South Coast Botanic Garden

The 87 acres here were a diatomaceous-earth mine and then a county landfill before volunteers began planting more than 40,000 trees and shrubs in 1961. The grounds now hold over 200,000 plants across specialty gardens, including a rose garden built around a split fountain and, scattered through the trails, Thomas Dambo's troll sculptures. A butterfly pavilion called SOAR houses tropical species, and a summer concert series brings live music to the lawns after dark. Certain hours are set aside for dog walking, with paths that wind through eucalyptus groves and meadows built on what used to be a dump.