ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden

Visit on 6÷4÷16:
If you were have time to do only one thing at the BioPark, skip the zoo and aquarium and come here. The Botanical Garden stands on its own. It can compete with botanic gardens in bigger cities such as the San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park.
Not just fragrant blooms here. Featuring rose gardens, a Japanese garden, spacious lawns on which to picnic, fruit trees and patches, two ponds, a little fantasy area with a dragon and castle, a maze for the kids, a desert section, an insect section, and a train section. Oh, and a wedding gazebo, too. My co-​worker comes here on a regular basis with her husband to de-​stress. She also says that this place is decorated with lights for the holidays. I’d like to come back and see it then.
Great for the kids, but the adults have plenty to entertain themselves as well. As for me, my nose seemed to be in every third flower to enjoy the scent.

We had a great time here with the family! The aquarium was fairly small but I’m not a huge fan of captive animals anyway. The thing about this jewel of a biopark in the ABQ was the gardens. The kids had a BLAST playing among the giant carrots and pumpkin house you can walk inside, giant ants and buzzing bees… It was so much fun. There is a maze and over looks. Fun for all ages. The price is reasonable and the park is clean. So impressed with the jewel in the desert.

Beautiful, wondrous, enchanting — one of the crown jewels of Albuquerque. Great for all ages but if you have kids the fantasy garden is a must. It is truly one of the most unique features in Albuquerque. If you’re reading this review trying to decide if you should go, I say the decision is made — go now, you will not regret it!
Butterfly exhibit is not open until late spring
Japanese Gardens are a sight to see
And to mention they have a new bugarium
Always a treat

Spent the day alone here and made a lot of mental notes to myself:
1) Would it be okay to race a child through the castle kid section? I feel like who-​can-​find-​your-​way-​out-​first would be an excellent game. Hey, it could be fun.
2) The lake area is gorgeous, with a lot of cutoff points where you can just be you in front of the water. So still and peaceful.
3) Those Desert/​Mediterranean climates were AWESOME to go through! You get to see a lot of cool plants, but also experience the heat of the desert and the humidity of the Mediterranean climate. Pretty interesting, even if it wasn’t your focus while going through there.
4) The Japanese Gardens were my favorite. Great waterfall, with different view points to see in and a walkway that loops around the waterway/​waterfall. There were schools of fish everywhere, families walking together, and a painter painting the waterfall. It was a beautiful part of the park.
5) I missed the butterflies :(
Overall, a very peaceful experience if you’re by yourself, and a very fun experience to do if you have a child.

I spent the afternoon here today. The indoor flowers and cacti/​succulents were amazing, the cottonwood forest spectacular, and the aquarium with the large variety of fish was great. I liked the Buggarium best! Some amazing species of bugs I’ve never seen before. They also have a working ant farm you can watch overhead and a large selection of tarantulas.

While I would like to see the BioPark in its natural state some day — you could still see the essence of it everywhere during the astounding River of Lights. I live somewhere with some pretty impressive light shows but this beat anything I’d ever experienced hands down.
Every type of light imaginable was presented — holiday themed, non holiday related, chilhood-​related, basic flora and fauna, and interspersed throughout were some amazing laser light rooms. I’m not quite sure how you could capture that on film, I did try… but showed on this side of this lens was very twilight zone, My friends could breathe on the lasers and make them appear but my friends wouldn’t be in the picture. ‘course they didn’t believe me so I made them come look. It was crazy. There were lasers with beams, dots that bounced around, some very psychedelic rooms and one room in a greenhouse where it was an entire show to music… very relaxing. We attempted to walk the entirety of the park but without a map and a sharpie, I am not sure that is possible. The park had these fantastic curvy pathways that would twist and turn on each other and sometimes lead to some very different parts of the park while others would take you back to where you started.
I won’t forget this place for a long time.

We went a few days ago and attended the river of lights. The lights and how they were set up was AMAZING! Santa was there for the kids to see and take free photos with him, although it was a little dark so you will need a camera with a good flash. It was extremely busy and that made it pretty difficult to get my stroller though the small paths some of which were dirt. Also it was difficult to find our way with a sign literally saying ‘this way’ and ‘that way’ as our options since we were trying to find our way to family we got separated from. All in all my 2 year old did okay and enjoyed looking everywhere. The caroling groups were great. 4.00 for a hot chocolate powder drink is a little much. I will go back but hopefully next year they figure something out for direction :)

This place is awesome. We visited from AZ and this is easily one of the best light displays that i have seen! Very reasonably priced! Check it out!

What a beautiful show. Too bad we were in the middle of a snow storm. Cold but well worth it.

I have grown to love this place. I remembered when I first moved to ABQ. and went to the Bio Park for the first time. My first impression was this place is nice, but it could be bigger and better. Now it has surpassed what I thought it could be and is still growing. I love the addition of the train connecting it to the zoo and butterfly pavilion. During the holiday season they display the «River of Lights» and just like the gardens it too is continually growing and changing each year. I look forward to seeing what other improvements will take place at the Botanic Garden and River of Lights in years to come.

