An emerald-green grotto just a short trip from Austin.

Austin’s local mountain isn’t really a mountain at all.

A grove of colossal man-made flowers built to collect the sun's rays.

This simple frog painting created by musician Daniel Johnston embodies the spirit of Austin.

Home to the largest urban bat colony in North America, estimated at 1.5 million bats.

A free, canine-friendly alternative watering hole near the more famous Barton Springs.

Home to an endangered salamander, a full moon celebration, and a large spring-fed outdoor swimming pool.

An abandoned quicksilver mining town surrounded by the Big Bend parks.

A collection of massive stacked rocks in Texas includes a snarky note on the benefits of modern technology.

The Grand Canyon of Texas.

Catch two 18-foot-tall ranchers mid-brawl as you drive by on Highway 285.

An immersive environment that is part haunted house, part choose-your-own-adventure, and part jungle gym.

This is one really big nut.

Explore the largest pure gypsum deposit in the world, and go dune sledding while you're at it.

The state bird of New Mexico, constructed entirely out of garbage.

See massive fossils that are over 200 million years old in northeastern Arizona.

A spiritual vortex among the red rocks in Sedona.

The world's only teal arches exist in a city that cares more about its aesthetic than an Instagram influencer.

This Moab institution functions as both a rock store and a small natural history museum.

The fifth-longest natural arch in the world, and the longest outside China.

An homage to everyone's favorite prehistoric cartoon family.

The notorious Wild West outlaw was raised in this unassuming abode.

Giant, natural amphitheaters made of delicate geological formations called "hoodoos."

A tunnel with windows, so you don't miss out on the impressive views.