The oldest continuously operating botanical garden in the United States, founded in 1873 on the MSU campus. Five acres of plants organised by botanical family rather than aesthetic — it was built as a teaching garden and still is, with every plant labelled and grouped to show evolutionary relationships.
Free, open dawn to dusk, and a pleasant 30-minute walk on a sunny day. Adjacent to Beaumont Tower. If you are unlucky enough to be in Lansing during a thaw, there is little to see; aim for May through October.