The Berkeley Botanical Garden: A Vision of Eden Just Around the Corner

Tucked away in the idyllic Northern California countryside, our hotel tends to attract guests with a refined appreciation for natural beauty. If you’re as enchanted as we are by the sylvan scene of the hotel itself, you’ll be delighted to learn that the Lafayette Park Hotel is just a quick 20-minute drive from one of North America’s most impressive botanical gardens. The University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley encompasses 34 breathtaking acres bedecked with some 10,000 unique varieties of flora from all over the globe. Our favorite section of the UC Botanical Garden is probably the Stephen T. Mather Redwood Grove, where majestic sequoia trees planted over eighty years ago tower high to the heavens (N.B., you should call ahead to make sure the Redwood Grove is open on the day you intend to visit, as it is often booked for weddings and other private events). The Mediterranean collection, which covers Northern Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, and parts of the Middle East, is particularly stunning as well. Wander the gardens at your leisure, or opt instead for one of the guided tours offered year-round on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 1:30 P.M.

Address: 200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley, CA 94720-5045