Group Visit & Tour Availability

Monday – Thursday     
9:30AM – 11:00AM or 2PM – 3:30PM
 

The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens welcomes charter tours, community organizations, educational organizations, and more to enjoy the beauty of our 47-acre garden by the sea. We do require that you organize your group visit or guided tour with our Administrative Coordinator at least 3 weeks in advance if you plan to visit with 15 or more guests. Groups of this size will be accompanied by a representative of the Gardens to answer questions and help guide you through the Gardens. We also offer guided tours at no extra charge.

Guided tours are offered based on the availability of our volunteer docents and can not always be guaranteed. If we are unable to secure docents, you may choose to split into groups of 15 or fewer people for self-guided tours. We will supply you with tour guidelines ahead of time. The maximum group size of 50 students per day still applies.

To schedule a visit/guided tour, please read the guidelines below and complete our Group Visit Request form. Educational/student groups of all ages receive free admission to the Gardens if scheduled at least 3 weeks in advance with our administrative offices. To request free admission as an Educational Organization, please complete the Educational Visit Request form. For more information email administration@gardenbythesea.org, or call 707-964-4352 ext. 113.

EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION
VISITS & TOUR GUIDELINES

REQUEST A VISIT — Educational Organizations

• GROUP SIZE: Maximum of 50 students per day. Students will be broken up into smaller groups with at most 15 people per docent.
• REQUEST DUE DATE: Requests must be made at least 3 weeks in advance of the planned visit date.
• COST: Tours for educational groups are provided at no cost. Donations are accepted for parents/chaperones.
• CHAPERONES: Teachers will remain on the property and be actively engaged during visits. To provide an excellent experience for all, we recommend one or two chaperones for every ten students. Parents/chaperones exceeding this ratio will be required to pay regular admission.
• DAYS & TIMES: Monday through Thursday from either 9:30AM – 11AM or 2PM - 3:30PM. Groups may not arrive before 9AM. Schools choosing the morning option can stay for an additional hour (picnic lunch on the Event Lawn), but docents are only guaranteed from 9:3AM – 11AM.
• CANCELATION: If a group must cancel, we require at least 4 days’ notice. MCBG will not cancel due to rain. We will cancel group visits and tours in the event of extreme wind events, smoky conditions, or extreme temperatures.
• LOCATION: All educational organization groups enter and exit through the courtyard gate. A Gardens Representative or Docent will check in with your group upon arrival.
• VEHICLES: Up to 10 vehicles are permitted to remain at the Gardens during the field trip. Buses and additional vehicles must park in the overflow lot.
• DROP OFF/PICK UP: If your students will not be arriving as a group, but instead dropped off or picked up by parents, these plans must be communicated with MCBG Staff prior to the tour.

GROUP VISITS & TOUR GUIDELINES
Educational organizations – see guidelines below

REQUEST A VISIT – Non-educational organizations

• GROUP SIZE: Maximum of 60 guests per day. Guided tours are available but not required. In a guided tour, large groups are broken up into smaller groups, with 15 people or fewer per docent.
• REQUEST DUE DATE: Requests must be made at least 3 weeks in advance of the planned visit date.
• COST: Discounted Admission Rates are not available for groups of 15 or more guests (i.e. local, military, etc…). General Admission Rates based on the ages of guests (see below) are available for groups who pre-schedule and pay in advance with a single transaction. Groups that do not schedule and pay in advance will be charged $20 per person at the door. 
  
  $20.00           Group Admission (per guest if not paid in advance)
  $20.00           General Admission (15 and older)
  $17.00            Seniors (65 and older)
  $8.00             Juniors (age 6 to 14)
  FREE              Children (age 5 and younger)
   
• TIMES: Monday through Thursday from either 9:30AM – 11AM or 2PM - 3:30PM.
• LOCATION: All adult groups may enter and exit through the main entrance. A Gardens Representative or Docent will check in with your group upon arrival.
• CANCELATION: Cancellations must be made at least 4 days in advance. MCBG will not cancel for rain. We will cancel group visits and tours in the event of extreme wind events, smoky conditions, or extreme temperatures.
• PARKING: Up to 10 vehicles are permitted to remain at the Gardens during the group visit. Buses must park in the overflow lot.

Please note: If you would like your visit to occur outside of regular business hours, need access for motorized vehicles, special access, or set-up of any kind, this is considered an event, and a site fee may be necessary. Please let us know and we can put you in touch with our Event Coordinator (events@gardenbythese.org).