Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a fantastic destination for families with young kids and Girl Scout troops! Our visit was both fun and educational, with so much to explore and enjoy. The center is beautifully maintained, showcasing a stunning variety of native Texas plants that kids loved learning about through hands-on exhibits and interactive displays. For younger children, the Luci and Ian Family Garden was an absolute hit! They had a blast climbing the giant tree stumps, exploring the forts, and splashing around the water features. It’s the perfect space for little ones to connect with nature while burning off some energy. For Girl Scout troops, the center offers an excellent opportunity to engage with conservation, botany, and the importance of preserving native ecosystems. The guided tours and workshops tailored for groups were incredibly insightful, and the girls left feeling inspired to make a difference in their communities. We also enjoyed the easy-to-navigate trails, shaded picnic areas, and the café with kid-friendly options. The center’s staff were warm, knowledgeable, and eager to share their passion for Texas flora, which made the experience even more special. Whether you’re planning a family outing or a troop activity, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a must-visit spot that combines learning, play, and a deeper appreciation for nature. Highly recommend! 🌻🌿

We recently visited the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for a wedding reception, and it was truly magical. The entire grounds feel like something out of a dream, with breathtaking landscapes and vibrant wildflowers everywhere you look. It’s clear that a lot of hard work and dedication goes into maintaining such a stunning space, and the result is simply amazing. The center is welcoming to all ages, with so much to explore. I highly recommend setting aside an entire day to take in everything this beautiful place has to offer. It’s a perfect spot to reconnect with nature and enjoy a peaceful, inspiring atmosphere.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is an absolute gem! Our family recently visited from out of town, and we were thoroughly impressed by how well-kept and beautiful the grounds are. The Dinosaur Exhibit was a pleasant surprise, adding an unexpected element of fun and education to our visit. The Center is perfect for families, offering a peaceful and engaging environment for kids and adults alike. We enjoyed exploring the diverse plant life and learning about native Texan flora. The trails are well-maintained, and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. We're already planning our return trip in early spring to see even more wildflowers in bloom. If you're in the area, the Wildflower Center is a must-visit destination for nature lovers and families!

I have no words. I became a member recently, mainly for the sole reason to come to this show, as well as others that are held throughout the year, but this was a major overwhelming disappointment. Compared to last year, where there were miles of trails with all different types of lights and sculptures this was for kids. I think they were less than 100 definitely less than 100 sculptures. Very few lights. This was mostly neon. There were lighted seesaws. I was done walking the whole thing less than 20 minutes. As you can see in the photographs, many of the lights along the trail weren’t even lit. It seems like they didn’t have enough money or funding to do a proper show this year. To make matters worse there was no way to change your ticket or to reserve it as a member online, because there was nobody at the box office no matter how many times you phoned or what day it was. The whole operation is very inefficient and extremely unprofessional. Tickets are not even downloadable for your Apple wallet. I do not recommend it.

Would not recommend luminations. For the ticket price we walked from entrance all the way till the end in less than 30 mins. If you don’t have kids this exhibit is very boring. Bunch of kids playground that’s not exciting if you are coming with bunch of friends & no kids. Overpriced cocktails, the bartender didn’t even fill up the cup for $15 pre-made drink which was already 50% ice. When we asked why they said would you like a whipped cream? Unbelievable. Hot chocolate was COLD. Oh also $25 for parking I am glad we did the shuttle otherwise we would be pissed. Alas, we decided to make the most of it by doing the trail twice. It was so short and not many lights to see. Not to mention also it got real quiet there, no music, just… boring. Be prepared to be disappointed we spend almost $150 for 2 people for tickets and watered down drinks. 2 stars cause staffs were nice except the bartender. I feel like they were forcing the Xmas lights, need to be better than this for the wildflower center.

What a special part of Austin heritage! Beautiful at all times of the year due to smartly organized planting for different flowering periods. Plenty of pollinators, and we even saw a rat snake wandering around. Be sure to visit the rain capture tower. The native plant sale is also a hit - they'll be the healthiest plants you can put at home.

Beautiful gardens, amazing on a slightly cool day. Didn’t go when many flowers were in bloom, but I imagine it’s a 100x better. Cute gift shop. Would love to come back by for events as well as the cafe which we didn’t get a chance to try.

