It’s that short, sweet time of year when the Houston area is blessed with bearable temperatures and gorgeous weather. It screams adventure time. So hop in the car, roll the windows down, and enjoy the vibes…but where to?

We recently made the hour drive to Moody Gardens on Galveston Island to check out what’s going on right now at the nonprofit educational amusement park. When Moody Gardens opened in 1983, it was simply a horse barn and riding arena with a hippotherapy program to help people with head injuries. But it now sees about two million visitors every year across all its attractions, golf course, convention center, spa, and hotel.

Check the daily schedule ahead of time to see the hours of operations for each attraction you want to hit, prices for which vary, with discounted tickets for children between 4 and 12 and seniors 65 years or older. If you have a kiddo 3 or younger, you’re in luck, because they have access to all the attractions for free. No stroller? No problem. Moody Gardens has some available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis at the visitor center for $15.

To get the most bang for your buck, we highly encourage purchasing the one-day value pass. Regular admission (ages 13 to 64) is $80 at the door, or $60 if purchased online; the pass for seniors and children is $70 or $55 online. With this pass, visitors have access to the Rainforest, Aquarium, and Discovery pyramids; the MG3D, 4D special FX, and audience recognition theaters; the ropes course; and the zip line—weather permitting, of course.

If you’re an ocean lover, the Aquarium Pyramid is the perfect start for your visit. You’ll get to read facts about the Gulf of Mexico (America?) and see South Atlantic penguins. Stick around long enough and you might even catch a glimpse of a penguin feeding and a live Q&A that will tell you all about what they eat, how they stay warm, and how the workers keep track of them all, plus breeding information. Fun fact: Moody Gardens is currently home to 107 penguins and each one poops every 12 minutes—imagine the mess.

After becoming an expert on those cute birds, walk the halls to learn about coral reefs and see a bit of Moody Gardens’ coral rescue lab. As you go deeper into the pyramid, you’ll eventually hit a South Pacific exhibit (keep an eye out for Nemo and Dory), and a dark area with jellyfish. The sting might hurt, but man, those marine animals are gorgeous. If you need an excuse for an Instagram picture to prove you’re connecting with nature, we recommend doing it here.

The aquarium is also home to a North Pacific Ocean exhibit with harbor seals and California sea lions. Peep the keeper’s notes for fun facts, including how the seal staffers ensure the animals get tons of enrichment. Spoiler: It includes floating objects, icy treats, and a rain simulation. And if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to touch a stingray, this is your chance. The aquarium allows you to gently feel a mangrove stingray via the touch tank. Be sure to ask the staff about the stingray shuffle and why it’s important to do during your next beach visit.

Once you finish your marine experience, head outside and walk over to the Discovery Pyramid. Right now, the second floor of the museum is home to the Art of Music Experience, a traveling exhibit on through the end of March. Here, you can learn the stories behind the art for your favorite albums, and view fun neon signage as well as hand-painted album covers.

The pyramid is also home to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: An Interactive Adventure. The 25-minute show allows you to be a part of captain Nemo’s crew, operate the Nautilus submarine, interact with sea creatures, and encounter an ancient lost city. This family-friendly activity will leave your kids mesmerized.

Reward your hard work leading the submarine by making your way to the Rainforest Pyramid for even more fun. Step into the action with the pyramid’s rainforest that mimics a treetop canopy, allowing a glimpse of what it might be like if you were in Asia, Africa, or the Americas.

You can get up close and personal with many different animals, including giant Amazon river otters, ocelots, a Komodo dragon, a Borneo eared frog, a skunk gecko, a tomato frog, a black spiny-tailed iguana, and a green crested basilisk. The displays include information on the range, diet, and status of each species, so you can learn all about why preservation is so important.

Moody Gardens also has Saki monkeys, sloths, and birds free-roaming the area—but don’t worry, there are staff on-site to make sure no incidents occur. One thing to look out for, though, is the bird poop. If you’re not watching where you’re touching, you might just end up with some unwanted nastiness on your arm (we learned from experience, unfortunately).

After your rainforest immersion, you can officially say you were in contact with over 1,700 exotic plants. That deserves bragging rights. But fair warning to all the squeamish people who hate bugs and reptiles, the last part of the exhibit has cockroaches, tarantulas, and snakes on display, so maybe practice your fast walk and hightail it out of there.

Finish off your day while getting the full experience of the value pass by testing your bravery with the outdoor zip line to get a bird’s-eye view of the pyramids, or try the five-tier ropes course filled with 48 different obstacles. If you’re heading out to Moody Gardens in the summer, remember to plan some time to cool off at Palm Beach, which features a lazy river, wave pool, tower slides, and a splash pad.