Occupying approximately 100 acres of land on the UC Davis college campus, this garden is bursting with life. The UC Davis Arboretum in Northern California is the perfect place to just take a few hours and bask in the glorious beauty of nature. You'll find a little bit of everything loaded into this garden in Davis: flowers from all over the globe, a redwood grove, a native California grass meadow, and much more. However, one of the most unique aspects of the arboretum is also its newest addition—a hummingbird garden in Northern California! Hummingbirds are some of the most unique birds on the planet and now you can view them up close in a natural and beautiful habitat. Take a look at the best places to see hummingbirds in Northern California.

The UC Davis Arboretum is a fantastic place to explore and lose yourself in nature for a few hours. Located along the north channel of Putah Creek, the arboretum was originally established in 1936 to help students learn about the plants that are native to California.

Since then, the arboretum has grown massively. It is currently home to more than 31,000 plants and trees. The arboretum itself is organized by different collections, such as the East Asian, Mediterranean, Australian, and Southwest/Mexican collections.

There's definitely not a shortage of things to see throughout the arboretum. And you definitely don't want to miss the newest addition to the space: The Hummingbird GATEway Garden. This NorCal hummingbird garden is meant to shed light on the importance of creating habitats for these wonderful little creatures and it's absolutely fascinating.

Hummingbirds are extremely important in our ecosystems. They quickly fly from flower to flower, pollinating at a much faster rate than other insect pollinators. However, hummingbirds are also in danger due to habitat loss and climate change.

Researchers are predicting that nearly 15% of hummingbird species are vulnerable to extinction. The hummingbird garden is both a way to support this beautiful creature and also teach people about the hummingbird's decline and the importance of creating habitats for them.

Specifically, hummingbirds are attracted to red-pigmented flowers (tubular ones are best) for pollinating, trees and shrubs to perch from, and shallow water baths for bathing purposes. After viewing the garden at UC Davis, you might just be motivated to create your own!

The arboretum is a great place to get away and immerse yourself in plant species from all over the globe. Take a few hours to relax and unwind, and learn a little something while you're at it. Everybody from young children to adults will be utterly mesmerized by this place.

The UC Davis Arboretum is open all year long and admission is completely free of charge. Pack a lunch, bring the family, and make a day of it! It's one of the best gardens in NorCal. You'll find it located at 920 Garrod Drive, Davis, CA 95616.

Enjoy this walking tour of this gorgeous garden:

Have you been to the UC Davis Arboretum in Northern California? Let us know about your experience in the comments. This hummingbird garden in Northern California looks like the bee's knees! Our state is full of enchanting gardens like this one where you can get away and immerse yourself in nature. Visiting gardens like this is one of the best outdoor activities in Northern California you can do!

If you're planning a getaway to Davis, CA, take a look at these vacation rentals on Vrbo.