The National Arboretum, located within the Washington, DC city limits, maintains nearly 500 different species of trees, shrubs, and plants that are grown for purposes of science and education. The U.S. National Arboretum is part of the Department of Agriculture and was established as a research facility and a living museum. The arboretum welcomes more than 500,000 guests each year with the spring and autumn months being most popular times to visit.
There are several ways to tour this large facility. Bicycling is a pleasant way to cover the 9 miles of roadways winding through the various gardens, although the road is shared with cars. Bus and Tram tours are also available. Visitors seeking a more compact experience can cover the gardens surrounding the administrative building on a walking tour, which is wheelchair accessible. Hikers can venture out on the longer trails.