TEXAS

Austin and the Hill Country
Families aren’t the only ones who love Austin—it’s also home to the nation’s largest urban bat colony. Every summer evening, nature lovers gather under the Congress Avenue Bridge to watch the mysterious creatures of the night emerge and fly away to their nocturnal adventures. Daytime fun can be found at the Austin Nature and Science Center. Check out the injured and orphaned wildlife it cares for, the Birds of Prey aviary, and Eco-Detective Trail. Then follow the entrance to the Zilker Nature Preserve’s three miles of hiking trails. Head out of town for a family favorite—tubing down the Guadalupe River.

Then it’s welcome to Hill Country! Limestone ledges, steep green hills, fossil laden rocks—this classic Western landscape was once an Apache stronghold. Hill Country Equestrian Lodge offers horseback riding, nature photo safaris, and animal tracking adventures for kids. At night…look up. For city kids, this deep, dark region is a paradise for star gazing.

Big Bend National Park
Tucked inside a horseshoe curve of the mighty Rio Grande River, Big Bend National Park is filled with wild surprises. Pick up the pamphlet and hike Panther Path near the visitor center for a great introduction to the park’s plants—more than a thousand species grow here, some found nowhere else in the world. More than 400 species of birds fly overhead—more than in any other U.S. national park. Don’t miss the chance to take a river trip tour and float the Rio Grande through miles of cactus and canyons so deep sunlight never reaches the bottom. Watch for birds nesting high in cliff walls. Kids love the Window View Trail, Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail, and Lost Mine Trail. The adventure doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Be sure to take in the night sky. Miles from city lights and pollution, kids gaze up and wonder, “Where did all these stars come from?”