I have fond memories of coming to Zilker Park as a kid: the large wooden ship that you could climb on and turn the steering wheel to pretend you were really driving it, the metal spiral slide that I had to muster the courage to go down, the old red fire engine, and riding the train around the park. The wooden ship and the playscape with the scary slide have been replaced by safer, plastic upgrades. It's kinda sad to see the stuff I used to play on gone, but the kids that go there today seem to enjoy the new stuff, so it's okay. Zilker Park has a lot to offer.
The train still exists, and you can ride it on a round trip through the park. The ride starts at the station--near the playscape--goes underneath Barton Springs Road, and runs through the park all the way to the hike and bike trails before looping back to the station. I don't know how much it costs to ride, but it's worth riding at least once.
On the west shore of the springs, you can rent a canoe and/or a kayak. The last time I did this, it was $8/hour, which allows you to make it to the South First Street bridge or the Mopac bridge, depending on which way you want to travel. I recommend doing this on a weekday during warm weather because the springs can get crowded on the weekends when the weather's nice, which makes navigation challenging.
When the weather's hot, you can take a dip in the pool (see my Barton Springs entry). Or if you just want to put your feet in the water and not have to pay to use the pool, you can jump in the section north of the pool. This is a popular place for dog owners to take their pooches, so be on the lookout for flying tennis balls. And don't jump off the bridges! Not only is it against city ordinance, it's also dangerous because the water isn't deep enough.
Need a place to clear your mind? There are plenty of trails to explore, just watch out for cyclists, since some trails are narrow. Remember to use proper trail etiquette:walk on the right side of the trail to avoid getting ran over.
Parking is free on weekdays, unless it's a holiday. On holidays and weekends, you must pay for parking. I refuse to pay for parking, so I don't know how much it costs. I do know that you can park for free near the baseball fields on the east side of the springs. Or you can pay $0.50 to ride the bus.
Zilker Park is located at 2100 Barton Springs Road.
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