Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (CMBG) is named one of Maine’s top attractions by five different publishers. Known locally as “the Gardens,” they inspire and educate people about natural history, habitats, botany, horticulture and ecology. According to information from the Gardens, the campus welcomes more than 200,000 guests annually from throughout the U.S. and abroad; and CMBG is the largest botanical garden in New England, with over 300 acres, including17 gardens that feature native Maine plants and others suited to northern coastal conditions.

Features include the Butterfly House, Dahlia Garden, an apiary with an interactive Bee Exhibit, Great Lawn, Founders Grove, Lerner Garden of the Five Senses, Slater Forest Pond, Cleaver Lawn, Arbor Garden, Burpee Kitchen Garden, Bibby and Harold Alfond Children’s Garden, Haney Hillside Garden, Vayo Meditation Garden, Fairy House Village, Shoreland Trails & The Landing, Giles Rhododendron & Perennial Garden, plus 20 sculptures, and the Guardians of the Seeds Giant Trolls permanent exhibit.

Find a calendar of specialty tours, lectures, movies, events and educational programming at mainegardens.org. Open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m., May 1-Oct. 20, (207) 633-8000, 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay. Moms get in free on Mother’s Day, Dads get in free on Father’s Day, and Mainers get in free during Maine Days, May 31- June 2.

Plan to spend the day. Snack Shack and Gardens Café provide dining options. Sun protection, comfortable shoes and water bottles are encouraged. Electric scooters are available to rent, wheelchairs are free for those needing assistance, and accessible cart tours accommodating up to five people are available with advance registration.