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    Austin Nature & Science Center

    4.6 (149 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 5:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    Red tail hawk
    Shannon P.

    The Austin nature and science center is one of our favorite places to take our 4 kids in Austin and even better, it's totally free! But when you do go, please make sure to scan the QR code to track and log your visit. It helps with their funding and takes less than 2 minutes. My kids spent close to 30 mins in the Dino dig area alone. There are so many different sand pits for them to dig and use brushes in. The birds of prey area is awesome! And while the indoor reptile area is small, my kids always have fun finding where everything is hiding nonetheless. The indoor welcome center has so much for them to learn and touch, and they love bringing things to turn in to the front desk to collect points and coins to use in the "shop". I highly recommend! Great for a homeschool field trip too :)

    Trade your finds around town for points!
    Natalie G.

    This nature center was so fun. They have several rescued birds, a porcupine, and a bobcat (I think or it was another cat). The inside didn't offer to much, all the fun is outside. Including a huge sandpit with dinosaur bones you excavate. finding them is a bit confusing you park across the street in a lot used for hiking and biking the nearby trails, then walk about 5-10 minutes to get to them. We had limited time so finding it and where to park ate up some of it.

    Kristen M.

    I wish we had planned more time for this place on our itinerary because it was SO cool! There are live animals you can see, a trading post with fossils/ bugs/ bones, a whole pond and creek where you can take your shoes off and get in to explore/ catch little things with the bucket and net you get when you check in. Theres even a dino dig and a nature trail! Truly such a neat experience! My kids are 6 and 9 and we could have stayed here all day! Make sure this is a stop in your Austin itinerary- and its free!!

    Lisa K ..

    FREE!!!! Nice little hike around the center! Check out the Dino Pit, visit the porcupine in its cage! Sit and relax in the center and use your creativity... be your own archaeologist. Bring the kids to explore! Worth the visit!

    Nicki C.

    Great place for family (small children specifically) fun! Center is run off of donations in the main building. The center is a ways away from parking, and is best during open and non-peak hours for a good parking spot (other places in the area that share the same parking lot). Accessible to all, with a lovely path leading to the center that exhibits living and non-living things. They have wildlife plants and animals that are cared for (due to physical and health issues), a large water area, a dinosaur bone digging area, and many more! Definitely recommend!

    Charmaine S.

    They had kid camps for the summer. Different indoor and outdoor sections. Helped with the heat! They have cold water fountain in the recreation center. Different sections helped. They provide maps and info leaflets too. Will come back when it's cooler. They had a section were kids can play in the water. Nice touch in this hot texas weather.

    Emily R.

    We were looking for something fun to do with our toddler that wouldn't break the bank. We originally wanted to go to Zilker Park, but it wasn't very stroller friendly, so we found this place instead. The Nature and Science Center is free for admission. It is not very big and mostly outside, so don't expect a huge science museum, but it was perfect for my toddler and exactly what we were looking for. The entrance isn't grand, it's actually a little hidden; however, we were able to find it from the parking lot. The entrance is a little museum that has some animal fossils and insects in amber for kids to interact with. There was a little tree kids could crawl around and a huge picture window to look outside into nature. There weren't many displays, just the one little room with a few things for kids to do. Going outside there were more. You could see a handful of forest animals like a barn owl and they had a little reptile/aquarium house. The part my daughter had the most fun in was the little creek. It is shallow, so kids were able to walk around with water shoes using pails and sifters to find trinkets. Be careful though! The rocks are slick and it can be easy to fall. Another cool exhibit was the dinosaur exhibit where you are able to "dig" for fossils. It was pretty neat. My daughter really enjoyed herself and the best part is it was free. It isn't an all day thing, so if you want something fun to kill an hour or 2, this is your place.

    Family outing!!
    Brett J.

    This is an Austin treasure! A beautiful nature trail with native plantings, buildings filled with natural sciences, a number one great staff, and many rescued animals. There is so much to talk about and it is all free! They have a trade in program where your children can bring in things they have found: rocks, plants, bones, or even school projects they have done and earn points. These points are used to buy things that they have for sale... like other rocks, bones, or science stuff. What a fantastic way to get kids excited about science and nature! My son just loves it. He brought in some of his rock collection and got bunches of point for which he picked up a beetle, a monarch, and a different Rock. He was completely thrilled! We came with our whole family, cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents and everyone had such a great time. There are fields and play areas, there is a huge dino dig sand pit, nature trails, water areas, and of course animals. Snakes, turtles, frogs, bobcats, vultures, ravens, ducks, opossum, owls, a huge active bee hive and my favorite... hawks. All of them have been rescued from some area and saved here to live out their time. It is an amazing effort and wonderful to see. There is also marked plantings... trees, perennials, shrubs, and more. Of course I could just go through all of that all day! The place survives on donations and state funding... (please donate... every little bit helps) it is fantastic what they have here... truly something for all ages. I enjoy this place so much! Every time I come here it amazes me what they are doing. Just the attempt to bring awareness to children about science and nature... it seriously fills me with joy...

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    3 years ago

    Love it! Super cool...they have trails in this back by the animals . Lots of interesting and fascinating things to look at and do.

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    2 years ago

    It's was amazing.....it's just hot bring plenty of water n dress cool I would go back..............................

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    Ask the Community - Austin Nature & Science Center

    Is this park free of charge?

    Yes, Austin Nature & Science Center is free to visit!

    Does this place let you hold certain animals? If so, which ones?

    Hi Samantha, thanks so much for your question! While we do not allow visitors to hold our animal ambassadors for safety reasons, visitors can observe nearly 100 live animals native to Central Texas at ANSC in our exhibits and programs!… Read more

    Is this place stroller friendly?

    Danielle, it is indeed! As you approach the Visitors Pavilion, there is a ramp to the right of the main stairway as well as an ADA path around the pond to reach the Dino Pit. Everywhere else is easily accessible with a stroller. Thank you and we… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Austin Nature & Science Center

    The 6 yr old especially loved the dino pit and could have spent hours digging to her heart's content.

    Mentioned in 24 reviews

    Read more highlights

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