Austin Nature & Science Center

Sort of a combination museum, zoo and park, the Austin Nature and Science Center is a must-see. Located at the edge of Zilker Park, the center features several native Texas animals such as porcupines, coyotes, snakes and owls; science labs where kids can learn more about the natural world; and a fun "eco-detective" trail. But the center's crowning glory is its unique Dino Pit exhibit, a fantastic hands-on exhibit where kids can dig for fossils (reproductions of actual fossils found in Texas) and compare dino trackways.