It’s Outdoor Science Season!
Fall activities in Johnson City
Fall’s blue skies and mild temps have finally arrived, so we’re making the most of time outdoors with family. Here are some of our favorite ways to explore at the Science Mill and the surrounding Johnson City area!
This fall, trade your backyard for ours
The Science & Art Park—the Science Mill’s big backyard—has over a dozen outdoor experiments and science experiences your group will love. Celebrate a special day or make it your outdoor classroom, like this group did:
(Courtesy Growing Up Childcare)
“As we sat down for lunch, the sun welcomed us. We were finally exploring in a space that wasn't home or a hiking trail. As we sat down near an enormous robotic hand overlooking a fossil dig site, the kiddos reminded me of how school-like it all was. We snickered over failed field trips and were reminded of all the friends we missed!! The Science Mill did a fantastic job ensuring our safety while inside the building and out. They were prepared and ready to over compensate for all our mask malfunctions! Many thanks for all the fun!! We're excited to come back.”
– Growing Up Childcare, via Facebook
Helpful tips for your Science & Art Park visit:
Bring a picnic or enjoy farm-to-table take-out from our neighbor, Lady Bird Lane Café (Wed-Sat 10:30am-2:30pm). We have outdoor tables available for lunch or a snack.
The Butterfly Garden, pecan grove and creek are prime spots for spying local wildlife. Download an app like iNaturalist or Seek to help identify your finds.
Speaking of “I Spy”—look for Scavenger Hunt signs sprinkled throughout the Science & Art Park. Can you solve all 10 clues?
For a speedy, contact-free entry, buy tickets online in advance. When you arrive, simply provide the purchaser’s name—no need to print out tickets. (To keep your journey just as speedy and simple, check out our driving directions and parking info.)
Plan ahead for group discounts and special programs! Groups of 15 or more who pre-register at least 2 weeks before their visit get a discounted rate of $8 per person. Homeschool and learning pod groups can also add a staff-led Learning Lab. Click for more details and to start your registration.
Our visit guide has more resources for planning your day, including “play safe” options like our hands-free experiences—several of which can be found in the Science & Art Park, along with the Mill’s signature hands-on exhibits:
Minds-on, Hands-free favorites:
African Spurred Tortoise
Incredible Ball Machine
Butterfly Garden
Labyrinth
Hands-on Highlights:
Remarkable Reflectors (NEW)
Colossal Robotic Hand
Giant Bubbles Station
Fossil Dig
Johnson City’s fall attractions & Halloween events
October and November are the Hill Country’s “second spring,” with fall wildflower blooms that attract a host of local and migratory butterflies and other pollinators. Prairie land, restored to its wild beauty, blooms along the Settlement Trail at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. Make the short trek (<1 mile) at this neighboring attraction before or after your Science Mill adventure.
A fall calf recently born at LBJ Ranch
(Courtesy of National Park Services)
For some of the area’s best fall colors, travel 14 miles west from the Science Mill to LBJ Ranch. As you take the driving tour or bike the road through the Ranch, spot vivid leaves on oaks, sumacs and possum-haw hollies and scan the pastures for the “nursery herd” with newborn fall calves! Restrooms in Hangar Visitor Center are open for those that need a pit stop. Check online to confirm current hours.
Johnson City is also circled by a remarkable ring of state parks, including Pedernales Falls State Park, Blanco State Park, Lyndon B. Johnson State Park, Old Tunnel State Park, and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. Most are a 20-minute drive from the Science Mill; Enchanted Rock is just under an hour away and well worth the trip. Many parks currently require day passes, so be sure to plan ahead at Texas Parks and Wildlife.
A Black Swallowtail visits a Shrubby Boneset
(Courtesy of Enchanted Rock State Natural Area)
Zebra crossing at Exotic Restort Zoo
(Courtesy of Exotic Resort Zoo)
And if really wild critters are your thing—think camels, ostriches and zebras!—take a drive-thru safari at Johnson City’s Exotic Resort Zoo. They recently relaunched their guided tours and petting zoo on weekdays (weekends and holidays excluded).