Fall wildflowers create a second spring in the Hill Country, and the Science Mill is surrounded by prime bloom-spotting stops.

Pedernales Falls State Park and Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historical Site are local stand-outs, both less than 20 minutes from the Science Mill. Heading west from the Mill toward Fredericksburg, visit Wildseed Farms to stroll the fields of a working wildflower farm. Farmers there harvest wildflower seeds, which you can purchase for planting at home. Or pick up the Willow City Loop just outside Fredericksburg for a scenic drive along meadows and fields. (Photo: Thomas L. Muller)