Zilker Nature Preserve

Zilker Nature Preserve and the Austin Nature & Science Center sit in a pocket of genuine Texas Hill Country landscape within city limits — which is one of Austin's great gifts to families who want their kids to experience real nature without driving far from downtown.

The preserve encompasses wooded trails, limestone creek beds, and notable wildlife habitat alongside the Barton Creek greenbelt. The main attraction for families is the cave system accessible near the Nature Center — Eliza Springs is a limestone cave that can be explored with staff guidance during operating hours. There's something uniquely exciting for kids about crawling into an actual cave, and the cave's history as a prehistoric spring adds a real educational layer.

The trails are natural surface — limestone, dirt, roots — which means strollers won't work and young toddlers need a carrier or confident walking legs. Older kids who are comfortable on uneven terrain enjoy the trails, and the creek sections provide spots to wade and explore in warm weather.

Wildlife is genuinely visible here: deer wander the preserve with some regularity, turtles bask on logs in the creek, and the bird diversity is excellent for birding families. The adjacent nature center has permanent exhibits on Texas wildlife and geology that complement outdoor exploration.

Sunday hours are compressed (noon-5PM); arrive by 11:30AM on Sundays to make the most of a visit. The preserve is free. For food and facilities, head to the adjacent Barton Springs area which has picnic grounds and nearby South Lamar restaurants.