east texas arboretum & botanical society

We've been here quite a few times and always enjoy walking the grounds and checking out the scenery. The East Texas Arboretum is definitely a must stop if you have a few hours to spend strolling about in East Texas.

We stopped by the East Texas Arboretum & Botanical Society travelling through Athens. It was a nice break. There are a nice variety of things to see, ponds, plants, old farming equipment. It's a small arboretum and only takes about 20 minutes to walk through.

We went to a wedding there and it was beautiful. The grounds were nice and the ammenities worked so well for the beautiful wedding.

I had read several reviews on Trip Advisor that made this seem much more interesting than we found it. There was no one else there, the flowers were drooping and the beds needed weeding. The museum building looked very tired, and there wasn't a whole lot of information, or anyone there to answer questions. It just seemed very tired. Even the walking trails had small trees and brush fallen on then, making us wonder when they were last visited. It was OK if you have absolutely nothing else to do.

I was very impressed with this place. I had visions of it being very small but was pleasantly surprised. They have beautiful gardens, some with themes and great trails you can hike. I found myself spending most of the day there. It is a great place to just take your time and relax. So many beautiful things to see. The volunteers that maintain these gardens are so dedicated its an absolute gem.