For an afternoon of simple, outdoor fun that the whole family, including the dog, can enjoy, the Bailey Arboretum offers 40 lush acres of wooded trails, picturesque ponds, colorful gardens and other delights to dazzle the senses.
Bailey Arboretum is located in northern Nassau County's Lattingtown, which is situated in the Locust Valley vicinity. The estate, once owned by Frank Bailey and his wife, Louise, features a house from the 1800s, complete with 600 varieties of trees and hundreds of different flowering plants. The Baileys purchased the estate in 1911. Unlike other area estate residents, who transformed their homes into ornate chateaus inside and out, Bailey focused primarily on fulfilling his goal to display a stunning and extensive collection of trees, shrubs and plants. Near the mansion, majestic dawn redwood trees stand at attention to greet visitors who stroll by. Also featured near the mansion is a rose garden, and a rock garden beckons exploration when its focal point, a four-foot tall miniature castle constructed by a German builder in 1930, catches the eye.
As you meander around the ponds' perimeters, your ears will be treated to a symphony of crooning songbirds as they flit overhead and of splashes of turtles as they plunge back into the water after sunbathing on rocks and fallen logs. You'll be surrounded by what sounds like single plucks of a banjo string, the calls of green frogs nestled in hiding along the pond's edges. Ducks and other waterfowl also choose to frequent this scenic sanctuary of tranquility. For a closer encounter of the bird kind, the Volunteers for Wildlife rescue organization is now based at Bailey Arboretum. Injured wildlife that is being rehabilitated or is unable to be rereleased into the wild is housed here. Pause at each enclosure to gaze into the eyes of great horned owls, a barred owl, eagles and other creatures.
Curious youngsters will be kept amused with a frolic through the Children's Habitat, where they can climb structures, play hide and seek, excavate in the dirt, play musical notes that carry on the wind and explore features that will captivate their attention and imagination. They can wile away the time in search of fairies along the fairy trail and in the fairy house. For visitors who are wheelchair bound or otherwise disabled, the sensory garden provides an easily-accessed trail through an aromatic garden of flora, complete with Braille markers, a babbling waterfall and flowers that can be enjoyed by all senses.
Hikers will enjoy walking the wooded trails through a cathedral of towering trees that have stood for nearly a century. Photography buffs will be shutter happy in the gardens of vibrant azaleas, rhododendrons, magnolias, atlas cedars, Korean pines, Nikko firs, black walnut, chrysanthemums, roses and so much more. An inviting gazebo, picnic tables and a sprawling lawn encourage picnics and lazy hours spent amidst gentle breezes and warming rays of sunshine.
The arboretum hosts public events, such as guided walks, plant sales and live music concerts, and you can also rent the location for your own private event, such as a wedding. Admission to Bailey Arboretum is free of charge, but monetary donations are welcomed at the kiosk where walking maps of the park are available. Guests are welcome to savor a picnic, embark on a cross-country skiing expedition or promenade the family pooch, as long as you pick up after yourself and your human and canine family members.
Next time you desire to unplug the devices and occupy the entire family with some quality time in nature's glorious environment, take a drive to visit the Bailey Arboretum. Don't forget the camera.
Bailey Arboretum is located at 194 Bayville Road in Lattingtown. For upcoming events, directions and hours of operation, visit baileyarboretum.org
Bailey Arboretum is located in northern Nassau County's Lattingtown, which is situated in the Locust Valley vicinity. The estate, once owned by Frank Bailey and his wife, Louise, features a house from the 1800s, complete with 600 varieties of trees and hundreds of different flowering plants. The Baileys purchased the estate in 1911. Unlike other area estate residents, who transformed their homes into ornate chateaus inside and out, Bailey focused primarily on fulfilling his goal to display a stunning and extensive collection of trees, shrubs and plants. Near the mansion, majestic dawn redwood trees stand at attention to greet visitors who stroll by. Also featured near the mansion is a rose garden, and a rock garden beckons exploration when its focal point, a four-foot tall miniature castle constructed by a German builder in 1930, catches the eye.
As you meander around the ponds' perimeters, your ears will be treated to a symphony of crooning songbirds as they flit overhead and of splashes of turtles as they plunge back into the water after sunbathing on rocks and fallen logs. You'll be surrounded by what sounds like single plucks of a banjo string, the calls of green frogs nestled in hiding along the pond's edges. Ducks and other waterfowl also choose to frequent this scenic sanctuary of tranquility. For a closer encounter of the bird kind, the Volunteers for Wildlife rescue organization is now based at Bailey Arboretum. Injured wildlife that is being rehabilitated or is unable to be rereleased into the wild is housed here. Pause at each enclosure to gaze into the eyes of great horned owls, a barred owl, eagles and other creatures.
Curious youngsters will be kept amused with a frolic through the Children's Habitat, where they can climb structures, play hide and seek, excavate in the dirt, play musical notes that carry on the wind and explore features that will captivate their attention and imagination. They can wile away the time in search of fairies along the fairy trail and in the fairy house. For visitors who are wheelchair bound or otherwise disabled, the sensory garden provides an easily-accessed trail through an aromatic garden of flora, complete with Braille markers, a babbling waterfall and flowers that can be enjoyed by all senses.
Hikers will enjoy walking the wooded trails through a cathedral of towering trees that have stood for nearly a century. Photography buffs will be shutter happy in the gardens of vibrant azaleas, rhododendrons, magnolias, atlas cedars, Korean pines, Nikko firs, black walnut, chrysanthemums, roses and so much more. An inviting gazebo, picnic tables and a sprawling lawn encourage picnics and lazy hours spent amidst gentle breezes and warming rays of sunshine.
The arboretum hosts public events, such as guided walks, plant sales and live music concerts, and you can also rent the location for your own private event, such as a wedding. Admission to Bailey Arboretum is free of charge, but monetary donations are welcomed at the kiosk where walking maps of the park are available. Guests are welcome to savor a picnic, embark on a cross-country skiing expedition or promenade the family pooch, as long as you pick up after yourself and your human and canine family members.
Next time you desire to unplug the devices and occupy the entire family with some quality time in nature's glorious environment, take a drive to visit the Bailey Arboretum. Don't forget the camera.
Bailey Arboretum is located at 194 Bayville Road in Lattingtown. For upcoming events, directions and hours of operation, visit baileyarboretum.org