If you’re looking for a relaxing (or even romantic!) way to spend an afternoon near Sendera Barton Creek, consider visiting the Zilker Botanical Garden. This beautiful area attraction is filled with flowers and plants from as close as the Austin area to as far away as Japan, offering a unique glimpse into the plant life from all corners of the world.

Here, you can take a stroll through themed gardens, including a rose garden, a wonderfully scented herb garden, and even the Hartman Prehistoric Garden, which recreates the habitat in which the dinosaurs once lived! There are waterfalls and small streams scattered throughout the park’s 26 acres, as well as a large Koi pond filled with colorful fish.

Zilker Botanical Gardens is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Zilker Botanical Gardens
2220 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 477-8672
www.zilkergarden.org
www.yelp.com/biz/zilker-botanical-gardens-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr dany13

It'd be accurate to call Ralph Gilmore a jack of all trades. He's worked beneath the hoods of ailing cars; he's constructed and sold customized bikes; he's designed modern living spaces. But he took on an entirely new type of venture in the early 2000s when he debuted Turf N' Surf Po-Boy, a food trailer that eventually spawned a more permanent kitchen (and sidewalk order window) on Lavaca Street.

You can choose to have your food one of three ways: as a po'boy, tacos, or a salad, Then just pick your fixings. The mahi mahi is a popular option, whether or not you go for a po'boy or taco. But you can also go for blackened ribeye with horseradish cream buffalo chicken with bleu cheese, or grilled veggies (known as The Hipster). You can also opt for a basket of fried shrimp, catfish, oysters, or even crawfish. On the side, order one of the popular costars from the menu: the cilantro fries or the jalapeno hush puppies.

Turf N' Surf Po-Boy
407 Lavaca Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 276-2763
www.lavacastreet.com/turf-n-surf
www.yelp.com/biz/turf-n-surf-po-boy-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr yurilong

If your child is bored with training wheels and wants to learn to ride an adult bike, you likely have a number of concerns. However, as long as you keep safety and comfort in mind, teaching your kid to ride a bicycle can be a quick, painless process. Follow these helpful tips to best instruct your child how to push off, pedal, and cruise on his or her new "big kid" bike.

1. Safety first. Before you do anything else, get your child properly fitted for the right bicycle helmet. Even if he or she already has a helmet, it’s very important to have one that fits properly and provides the adequate amount of protection for learning to ride a bike. You can do this at just about any bicycle supply shop or sporting goods store.
2. Scout locations. When it comes to riding a bike for the first time, location is key. You want to find a flat, paved street or parking lot with no traffic or a low, gently sloping, grassy hill, depending on your child’s preference. Show him or her both areas and see which feels more comfortable.
3. Prepare the bike. You can’t just remove your child’s training wheels and expect him or her to speed away. Take off the training wheels and then begin by removing the pedals and lower the seat. Begin by showing your child how to balance, brake, and turn on the bike with no pedals, and then put the pedals back on. This is the final stage, so get the camera ready!

How To: Ride a Bike [Real Simple]
How to Teach a Child to Ride a Bike [REI]
How to Lean to Ride a Bike in 15 Minutes [Better Homes & Gardens]
Teaching a Kid (and Adult) to Ride a Bicycle [iBike]
Teach Your Child to Ride a Bike [Disney Family]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/bortescristian