Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

Spread across 50 acres of Marshall Park, the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is a rare gem: meticulously maintained themed gardens that are completely free to the public every day of the year. Stroll through rose gardens, hosta collections, children's garden spaces, Japanese-inspired plantings, and more, with the landscape shifting dramatically through every season. In peak summer bloom it rivals paid botanical gardens found in much larger cities, and the fall color display is spectacular. Volunteer-run and community-cherished, it's the kind of place that surprises even longtime Iowa residents.