UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden

Vibrantly thriving in Davis, California is the beautiful arboretum that is located on the University Campus, open to the public and FREE! It is a magnificent 100+ acres of gardens that were designed and function as a land and habitat protection site. The University of California Davis was founded and established as an agricultural state school, so you can imagine the importance of sustainability and land stewardship it holds. The Arboretum stands true to the school’s founding passions.

The campus itself is a beautiful reflection of the over one-hundred-year-old institution. Its beautifully aged architecture and campus grounds give enough reason to visit, but the Arboretum and Public Garden give that additional enticement.

The arboretum is a 3.5-mile loop around the pathed waterway with over 20 regional & exotic transplanted landscapes to explore. It is lush, sprawling with color, and tended to with care. As you walk the trails, you will most likely see students studying and staff working to maintain the landscapes. You will see wildlife freely living and enjoying this habitat. Keep your eyes open for ducks, herons, turtles, various flying and water species, and even a couple of alpacas! (I love to walk through these kinds of parks and reserves with my binoculars, its wonderful seeing all the lovely birds and their unique details up-close.) You will have paved paths to explore, bridges to cross over, lush grass to sprawl-out a blanket for a relaxing picnic, and plenty of beautiful plant life to admire and learn about.

Parking, Info, & Arboretum Loop Map

You can park on campus for $15 all day but will need to download the AMP Park app. For more info click HERE. However, If you think 2 hours will be plenty, may I suggest parking at the Davis Commons Shopping Center, located at 500 First Street. They offer free 2-hour parking to patrons. (So be sure to grab a Boba Tea or a bite before or after your visit) From here you can enter the arboretum and GATEway garden and then meander happily along the trail. You will reach one of my favorite spots shortly from this end, Redwood Grove. There are picnic tables in the grove, along the waterway too! For a downloadable map of the Arboretum and Public Garden click HERE or proceed to Arboretum Visitor Map.

To picnic or not to picnic?

If you decide not to pack in a picnic, there are various eateries on campus including Scrubs Cafe which is accessible along the trail loop. They serve Pete’s Coffee and light bites 8 am – 2 pm. As well as the cafe grille which is open from 11:30 am – 2:00 pm. You can find them on the map. This is my place to stop on campus for a coffee or bite, because it has less traffic, and is near the farm animals, and the nursery where you can purchase their plants to take home. I truly love this garden, and it is yet, another example of the beauty that is California ♥

If you’d like to read about another Northern California garden I love, see my blog: A Visit to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Japanese Tea Garden, and do leave a comment about your favorite park, garden, or arboretum. I am always seeking a new adventure and would love to hear about yours!

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