Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Named for its creator, Claudia Alta "Lady Bird Johnson" (wife of President Lyndon B Johnson), this center is a great place for nature lovers looking to kill time. Mrs. Johnson founded the center to educate fellow botanists about the benefits of planting and nurturing certain types of plants, a project that has revolutionized gardening habits in central Texas. Today, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is the United States' largest research library for native plant studies. Visitors flock from all over the country to enjoy more than 650 species of Texan flora -- including bluebonnets and evening primrose -- which flourishes on more than 12 acres of gardens and along two miles of hiking trails. The center also features and observation deck, a café and a gift shop.

Located approximately 11 miles southwest of the city center, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoons. Admission to the center ranges from around $8 for adults to about $3 for children ages 5-12 (and free for children 4 years and younger). Prices and hours of operation fluctuate during the spring. For more information, visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center website.