I love living in Austin!  There is always a new place to explore and new activities to try.  One of the things that surprised me the most when we moved here is the beautiful nature that surrounds the city.  One of my favorite outdoor places to visit in Austin is the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.  It is this beautiful, quiet, and educational space that is just a short drive away from the city.  As an added bonus not only do I love it, but my kids do as well.  A few months back I wrote a post about Fortlandia which is a special Fall/Winter event they host at the Wildflower Center, but today I am going to talk about everything else the center has to offer.

Right when I walk in I feel relaxed.  There is a long path with a beautiful water fountain at the end, and a large wind chime that my two year old stops and enjoys for a solid 5 to 10 minutes every time we go.  We usually go right when it opens to avoid the crowds so we are able to take our time exploring as we walk around.  Once you get to the main courtyard there are a few different directions you can go.  The first thing many kids seem to notice is the tall Observation Tower that is on the right when you walk in.  If you are able to climb about 60 or so stairs I highly recommend a trip to the top.  There is a nice view of the Wildflower Center up there and my kids love the challenge of getting all the way to the top.

After checking out the tower we usually head over for a walk on the Arboretum Trail.  This is the same trail that the Fortlandia event was on and the total trail walk is about 1 mile long.  One nice thing about this trail is it is good for strollers. I definitely recommend bringing a stroller if you have younger children because their legs may get a little tired towards the end of your visit.  This walk is my favorite part about the Wildflower Center because it is so peaceful and relaxing (especially if you go first thing in the morning before the crowds).  They also have a really neat place for kids where they can build forts out of logs, tires and wood blocks.  When I took my 8 year old with his friends they easily spent an hour here building.  Another great spot along this trail is where they have the wooden swings.  They have swings for all ages hanging under large and beautiful trees. The whole area is just so peaceful and relaxing. If I ever find a chance to visit by myself I think I will spend my entire visit in one of those swings. There are also a few other trails in this area if you would like to extend your walk. I often see grown ups getting exercise power walking around all of the trails. You can find a map of the paths here: https://www.wildflower.org/visit/gardens.

After we walk the trail we make our way back to the Family Garden area. This section has a large sand box, a waterfall, and some climbing activities for the kids. It is a true natures playground and the kids really enjoy it. They do have areas where the water is right next to the walkway and it is easy for little ones to fall in so I always keep a close eye on my 2 year old when we are near the water so we do not have a wet ending to our day! There are plenty of gardens, trails, and fields to explore when you are by the Family Garden so we tend to find something new to see each time we go. Not to mention the different flowers that grow during the year.

We have visited the Wildflower Center multiple times since we purchased our family membership. Not only is it fun to visit the center, but they also have many different events throughout the year such as Fortlandia, Tuesday Twilights, and Story Time. Many events are free if you are a member and you can find all of the events they have to offer here: https://www.wildflower.org/featured-events . I love finding places that are not only a big hit for my kids, but also great for the adults and this one is at the top of my list. It is a fun and wonderful place tucked away, but not too far from the city. I hope you get a chance to visit this local gem soon!

A few important items to note if you would like to visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center:

-At this time reservations to visit are not required, however they are encouraged because space is limited. If you would like to purchase your tickets in advance you can do that here: https://www.wildflower.org/visit

-Members can get in one hour early every day from 8 to 9 a.m. Since my kids are early risers and we like to avoid the crowds this is a major bonus for my family. Also, since we go so often the family membership made sense for us. You can find more details about memberships here: https://www.wildflower.org/join

-Parking goes fast in the main parking lot. If you don’t get there right at opening you may have a hard time finding a spot in the lot. However, there are additional spaces right outside the main lot on La Crosse Ave. It is not a super long walk, but just something to consider if you like to park close.

-There is a Cafe on site at the Wildflower Center that serves things like sandwiches, salads, and snacks if you are looking to purchase a light lunch while you are there or if you need a snack for the little ones.

-I definitely recommend brining a stroller if you go with young children because there is a lot of walking and it is a long way to carry them back to the parking lot if they get tired. I learned that one from experience!

-There are many events to check out at the Wildflower Center. We just visited Tuesday Twilights which is an event going on March 22nd-May 10th, 2022 and it was a lot of fun. If you want to see all of the events they have to offer you can see the list here: https://www.wildflower.org/featured-events .