Ventura Botanical Gardens

What travelers say:

Though I was initially somewhat disappointed this botanical garden is not actually seaside and has no views of the ocean, this was quite a gem and one of the nicest botanical gardens I have seen. Entry is free, since it is at the site of a commercial nursery. In a sense, the garden is a series of lesson in how to properly landscape your home. There was a Mediterranean Garden, a Succulent Garden and a variety of others, blending tropical trees, colorful flowers, artificial figurines and fixed structures like stone seating and fountains in a way that was just breathtaking. Plus, being situated next to a nursery, if you see a plant you want in your own yard, you can go out and buy it. I did the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden the same day, which was a beautiful nature walk, but if you want to see hordes of flowers, Seaside Gardens is the place to go!