Bask in the natural beauty of the Texas Gulf Coast at the Armand Bayou Nature Center and experience the pristine wetlands, forests and grasslands of the area.  An abundance of fauna and flora live in the preserve, making it the perfect place to observe nature in all its glory.

Go for a hike on one of the trails and visit their live animal exhibits where you can observe bison, turtles, snakes, alligators, and raptors. The kids love the butterfly garden where the pretty winged creatures frolic and flutter. Tour the bayou on the Bayou Ranger pontoon boat, or take a guided canoe trip. Visit Martyn Farm on the preserve and travel back to rural life in the 1800s. Be sure to check out their many special events, like their Annual Harvest Festival.

The Armand Bayou Nature Center is open Wednesdays through Sundays. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for seniors and children.

Armand Bayou Nature Center
8500 Bay Area Boulevard
Pasadena, TX 77507
(281) 474-2551
http://www.abnc.org/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/armand-bayou-nature-center-pasadena

With autumn upon us, we hope everyone is able to take advantage of all of the fun and festivities that the season has to offer. Happy Fall!

Like preparing bread only to realize halfway through that you're out of yeast, nothing derails a cooking session faster than an inadequate arsenal of cooking tools. In many cases, a tool's importance is only realized when you reach for it and it's not there, so be sure to equip your kitchen before you start that recipe! Here are five multi-tasking kitchen gadgets you didn't know you needed — until now.

1. Microplane Zester: A super-sharp stainless steel zester makes zesting citrus and grating parmesan a breeze — much simpler than fumbling with a four-sided box grater.

2. Mortar and Pestle: From muddling mint for a cocktail to crushing dried herbs and spices, a mortar and pestle helps impart serious flavor to whatever you're preparing. Splurge for a marble pestle; they're more durable than stone or wood models.

3. Immersion Blender: An immersion blender is an affordable, portable tool for blending just about anything at warp speed, from soups and baby food purees to whipped cream and salad dressing.

4. Handheld Citrus Press: Forget those clunky citrus juicers that just eat up counter space; purchase a handheld citrus press that can be easily stored away in a drawer. To save even more space, purchase a press sized for a lemon, and buy an insert to accommodate a lime — without buying a second tool.

5. Tofu Press: Even if you're not a vegetarian, a tofu press can be used to press water out of frozen vegetables, homemade cheeses — anything you need to be liquid-free.

Want to learn about another multi-tasking wonder? Visit The Kitchn to see "the Number 1 Multi-Tasking Gadget You Should Have In Your Kitchen." [The Kitchn]