I didn't know what to expect from this place. Some science centers are kids-only affairs (despite not being billed as such) while others have more to offer visitors of all ages. Fortunately, the Austin Nature & Science Center ended up falling in the latter category. The main building houses an assortment of bones, shells, and rocks (as well as an axolotl tank) and another building is home to various reptiles. Outside areas include a dino pit (where kids can dig for fossils) and several animal enclosures. What makes the latter unique is that the animals are rehab/rescue cases. They include everything from a bobcat to a porcupine to a 34-year-old one-eyed owl (!!) and more. Granted, Austin Nature & Science Center does offer more for a younger crowd, and it isn't particularly easy to get to by bus, but it's hard to argue with a chance to take in flora and fauna for free. read more

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Great FREE option in Austin for kids! One of the best parts is you can see an axolotl (two, actually) in their visitor center building. Then you can head over to the birds of prey, the reptile/fish building, and the animal enclosures. There's also a little lake and a large sand pit (dino dig). There's a cool room in the visitor center that has all sorts of nature items (bones, dead bugs, shells, rocks, etc.). You can bring in your own stuff to trade! Is it a huge amount of things to do/see? No but for a free attraction, it's pretty great. Parking is across the street -- lot is shared with Zilker Park and all the nearby attractions so it can get busy. read more

My kid love dinosaurs and nature & science so when we're here visiting family and we found this and we got to checked it out, plus it's free too. Great place for kid to explore and be in exploring mood to get their hand dirty to discover things instead of iPads or iPhones. They can get wet and dirty (bring towels and xtra clothing for changing) since plenty of difference outdoor areas for them to discover and also inside there sessions or classes that they can sign up to lean things about nature & science. Really appreciated all this and especially the staff who are wonderfully patient with all type of kids and sometimes parents too. Thanks you. read more

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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 :) read more

Austin Nature & Science Center - Red tail hawk - Zoos Near Me - Austin, Texas

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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. read more

Austin Nature & Science Center - Trade your finds around town for points! - Zoos Near Me - Austin, Texas

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!! read more

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What a fun way to spend the afternoon. It was also free of charge so that's always a plus. Kids loved the little pond and the little really loved the sand box. Would definately recommend if you're in the area. read more

My family made their first (and only) visit to the nature center several months ago. We were greeted by a large display related to a divisive social issue (that has nothing to do with the purpose of the nature center) prominently displayed as we walked in. My wife said something about placement of the display to the guys behind the counter. As I walked through behind her they were very obviously laughing at us when we walked by. (Which drew a puzzled, disbelieving look from me...like "Really, guys?!?") On our way out I decided to raise the issue with the guy behind the counter. He almost instantly phoned his boss to deal with us because he was, in his words, "about to lose it with these people." Wild-eyed and visibly agitated, he would later tell his boss that I was "mad-dogging" him on the way in. The manager had to tell him several times to walk away. I told the manager that, while we have religiously-based views on the issue at hand, we understand and accept that a lot of people feel differently than we do on this issue. However, the nature center's handling of their display was done in a way that could make some people very uncomfortable and certainly did so in our case. In the course of a long, fruitless conversation, the manager basically told us that if we didn't like it we were "welcome to not visit the nature center." Because...inclusion? I can certainly say that the nature center did not leave my family feeling equal, included, or even safe. Quite the opposite. Truly, an unforgettable experience. read more

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! read more

Austin Nature & Science Center - Zoos Near Me - Austin, Texas

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! read more

Austin Nature & Science Center - Zoos Near Me - Austin, Texas

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. read more

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I love being out In nature - fresh air, aesthetically pleasing scenery and all the creatures that occupy the space. I had not been to the Austin Nature & Science Center in years! It was such a pleasant re-introduction. Today enjoyable excursion... read more

Something for all ages. Helpful staff. Pleasant settings. Top notch exhibits that educate and entertain. Lots to do, lots to see. A must-visit place. read more

