Published by Christina. Last Updated on July 30, 2024.
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Fayetteville‘s Cape Fear Botanical Garden is an 80-acre wonderland. Inside this awesome outdoor attraction, you’ll find well-kept grounds and plenty of paths to explore.
The garden’s plants and flowers bloom year-round and are complemented by a serene cypress pond, fun seasonal events, and a wealth of educational opportunities.
We’ve been lucky enough to visit this beautiful botanical garden and want to share some of our favorite things about it, why it’s great for kids, and why this botanical garden belongs on your NC Bucket List.
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Cape Fear Botanical Garden in Fayetteville NC
Address: 536 N Eastern Blvd Fayetteville, NC
Official Website
Hours
Summer Hours (March to November)
- Monday to Wednesday and Friday to Saturday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Thursdays: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
- Sundays: 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Winter Hours (November to March)
- Monday to Saturday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Sundays: 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Admission
- Members & Children 5 and Under: FREE
- General Admission: $10
- Military: $9
- Adults 65 and Older: $9
- Children (6 to 12): $5
Note: These prices do not reflect tax. Group discounts are also available for gatherings 25 or larger.
Things We Love About the Cape Fear Botanical Garden
Background and Secluded Location
A group of gardeners and community members established Cape Fear Botanical Garden in 1989. They leased the 80 acres of land that is today’s garden, which is a mix of pine and hardwood forests between the Cape Fear River and Cross Creek. Its address is 536 N Eastern Blvd.
Even after parking but especially after walking inside, this place feels tucked away from pretty much everything. The garden is still just an easy two-mile drive from downtown. That way you can easily fit it into any weekend in Fayetteville.
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Perfect for Families and Little Ones
One of our favorite things to do while traveling is to find a space to walk around and stretch our legs. The flat paths of this botanical garden are perfect for that, but we also love a place that adds beautiful plants to the mix!
Fellow travelers who bring children will agree that these places are fantastic for getting the wiggles out of the little one(s). With trails to explore and the scenery changing as you go, this botanical garden kept our kid engaged during multiple visits.
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An Easy-to-Explore Layout
We’ve visited this place during the warmer and colder months and can vouch for the grounds remaining beautifully kept throughout the year. The Camellia, Daylily, and Shade Gardens are the best-known on site. Of course, we couldn’t leave out the Butterfly Stroll and interactive Children’s Garden.
As you wander a little further, you’ll also come across a Heritage Garden, 19th-century agricultural structures, and a homestead.
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Discovery Backpacks
To engage learners of all ages, the Cape Fear Botanical Garden provides FREE “discovery backpacks.” When we last visited, they offered four different themes, with tools inside each backpack to explore trees, flowers, birds, and insects.
After arriving and purchasing your tickets (see “Admission” below in our “Quick Guide”) let the attendant know you’d like to check out a backpack. All you’ll have to do is leave a valid ID. Then, you can get to exploring!
Educational Programs
Throughout its existence, the garden has worked with community members and organizations to provide educational opportunities for visitors from all walks of life.
Therapeutic Horticulture
This includes a series of “Therapeutic Horticulture” programs supported by numerous local entities, including Fayetteville Technical Community College.
Through these programs, the garden connects does more than connect individuals to nature. Accessible raised beds, containers, adaptable tools, and resources are available for visitors as part of Therapeutic Horticulture.
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“Hope Grows”
With Fort Liberty close by, you might imagine that Cape Fear Botanical Garden would have veteran-specific education programs in mind. One such example is their “Hope Grows” series, which offers chances for those in the Wounded Warrior Project to “heal, inspire, and restore.”
Participants are able to grow plants, prepare healthy food, and reflect inside the garden. The produce harvested via Hope Grows is donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeastern North Carolina.
“Reset”
Another program for veterans at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden is “Reset.” Partnered with the USO of North Carolina, this is geared to veterans, spouses, and their families to provide health, nutrition, fitness and coping techniques specific to the military lifestyle.
Here, participants can learn to use the garden and join activities to reduce stress, engage with others, and reinvigorate.
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Ready to Visit the Cape Fear Botanical Garden?
With a dedication to providing education and therapeutic opportunities to its community, Cape Fear Botanical Garden is more than just a beautiful location to spend a day. But even if you’re seeking a place to walk around, take a deep breath, and relax, we think this is the greenspace for you in Fayetteville.
Have you ever visited Cape Fear Botanical Garden? What’s your favorite thing to do here? If you haven’t been yet, what’s keeping you?
