Cylburn Arboretum
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Cylburn Arboretum is a highly-rated urban oasis offering a unique blend of nature, history, and education, making it an ideal family destination. It provides ample space for children to run and learn, features recently renovated interactive areas, and boasts a consistently kind and knowledgeable staff. Visitors can enjoy peaceful strolls through well-maintained grounds, observe diverse flora and fauna, and delve into local history via informative mansion tours. Its strong accessibility features and consistently positive feedback highlight its value as a 'hidden gem' for engaging family outings.
Key Highlights
- ✓Kids have ample space to run around and learn simultaneously
- ✓Staff and volunteers are consistently described as incredibly kind and knowledgeable
- ✓Hosts 'amazing events' (specific events not detailed in reviews)
- ✓Peaceful and serene environment conducive to family time and reflection
- ✓Recent renovations have made spaces more interactive for all ages
- ✓Trails are easy to walk, suitable for regular shoes or sandals
- ✓Grounds are always well-cared for, with beautiful blooms especially in Spring
- ✓Monthly mansion tours (every 2nd Saturday, 11am-2pm) with highly informative attendants
- ✓Designated as a 'hidden gem' in the city of Baltimore
- ✓Plenty of opportunities to observe birds and diverse flora/fauna
Standout Features
- ⭐Interactive spaces post-renovation
- ⭐Educational opportunities through nature and history (staff knowledge, mansion tours)
- ⭐Extremely well-maintained arboretum grounds
- ⭐Accessible hiking trails suitable for various fitness levels
- ⭐Regularly scheduled informative mansion tours
- ⭐Comprehensive accessibility features (wheelchair ramps, automatic doors, braille labels)
- ⭐Calm and peaceful atmosphere for family bonding
- ⭐Ample free parking available
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Visit during Spring to experience beautiful blooms and vibrant flora.
- →Consider a sunny Fall day for enjoyable hiking on the trails.
- →Plan your visit for the 2nd Saturday of the month (11am-2pm) to take advantage of the mansion tours.
- →Engage with staff in the mansion and nature education center, as they are very knowledgeable.
- →Wear comfortable shoes for walking, though regular shoes/sandals are often sufficient for trails.
- →Be aware that trail signage can be inconsistent; consider checking a map or asking staff for directions if exploring deeper trails.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Upper floors of the mansion are not always open for public tours
- ⚠Signage on some trails within the woods could be improved for clarity
Price & Value
No pricing information is mentioned in the reviews, suggesting general access to the grounds is likely free or very low cost. The range of activities, educational value, and well-maintained facilities indicate significant value for money, contributing to its 'hidden gem' status.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Wheelchair ramps are available
- •Automatic doors are present on the nature education center
- •Braille labels are utilized on the premises
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No information regarding outside food or on-site food options is mentioned in the reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •Parents report never having an issue with parking, suggesting it is easy, ample, and likely free.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Described as a 'peaceful environment', suggesting it is generally not overly crowded.
- •Reviews do not indicate specific busy times or crowd surges.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Grounds are consistently well-cared for, implying a safe physical environment.
- •No specific explicit safety features like staff supervision ratios, wristbands, or first aid stations are mentioned.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If touring the upper floors of the mansion is a priority, as they may not be accessible on certain days.
- • If you require consistently clear and prominent trail signage throughout your hike.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
ArBOOretum
Annual (around Halloween)
Purchase required (price not specified)
A family-friendly Halloween event with guided moonlit nature walks, spooky trails, and decorated Cylburn mansion. It is a candy-free event to prevent littering. Every visitor receives a glowstick.
🍎Food Policy
- • No food services on the property.
- • Picnics are limited to 10 or fewer people on a first-come, first-served basis. Tents, grills, furniture, and decor are not permitted for picnics.
- • ArBOOretum is a candy-free Halloween event to prevent wrappers from littering the grounds.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Dogs are welcome on Arboretum grounds but must be kept on a leash. Pet waste bags are available.
- • Please pick up after your pets.
- • Gates close promptly at closing time. If on property after closing, exit via the walking gate on Greenspring Ave and pick up vehicle the following day.
- • No kite flying or balloons.
- • No confetti anywhere outside.
- • Leave the flowers for everyone to enjoy (do not pick).
- • No climbing on or sitting in trees.
- • No ball or frisbee throwing.
- • No walking or standing in flower beds.
- • Bicycles, scooters, rollerblades, and skateboards are permitted on paved areas only.
- • Trails are for walking only; no mountain bikes or strollers allowed on trails.
📅Booking Policy
- • All rentals and photography permits are handled through Baltimore City Recreation and Parks.
- • Event reservations can be booked up to one year and one day in advance.
- • Dates for event rentals will be held for five business days without a deposit. If the deposit is not paid within five days, the reservation will be canceled.
- • All photography sessions require a permit and must be scheduled with the event coordinator.
- • Photography permit requests must be received at least 21 days prior to the requested date.
- • Reservations are required for all events, proposals, and photography sessions.
- • Engagement proposals need to be scheduled.
- • All posed photography requires a permit and scheduling.
🚗Parking Information
- • Handicapped parking is available in the upper parking lot near the Vollmer Center.
- • Handicapped parking is available at the Greenhouse Classroom for visitors attending events in that building.
- • If on the property after closing, vehicles must be picked up the following day (exit through walking gate on Greenspring Ave).
Photos
What People Say
What's Great
- Friendly and helpful staff (mentioned in 4 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Murphy Tassin
a month agoThis is a wonderful place where kids can run around and learn at the same time. The staff and volunteers are incredibly kind, and they host amazing events. It’s a peaceful environment, and the recent renovations have made the space even more interactive for all ages. I visited today and discovered so many new things I hadn’t known before. It’s definitely a spot I’ll keep on my list whenever we’re looking for something engaging to do. It’s also a great place for spiritual reflection. Highly recommended!
Emily Evans
3 weeks agoWe went for one of the open house tours in early April. The staff in the mansion and the nature education center were wonderful. They were very knowledgeable about the history of the grounds and the flora and fauna one can find there. Of note, we were immediately greeted by adorable northern mockingbirds at the entrance of the mansion and only continued to see birds and flowers from there. The trails were easy to walk in regular shoes or sandals. There are wheelchair ramps, automatic doors on the education center, and braille labels on the premises. The upper floors of the mansion were not open to the public for tours (on the day we were there).
Tori
a month agoA perfect place to spend a peaceful spring afternoon. No matter the season the grounds are always well cared for but Spring always brings beautiful blooms and makes it an especially great place to walk around and decompress or to spend some time with your family.
Sujata Rana
6 months agoWhat a gem in the city! We visited on a sunny Fall day and enjoyed hiking on one of trails in the woods - the start of the trails are well-marked although there could be better signage on the trails themselves. The grounds and the mansion are lovely as well and we’ve never had an issue with parking.
Larry Legend
2 months agoEvery 2nd Saturday of the month they give tours of the Cylburn Mansion house from 11am-2pm. Molly the attendant was beyond informative and walked us freely through the first floor of the estate pointing out all kinds of tapastries, masonry and landscaping of note! Please take advantage of this almost annex of Druid Hill Park to experience a hidden gem of Baltimore.