Living in Cleveland is truly a treat—there’s culture, family-friendly fun, and a million incredible places to eat. However, it’s easy to feel stuck in a rut when you call this pretty place home. Traffic, shopping, and even dining can feel mundane when you’ve been seeing the same landscape for days on end. It’s refreshing to switch things up with a day trip, and there’s one garden in Wooster that’s ideal for a quick visit. Are you ready to awaken your imagination? Adventure is just one slide away.
Wooster, though only a short drive from Cleveland, can feel worlds away.
Friends of Secrest Arboretum/Facebook Located 50 miles outside of Cleveland, Wooster can feel far removed from city life. And, indeed, it is; its 16-square-mile landscape boasts a mere 26,500 residents. However, this quaint community is full of culture and wonder, making it a worthy day trip for Clevelanders from all walks of life.
One of the many hidden gems in Wooster is the Secrest Arboretum gardens. They’re some of the loveliest in this part of Ohio.
Andrea B/TripAdvisor
Friends of Secrest Arboretum/Facebook Located on the campus of the Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center, the Secrest Arboretum is a true delight. This 110-acre outdoor laboratory is full of adventure, and its flawlessly manicured landscape delights visitors of all ages.
It also hides one spectacular hillside slide that will awaken your inner child.
Friends of Secrest Arboretum/Facebook Imagine sliding into a wonderland with more than 2,500 varieties of plants in every color of the rainbow. You’ll feel one with Mother Earth as you zip down the slide and into a darling garden.
This creative feature is just one of many that add visual texture to a lush landscape.
Friends of Secrest Arboretum/Facebook
Andrea B/TripAdvisor You’ll find stonework, paved walkways, and even giant frogs and tortoises awaiting your visit. This quirky additions add interest to the garden and captivate the imaginations of children and adults alike.
This enchanting outdoor retreat is open daily from dawn to dusk, but its gardens are understandably the most vibrant during the summer months.
Friends of Secrest Arboretum/Facebook This site is truly enchanting in each season, but the outdoor laboratory is most striking in the spring and summer when the flowering plants are in bloom. However, its meadows and forests are downright breathtaking in the fall and winter, so there is certainly value in planning trips throughout each season.
Adults, kids, and dogs alike will enjoy this darling landscape, but it’s important to be respectful of the site.
Friends of Secrest Arboretum/Facebook
Friends of Secrest Arboretum/Facebook This campus is lovingly maintained, so visitors are encouraged to take a leave-no-trace approach when you visit. Tobacco use is prohibited at the site, and dog droppings must be cleaned up.
If there is any one site near Cleveland that’s arguably a real-life fairy tale, it’s this dreamy garden.
Andrea B/TripAdvisor Whether you’re zipping down the hillside slide or exploring the Fortress at the Hogs-back, you’ll find an abundance of adventure and beauty at this dreamy site.
Prepare to delight your inner child with a trip to a real-life fairy tale garden.
Andrea B/TripAdvisor Address: 2122 Williams Road, Wooster, OH, 44691
Greater Cleveland is full of wondrous adventure, but it’s worth exploring the communities just outside of its boundaries every once and a while. Have you ever visited this garden in Wooster? Share your experience with us in the comments below!
Friends of Secrest Arboretum/Facebook
Located 50 miles outside of Cleveland, Wooster can feel far removed from city life. And, indeed, it is; its 16-square-mile landscape boasts a mere 26,500 residents. However, this quaint community is full of culture and wonder, making it a worthy day trip for Clevelanders from all walks of life.
Andrea B/TripAdvisor
Located on the campus of the Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center, the Secrest Arboretum is a true delight. This 110-acre outdoor laboratory is full of adventure, and its flawlessly manicured landscape delights visitors of all ages.
Imagine sliding into a wonderland with more than 2,500 varieties of plants in every color of the rainbow. You’ll feel one with Mother Earth as you zip down the slide and into a darling garden.
You’ll find stonework, paved walkways, and even giant frogs and tortoises awaiting your visit. This quirky additions add interest to the garden and captivate the imaginations of children and adults alike.
This site is truly enchanting in each season, but the outdoor laboratory is most striking in the spring and summer when the flowering plants are in bloom. However, its meadows and forests are downright breathtaking in the fall and winter, so there is certainly value in planning trips throughout each season.
This campus is lovingly maintained, so visitors are encouraged to take a leave-no-trace approach when you visit. Tobacco use is prohibited at the site, and dog droppings must be cleaned up.
Whether you’re zipping down the hillside slide or exploring the Fortress at the Hogs-back, you’ll find an abundance of adventure and beauty at this dreamy site.
Address: 2122 Williams Road, Wooster, OH, 44691
Love local gardens? You’ll adore taking a trip to this musical garden near Cleveland.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
