Worth paying for, but free
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 2/9/05
This is a Houston-area treasure little known except by locals. It's in a beautiful setting right in the middle of suburban sprawl. Huge formal gardens are beautiful year-round. Visitors center and plant signage are helpful and make for a very educational, enjoyable experience. Outside the formal gardens are equally attractive, extensive nature trails. Even in the considerable heat of a Houston summer, a walk in the cool shade of the arboretum is pleasant. There's a nice library that shares the arboretum parking lot. And, it's all free!