For a quieter afternoon, I would pick one garden and leave time to look around. I would not build a plan around a promise that a place is secret or empty. Crowd levels change, and a garden can have a private event even when it usually welcomes visitors.
Start with Deepwood
Deepwood Museum & Gardens is at 1116 Mission St SE. Its visitor page describes formal gardens designed by Lord & Schryver, nature trails, native plants and a historic house museum. That makes it a useful choice when the group wants an outdoor stop with the option of learning more about Salem's history.
The grounds and the house tour are not the same visit. The operator lists the gardens and trails as open from sunrise to sunset, with possible closures for events or maintenance. I would check the calendar before leaving and book a house tour separately if that is the part I want most.
Keep the second stop optional
Bush's Pasture Park is another Mission Street option. I would keep it as a second outdoor stop rather than promise a fixed walking time. The entrance you use, pace of the group and weather all affect how much fits into an afternoon.
Gaiety Hollow is a different property, not another name for Deepwood. I would only include it after finding an open-garden date or tour on the Lord & Schryver Conservancy website. Do not assume that a garden mentioned in a guide has daily walk-in access.
Plan around your group's needs
For anyone using a wheelchair, walker or stroller, ask the operator about the exact route and entrance before visiting. A historic house, garden path and nature trail can have very different access conditions. I have not inspected those routes and would not call the whole property accessible without that check.
I would bring weather gear and skip the second stop if the first one feels like enough. This is a proposed garden outing, not a first-hand review or a guarantee of quiet conditions.
Sources and limits
Deepwood's visitor information was checked October 24, 2026. Use its linked tour and event pages for current bookings. Gaiety Hollow schedules and city park access were not independently rechecked in this review.