This smaller 14 acre botanical garden is well off the beaten path. With admission at $5 it is an inexpensive and enjoyable way to spend about 90 minutes or so. Some of the gardens are absolutely beautiful; others are still in a state of development. They were installing a new garden during my visit. The children's garden is exceptional. The gift shop and snack bar were not open on my weekday visit; not sure if they are only open on weekends or if they are at the whim of the volunteers that show up. The facility is perhaps about 30% wheelchair accessible. The gardens are built on a hillside so there are some steep pathways and some paths not designed for accessibility. Truly worthy of the hidden gem designation, as I have been living in SoCal all my life and visiting the area and have never heard of the place until this week.

Those who refer to this garden as a hidden gem are right on. It is a beautiful peaceful place worth exploring. The sculptures that seem to pop out as you walk around are delightful, to say nothing of the views of the valley it provides.

We went on a Saturday and didn’t have crowds of people!! We spent a good amount of time and didn’t even cover everything! They have turtles that you can feed from food at the garden store. The children’s area is so fun! And they even have a free little library hidden inside Alice’s tea room in the children’s area! Would highly recommend this place!

A TRANQUIL GET AWAYWe visited the Alta Vista Botanical Gardens on Mother's Day 2025 for about an hour and a half. It's a nice place to stroll and get away from the hustle and bustle and see some of what Mother Nature has to offer. (Although you can still hear some nearby traffic). There were only a few other parties of visitors on the day we went. After living in San Diego for almost 40 years, it was a new place to visit for both of us. ENTRY FEE FOR NON-MEMBERSThe man on the pay station desk was very welcoming, jolly and enthusiastic. He gave us a map and explained a few of the 'must sees'. Entry is $5 for non-members and includes parking. After a certain hour, the attendant is no longer there and payment is on the honor system by cash or QR code electronic payment. GARDENS WITHIN THE GARDENThe garden is a little rough and tumble, but offers different areas including a zen garden, children's garden, a herb garden, a few ponds and a variety of shrubs, trees, flowers and cacti. Do not expect a highly groomed, manicured garden! It has several picnic areas, including a couple of covered gazebos, picnic benches and table and chairs. There are several dinosaur art features, not unlike those you see in Borrego Springs. I would have liked to have seen more informational boards about the trees, flowers and shrubs that I was looking at. COME PREPARED TO WALK IN THE SUNBe prepared to wear good shoes as not all paths are paved. Also, it's a good idea to wear a hat or bring a parasol to protect yourself from the sun. There is shade in some places. EVENT VENUEThe gardens offer wedding and event facilities. Check their web site for details. EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOPThere's a small gift shop, but it was closed by the time we got to it around 4:20pm. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITYAccording to their web site, the gardens are always looking for volunteers. WHEN IN VISTA...The Botanical Gardens are located at Brengle Terrace Park near the Moonlight Amphitheater, so if you're in the area, drop by and take a stroll through. I recommend a 1-2 hours for your visit. If you found this review useful, please click the thumbs-up button.

Beautiful grounds and well maintained trails. Nice and quiet with great views. Easily worth the $5 admission fee. I was very impressed.