Dinosaur Park

Though it’s technically 12 miles east of Austin near Bastrop, the local Dinosaur Park is a hotspot you won’t to neglect if your little peeps are Prehistorically inclined. Unlike a traditional dino museum, this park features full-scale statues on a mile-long trail depicting the creatures as they were when they ruled the Earth, plus a Dino Dig for unearthing some life-size “fossils.” On a nice afternoon, it’s an ideal site for a birthday or picnic. And if it’s the right season, the grounds offer up a fantastic lesson in local critter life—you can often spot lizards, wild rabbits, large stick insects and roadrunners as you traverse the path.