TL;DR Travels

Parking

Address: 2647 East Coast Hwy, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625

Sherman Library and Gardens is located conveniently just off of East Coast Highway. With two free-to-park lots, the area also has convenient street parking should the lots fill-up.

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Exploring the Gardens

Upon entering the gardens, you’ll find a map to help guide you around the exhibition. If you are traveling with children (or you like scavenger hunts – they’re fun for everyone) there is also a scavenger hunt that you can grab at the entrance to make your trip a bit more goal-focused.

The property is a little over 2 acres in total, making it easy to enjoy the gardens in one afternoon. I personally love visiting the Tropical Conservatory and small herb garden behind it – but everything is beautiful. On your way out, be sure to stop by the gift shop and pick-out a plant to add to your collection.

The pathways are fairly wide, so it should be accessible for various individuals – just be mindful that a few plants might have strayed over into the pathways.

With special events and seasonal decorations (this Christmas, the theme was Candyland), the Sherman Gardens are a fun place to explore for people of all ages. However, any furry friends will need to stay at home, with the exception of service animals.

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Visiting the Library

As much as I love botanical gardens, the Research Library may be my favorite part of this one. Situated in the corner of the property, the Library is only open Tuesday through Friday. Inside, you will find a wonderfully unique collection of books that chronicle the Pacific Southwest. From physical directories for various California cities to published memoirs written by California residents, there are so many interesting things to check out. On my last visit, I found a collection of photographs that detailed Los Angeles’s changing looks (try and find it for yourself! It’s called Views of Los Angeles by Gernot Kahn). There is also a collection of Thomas Guides which invoked quite a bit of nostalgia for road trips I went on as a kid.

The librarian is extremely helpful if you wanted to know more. There is also (as of right now) an exhibition of Brandt-Dike Summer School of Painting which you can explore in between your search for books.

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What to Eat

Located on the property is a restaurant called 608 Dahlia which serves a seasonal selection of foods from the garden. With limited lunch hours and a special menu, it is important to make a reservation ahead of time, which you can do here. If you are visiting during the month of January, you can enjoy a taste of high tea – a fantastic way to start off the new year!

This section of East Coast Highway is full of great places to explore. With local boutiques (stop by Repurposed Rags for a little thrift shopping), specialty shops, and a plethora of eateries at various price points all within walking-distance, I highly recommend checking out what’s in the area.

For a quick cafe trip, you can stop by Reborn Coffee or Bruegers Bagels (a five minute walk from the Gardens). If you are looking for a more substantial meal, you can stop by Avila’s El Ranchito or Panini Kabob Grill. Lastly, you can cross the street to visit Corona Del Mar Plaza where you can find the famed Sprinkles Cupcakes, stop in Peet’s Coffee, or visit Bristol Farms for a quick meal in this specialty local market.

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