Overland Park, Kansas — Explore the Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

Overland Park, Kansas, is the second most populous city in Kansas and it shows. Driving any of the main thoroughfares, you’ll see the explosive growth of Johnson County in its high-rises, shopping centers, and (frankly) crowded streets. It’s easy to see that Overland Park is Kansas City’s largest suburb with over 170,000 residents.

Approximately ten miles south of the Overland Park Convention Center is an oasis from all the traffic and downtown noise. I discovered it by accident when driving to Louisburg, Kansas, in an area that I had thought was South Olathe. [I was all, “Is Siri lost again?”] The Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is a 300-acre arboretum and garden located in a remote area of U.S. Highway 69.

A six-mile hiking trail winds its way through the park and crosses Wolf Creek. A sculpture garden has 18 permanent sculptures with an additional 12 on display throughout the gardens. One of the most relaxing parts is their botanical gardens. A lakeside amphitheater beside Margaret’s Pond offers views of several gardens and is a relaxing place to sit and relax.

Best of all? Tuesdays are free.

Here are recent photos that I took at the Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. As a nature enthusiast, it was a great break from cars and city lights. Unfortunately, I’m still learning about flowers and so I can’t label many of these. Feel free to provide suggestions!