It was the peak of the blue bonnet season, so it was BUSY. You may need to park further away and walk a few blocks during peak flower seasons. Staff were very helpful and around to help. The viewing tower was neat, although people with mobility issues may not be able to access it. Most paths are brick paved or gravel. If you are pale or burn easily, sunscreen WILL be necessary as there's not a ton of shade. Lots of pictures and opportunities. A free-play area and tree swings looked fun for kids. A great balance of views and informative plaques and a great way to get outside into nature.

Luminations holiday lights are beautiful! $28 pp (non-member). Additional if you want guaranteed parking. Not only do they have many lights, but there are also activities such as the see-saw and playground with exercise equipment. The surrounding music really gets me in a festive mood. Love it! They also have a food truck inside that sells burgers if you're hungry. I'll definitely be back to check out the wildflower center in the daytime. This place is huge and is a great place to visit for all ages!

The Wildflower Center is so special. There is no other place in the world where you can see so many incredible wildflowers and plants native to Texas. I highly recommend coming in the spring time when the weather is ideal, and when the bluebonnets and other wildflowers are in full bloom. Make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes. There are several trails to walk, some of which are on a cobble stone path and others on gravel/dirt. Great for exercise and for taking in all the beautiful scenery! Athena the owl happened to be raising two owlets on our visit, so that was a bonus to see. They had a livestream camera so you can watch her and her owlets online. Definitely come here if you are visiting Austin.

I have visited this wildflower center multiple times over the past couple of years and it's always a treat! Recently my son and I visited Fortlandia and it was so fun seeing all the new forts the kids could climb on! Another nice bonus is the tons of free parking on site and street and they are also accessible with ramps and paved trails for a good majority of it! 10/10 going to keep coming back to admire the flowers and butterflies!

It's amazing. Too bad I can't get in because they secretly closed for this week! Please update your hours for us so we don't get a bad surprise.

Oh I love this place so much. What a gem! The membership is so worth it, it's a beautiful place to walk around, especially with children. My daughters especially enjoy the sand pit and creek! Even the gift shop has a well put together deadline. I highly recommend this place :)

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center once again showcases Fortlandia for the 2024-25 season. The playful creations are brilliant and artistic and the kids enjoy exploring them. There are still wildflowers blooming even at this time of the year and can walk the native walking trails. Birdwatching is fun and at the end hangout at the Wildflower Café with a cold drink and snack. The kids love picking out their favorite popsicle. If you have not been here in a while then will see the newly renovated Shop & Gallery where much of the clutter is gone but still have nice merchandise and items for kids.

There are no wildflowers. There was nothing but scrub brush and dirt. A total waste of $30 and they refused to refund us. We were and are totally disappointed.

Went during wildflower season and it was beautiful. Lots of Bluebonnets, Texas yellow star, Indian paintbrushes, Indian blankets and Mexican hats. Some of these flowers definitely need new names, but they're very pretty. A great spot of bluebonnet pics but an ever better spot to just wander the trails and admire the beauty. Also they have an owl!

Bring an umbrella, hat, sunscreen, and water. It got really hot after 1PM. A nice place to enjoy wild flowers and wild life. The place is huge and can take easily 2 hours of visiting time. Great price for $15 for an adult admission ticket.

Beautiful park. Even more so in the spring with all wildflowers blooming. I attended a celebration of life here. They have a room that overlooks the field of flowers. The paths were clear and clean. Bathrooms are available. They have a nice gift shop Parking will be an issue. They do have a parking lot, but it fills up quickly. You park on the street, but this can also fill up quickly. If you're here for an event, you can drop off those that can't walk far at the entrance.

We got super lucky and just happened to visit Austin during Texas Wildflower season... there is a whole Widower Watch social media movement to track what/where is blooming! I was surprised how much was blooming in the garden (#10 on the map) so you don't have to walk very far at all. Especially if you slow down and really soak in all the details, like the moths, butterflies, and creepy crawlies. If you are visiting with kids, pack water, snacks, sunscreen, and plan on walking about a mile round trip to our kids favorite spot.... Fort Build (#19) has tons of tires, branches/sticks, blocks, and wood to build your own fort in the shade of trees that were dense enough to provide relief but not enough to create any issues keeping an eye on littles. We finally lured our kiddo away from the fort with the mention of Swings (#20) under the magnificent oak trees. We honestly could have spent all day if we had packed snacks.