Haven of picnic grassy spots, trees, plants, flowers, happy people and families. Very special spot. Worth buying a membership if you go more than a few times a year.

WOW.. . who would have suspected this to be such an awesome garden! This place is huge, and extremely well laid out. We walked through as many of the various ‘regions’ as we had time for. The Japanese gardens are a must see. We were there for the feeding of the Koi fish which was fun.

Great place. One ticket price gets you the aquarium also. Plenty of trees to keep you cool. Lots of variety to keep you interested. One of the best arboretums we have visited. Aquarium was ok but all well worth the visit.

My husband and I visited the ABQ Biopark on a recent road trip and we loved it! For $ 12 (out of state admission) we were able to visit the botanical gardens and aquarium. Both are very good. The gardens were beautiful and the design of the landscaping was very interesting. We especially liked the model train garden and butterfly exhibit. So much to see and we had just enough time to check out the aquarium which had awesome jellyfish. Definitely check it out if you are ever in Albuquerque.

I go every year to the Botanic Garden if not twice. I go during the summer or fall to look at the beautiful gardens and in the winter with the lights that light up at night. It’s a must see if you live in New Mexico.

Quite possibly my favorite place in Albuquerque. The gardens are so beautiful and I love to visit in each season to see how the gardens change throughout the year. The kids love the children’s garden, it’s such a great outing for the whole family. The River of Lights is a must see during the holidays.

Great for kids, for sure.
I really enjoyed the wide range of activities offered. At most botanic gardens, I end up pretty bored after a short time. Not here! Would definitely visit again.

This place is gorgeous! We had our wedding here and the wedding coordinator (Rene) for the Gardens was amazing. I highly recommend this place for your dream wedding!

We absolutely love the botanical gardens, it’s so much more than JUST gardens.
There is so much to explore my children can spend hours here and still they want to return time after time for me thats a winner…
We often pack up a picnic and head here just to sit on the lush green grass and enjoy the sunshine having a membership is a must in my opinion because we never have to feel like we need to spend the whole day and get our $$$$ worth, we can come eat a picnic chill for an hour and leave. The membership also includes the aquarium & ABQ zoo… and for a fee you can ride the train from the gardens to the Zoo… the aquarium is conveniently located next to the gardens.
For those who dont want to bring there own food you can purchase beverages and food items just outside of the entrance to the gardens and there are table and chairs so there are several options to choose from in regards to where you sit & eat.
This place is a keeper, we never get bored of it.

We have been here twice, this review this time is for the River Of Lights at Christmas time 2014.
We live in Arizona, but if we lived in New Mexico, we would defiantly come to ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden more often. So much to do and see!
They have adult hot chocolate, beer, hot chocolate, soup, churros, and other snacks for sale set up everywhere in the park. Not sure who makes it, but there is little loaves of gingerbread, pumpkin bread, i want to say we paid like $ 4. Small enough just for my Alex to eat all by himself. They didn’t have gluten free, but they did have homemade rice crispy treats dipped in chocolate and crushed candy cane, that’s what i got, was really good.
General Admission: November 29, 2014 — January 3, 2015 ($ 12 for adults and $ 6 for kids. Kids under 3 are free).
Check out some of my pics, we really had a good time and will be back.

We love going here year round. Our 14 month old loves the open space to run around and to watch the toy trains. Other highlights include: the rose garden, concerts in the summer, River of Lights, Japanese Garden, farm with a few animals to see, vineyard, and desert gardens. I was initially surprised with how big the bio park is. Come ready to walk. A stroller is a good idea. It’s a great place for a picnic lunch.
We recently went to the River of Lights, which was great. I was worried about it being busy so we went on a Sunday night and it wasn’t bad. We bought our tickets online ahead of time to skip the line — you need print access to do this. They have adult hot chocolate, beer, hot chocolate, soup, churros, and other snacks for sale. There is also a park and ride. Tickets are $ 12 for an adult. Kids under 3 are free. I don’t remember the kid price.

Um, BUT CAN I LIVE HERE!!!
The Botanical Garden: The last stop on my trip while in Albuquerque. Also the place that cemented my long adoration for the Southwest. You get it all here: Romance, beauty, history, nature! There are pathways that delicately swerve around the garden, so colorful, so full of life.
You may feel like a child playing in this abundant, sometimes sequestered space. You may feel like a grown up seeking answers in the flying butterflies around you. This is the corniest depiction you will read, but I promise you: The realest!
I can just close my eyes and go back to this open place, where you can walk for a while and find something new. Whether it was the trains passing you, the pond, the tall trees above you, or the climate controlled green houses, this is a place that makes goodness for all the badness in this world.
Perfect as a family, for a date, for a creative, or just a tourist passing through. Whatever you or U2 have still been looking for… is here, in the Rio Grande Botanic Garden. Just breathtaking!

A really relaxing way to enjoy some greenery on a nice sunny and cool day in the otherwise mostly drab fauna of the Albuquerque region. The Japanese Zen garden was on the opposite side of the garden entrance but was worth the short walk there. We went in early October, so it looked like most of the flowers were out of season and there was a bit of cleanup and construction going on which made it a bit distracting.

