The Holden Arboretum

I’m not always a fan of walking around to look at plants. However, the new canopy walk and Emergent tower that just opened a few months ago are really cool! You get opportunities to see nature from a new vantage point.
The canopy walk is a series of suspension bridges in, well, the canopy of the tree. The Emergent tower is even better. You climbing 200 and some stairs to get on top of the trees. From the platform at the top you can see all the way to Lake Erie and for miles in every direction. A really fun place to take the kids for an afternoon.
Fun fact — if you have a membership to the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, you get into the Arboretum, canopy walk, and Emergent tower for free!

Enjoyed the Emergent Tower. 202 steps = 12 stories. The view is amazing. On the top you can feel the sway, which is neat, and a bit scary. The Canopy Walk was nice as we walked high in the trees over the suspension bridges. The Walk is good for some people with disabilities. Give it a try.

ATTENTION ALL DOG LOVERS: Woofstock is an event Sadie and I have been attending for the past 4 years. It takes place at the Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, OH. Out of towners can make dog-​friendly hotel arrangements by calling or emailing from the info below. It’s a great fun time for Sadie as well as myself. Hundreds of doggies show up for a guided walk along the beautiful trails, and then there are games, contests, a blessing and treats, of course. Plenty of new products on display for pets. The date is Sunday, September 21. For more info call (440) 338‑4819. Or email
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Holden Arboretum is beautiful, well thought out and well designed. I went with a group and we hiked/​walked about 4 miles on a Saturday.
There’s a variety of trails with differing difficulties and features. Some out in the open and some under tree cover (if you want to avoid the sun). Whether you just want to amble through the gardens and park your butt on a bench in front of a pond, or you want a sweat inducing hike through streams and steep slopes (see: Stebbins Gulch), they offer something for everyone.
Plenty of ponds and streams. There is a lot of (unobtrusive) signage throughout so you can identify the species of trees and flowers. They offer classes and a variety of events for all ages.
With the exception of a few designated areas, you can take your pooch along with you (if you’re cool with stopping every 15 feet so they can pee on things, of course).
Holden Arboretum is a 45 drive from my home, so it’s not somewhere I’d visit regularly, but I would love to return in each the spring, summer and fall. A great place for photographers as there’s so many different vistas.
Be prepared to pay for your ticket (s) at the gate while you’re still in your vehicle (before you park).
Holden Arboretum is lovely and peaceful. I think (most) kids would enjoy it as well. Definitely worth checking out!

Growing up in Southern California has its perks, but one of the downside is that we don’t get to see very much green. That’s why I love Holden Arboretum! It’s a great place to appreciate all the greenery offered by mother nature :) The entrance fee is $ 6 per person but it’s worth it because you can definitely make a full-​day trip out of one visit. There are a lot of hiking trails, picnic areas, and even butterfly houses! It’s also a great place for practicing your photography skills or for doing photo shoots with friends!
Two thumbs up for Holden! :)

True, this is a nature lover’s paradise. Very cool to drive through when you need to cut across the backwoods of Kirtland, Lake County. But there lies a hidden danger. Some might have heard of this evil element prowling in the dilapidated barns and tangled tree limbs. They are melonheads.
They were formerly orphans who were experimented on by an evil mad scientist. After burning him and his lab down, these mutants escaped into the woods. Now these swollen-​cranium cretins lay in wait for unsuspecting hikers or frisky teenagers. Personally, i have never been attacked by one. But i swear i’ve seen a few lurking on the side of the road. They can run extremely fast and have been known to chase cars.
So, sure, go look at some trees and flowers. But don’t say i didn’t warn you.

We visited the lovely Holden Arboretum in ⁸⁄₀₅ and really enjoyed it. First we took a (volunteer)-guided tram tour for a nominal fee (reservations are recommended) — and later we took a tour of the Lantern Court gardens (reservations are necessary and there’s a fee), which was a real learning experience and our (volunteer) guide provided a fascinating amount of information.
The Holden Arboretum is located about 30 minutes east of Cleveland and very near I-​90.

Beautiful location. Very relaxing and peaceful for a drive or stroll through fields and flowers. Not so much landscaped, more like the metro parks with a wild feel.

Thriving and thrilling on Cleveland’s east side suburbs is this 3,500 acre legacy from the estate of Archibold Holden, a mining executive who wanted to build something to memorialize his daughter. His tribute to her became a beautiful gift to Cleveland. This fantastic privately run organization maintains beautiful themed gardens, including a butterfly garden, with a prime mission being to present to the public plants specifically suited to Cleveland’s balmy summers, crisp autumns, ferocious winters, and buoyant springs. A stroll or a drive through this beautiful breathing living space will make you forget all about the slush, the rain, the humidty, or the tedium of work and worry.