Loved Illuminations! This event happens once a year and when it's a bit chilly outside which is perfect. This year we went with our friends and their kids and we all had a blast! We started with cotton candy glow wands. Then got some hot chocolate. Adults could get their hot chocolate spiked! Then had pizza from food trucks. There was also burgers and fries. There is a bar tent for adults. Lots of engaging installations and never got too packed. Pro tip- we brought water bottles for kids and bought adult beverages there.

Beautiful wildflowers. The green rooftop helped my boys understand conservation and helping the environment. Beautiful views from the top. The restaurants pretty cute too. Worth a visit.

Fantastic place to spend a few hours on a nice day. I went to have a little picnic during Twilight Tuesday, a summer series where they have food trucks, drinks for purchase, and live jazz music. Very family friendly and a peaceful yet inexpensive way to spend an evening out of the house. There are so making little trails to explore and there's pretty greenery around every corner! If you're lucky, like we were, maybe you'll interact with some wildlife. Two baby owls who hadn't learned to fly yet and were hanging out near the entrance!

If I lived here, I'd get a membership and hang out here reading a book on a shady bench overlooking the gardens. I love how as you're walking through the garden, there are lovely fields of blue bonnets (the Texas state flower) for as far as the eye can see. This is a beautifully kept garden and a nice place to walk around with kids. They make it super kid friendly too, with a large sand pit, plays structure, and even a little library in the middle for the Family Garden. They also have a scavenger hunt for the kids, where you go around the whole garden and mark off when you see certain landmarks, like a garden gnome of a stature of a raccoon. If you find all the items, you can stop by the souvenir shop for a small prize! My husband and oldest daughter wandered around for a good 30 minutes trying to find the statue of the raccoon but finally found it in the end! All the workers and volunteers here are super friendly -- we've definitely been experiencing that Texas hospitality during our trip here. If you're looking for a place to spend a couple leisurely hours while wandering amongst beautiful gardens, this is it!

Went out to Austin Tx and heard about the Lady Bird Johnson place. We decided to check it out and had a good fun time. It's a botanical garden with some trails that take you through the park. One of my favorites was the pollinator garden. I snagged a picture of the sign showing how to make your own pollinator garden ... goals... I thought it was well done and a good thing to visit and worth the trip.

Our first time at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower center was for the Luminations all lights installation. It was interactive and good long walk around the center for the show. We really enjoyed that some of the installations where you can enjoy have a seat on a swing. Other installations were more for viewing but all the installations were definitely great for pictures. It's a great way to enjoy nature with some modern technology and creativity.

Come on. This is USA and u have to accept the CASH! We do not need to use debits or credit card EVERYWHERE. It has to STOP. We, people, support CASH. Please put the cash as option!

This is a magical places for children and parents alike. It is fun for children to see the beautiful flowers and swing on there massive swings. It is just out of a story book. They do fun events there. Don't forget to go to the sweetheart gift store where you will find unique and beautiful gift and novelty items. You will be amazed by how many butterflies they have there! Check it out for a fun day with your kid in nature. Make sure to wear a hat and sunglasses too!

Wintertime isn't the best time to come since everything is dormant. But we did see bluebonnets leaves starting to sprout. It was nice to walk around the grounds. Go up the observation deck. Lots of kids around for activities around the park. The introduction movie was very interesting as I wasn't aware how much Lady Bird Johnson loved nature and promoted the support to it as First Lady. I will need to return in the spring to see the flowers in full bloom!

We went here on a nice overcast day and were happy to see that there were still plenty of bluebonnets around even though the season is winding to a close. Really beautiful gardens and it was possible to maintain a comfortable distance from other visitors even though it was very populated. One thing I'd like to see is maybe more accessibility to trash cans on the grounds as we had to pick up other peoples' garbage and drop it off elsewhere rather than let it stay littered on the paths. I'd really love to go again! Very reasonable pricing $15 entry and $50 annual pass.