Such a neat little gem to find for my 20 month old grandson. Tucked behind the botanical place and Zilker, it's worth the walk through. It might be buggy when it's hot (I don't know), but we went when it was cool and the walk was nice. read more

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. read more

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Came here with family and we had a great time!! The exhibits are mainly geared towards kids but was still nice to see. We enjoyed walking around and seeing everything!! It seems like most of the animals are kept humanely and were taken into captivity because of injury read more

This place is awesome. Some nice trails and wetlands. Also some animals to visit, such as porcupine, birds of prey, a bobcat, a rattle snake, and even a baby alligator. There is a small indoor area with an exhibit and a trading center where you can bring in natural artifacts (like coral, shells, bones, feathers, etc.) for points to purchase souvenirs. This is a must see for families and nature enthusiasts. read more

Great outdoor experience with kids and it's free Has indoor activities and outdoor activities such as finding dinosaur bones in the sand, putting feet in the water, looking at the owls. read more

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... read more

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I'm amazed that this experience was free! Awesome place to take kids. Our toddler loved the animals, the pond, and the sand play area. Come with a change of clothes if you're kiddo is the type to want to get wet! read more

Love this place!! Great for families and children. It's free to the public and have a lot of educational interactive activities. They have a Dino dig, where kids can look for dinosaur "bones" in the sand. They have wildlife exhibit with animals, like owls, bob cats, and alligators. They also have a nice pond where you can go fishing for small fish they provide buckets and small nets. Over all a great educational experience. Would definitely recommend and come back. read more

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The fam was in town with the kids, so we were looking for some kid friendly activities to partake in, and this was the perfect outing for us. We walked around and enjoyed nature, and they have some cool streams flowing through with Koi fish, and an area where you can go "digging for dino bones" and the kids loved that. Many of the exhibits were closed during our visit so that was a bummer (hence the reduced stars), and there were some birds in the sanctuary so that was cool to look at as well. In the actual front lobby area when you enter, there are some cool artifacts and skulls and rocks and such to look at, and there is a "trade" program which I thought was cool, where kids can bring something of there's to trade in for something another kid has left on their visit. They also had a gentleman who showed the kids different rocks and shells and talked to them and gave them information on them, which they learnt and enjoyed as well. I'd say it's a great way to spend a few hours with the kids, but honestly I think they have room for improvement to add more exhibits and things to do for it to be a more fulfilling experience. But I also understand funding and covid has probably effected this. read more

A great place to visit if you have kids! There's a nice pond and animals to see as well as a nice trail. There's no entrance fees so that's a plus! The staff here are extremely friendly! read more

They've had a hawk here since 1984! And other birds almost just as long in tiny enclosures. It's just really sad. They should as least make them bigger. Other than that this was a nice spot to visit. read more

First time here, took friends and their 9 year old daughter. Very nice and clean. Loved looking at the birds and reading how they ended up there. Personal favorite was the barn owls. Loved watching bees and viewing the ponds. The 9 year old enjoyed playing in the Dino exhibit and playing in the creek barefoot. We got on nature trail and saw a green snake. Didn't see any water in the creek but we're also having a drought. Would definitely come back and checkout the butterfly area read more

Austin Nature & Science Center - Dino exhibit - Zoos Near Me - Austin, Texas

So much fun! Very educational and you get a nice hike and workout with views and trails into river beds! They have animals and many birds of prey. They have a River the kids got to play in and overall it was certainly so much fun and very hands in learning! There is a dinosaur dig out and the cutest bob cat! read more

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This place is more for kids than adults. That being said, my friends were visiting from Chicago and picked this place based on their searches of things to do in Austin. We spent a bit of time here. The grounds and exhibits are nice & very close to some other places we visited. Easy parking. But it is definitely more of a kid thing. read more

So fun and family friendly! Best part is the hikes you can take near the sanctuary! Even as a date, it's a great place to go for animal lovers and it's free! read more

