If you are going to have family photos taken, dress before you come. The Arboretum is a family facility and cannot allow clothing changes in the restrooms.

The life-size Pumpkin Village this year is based on a Cinderella theme, with the homes of the stepsisters, the ballroom, etc. all decorated within their framework.

Your youngest child may want to come in Cinderella attire for a picture, have a fairytale picnic with friends on the grounds and see the other fairytale castles throughout the grounds. There are also Cinderella and Fairytale classics in the gift shop.

The inside of Cinderella’s White and Gold Carriage is a photo opportunity for all guests. No more than three minutes is allowed by each commercial or family photographer, so all may enjoy having their picture taken there.

On the afternoon of October 6th, the extraordinary Nancy Rutchik Red Maple Rill will open to the public, but it will have dazzling beauty in the later fall as the season cools. There are many photo opportunities here and viewing corridors throughout its walkways.

When to Come
The garden is open on weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm. But all guests must leave by 5 pm, so be sure to come about 3:30 pm at the latest to be able to quickly see the garden. The average stay however is 2.2 hours as people like to stroll, have some refreshments or take pictures.

Each week something new unfolds in the garden – the creation of the pumpkin village, the arrival of fall mums replacing summer color, then the opening of the three million dollar garden expansion, the Nancy Rutchik Red Maple Rill, then the turning of the trees and all the while the 50,000 pumpkins lining every pathway remain vibrant.

The weekdays are less crowded than the weekends. Sunday mornings are less crowded than other weekend times. Weekdays from 11 am to 1 pm are usually crowded as so many people stay for lunch or begin their afternoon at the garden at the restaurants.

On Mondays and Tuesdays during the Autumn Festival running until November 23rd, the Arboretum holds Kimberly-Clark’s Mommy and Me Mondays and Dallas Child’s Tiny Tots Tuesdays. Activities are from 10 am - 1 pm geared to those under 5. There is a petting zoo, kinder music, the hay bale maze built just for this age, the Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch and of course the Cinderella Pumpkin Village. If you have children this age or love seeing children having the time of their lives, come then, otherwise note that it is our busiest weekday time. Because of naps, most of these children are gone by 2 p.m.

On Wednesdays, the Arboretum offers a “Buy One Get One” offer for those bringing in the coupon from its website. One coupon can be used for your entire group or family.

On Thursdays, there is a special offer for those Senior Citizens ages 65 and older, when the admission is just $8.50. In addition, all seniors get a 20% discount that day only in the gift shop.

Tom Thumb also sells tickets at their stores for a one dollar discount good for any day during the festival.

What to Eat
Anyone can bring food and drink into the garden.

If you are bringing a cooler, the Arboretum suggests it be on wheels. There are walkways to get to the picnic areas and it is easy to roll one of these along our ADA-accessible paths. The Arboretum asks that no water or ice from coolers be released on the grass or in the floral beds as it will kill the vegetation in the area.

The Arboretum has four locations for food service available during the festival.

The Lula Mae Slaughter Dining Terrace is to the left of the entry. There is always outdoor dining but on many days a section of the hall next to it is open for those wishing to bring their food indoors. Many have stated that this is one of the loveliest outdoor dining terraces in the city with the view of the gardens, downtown skyline and White Rock Lake. Hearty paninis, traditional salad trios, refreshing individual salads, soup and children’s specials are available here.

Restaurant DeGolyer is at the back of the newly renovated Everette DeGolyer home. A beautiful seating area on the Dann Talley Kincheloe loggia offers the favorite foods of the generation of Nell DeGolyer. A bountiful salad plate, wonderful casseroles, tea sandwiches, soup, quiche, chicken tetrazzini and so much more. There is a charming inside area where the Arboretum’s acclaimed seated tea is served by reservation twice a day. Children must be at least thirteen to have tea in this area. The tearoom even has the cookbook of their recipes for sale.

Café on the Green features an Oktoberfest menu in this outdoor dining area off the Paseo de Flores, the main walkway through the garden. Selling Hans Mueller sausages and brats, there are German beers and hotdogs for sale as well as root beer floats for children. This is the perfect spot to people watch with a little German music in the background. An area just behind it in the original DeGolyer Motor Court has been opened for additional seating.

