Fodor's Expert Review The Dawes Arboretum

Beman and Bertie Dawes founded the arboretum in 1929 to demonstrate the value of trees and shrubs. View the 1,700 acres of plants and natural areas on the 4½-mi auto tour or more than 8 mi of hiking trails. Plants tolerant of central Ohio's climate are the mainstay including more than 4,500 unique specimens of conifers, plus azaleas, crab apples, hollies, oaks, witch hazel, and others. The icing on the cake is "Dawes Arboretum" spelled out in the 3-foot-high hedge.