Betty Ford Alpine Garden

"Connecting Children with Nature"

The sign at the entrance of the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens’ Back to Nature Trail states, “We invite children to use their imagination and explore their senses. Come and…. Build a fort. Create natural art. Wander through the willows. Listen to the river flowing. Play!”  So that is exactly what my kids aged 10, 7, and 2 did as they meandered down the pathway along Gore Creek. Before long, we spotted several downed logs and willows, perfect for making our own fort.  The kids worked together to build a strong foundation, then piled it with willows and brush.  Once they completed their fort, my daughter exclaimed, “I feel proud”.  

The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens showcase a large collection of living high altitude alpine plants in a stunning natural setting.  Admission to the gardens is free, but donation boxes at the entrance allow for continued support of the garden’s conservation and research programs.  The garden also offers nominal fee tours and several educational programs, including a children’s program which runs during summer months. The gardens are in a relatively compact space with rock pathways, bridges, cascading waterfalls, and peaceful ponds. My kids loved exploring all of the paths although they didn’t really take the time to read about each of the lovely plants.  Regardless, the walk was pleasant with plenty of picture perfect backdrops to enjoy along the way.  I didn’t see any restroom facilities within the garden, but there are restrooms located in the adjacent Ford Park Playground.

I would recommend the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens to families looking for the opportunity to connect with nature.  You may be surprised to discover just how much fun kiddos can have with a few downed logs and willows.