This natural underground cavern was discovered by construction workers building the I-35 freeway. Choose from one of the guided tours (we like the one-hour version) and learn the difference between stalagmites and stalactites while you explore the cavern’s Ice Age animal fossils.

Pioneer Farms is a longtime establishment that makes learning about Central Texas fun (really!). That’s because it’s immersive, offers participatory events, and, most important, has a petting zoo. If you don’t make an event there, you can still enjoy its themed historic areas on self-guided walking tours; they include everything from an 1841 Tonkawa encampment to an 1899 rural village.

Risen from the ashes of the ice rink of a now-defunct mall, Chapparal Ice has reinvented itself as a refreshing recreation space with times for free skating as well as ice skating and recreational competitive hockey programs. Plus curling!

Head to the 5.1-acre Covert Park at Mount Bonnell for beautiful views at the highest point in the city. Even kids can make the 102-stair climb up to the peak, and the trail to the top is only about a third of a mile.

Located in a lakeside villa built in 1916, Laguna Gloria is a museum that includes the fantastically fun Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park on its enchanting grounds, as well as the lovely peacocks that wander the area along with adjacent Mayfield Park—kid pleasers on both fronts. This is a don’t miss.

Patterson Park is an outdoor oasis for kids, complete with basketball courts, a mini skate ramp, volleyball courts, picnic tables, multiple playgrounds, and top-notch trees to climb. Its Flamingo Mitote Its  mosaic sculpture, created by artist Stephanie Distefano and community members and maintained by the Chula League, also makes for one gorgeous pool-equipment shed.

Pease Park, which runs alongs Shoal Creek just west of Lamar Boulevard, starting not far from downtown, is a big, beloved, and long-lived public park in Austin, great for a run or a stroll. It also has a playground, tons of picnic tables under a canopy of giant trees, volleyball courts, and an off-leash dog-walking area.

It may be easy to ignore the Texas State Capitol for fear that it’s boring, but that would be a mistake. One of the prettiest capitol buildings in the country—decked out in distinctive pink granite—also boasts free guided tours, 22 acres of green lawns perfect for rolling, and a rotunda that has fun acoustics.

Nature is a hands-on experience at this curiosity shop of scientific and natural artifacts located in west Zilker Park, which has an old-school, natural history museum vibe. Unlike in most museums, though, kids are encouraged to touch stuff, rather than being prohibited from it. Major bonus: It’s free.

Sitting on Lady Bird Lake, with views of the city skyline, Zilker Park is packed with activities. Kayak around Lady Bird Lake, admire the waterfalls in the Botanical Garden, ride bikes, fly a kite, take the pups for a frolic, have a picnic on the grassy lawn, or all of the above.

A fine place to ogle vintage toys, action figures, retro toys, classic toys, or console video games of childhoods past or present. Though seemingly targeting fanboys/girls, the museum is in fact focused on childhood education and also has a lot of hands-on activities, like vintage video games.

Austin is the seasonal home for the largest population of Mexican free-tailed bats in North America. They winter in Yucatan, Mexico (and sometimes further inland), then fly north each spring to nestle under the Congress Avenue bridge until late fall. Almost every night at sunset—but especially in April-May and late July/early August, they emerge from under the bridge to form a huge, mammalian cloud, heading east to scout for that night’s insect dinner. It is truly an amazing sight, and crowds line up on the east side of the bridge and on a designated watching area just southeast of it, to watch it.

Locally owned Epic Fun is the new kid in town when it comes to family-oriented indoor recreation. The fun does indeed look epic, with things to do that appeal to all age groups (including adults). Laser tag, climbing walls, a ropes course, mini bowling, arcade games, and bumper cars are a few of the attractions, and there’s a real cafe with adult options including beer and wine. You can also book events there, from kids’ birthday parties to corporate events (see: ropes course).

The Wildflower Center is a wonderful place to visit any time of year, but the season when its namesake flowers are abloom is pretty special. Founded in 1982 by Lady Bird Johnson and Helen Hayes with the mission of conserving native plants, creating sustainable landscapes, and conserve resources, it features nine acres of gardens, a 16-acre arboretum, a large and impressive rainwater collection system, 800 species of native plants, and landscapes that, as its website notes, “support a vast web of life, and have recorded more than 143 species of birds, 15 species of mammals, and 1,800 species of insects.”

McKinney Falls is so close to central Austin, but people tend to forget about it. Even if the creek is dry during drought years, the pool at the end of the hiking trails most often offer a refreshing plunge. And it’s perfect for the mild, sunny days between summers, with hikes of varying length and difficulty.