Glenn Harper, MD

Explore the "jewel in the heart of Austin," also known as the Zilker Botanical Garden. The garden was established in 1995 and sprawls through 31 acres of downtown Austin, offering a sweet escape from city streets and greeting more than 400,000 visitors annually. Themes among the gardens are as varied as nature itself. There's a Japanese garden and koi pond, a rose garden, an herb garden, a butterfly trail and garden, and a cactus garden among the selections to tour. Another unique feature is the Hartman Prehistoric Garden, which recreates the habitat of local dinosaurs. Visitors can tour the gardens for free and take home a Texas succulent or majestic orchid among the many offerings.

Create memories at the Texas Performing Arts, where each diverse season of music, theater, dance, and conversation, has connected people to the community of performing arts. Since then, a wide selection of talented performers from around the world has graced the stage, including Ella Fitzgerald, Robin Williams, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, and the Royal Ballet of London.

Take a step back in time and walk the grounds of the oldest modern-day urban farm, Boggy Creek Farm, where you can purchase fresh produce, attend a chef's dinner or enjoy any special events for foodies who dig the back-to-the-farm movement. The Market offers a variety of vegetables, meats, dairy, and bread, all year-round, grown in fields that are steps away for the freshest farm-to-table experience.