If you enjoy a nice evening out on a weekday be sure to head to the Tuesday Twilight at the Wildflower Center. The event is free for members but you still need to reserve a ticket. It was a very relaxing atmosphere with mostly young families or retirees gathering in the courtyard for music. The Pueblo Viejo food truck was popular but many people brought their own picnics. There was a small cocktail bar available as well but drinks were pricey. I was extremely disappointed that there was no water bottle refill station! Bathrooms were okay to start but no refresh cleaning took place during the event and water was all over the counters and floor. I would recommend bringing chairs and small folding table if you want to sit in the courtyard. A picnic blanket would be great if you opt to sit away from the courtyard Overall a nice, casual event if you have a membership and live close by but I don't think it is worth $15 for this event. Next time, I would just explore the grounds more or get tickets to the Field of Lights exhibit (although this is a heartier price tag at $40) The music lineup changes for Tuesday Twilight so check the schedule before grabbing your tickets. Don't forget bug spray!

It was absolutely a magnificent day! The flowers are absolutely beautiful and there was plenty of room to roam. My only recommend is you because parking can be a challenge

We came here to see the Field of Lights at Christmas. It is quite stunning with what seems to be acres and acres of beautifully colored lights spanning across mass fields. It is best to get there as dusk falls as it is quite lovely to see them begin to light up. There are 28,000 spheres lighted with fiber optics. It is a spectacular sight and an engineer's delight to see how they are wired and to figure out how they work. I couldn't help but to think how much work it must've been to have every sphere, 28,000 of them, individually staked into the ground! They also hand out music headsets with three different genres of music on it so you can listen to music as you walk around and enjoy the fields of lights.

We went for our first time today and I will say it was beautiful but we went to take family photos. On our way out, we were stopped and asked if we were taking photos and if they were for Christmas cards. When we said yes, we were told we had to pay $250 or delete all the photos that were just taken. Super upset as we had no clue this was the case and couldn't plan another weekend for family photos with the holidays coming up so we had to pay. It's honestly pretty hard to find that policy on their website and there are no signs anywhere saying this. The only way we would have known this is if we went to camera policy page on their website and scrolled past the general photography guidelines which is kind of confusing.

Free parking in garden park grounds. Good for family with kids. Nice easy walking trails. If you want to see some nature and don't want to drive far, this is an excellent botanical center. Public restrooms, cafe, and store in park. We saw a mama deer with her baby deer in the hedges. Lots of birds and plants to see and learn about. Observation tower is awesome. Nice architecture. Highly recommend for $15 entry ticket for adult.

Very beautiful... Glad we visited... Go early to have breakfast and a Bloody Mary at the cafe.

Loved stopping here for a little morning stroll while I was visiting town! Lots of good hiking trails and it was easy to buy tickets and head on in. I wish the trails were marked a little better (distance, a map of connecting trails, etc.), but not a big deal at all because it was beautiful. There were quite a few flowers in bloom. Stopped and got an orange dream popsicle from the cafe and it was perfect after our walk. If I lived here, I would definitely be purchasing a membership and going back often.

A magical place. The grounds are lovely. The buildings are fantastic. The staff are knowledgable and passionate. In addition to the rich diversity of plants, I saw a garter snake, a turtle, a roadrunner, a Texas spiny lizard, lots of butterflies, and a nesting great horned owl!

A great outdoor (mostly) venue for nature lovers and families of all ages. Perfect place for multi-generational interactions. 200 plus acres of spaces dedicated to showcase the beautiful wide variety of wildflowers & native vegetation. Maps are provided at the main entrance. Several rest spots along the way. Restrooms are strategically placed throughout the campus grounds. A great place to teach younger children about nature and appreciation of the natural resources. An entrance fee is required. Season passes are available. Mostly flat and very accessible for wheelchairs & walkers. A gift shop and cafe are located near the entrance as well as indoor event spaces.

The Wildflower Center is in full bloom! I visited for the first time yesterday and had a wonderful time walking through the flower fields currently full of bluebonnets, gardens, and trails. They offer self-guided tours and they also recommended using the TravelStorys app to help you navigate the grounds.

Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center is a peaceful place to learn, meditate and enjoy nature. There are many benches in the shade, some near flowing water, and many themed gardens to explore. I highly recommend this gem to people of all ages.

The Wildflower Park is beautiful and a great place to spend a lazy afternoon or evening for a jaunt through the verdant meadows. My review is mostly concerning the "Field of Light" exhibit held there this past September. This show of over 28,000 spheres lighted with fiber-optics is really quite amazing when you get to enjoy exploring the park as dusk falls. The problem I had was the policy of the exhibit and the behavior of one of the volunteer hosts. The advertising encouraged people to bring their cameras and take pictures of the exhibit. One of my friends is a semi-professional photographer and she brought her equipment to the park. We went through the security screening including inspection of the equipment and there were no issues. However, after wandering the park for about 45 minutes, we were accosted by one of the volunteers, an older woman, asking us how we got a tripod in to the park and that it wasn't allowed. She directed us to go to back to the entrance and speak to the folks in the front office. As it was becoming late, we decided we had seen enough of the displays and began walking toward the exit. About halfway back, we saw another display that we wanted to photograph so we stopped to take a few more snapshots (without the tripod). We hadn't realized that the volunteer was trailing us and she began again speaking to us rudely. Her behavior was ridiculous and the policy is nonsensical. You cannot take nighttime photographs of dimly lit subjects without a tripod or fast lens. We happened to run into another photographer who was also told "no tripods" and forced to go back to their car to leave the equipment there. If this is the policy, it needs to be advertised but again, it makes no sense. People were bringing in all sorts of other items such as canes and walkers and wheelchairs so hard to understand the concern over a tripod. Given the overpriced entrance fees ($40 x 3) plus another $30 for overpriced beverages, I think we could have had a much better time visiting Austin doing anything but the Wildflower Park and spending that hard-earned money elsewhere. We won't be back. NOT recommended.

I absolutely love this place! I've taken family members of all ages here. The older generations love the educational elements regarding the native trees and plants. The younger ones love the swings, playscapes, and waterscape. The butterflies and bluebonnets are absolutely breathtaking during their seasons.

It's a lovely activity for an afternoon (or evening). The trail is a nice 1-2 hour stroll depending on how fast you take it (could be shorter even if you walked fast. I enjoyed going with my mother on a day off; I used the "Seek" app to look up a lot of the flora and insects we saw along the way. The weather was great and it wasn't busy at all. They also have some seasonal activities or other quirky events eg art exhibits and happy hours, so that could also be fun and worth looking up. I also didn't realize UT students and staff get in free (I am staff), so make sure to mention it so you get your ticket free rather than the adult price which is $15! They also have senior and youth pricing.

Nice, relaxing trail to see and learn about native Texas flora. Children will enjoy a playground, scavenger hunt, and little library just for them. We had a spring salad and chicken salad sandwich in the cafe, which has a beautiful setting.

This is my absolute favorite place to go. It's my birthday? Let's go to LBJWC, I'm having a bad week? Let's go to LBJWC. You can't help but feel relaxed and at peace when you are here. And the conservation work they do is really great. Even my brother who lives in North Carolina knew about this place. Unfortunately his visit was too short to bring him.

This is a neat little place to come take a stroll and explore native plants of Texas. During the holidays they have a fun little light show that they continue to add to. The people there are friendly and there are lots of interesting nooks. It's a great place to take kids. No doggies though. I think I'm giving this place a 3 instead of a 4 because their hall of texas heroes exhibit was disappointing to see what they qualified as "heroes"

Enjoyed walking around here looking at the wildflowers. We saw 8 different types when we went two wk ago. We even attended the field of lights the next weekend. That was really cool!!! You get borrow head phones and listen to the man who created the idea of the light display or you can listen to music. They have a scavenger hunt to look for the gnomes which I thoroughly enjoyed while viewing the beautiful lights. We got there before it was really dark and they had a gal with bubbles for the kids and we played corn hole and Jenga. Very fun night

The lady bird Johnson wildflower center is illuminated at night with beautiful lights that capture the eye with amazement. Awesome display of lights that's great for someone looking for a simple walk or a date and of course a great time with the family. Parking is hard to find inside you might have to park on the side but none the less a color experience

