The Woodlands is downright gorgeous and bursting with nature, so residents here might not be too gung ho about making the drive down to the FM 1960 area just to check out more plant life. Allow me to shake that thought! If you’ve never visited Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, you should put it on your to-do list for the fall season. This serene, 300+-acre, free-to-the-public attraction is nationally recognized and boasts the largest collection of native and cultivated plants in the region. The grounds are pretty, smell lovely, and water features and wooden benches scattered throughout the botanical gardens make it great place to go just to gain some peace of mind. 
The arboretum and botanic gardens are divided by Aldine Westfield Road, so when you visit, be sure to go to both sides. You'll need to get back in your vehicle to cross the street. On the east side is the botanic gardens where over 20 acres of gardens feature bamboo, color displays, daylilies, endangered species, ferns, gingers, herbs, and more. The east side also has an extensive walking trail system, a Remembrance Walk for memorials and honorariums, ponds, a children's garden, Shakespeare garden, a visitors’ center, courtyard plaza, plus much more. We spent most of our time on this side, because we didn't know about the other side until we were almost out of time! My girls really enjoyed walking the various winding paths, swinging on the bench swings and popping into the gift shop.
The arboretum and botanic gardens are divided by Aldine Westfield Road, so when you visit, be sure to go to both sides. You'll need to get back in your vehicle to cross the street. On the east side is the botanic gardens where over 20 acres of gardens feature bamboo, color displays, daylilies, endangered species, ferns, gingers, herbs, and more. The east side also has an extensive walking trail system, a Remembrance Walk for memorials and honorariums, ponds, a children's garden, Shakespeare garden, a visitors’ center, courtyard plaza, plus much more. We spent most of our time on this side, because we didn't know about the other side until we were almost out of time! My girls really enjoyed walking the various winding paths, swinging on the bench swings and popping into the gift shop.
The arboretum on the west side of Aldine Westfield features two playgrounds, a picnic area nestled in a woodland setting with 58 picnic tables, two barbecue pavilions, hickory bog, boardwalk, cypress swamp, maple collection and several miles of walking trails that wind through beautifully preserved woodlands. The picnic tables were clean and spacious, and the playground was safe, accommodating, and fun for my little ones.
We hope you get a chance to check it out soon! Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens is located at 22306 Aldine Westfield Rd. in Humble.
HOURS:
Open year-round except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