Went to Zilker for the train but found it was closed. Scrambling to find something fun to do with two little children, I remembered coming to the Nature and Science Center when I was little. It's just as I remembered with a few exciting changes. My sons enjoyed the animals and my oldest had a blast digging for dinosaur bones! Will come here again. read more

This was one of the best nature centers I've been to. They have all kinds of birds, reptiles, and wild cats. They keep the grounds clean and they also have a beautiful building at the center of everything read more

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This place is fun to explore, whether you're a kid or an adult. There is a little building with some interactive exhibits and a room where you can touch animal pelts, bones, and shells. You can walk on a trail that has different species of trees with labels. It leads you to the animal ambassadors, which are really cute animals who are ex-pets or injured such that they can never be returned to the wild again. When we went there was a bobcat, fox, red hawk, pigeon, mallards, and HUGE raven. I felt a little bad for them because their enclosures were a bit small and I felt like they were bored. The bobcat was pacing in a very anxious manner. Next on the trail is a birds of prey area that again has birds who can never go back to the wild. We got to see a turkey vulture, owls, and Hawks pretty close. It was so interesting to watch them and I enjoyed it more than a zoo because it seems more ethical since these animals were all rehabilitated and could not survive on their own. We did not get to do the whole nature trail because we didn't have enough time, but I wish we could have. read more

I have been trying to make it out here since I moved to Texas. So today is that day. The drive from cedar park was tolerable and there was ample parking. Just know... if the spot has free parking chances are it's getting at least 3 stars. The kids and I walked up to the entrance and walked in. And whoa. Lots going on here. There is no fee which is marvelous. The shop and their point system for purchasing is really cool- kinda like an arcade. The lady behind the desk was sweet and informative. We walked around and saw everything and really enjoyed ourselves. We plan on going back over and over. Thanks Austin for a slick place to brings the kids. read more

Austin Nature & Science Center - Entrance to the park. - Zoos Near Me - Austin, Texas

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

I loved it ! As someone who grew up in Austin and was brought here on field trips , it's an amazing nostalgia! It was even better to bring my first son , and to watch him enjoy the pond and the fossil dig up ! Would definitely recommend as a family outing for sure! read more

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Wonderful, free outdoor experience in Austin. We spent the afternoon exploring the exhibits, trails, streams and the dinosaur fossil pit. Great for children and adults. This picture was taken near the parking lot on a beautiful November Day. read more

Austin Nature & Science Center - Zoos Near Me - Austin, Texas

It's free and fun...no reservation is needed. There's a mini zoo and dino digging sand pit ... read more

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Who ever said great things are never free, has never been to Austin nature and Science Center. Nestled near Zilker park this free admission play and learning area is an amazing place for kids young and old. With butterflies and grasshoppers greeting you on the stroll in, a quick overlook to the left reveals a Dino dig sand pit with shading and a pond full of discovery. Be sure to bring found nature treasures like rocks or acorns or shells (except no bird nests or eggs) to trade in for bucks to be used to redeem other cool science items. With birds of prey and a few other local animals to observe, you can feel good about their enclosures because they are all animals that were injured so severely they cannot be returned to wild. ie amputated wings, blindness .... You can bring a picnic but pack in, pack out. And place benefits from donations so that they can continue to provide a wonderful place for us all to learn about the science of nature. read more

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

Great place to spend an afternoon with the kids! We were (slightly) prepared and so brought some small shells for the trading program. The woman staffing the trading desk was extraordinarily kind and generous and allowed my kids to trade their dull clam shells (and knowledge!!) for some small fossils that will make amazing souvenirs. The grounds are gorgeous and peaceful and the kids had a blast just splashing around the creek. Not many animals as a zoo and not as many exhibits as a science center, but absolutely unbeatable for the price. Looking forward to visiting on our next trip to Austin! read more

Awesome center with a ton of cool stuff to observe and check out. It's free to top it off. I highly recommend going and checking this place out if you have the time. Plenty of parking and great staff. read more