The Witte Museum (3801 Broadway St., 210/357-1900, www.wittemuseum.org, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Wed. and Fri.–Sat., 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Thurs., noon–5 p.m. Sun., $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children 4–11) focuses on South Texas history and science, and features impressive permanent and rotating galleries and hands-on exhibits.

This is an ideal place to bring the kids—they’re omnipresent at this museum, especially during school hours—to learn about Texas culture. Adults will benefit from the experience, too.

Not surprisingly, dinosaurs take up a big portion of the ground floor, along with other animals and fascinating aspects of nature. The second floor is devoted to permanent exhibits, including displays related to mummies and the 4,000-year-old rock art of Texas’s Lower Pecos region. Outside are several historic buildings and, top on the list for kids, a four-story “tree house” featuring science experiments, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and an observation deck overlooking the San Antonio River.