Fortlandia

Fortlandia returns to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on October 2, 2026, and it stays open through January 31, 2027. It's a kid-friendly exhibit that brings together art, nature and hands-on play, and it's one of those things that's easy to fit into a weekend morning with the family.

The draw is a collection of custom-designed forts scattered across the grounds. Each year the exhibit comes back with a new set of forts, and the organizers say they grow more imaginative with every edition. Each one arrives with its own backstory, so there's a bit of a narrative to follow as you move from one to the next. Between the forts, you're walking through the Texan flora that the Center is known for, so the whole thing lets kids explore the native plants around them while they're busy climbing and playing.

It's not the only thing to see while you're there. Fortlandia runs alongside the Family Garden, an area with waterfall caves and its own set of exhibits that families often visit in the same trip. If you're already heading in for the forts, the garden is right there, so you can easily make a day of it.

Fortlandia is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, though it closes on December 24, 25, 31 and January 1. Tickets are $12 to $18, and it's free for members.