Zilker Botanical Garden

Picture-perfect plants in a tranquil setting
Noteworthy for: Beautifully manicured gardens provide a quiet getaway in the heart of the city.

Located near Barton Springs pool and the restaurant row along Barton Springs Road, scenic Zilker Botanical Garden is an ideal spot to walk off a big meal or wind down after a swim.
Several themed gardens dot the 30-acre site, including the Mabel Davis Rose Garden, which bursts with color from April to June, and again in October. Columns, arches, and limestone borders add drama and contrast to the mix of shrubbery and climbing roses.

Nearby, the Isamu Taniguchi Japanese Garden provides a serene escape any time of year, with ponds full of koi and water lilies, sprawling wisteria vines, charming mini-bridges, and ornamental bamboo. A Japanese teahouse anchors one end of the garden. In autumn, the garden's Japanese maples turn a gorgeous shade of red.

In the spring and fall, swarms of colorful butterflies descend on the Doug Blachly Butterfly Trail and Garden, which is chock-full of butterfly magnets like passionflower and coneflower.