Bloedel Reserve

Bloedel Reserve offers a very nice and relaxing walk in nature. You forget that a large metropolitan, Seattle, is a short distance away across the bay.

Beautiful grounds and trees, with well-maintained winding trails throughout. It was a bitter cold the day we visited, so we were probably only there for a little over an hour.

The place was certainly enjoyable, still yet $22 a ticket felt a little pricey during winter. Cost aside, we had fun wandering and bird watching, even caught glimpse of some adorable deer and 2 bald eagles.

The entry process was a bit strange. You're required to await an employee at the closed gate who approaches from the building. They come to your car and essentially check you in (after purchasing timed tickets online). In our case she didn't seem to have the info on her clipboard that we were visitors and not members, so she ended up going back and forth again to grab us a map. Sure seems like there'd be a much simpler way to process entry.

Regardless, it was a lovely place. I can imagine each season offers something new.

Stunning! Bloedel Reserve is for anyone who loves green space and gardens. The reserve has much to offer with its massive open space of 150 acres to wander and walk through.

Bloedel Reserve requires timed tickets in order to visit. You don't need to get them so far in advance as they had plenty of slots to pick from when I purchased tickets a few days before. Tickets are a little over $20 for non-members. When you arrive to the reserve, there is an employee who checks you in at the gate to make sure your name is on the list for the timed entry.

Once you start your visit from the gift store and bathrooms, there is a trail with a map that will take you all around. However, even with a map, you can easily get lost as there is no signage throughout the space of where you're going. Especially because the reserve is so large, it may take you on pathways that you may not have planned to have gone on. But that's just the additional fun part of your time here! Eventually, you will go in a loop, ending your visit back at the gift shop and parking lot.

Bloedel reminded me of an English garden, with ponds throughout the space and an estate that was the residence of the Bloedel Family. You can visit the first floor of the house where you can learn more about the family's history and garden, and a staff member is there to answer questions. I liked all of the different trails throughout the reserve and the Japanese garden area was beautiful. It will take you about a couple hours to see the whole space, taking your time to see the greenery. I'm glad I finally visited this gem on Bainbridge Island.

Highly recommended! I took 4 young seniors and they had a great time and enjoyed a beautiful leisure walk around the reserve. It's only about a 2 mile trail around the entire property but there's plenty to take in so plan to spend around 2 hours. The park is kept in pristine condition and not crowded as tickets are required for entry. $23 for adults, $15 for seniors - online tickets only.

It was a pretty perfect day - we started off by ferrying into BB Island (with the car), stopped at Rockaway Beach to take in the beautiful views of the water, drove around to see the Halls Hill Labyrinth, Bloedel Reserve, dinner downtown and then ferry again back to Seattle.

Not worth the money and the staff is rude. Very overpriced.

The bathroom situation is HORRIBLE for women who wish to maintain their dignity.

Since this place refuses to designate male and female bathrooms, and have designated them as "genderless," the line is super long and it's impossible to use them if there are a lot of people around. Both bathrooms have multiple stalls but only one person can use it at a time if you don't want a man/woman or group of kids walking in on you.

I walked in on a man peeing because he didn't lock the door. WAS AWFUL.

Better to just find a tree and pee outside.

We toured the first week of April 2022 with a Viator small tour group

We walked the entire trail and then toured the mansion as well It was a great relaxing hike through the grounds and the history of the family was interesting too

I'm not necessarily a huge hiking outdoorsy person, by native PNW standards. Love a beach and a nice day in the sun but I would rather see some art than go to a park. Context to say, if you visit Bainbridge Island this is a MUST DO. Easy walk. Relatively flat 2 miles of just stunning sensory experience for the spring and summer. The most memorable parts were the wild flower grassland--the whole place smelled like honey, I wish they sold it! + the Japanese house and mansion.

Would return. Great way to spend 3 hours or so on a day trip then go have dinner or get on the water. Very memorable vs just going shopping or something. Worth your time.

An absolutely magical experience. Walking around this property is like a dream and something I have to do when I'm in Seattle/Bainbridge Island.

One of the most perfect gardens that we've ever been to. The path looping throughout is stunning and calming at every turn. And there are so many different areas that are all tied together seamlessly. You don't even notice you are transitioning to a new area until a stunning scene is upon you. We love it here and come often.

Spectacular looking garden!. Words alone cannot describe the beauty of this place and I only wish I was able to visit this place during the fall when the leaves started turning colors!

The garden grounds are immaculately taken care of and it was a very peaceful stroll walking the loop to see everything the garden has to offer. I can definitely see why people would want to get married at this garden. I am so glad I decided last minute to purchase tickets and come here to witness the beautiful garden first hand!