Trees. What a concept.
I’ve never understood why trees never caught on in this metro. You break down the basics and it’s more than a little obvious that trees are the solution: endless sunny high desert days, dirt, waining water, what do you have? Nothing, unless you plant trees. I saw a bumper sticker the other day that read «Trees are the answer». That about says it all in the southwest. You know what we could all use a little more of? Shade.
The Botanic Garden (s) are flooded with trees, it owns the best damn grassy plot in the city (including Roosevelt Park, which is awesome but exceedingly seedy), and there’s so, so much more. This place is absolutely stellar for kids. There’s a huge castle/​maze replete with a giant pumpkin, a log slide, enormous sculptured mushrooms and insects, a big sandbox, and that’s just the beginning. The miniature railroad, maintained by volunteers, captivates kids endlessly, no promises on when it will operate, however. Butterfly pavilion? Bliss. Summertime only. The dragonfly pond seems vacant, but look closer, there’s plenty to find underneath the water. The duck pond is serene, lovely.
I feel like a paid commercial, here. «But wait, there’s so much more!»
And there is. Two greenhouse buildings hosting southwestern plants and flowers, a break from the heat. The Japanese garden holds its own, not Portlandia, but very Zen, a total gem in ABQ. And then there’s the Farm. Horses, cows, goats, lamb, an apple orchard, there’s so much to discover. As much as I enjoy the aquarium, the Garden is worth the price of admission and more.
Race through the maze with your kid. Get married here. Enjoy a picnic on the grass with your date. Er, try that in reverse.

I wasn’t expecting much out of the Rio Grande Botanic Garden. I didn’t think it would be awful or anything, just a lot smaller and mostly desert plant-​life.
I entered RGBG and nodded my head while saying, «Ok, I see what they did there with the dragon. Good job, RGBG.» I wasn’t being snooty, I just thought the awesome dragon encased in vines that were being smartly groomed would be the extent to any marvel I had at this botanical garden. I live in a desert, I’ve seen cacti and tumbleweeds before… I just thought what else could they possible have here that’s in the exact same climate as El Paso, although Howie K and his amazing family (henceforth known as the inKredibles — exactly like the Incredibles minus the strange superpowers, but you could definitely sit on a trike and wait for something amazing to happen around them) did let us know that RGBG would take more time than the aquarium so combining the two would make the price of admission totally worth it even if I was less than impressed by the aquarium. And yes, if you do the garden right it takes you an hour or more. The inKredibles also told me that Japanese Garden inside RGBG is pretty fascinating stuff.
We started the trek through the Spanish Garden (the actual name escape’s me). And just for the record, it was March. There’s this fountain as you walk in with some benches around. We have something similar at the zoo in EP so I was none too impressed. What I walked into behind the doors blew my mind. I don’t even know what to call it because the only thing that comes to mind is a gazebo… but it’s a far cry from a gazebo. Just know that when I get married, I am getting married here… I don’t care if they don’t allow it, I will have a flash mob wedding. I have no shame!
I repeated, «Wow» about 20 times because no other words came to mind. Then we found ourselves on the outside walking on a path that had flower beds placed strategically and a couple of different plants. Okay, okay… I think they created this break because if another garden attraction was here my heart would’ve fallen out of my butt (I’m just trying to say my body would cease to function because the amazingness would’ve been overwhelming).
Walking up to the greenhouse I could see the pond… it was a hard decision. Pond or greenhouse? Pond or greenhouse? Pond or greenhouse. Okay greenhouse. There’s two… one’s desert life (heads up, desert plants don’t always smell the best) and the other jungle insanity. Maybe not insanity, but it was the most amazing thing I had seen in a desert. So far.
There’s a lot of interactive learning going on to that I’m going to skip over. It’s cool, fun and interesting, but this is already a hella long review. Also during our visit there was some construction going on, but didn’t subtract from the trip at all.
The Japanese Garden! We finally arrived. I almost missed the fact that the entrance is actually a zen garden. If I could make any improvement (actually this would be the opposite of an improvement, but it would just be a lot of fun for me) it would be the addition of rakes for people to make designs in the pebbles… but their checkered pattern was nice too… I guess (no sarcasm, it really was). The Japanese Garden is huge and at it’s center is a koi pond. A sweet lady taught me a lot that day, but most importantly always bring Cheerios to a koi pond. Those fish go crazy for those sweet O’s…like hundreds of fish swarmed in front of us. And I am currently trying to figure out how to grow a bamboo hallway similar to RGBG outside my door without my apartment complex evicting me.
Making our way back had just as many amazing views. We finished off in the Fantasy Castle which is still cool even for adults.
I’m totally coming back. We missed out on a couple of things like the Butterfly Pavilion (which I will enjoy from the outside) and the Dragonfly Pond. Next time. And this place is just so damn lush it’s mind-​boggling! In a good way. 100% worth a four hour drive!