Meet some of Texas' critters, including live invertebrates, reptiles, mammals, amphibians and birds-including raptors--at the Austin Nature and Science Center. ANSC provides loving care to the animals, many of which were injured or orphaned and unable to live in the wild.

Don't miss the Dino Pit, where children learn how paleontologist... Mores find and excavate fossils. Visitors enter the Dino Pit via an impressive 8-foot by 6-foot (2.4 meter by 1.8 meter) mammoth rib cage cast in bronze and learn hands-on as they dig for casts of fossil specimens from the collections of the Texas Natural Science Center. Nineteen oil paintings depict the creatures children will find as they explore the pit. Walk in the footsteps of dinosaurs in the dinosaur trackways, enjoy a fossil field collection display and relax on the nearby observation deck.
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Admission: Free

Address:
301 Nature Center Drive
Austin, Texas 78746

Phone: 512-974-3888
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Get lost in the lush gardens of Zilker Botanical Gardens. Spring brings vibrant Texas bluebonnets and Texas Mountain Laurels dripping with clusters of purple flowers that smell exactly like grape Kool-Aid.

Each season has its glory and the Austin Area Garden Council, made up of 31 clubs representing 1,500 members, has carefully orche... Morestrated each garden to showcase flora at its finest. Will it be the exotic specimens in the Taniguchi Japanese Garden, the fossilized dinosaur footsteps, the formal rose beds, waterfalls, koi-filled ponds or antique blacksmith shed complete with tools?

Because Austin is on a major butterfly and bird migration byway, visitors in the spring and fall delight in migrating birds and butterflies enjoying the 31 acres of gardens alongside them.
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Admission:
Adults: $2
Children ages 3-12: $1
Under 3: Free

Hours:
Daily 7am-5:30pm November-February
Daily 7am-7pm March-October

Address:
2200 Barton Springs Road
Austin, Texas 78746

Phone: 512-477-8672

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Kick back and let the engineer do all the work on your 25-minute tour of Zilker Park alongside Barton Creek and Town Lake on the Zilker Zephyr. Although only about 4 feet (1.2 meters) high, the cars on this miniature train are big enough for a child and adult. Moving at a leisurely pace allows you to keep an eye out for turtles basking under the br... Moreidge.

Weather permitting, trains leave the depot every hour during the week and every 30-40 minutes on the weekend. The depot is conveniently located next to a playground which will keep kids busy while waiting for the conductor to begin boarding.
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Admission:
Adults: $3
Children: $2
Note: This is a cash-only attraction. There is an ATM conveniently located inside the depot.

Hours:
Mon-Fri: 10am-6pm
Sat-Sun: 10am-7pm

Address:
2100 Barton Springs Road
Austin, Texas 78704

Phone: (512) 478-8286Less

Once considered sacred and used for purification rituals by the Tonkawa Native American tribe, Barton Springs Pool now serves as Cooling Off Central in Austin. Take a dip in this natural limestone spring-fed pool which is a refreshing 68F (20C)and relax afterwards on the grass slopes surrounding the pool.

Keep an eye out for the Barto... Moren Springs Salamander, an endangered species, which exists only in the pool and a few surrounding environs.

Changing rooms and showers are provided, but remember to bring a towel. Algae on the bottom of the pool is slippery at times, so swim shoes are good to have. Fitness swimmers arrive early to swim the 1,000 foot laps. Lifeguards come on duty at 8am; before then, swim at your own risk.

Austin is known as a pet-friendly city; downstream from the pool is a small falls where you can see people and their pets enjoying a dip free of charge.
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Admission
Adults: $3
Children 12-17: $2
Children 11 and under and seniors over 65: $1

Hours
Daily 5am-10pm
Closed Thursdays from 9am-7pm for maintenance.

Address:
2101 Barton Springs Road
Austin, Texas 78704

Phone: 512-867-3080Less

A museum that breaks the “Shhh! Don't Touch!” rule by encouraging visitors to fully engage with the treasured works of art on display. The museum is the home of a collection by 20th century American sculptor Charles Umlauf and other contemporary sculptors.

Outside in the gardens, visitors are encouraged to interact with the sculptures... More and thanks to a special wax that protects the bronzes, even touch them. Watch the water flow between the two ponds, listen to the whispering of the gentle falls, relax and enjoy the serenity of the grounds.

Bring your camera-the pairing of the beautiful landscaping and stunning sculptures combine to make beautiful photographs.
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Admission
Adults: $3.50
Seniors: $2.50
Students: $1
Children under 6: Free

Hours
Sat-Sun: 1-4 pm
Wed-Fri: 10am-4:30pm
Mon-Tues: Closed

Address
605 Robert E. Lee Road
Austin, Texas 78704

Phone: 512-445-5582Less

Once upon a time three renowned Austin writers met every afternoon at Barton Springs to create what has been dubbed "Austin's first literary salon." Roy Bedichek, J. Frank Dobie and Walter Prescott Webb met every afternoon, weather permitting, on a rock at the edge of the Barton Springs Pool that Bedichek christened "Philosophers' Rock".
... Morer /> Installed in 1994, this larger-than-life bronze sculpture immortalizes their friendship. Sculptor Glenna Goodacre, known for her image of Sacajawea on the US dollar coin and the Women in Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC, created this monument to friendship, intellectual companionship and love of nature.Less