Visit the Zilker Botanical Garden

Image credit: Zilker Botanical Garden Website

Easily the most beloved recreational area in Austin, the 2017 Summer Fun Checklist just wouldn’t be complete without an outing to Zilker Park. And no trip to the park is complete without a stop at the stunning Zilker Botanical Garden. More than just a wander through flowers, this collection of gardens is a tranquil space of ponds, wildlife and even dinosaurs.

Aiming to please even the smallest in your group, The Hartman Prehistoric Garden is our top pick for the kids, and just one of ten themed spaces in the Garden. The recreated dinosaur habitats serve as a great precursor to hitting the Dino Pit at the Austin Nature and Science Center, offering a unique look at what the world was like for some of the biggest creatures to ever walk the earth. The garden’s varied motifs include Koi ponds, waterfalls and streams, butterfly habitats, and events year-round to please families long after summer is over.

Location: 2220 Barton Springs Rd, Austin

Cost: $2 adults; $1 children 3-12; younger than 3 are free. Cash or check only.

Hours: Open 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.


Bonus: Visit the Hartmann Prehistoric Garden and you'll get two checks on your 2017 Summer Fun Checklist! One for Discovering Dinos in Austin and one for Visiting the Zilker Botanical Garden.

Image credit: Zilker Botanical Garden website

June Events

Forts & Faerie Homes Workshop

When: June 24^th

Cost/Registration: Resident child $16; nonresident $18. Must register by June 16^th, space limited.

July Events

The 6 D’s of Container Gardening Success

When: July 8^th

Cost: seminar is free with Zilker Park entrance fee. Adult $2; child (3-12) $1.

Woodland Faerie Trail Closes

When: July 30^th (the trail opens in late May, so be sure to catch it before the magic rests for another year!)

August Events 

Wise Rainwater Control for Central Texas

When: August 5^th

Cost: seminar is free with Zilker Park entrance. Adult $2; child (3-12) $1

For more information on any of the events listed above, click here. Then get out with your family and mark the Zilker Botanical Garden off of your summer checklist of must-do fun!