Betty Ford Alpine GardensBetty Ford Alpine Gardens
Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is a great place for families. From exploring the Children’s Garden to playing in Betty’s Market, the Gardens are a great place to bring kiddos.
The Education Center at the West End of Ford Park has a microscope discovery corner and is the starting point for the seasonal scavenger hunt.
Build your own Mesozoic Era environment for our feathered dinosaurs and flying reptiles to live.
A great way for the family to see the whole area of Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is with our Scavenger Hunt! Search for clues to discover more about alpine plants and pollinators. Take your time enjoying the hidden and wonderful areas of the gardens or let the kids race through and enjoy their sense of adventure. Complete the scavenger hunt get a special prize. Come back each year to discover that new theme. The Scavenger Hunt starts at the Education Center.
Dinosaurs Among Us Family Scavenger Hunt
The dinosaur scavenger hunt starts at the Visit the Visitor (Education) Center. Search for clues to discover what a T-rex and a chicken have in common! Complete the scavenger hunt and get a special prize.
Freezing temperatures and deep snow make winters in Vail challenging. Discover how animals have adapted to survive by following the clues! Pick up a clue sheet at the Education Center.
Wander through the family-friendly Children’s Garden. See vegetables grow and let children play in Betty’s Market, a realistic farmer’s market for kids. Families can enjoy the shade in rocking chairs perched over Gore Creek or head into the Schoolhouse Gift Shop to find garden-inspired keepsakes.
Discover our botanical gardens in the family-friendly Children’s Garden. Activities engage children’s creativity while also being a great place to stop for the whole family. Look below to see the activities we offer.
Let the kids embrace their own adventure by doing our daily Discovery Cart activity. Everyday, we put out a different activity for the kids to do around the Children’s Garden. They are self-guided and encourage children to open their minds and discover something new about nature.
Betty’s Market playhouse is a great way for the kids to have fun and embrace their creativity while surrounded by our beatiful vegetable garden. Make a connection to where the food on our table comes from or shop the market for the ingredients on your chosen recipe card. Play along with the kids or relax in our rocking chairs, perched over Gore Creek.
Relax in the shade, admire the plants, see how tall rhubarb can grow or shop in our gift shop. The Children’s Garden has plenty to do for everyone!
Take a walk down the creek or a stroll through the gardens and be sure to take in all the outdoor exhibit information! Discover the unique adaptations of the plants, the role they play in alpine environments and what life is like above treeline. From being transported around the world, to their importance to the ecosystem, every plant here has a story.
Visit our calendar of events for ways to explore and experience our gardens and participate in learning programs.
