In Northwest Zilker Park, just off Stratford Drive on the southern banks of the Colorado River, you'll find one of Austin’s hidden treasures for families, animal enthusiasts, and nature lovers alike. The Austin Nature & Science center houses all manner of birds, reptiles and mammals—many of them rescued from injury or orphaned—and provides them with care, medical attention, and food that they would be unable to access on their own in the wild.
Nearby, the Splash exhibit helps showcase local aquatic wildlife and illustrates the importance of clean, unpolluted water. The naturalist area at the center allows kids to share their knowledge of natural objects like shells, rocks, bones, feathers, or fossils, and trade such objects in for new artifacts. After a few minutes at the workshop, turn the kids loose on the Dino Pit so they can practice their skills at archeology. Best of all, this is all free of charge, so you can return as often as you like.
Austin Nature & Science Center
301 Nature Center Drive
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 974-3888
www.austintexas.gov/department/austin-nature-and-science-center
www.yelp.com/biz/austin-nature-and-science-center-austin-2
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