west of the lake gardens

When I ride my bicycle South from Two Rivers along the Mariner's Trail (running parallel to Memorial Drive,) these gardens are a great place to stop and take a break, rehydrate, and enjoy the beautiful flowers and cool lake breezes.And as everyone else has said, the gardens ARE lovely. And entry IS free. And it's a private foundation that pays for it all, so I suppose any reasonable person should be prepared to accept the (at times what seem) overzealous staff. By which, I mean, the staff seem to watch with eagle eyes and are prepared to instantly swoop down on anyone that might conceivably do something that they don't like. A great example would be the instant direction to park bicycles at the provided racks. Really nothing wrong with this (again, it's THEIR property, so their rules and all,) but it does feel a bit like being in 4th grade again...;-)That said, I really appreciate the fine job that the staff does in making this lovely resource available to the public. I look forward to visiting each time that I "Ride the Drive."

Located right on Lake Michigan,an ABSOLUTELY beautiful garden superbly kept by extremely wonderful people ..... A wonderful place to get out of the rat race for a hour or two and just enjoy God's great creation.... The story behind the gardens a special bonus....

West of the lake gardens is located along the Mariners bike trail. It is so nice to have this beautiful place where people can stop and view the beautiful flowers. There also is a breathtaking view of lake Michigan from the grounds. My grandson loves the very well maintained fish pond. Parking is also available for buses.

I wouldn't make a special trip just to see the gardens, but if you are in the area, take 30 minutes to an hour to stroll the grounds and enjoy the flowers. I think we enjoyed the monarch butterflies as much as the gardens - a special treat this time of year! Did I mention that there is no charge to visit?

The gardens in early September are so beautiful and colorful (with the sound of breaking waves from the lake in the background), I felt like I was in some of Hawaii's best ocean-side gardens. OK...the greenery was not tropical, but amazingly, the colors of the gardens were just as brilliant and beautiful.I was so impressed in the layout of these gardens. There are many vistas with many different themes within possibly 6 or 7 acres of prime lakefront land.Amazingly, there is no charge to see these gardens. All funding for these wonderful gardens is from a private source.To get to this place... drive North-East from Manitowoc toward Two Rivers along the lake shore. You will see a Dairy Queen to the left. Slow down and look for the sign and green iron gates on the lake shore side. Drive in and park near the white "modern" estate. Look for the carport and pick up a free guide. This "Self-guided tour" will explain the best way to experience the gardens. Be sure to read all about the history of this place.If you need to use the restroom, don't be afraid to use the restrooms here...they are exceptionally clean, roomy and comfortable.If you have been to Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, or Dow Gardens in Midland, Michigan... these gardens are equally well kept and scenic, but the free admission to these gardens make this place the best of all.

The flowers and grounds were beautiful, lots of variety, small pond with waterfall. Groundskeepers were available for questions and were quite knowledgeable. Located right next to Lake Michigan, the views were wonderful. There is no charge for admission.

We discovered this amazing garden quite by accident and were overjoyed to spend a very peaceful afternoon admiring and photographing the lovely landscape. The views of the lake were outstanding, the flowers phenomenal and the landscape design to be envied. Paul was in charge of the gardens that day and was so hospitable in sharing his knowledge of the history of the West Family and the development and upkeep of this garden. If you are in the Manitowoc area, this is a must see!

Driving past the property, you would never guess what beautiful gardens exist inside the fence. My husband and recently stopped at the gardens with 9 other people and had a special treat - the man in charge of the gardens spent 1/2 hour with us, explaining how the gardens came into being and answered our questions. It made us appreciate the impeccable property even more! Amazingly, there is no admission fee and visitors are allowed to freely explore the grounds which, at the time of our visit, were ablaze in color. Besides for pools, fountains, and various gardens we even had the opportunity to watch a bald eagle come swooping in over the gardens from Lake Michigan. The gardens are supported by a foundation and donations are not accepted. Visitors need to be aware that wedding, graduation and family portraits are not allowed on the property - no exceptions! There is a small parking area on the grounds, a bike rack (the gardens are on the bike trail that stretches between Manitowoc and Two Rivers), and rest rooms.

We found this lovely attraction by chance and were so thrilled that we did. The flowers and landscaping are spectacular. And the view onto Lake Michigan is amazing. A family purchased this home and acreage in the 1930's and Mrs. West made it into what it is today. They have a foundation that funds it's existence for all of us to enjoy.Bathroom facilities are excellent and were added just a few years ago in the previous garage. There are brochures for a self-guided tour. Don't miss this piece of Eden.

Just heard about this place last year. We went twice and took our parents along. We all thought this place was very nice and really well kept up. The flowers are awesome. They really do a great job, and there is no admission fee:)

What a special place this is! I go there several times a year and never tire of it. Everything is so lovely and immaculate! The staff does an excellent job! So many flowers, so many colors, and Lake Michigan as a back drop is stunning!

Been here a few times and just gorgeous every time ...a must see when you visit Manitowoc if you love flowers...the water...or koi!

I love the West Gardens and stop there every few weeks in the summer. The flowers are always growing which makes the garden look different. The have added several new things in the last few years. It is so well kept it is hard to believe. I visit pubic gardens when ever I can and this is a true gem.

This was a wonderful garden. While visiting one of the local shops and talking to the owner about being visitors in town, she suggested that we take the time to see the West of the Lake Gardens. What a pleasant surprise. We were there in early October, yet the roses and many of the flowers were still in bloom. There is no charge, plenty of room to park although it was not crowded...only one other couple was there. You just simply stroll around the grounds and enjoy the flowers, the butterflies and the sound of the waves rolling onto the shores of Lake Michigan. There was a nice sitting area and another area with a small pond with goldfish. Wish we could have stayed longer but we had to catch the ferry. Don't miss this treasure.

What a great place! Over 6 acres of lovely flowers right on Lake Michigan. Open Mothers' Day to first frost. No admission fee. They don't advertise so I was unaware all the times I've been by there. A waitress at Beernsten's told us about the place. Visited first week of October and the gardens were full of monarch butterflies! Inviting seating scattered about for lake and flower bed viewing. Definitely worth the visit. Ask the grounds staff about the history.