I went here with a friend and we had a great time walking around, listening to music and enjoying the scenery. There is a trail that takes you around a full loop and half loop... neither are that long so it might be worth you time to take the full loop because there is literally nothing else to do out there. That said, the lights are really pretty and they gradually change colors. You will also be offered headphones for a silent-disco type experience with 3 channels (blue for disco, red for country and green for meditation). There is a platform overlooking the field where you can hangout to kill more time - it was pretty chilly the night we went and the staff were gracious enough to turn out one of the heating lamps which was really nice! There are also bluebonnets scattered towards the end of the trail with little lights showing them off, pretty cute. I think everyone should go at least once.

I became a member here this year, and I love it. I just wish they stayed open longer during the winter hours, although I know it's hard because It gets dark so early. This place is way bigger than you imagine, and there are so many trails in different areas to explore. We've gone for fortlandia with my two-year-old, and he always has a blast. Find the swings under the trees and remind yourself what it's like to be a kid again!

We visited the Center in November. It includes the Mollie Steves Zachry Texas Arboretum. Liked it! Good Wi-Fi with a speed of 27 Mbps at the Wildflower Café (tasty food offerings). Near the entrance there was a Roman-style overhead aqueduct leading to a rainwater storage tank inside a faux-medieval tower - very whimsical! The gift shop was very good; we liked the yaupon tea. They also grow yaupon on the grounds. Yaupon is a native plant with caffeine, used in teas by Native Americans. It is related to holly and has similar berries. The arboretum has a good collection of oak species, research plots, and meadows. We liked the Trail of Texas Heroes! Each tree was grown from acorns taken from historic oak trees in Texas. The Fortlandia area had about ten miniature playgrounds, each shaded by a large oak tree and well-separated from other areas. We liked walking the research trails in the Hill Country. Suggestion: print a QR code, which when scanned would give a detailed trail map. Or give detailed printed maps near the main entrances. We walked some of the trail network and there was no information about some trails and how or whether they connect to each other.

Went to the lumination light show and was sorely disappointed. The who thing was rinky-dink. I have seen better lights in my neighbors front yards. Don't waste your money on tickets! I believe I payed around $28 dollars per person and it was a joke. Half the lights were out and what lights they did have looked like they came straight from Amazon. The botanic garden in Houston puts on an amazing version of this that is so impressive you will be talking about it for days. This felt thrown together and not at all curated. Don't waste your time.

Wanted to take some cute pictures for my birthday and my boyfriend recommended this place. Location was a great choice! Parking was easy to navigate. UT students get in for free with their UT ID and we made sure to make a reservation from 1-3pm. The place was not as packed which was nice and it exceed my expectations. The nature was beautiful and the variety of plants and flowers was amazing. Very beautiful location for birthday, engagement or wedding pictures. Got a couple of stickers from the gift store but they have a lot of cute home-made items. The cafe had some yummy treats but I just had a cookie and a lemon bar, which were both really good.

Great place to visit and walk around. Was there in mid-March. Wonderful spring flowers in bloom.

Absolutely awe inspiring. Tuesday night twilight music was such a treat. Amazing gift shop and the kindest staff ever. Lady Bird Johnson is a great woman and every time I see flowers alongside the highway I think of her and say thank you to all the women who have come before me and left a legacy of beauty.

We rejoined the wildflower center this year after a years absence and it was a great move. We made 2 trips this week to Fort Landrie and let me tell you it was one of the best experience. I took all 5 of my grandkids ages 7-9 and they all loved the experience. The center is a great outdoor location to enjoy our precious outdoors. Spring is of course a vibrant time. Join and enjoy the wildflower center you won't regret it

We live about 10 minutes from the wildflower center and have been here many, many times. We just love this space and the people who work and/or volunteer here! My children love the forts and interactive areas, and I love watching them enjoy nature! A special treat was when the resident owl had a nest right by the entrance and we got to watch the babies grow over time. We also love the holiday light displays; they are all large, outdoor art installations and so much more than your average "Christmas light show." We feel lucky to live nearby and would highly recommend it to anyone into nature or outdoor activities with children or family.