Winner (#1)

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

More than 541,000 visitors from 50 countries came through our gates last year. The Arboretum was listed among the top three arboretums in the nation in Southwest Spirit Magazine, offering the public a complement of dedicated gardens, an array of popular annual events, educational programs for children and adults, and an emphasis on family-oriented activities. In 2007, we were named one of MSN’s Top Ten Places to Visit in the Country in the spring, and this year, MSN named us one of the 14 best places in the world to see spring flowers. Ground-breaking horticultural research conducted in our Trial Gardens continues to contribute to an important body of knowledge, both regionally and nationally. The Arboretum's 66 acres on White Rock Lake provide a complete life science laboratory with endless potential for discovery. During 2009, the Arboretum provided more than 80,000 visitors, mostly children, with educational programs. The Arboretum has a 65-member Board of Directors, 75 full-time paid staff members, 32 part-time paid staff members, and more than 400 year-round volunteers.