I'v seen nice plants at all the places above. I spend a lot of time looking as I drive, much to the dismay and ,sometimes terror, of those riding with me!

Unless your family shares your enthusiasm for plants, I've found that it's less frustrating for all to visit arb's/botanical gardens by oneself. I'm currently negotiating with DW on making a solitary trip to the Philadelphia area to visit the bounty of arbs and gardens. She thinks it's a bit selfish on my part, but she's coming around to what it means to me.

I like driving/hiking through national forests, such as the Chequamegon & Nicolet of northern WI, or even some of the smaller county/state parks and forests. There's nothing like seeing trees growing in their natural state, isolated from human development and pressure. Even on my own property the scenery I've created through my plantings pales in comparison to what has naturally occurred. Not even close. I admire (and a bit envious of) people with gardening talent, but we're delusional if we think we're creating something that exceeds nature.

I can agree with that about outdoing mother nature. While in east Tennessee and North Carolina I was inspired by the clear streams and water that tested more pure than the local city water supply. I went to northern Ohio in the fall and the foliage colors were so spectacular it was hard to drive. In Yellowstone it made me sick to see the destruction brought on by man by preventing controlled burning, cigarettes and campfires. In California the redwoods are breathtaking. My family likes amusement parks and hates gardening, but I am so blessed to see what I see.

As someone who's in the early-ish stages of learning tree (& other plant) ID, I try to go to arboreta and botanical gardens that have all or most of their plants labeled. Garden centers are generally good for that to, of course, though the trees will generally be quite a bit smaller.

Basic - if you make it to Philly, I'd love to show you around some of my favorites, and perhaps to accompany you & your family at some of the ones I'm less familiar with!