There Tent at the Paseo offers additional concessions with sandwiches and salads open on weekends. Guests are free to pick up food and drink here and carry it into the garden for a picnic on their own.

Beautiful Floral Combinations and Plants With Which You May Not Be Familiar
The Dallas Arboretum is one of the major botanic gardens in the world and the floral beauty is outstanding. Most plant names are designated by small signage within the area. If there are questions about gardening or other aspects of the garden installation, the Dallas Arboretum is assisted by the Dallas County Master Gardeners, who can be reached at 214-904-3053.

As one of the missions of the Arboretum is research, visitors will note trial gardens throughout the property. This work allows us to determine the best new plants for our climate and we are leading the world in the public testing of warm weather annuals.

Shopping Extravaganza
Only those who have paid admission or are members of the Arboretum, who have free daytime access to the garden all year, can shop in the Hoffman Family Gift Store. It has one of the best selections of unusual and one-of-a-kind items in the city. There are even items selected by the President or the Vice-President of the Gardens, short floral jackets, adorable hats, floral purses and shawls that are flying out the door, plus an entire section for children with items for them in bins that are just their height. Of course the gift shop has a coffee table book, calendar and postcards about the Arboretum for those who want to take home a reminder of their day.

The secret many do not know is that you can go into the gift shop upon arrival, and they will hold your purchase until you leave the garden. Then you avoid the lines of those stopping by as they exit. There is also a second register open on busy days in the back of the gift shop just for credit card purchases.

There is also a cart across from the Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch where items for children or a few special autumn favorites are showcased. It is a great spot for parents to visit while their children run through the hay bale maze and Cinderella’s Pumpkin Village.

Restaurant DeGolyer sells the book about Tea at the Arboretum as well as many of the special teas they serve within their space.

Where To Park
There is parking on the grounds of the Arboretum, and on our busiest days we have been generously given space on the corner of Gaston and Garland. There is no valet parking this year during Autumn at the Arboretum as construction is taking place on our parking lots preparing for the $50MM seven-acre Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden opening in 2013.

Friends of the Arboretum at the $2,000 level are given premier parking space all year with thanks for their generosity.

If the main lot is full, we are asked by the city to wait until fifty spaces open up so we do not have long queue lines in front of the garden. On those days you may be asked to go south seven blocks to the Gaston and Garland parking area in front of the Far West Club. The Arboretum pays for buses to be there to bring you quickly to the garden and has security throughout the area. The bus takes only six minutes to get to the Arboretum on a day with regular traffic on Garland Road, and you are taken to the front entrance with pickup at the same location. It is so easy and is often much shorter and easier than parking on the grounds. On our busy days, some guests just drop by there first to see if the buses are running, as it is such an effortless way to get it the garden.

Restrooms
There are plenty.

To the left of the Arboretum’s main entrance down a corridor next to Rosine Hall and then to the right are large banks of rest rooms. These are also accessible from the door to the Dining Terrace. During days when there are meetings in Rosine Hall, these may be closed to visitors to keep the noise level down for those inside.

There are smaller restrooms for women and men to the right of the entry and then near vending machines on the Bella Via walk to the main garden.

Many people in the know will use the large bank of restrooms near the concert lawn and the Alex Camp House. There is much more space, and the others are quite busy as people use those at the entrance as they enter or leave.

Membership at The Arboretum Is the Best Buy
Those who have been to the Arboretum often know that after two visits you have paid for a membership to the garden. They often choose to buy a membership that allows them year round daytime access to the garden, a discount in the gift shop, free parking on or off site and special events just for members. The best buy is the Family Membership for $102. This allows access for up to six at a time. Those with the member do not have to be related, live under your roof or be the same guests each time. People buying this bring out of town friends and relatives, neighbors, their children’s friends and even contemporaries to our outdoor concerts where members get a significant discount on up to six tickets. All members also get a regular newsletter telling them of the next activities.

Whatever you choose to do in the garden, we think you will find it one of the most beautiful locations you have ever seen. Please spread the news to friends and family by sharing your pictures, emailing them to friends, posting them to Facebook or describing the activities on Twitter. It is too beautiful not to share with others!