhibition, and there are a lot of orchids interspersed with succulents and some cactus bones. Also there is a small section about conservation work being done for a terrestrial orchid local to AZ, which I thought was very cool! As for the logistics: for safety, as it's warming up out here, be sure to bring a water bottle and sun protection (hat and sunscreen at the very least!). They do have several water filling stations so be on the lookout for those when you visit! Parking can get a little crowded, but there is a lot of overflow parking, just know you may have a little walk to and from the gardens themselves. I really would recommend just buying tickets online, as there isn't a wait to get in (someone scans your tickets), but there is a wait to buy tickets... also if you really want to visit the restaurant, I would look into reservations (I'm not sure exactly what their procedures are on that), as when we went last year, they were all full. This time however, it looked like they were seating people pretty quick. There are definitely restaurants within a 10 min drive, so I think this is only necessary if you know you will have people who want/need to eat immediately. Tl;dr a great place to visit and learn about desert plants and animals. Also check out the orchid fever exhibit before may 11, 2025, and don't forget to bring water and sun protection when you visit!