The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden has been recognized with a Silver award in The Seattle Times’ 2026 Best in the PNW contest for Best Day Trip.
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden (RSBG) has been awarded Silver for Best Day Trip in The Seattle Times’ 2026 Best in the PNW contest. The recognition highlights the Federal Way Garden as a destination worth traveling to for its woodland trails, rare and unusual plants, seasonal displays, specialized garden areas, and nursery.
Located between Seattle and Tacoma, RSBG is a 22-acre living museum and botanical garden where visitors can explore a diverse collection of plants in a natural woodland setting. The Garden is home to the world’s most significant living collection of Rhododendron species, including plants collected from wild populations throughout the world.
“For many of our visitors, a trip to RSBG is about more than seeing rhododendrons,” said Steve Hootman, Executive Director of Horticulture and Curator. “It’s an opportunity to slow down, explore, discover plants they may never have encountered before, and experience the Garden throughout the changing seasons.”
Rhododendrons remain at the heart of the Garden, but they are far from the only plants visitors will encounter. The collections include Japanese maples, magnolias, camellias, Himalayan blue poppies, and many other rare and unusual plants. Throughout the Garden, visitors can explore areas including the Rutherford Conservatory, Garden Pond, Victorian Stumpery, and Alpine Rock Garden.
Fall is an especially rewarding time to visit. Japanese maples and other deciduous trees bring shades of red, orange, yellow, and gold to the Garden, contrasting with the surrounding evergreen forest. The changing foliage provides a different experience from the spring and summer display of rhododendrons and other flowering plants.
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