Austin Children's Museum Dell Discovery Center Bus: Red and yellow 'Dillo lines. 201 Colorado St. 512/472-2494. Tues.-Sat. 10-5, Sun. noon-5. Admission charged, but free on Wed. 5-8 and Sun. 4-5. Completed in 1997, this colorful museum is 19,000 square ft of fun and games and educational opportunities. Children can explore technology and science. Exhibits include: how the human body works; a weather gallery, with a wind machine and other exhibits describing the earth's atmosphere. "Bats in My World" is a hands-on program that teaches about the flying mammals, and the Global Cities area has displays on how different cultures live.

Austin Nature and Science Center Zilker Park Bus 63 301 Nature Center Drive 512-327-8181 Donations requested. Mon-Sat. 9-5; Sun. Noon-5. 80 acre nature center with Discovery Boxes featuring interactive exhibits. Also, 50+ injured or orphaned animals are on premises receiving care and attention.

Austin Zoo 10807 Rawhide Trail 512-288-1490 Admission charged. Open daily 10am-6pm Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Take Hwy. 290 west to Circle Dr., turn right, go 1.5 miles to Rawhide Trail, turn right Admission charged; children under 2 free This small zoo, is about 14 miles southwest of downtown. The zoo operates as a refuge for mistreated and abandoned animals. As they are restored to health, they happily remain with good care and many visitors. A miniature train takes children and parents for a scenic 1.5 mile Hill Country ride, which offers views of the shyer animals. There is a large picnic area.

Jourdan Bachman Pioneer Farm 11418 Sprinkle Cut Off Rd 512/837-1215 Mon-Wed 9:30am-1pm (Thurs 9:30am-1pm June-Aug); Sun 1-5pm Take exit 243 east off I-35 to Dessau Rd., turn left, go a half mile and take a right on Sprinkle Cut Off Rd Admission charged. A glimpse of life in the rural 1880s is provided. When Harriet Bachman and Frederic Jourdan established their farm in northeast Austin in 1852, cattle herders drove past their property on the Chisholm Trail. Today's visitors are encouraged to imagine life in those days: wealthy cotton farmers, homesteaders from Appalachia, and freed slaves turned tenant farmers. The costumed interpreters make the experience real for visiting families. On Sunday afternoon, there is always something interactive for children to do, from making sausage to milking cows.

Splash! Into the Edwards Aquifer Exhibit and Gift Store 2201 Barton Springs Rd Zilker Park 512/481-1466 Tues-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm Bus: no. 30 (Barton Creek Square) Free admission The Edwards Aquifer, Austin's main source of water, is fed by a variety of underground creeks filtered through a large layer of limestone. The former bathhouse at Barton Springs pool contains a variety of interactive displays that children love. Among these is one that can make it rain on the city, an activity to identify water bugs, and a periscope through which swimmers can be seen.

The theme throughout is of preservation of a clean water supply. The exhibits are so entertaining that children absorb the lessons presented in a way that is not only lots of fun, but also an experience to remember.