Warm spring days make walks along the trails lining Town Lake perfectly pleasant. Get on the water in a kayak from Rowing Dock (singles start at $10 per hour).

As the day wanes, claim your spot along the Congress Avenue bridge for the best free show in town. At sundown from March to November, 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge in a cloud, like a giant swarm of bees. Editor's tip: You'll have to pay a few bucks, but one of the best vantage points is the sixth floor of the parking deck adjacent to the Radisson Hotel and Suites.

above, top: Canoes and kayaks slide across Town Lake on warm spring afternoons; below: More than 1 million Mexican free-tailed bats take to the sky each evening.